I recently rebuilt my 94 Ford Ranger XLT 4WD 4.0L OHV engine. When all finished, I had this 4-1/2 to 5 inch screw left over. The truck seems to run fine without it but I'm afraid it's something important. Can anyone tell me what it's for? I can't remember if it extended inside the engine or was completely external.

 

Looks like a head light adjuster bolt/screw

No, not an internal engine bolt/screw that I ever ran across on my 1994 4.0l

 

It definitely came out of my engine or from something attached to the engine, like accessories (not the headlight), that had to be removed in order to remove the engine. I vaguely remember unscrewing it with a cordless drill, and being surprised how long it was, like it came out of the engine. It was slightly bent on one end, like it had been under a lot of pressure, so probably did not extend inside the engine.

 

Nobody has a clue?

 

From the type of screw and the non-threaded tip, it looks to me like

 

Thanks Supercab for the picture. That screw comes close, but I don't have any large hose clamp screws missing. It really seems to me like this long screw just came out of a hole with my cordless drill.

 

That looks like one of the oil pan bolts; there are two longer ones that are torque head bolts.

 

Josh, that sounds right. I remember being surprised where it came out of. Can you explain why and which oil pan hole it goes in? Because I've been driving without it, now I'm afraid to drive it! Ken

 

The longer bolts are on the transmission side of the oil pan. Attached is a photo; hope this helps.