Hello from Washington
#1
09-23-2017
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vancouver, Washington
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#2
09-23-2017
Welcome to the forum
You have the first full year of the Mazda 2.3l Duratec engine in Rangers, 2002
They replaced the 2.3l and 2.5l Lima engines used in Ranger from 1983 until 2001.5, mid year change over.
So if you Google Ranger 2.3l you will get BOTH engines showing up, and they have 0 relationship, lol.
2.3l Lima is SOHC and was first used in 1976 Ford Pinto, it was stroked in 1998 to a 2.5l and used in Rangers until mid-year 2001
2.3l Mazda L engine is DOHC with much better horse power, Ford brands it 2.3l Duratec
There are a couple if "issues" in the first few years in Rangers
They used a heated Thermostat which is expensive to replace, 2004 and up didn't use this
Intake manifold runner control(IMRC) was used and could have vacuum issues with hoses on control valve, also removed in 2004
The 2.3l Duratec was designed by Mazda for transverse mounting on front wheel drive cars, so there is a coolant line on the back of the engine.
When mounted in a Ranger that means the coolant fitting is between engine and firewall.........very hard to get at with transmission in place
This effects any Ranger with the 2.3l Duratec
So if for any reason the transmission needs to come out, replace that fitting, just for general maintenance reasons
Just some heads up, these are not problems the WILL happen, just "known" to happen
You have the first full year of the Mazda 2.3l Duratec engine in Rangers, 2002
They replaced the 2.3l and 2.5l Lima engines used in Ranger from 1983 until 2001.5, mid year change over.
So if you Google Ranger 2.3l you will get BOTH engines showing up, and they have 0 relationship, lol.
2.3l Lima is SOHC and was first used in 1976 Ford Pinto, it was stroked in 1998 to a 2.5l and used in Rangers until mid-year 2001
2.3l Mazda L engine is DOHC with much better horse power, Ford brands it 2.3l Duratec
There are a couple if "issues" in the first few years in Rangers
They used a heated Thermostat which is expensive to replace, 2004 and up didn't use this
Intake manifold runner control(IMRC) was used and could have vacuum issues with hoses on control valve, also removed in 2004
The 2.3l Duratec was designed by Mazda for transverse mounting on front wheel drive cars, so there is a coolant line on the back of the engine.
When mounted in a Ranger that means the coolant fitting is between engine and firewall.........very hard to get at with transmission in place
This effects any Ranger with the 2.3l Duratec
So if for any reason the transmission needs to come out, replace that fitting, just for general maintenance reasons
Just some heads up, these are not problems the WILL happen, just "known" to happen
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