Hi!

I have a 3.0 v6 2001 ranger I noticed it was idling around 2000 rpms and that lasted about 30 seconds before returning to normal idle , when you tap the accelerator it holds at 2000 rpms for about 15 seconds before returning to normal it's smooth (no miss fires) idling but you can smell its RICH ( or at least it smellls bad not sure) I connected obdII reader and I'm getting codes: p2198 & p2196 oxygen sensor 1 signal stuck rich both banks, also I noticed that on cold starts its spits fluid from exhaust just on startup and then clears (not sure if its oil, gas or water but seams to evaporate).

Any ideas? Are the O2 sensors bad? Or are they just telling me something is wrong? I already checked for vacuum leaks and everything looks good, nothing obvious seems to be wrong, Please help.



Thanks!

 

Welcome to the forum

Its water that comes out the tail pipe, just FYI
When you burn gasoline("H"ydrocarbon) with "O"xygen, a by-product is H2O, water, that's why exhaust systems rust from the inside out
When you shut off the engine any water vapor in the exhaust condenses back to liquid water as exhaust system cools down
So on next start up some of that liquid water will spray out
Tail pipe will drip water when engine is running depending on outside temp and how fast water vapor can condense

Rich running could be a Fuel Pressure issue, assuming stock fuel injectors(no changes)
2001 should be running 60psi fuel pressure, well 1998-2011 Rangers run 60psi

P2196 O2 Sensor Signal Stuck Rich Bank 1 Sensor 1
P2198 O2 Sensor Signal Stuck Rich Bank 2 Sensor 1

Bank 1 is passenger side, or only Bank on a 4cyl engine
Bank 2 is drivers side, of a V6 or V8 engine

Sensor 1 are the O2s closest to the engine
Sensor 2 are the O2s after Cat converters<<< just FYI

So if you have BOTH codes then it has to be something common to BOTH BANKS
So not an O2 sensor issue
Not a fuel injector issue, it would only effect one bank

Fuel pressure is easiest to test to take it off the table or find out it is the peoblem
There is a fuel pressure regulator(FPR) in the gas tank on 1998 and up Rangers
The fuel pump itself is capable of 80+psi pressure
The FPR keeps it between 55-60psi

Fuel pump and FPR are both part of fuel pump assembly, FPR is not a separate part

There is no Fuel Pressure sensor on Rangers, computer assumes 60psi, so if its 75psi then you get Rich Codes

The 3 port fuel filter could have a clogged return port, long shot, but possible, and not that hard to change, should be changed every 5 years or so in any case

I would test fuel pressure first and go from there

Clogged exhaust system, you should notice limited top speed and RPMs with this