2001 Ford ranger xlt. A few months ago my truck started the chirp that indicates your cam synchronizer is out with the needle shake. Then a couple weeks ago I finally got a check gauge indicator. My oil gauge needle then flicked so hard it got stuck behind the peg…I checked my oil earlier today. Dipstick showed it was fine. It looked like it was past the max part.. Then I checked it later during the night, little to no oil on the dipstick. The oil that did stick was black…it was dark brown earlier in the day. The engine is also clicking super loudly and when I got on the highway my check engine light flicked on and off. Babied it home but does anything I listed indicate any other issues? I’m not a ford ranger expert. I’m replacing the cam synchronizer this Friday. Are these normal symptoms for a bad cam synchronizer? I also have an oil leak coming from somewhere. it’s been at a slow drip.

 

Welcome to the forum

It reads like you ran out of oil or the oil pump drive(Cam Synchronizer) failed completely
The loud "ticking" noise means no oil pressure at top of engine, which can mean no oil pressure at all

So may not be good news for this engine
Can the engine turn over, don't need to start it, just see if starter can turn it, if not then engine is seized, has to be pulled out
If it can turn then drain the oil and pull off the filter and dump the oil out of the filter, check all the old oil for metal fillings, if found pull the engine

If engine can be turned, then pull the cam synchro now, should have a gear attached to its shaft, gear is held to shaft by a roll pin, this pin can shear off so oil pump drive stops and no oil pressure