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Bought a 92 Ranger Custom for $150 on craigslist with the 2.3l engine and auto trans. Seller claims "it made a noise and quit running while driving up a hill on a hot day, I replaced the timing belt"
Not sure why he replaced the timing belt, so I'm assuming it was broken. Timing belt doesn't really look new.
Getting 30-35 PSI Compression on the front 3 cylinders, furthest back cylinder is getting 170 PSI. Engine isn't getting spark because the crankshaft hub/harmonic balancer are missing, and before I buy them, I want to make sure this engine has the potential to run.
Oil is dark, no metal flakes or burnt smell. Vehicle sat for 7 months before I bought it. Engine is the 8-plug variant, I checked to make sure all 8 plugs are tight.
Any ideas? Shot piston rings? Head gasket? Improperly installed timing belt? The seller didn't seem very competent.
Most likely burnt exhaust valves in 1, 2 and 3, or "tulipped" intake valves, both are caused by high cylinder temps from lean air:fuel mix of malfunctioning EGR system if it has one
Put some oil in each cylinder and repeat compression test, a table spoon, I use a straw about 3/4 full, dip straw in oil bottle, put finger over top and pull it out, put end of straw in spark plug hole and release finger, do compression test again
It will always go up because rings are now sealed better, but if it doesn't go up to 140psi then its a valve issue
This is called a WET compression test, tests if rings or valves are the issue
2.3l Lima is a tank, overbuilt and super reliable, if taken care of, lol
Previous own probably ran it lean, pinging and knocking until exhaust valves gave up the ghost, replace fuel filter, its probably clogged up causing the lean running
And it could be valve train issue, but you won't know that until valve cover is off, the rockers can come off so valves don't open fully
Timing belt is timed correctly to get 170psi in #4, that's about what you should see on all 4 cylinders in cold dry compression test
1992 2.3l runs 9.2:1 compression ratio
Most likely burnt exhaust valves in 1, 2 and 3, or "tulipped" intake valves, both are caused by high cylinder temps from lean air:fuel mix of malfunctioning EGR system if it has one
Put some oil in each cylinder and repeat compression test, a table spoon, I use a straw about 3/4 full, dip straw in oil bottle, put finger over top and pull it out, put end of straw in spark plug hole and release finger, do compression test again
It will always go up because rings are now sealed better, but if it doesn't go up to 140psi then its a valve issue
This is called a WET compression test, tests if rings or valves are the issue
2.3l Lima is a tank, overbuilt and super reliable, if taken care of, lol
Previous own probably ran it lean, pinging and knocking until exhaust valves gave up the ghost, replace fuel filter, its probably clogged up causing the lean running
And it could be valve train issue, but you won't know that until valve cover is off, the rockers can come off so valves don't open fully
Timing belt is timed correctly to get 170psi in #4, that's about what you should see on all 4 cylinders in cold dry compression test
1992 2.3l runs 9.2:1 compression ratio
I did a wet compression test earlier, the pressure on the wet cylinders rose 10psi after adding around a table spoon of oil to each cylinder.
05-12-2019
$150 Ranger, major compression difference...
