00 Ranger rough idle until warm
 

I have a 2000 3.0 4x4 with 230 k. Recently it has begun to want to stall unless its warmed up fully. It is still warm out and last week when driving it to the car port it started to really heave and gasp when I turned slow into the car port. I did not let it stall but let it run and get warm. After that it had no problems. A few days ago I started it and put it into gear pretty quickly. It stalled. Again I started ot and warmed ip and no trouble. I could use a tip or two on where to look. I know maybe the air filter. I had tried changing plugs and only got two done. Oil tube in way for one and some seem frozen. I don't want to break them off. Other than that I don't what it could be all of a sudden. I have been driving it less lately. It as been sitting more. Days at a time maybe even a week without running. I don't know what it could be.

Need to get the spark plugs changed if they are older

I would change the ECT(coolant temp) sensor just on speculation, it sets the Choke which all gasoline engines need when starting cold or they will run rough and/or stall
There are two temp sensors
ECT sensor, 5volt, used by computer only for choke, grey/red wire
Temp SENDER, 12volt, used for dash board temp gauge, red/white wire
Not interchangeable


Long shot
All gasoline has some water in it, comes from transport and storage, "bad gas" is when there is too much water in it, lol
Gasoline and water can not bond/mix
Water is heavier than gasoline
If you put some water and gasoline in a clear container and let it sit for a day or two, you will see it separate and see a layer of water at the bottom of container

Your gas tank is a container.................
Your fuel pump is at the Bottom of this container
So after sitting for a few days on first start up you could be getting some water with the gasoline so rough running
But this would only happen one time unless you added more gasoline with more water

Ethanol CAN bond to water, that's why its used as an anti-freeze in fuel systems, and once bonded the ethanol/water chain can be Burned in the engine, less power but no rough running like un-bonded water
If you use 10% ethanol/gasoline fuel then water at the bottom of gas tank is usually not an issue

Thank for for the tips.