Long term reliability of the 2.3

[Leftcoast]

This is what I'd like to see on this forum.
I'd like a thread specifically setup so a member can post once and list what problems they have had with their truck. The member can go back and edit their post when new problems come up or old problems get fixed. No other posts would be allowed. No jokes, no gifs and no BS. That way somebody searching on the net would find comprehensive information that doesn't get lost in the noise.
I'm not a software engineer so I don't know how it would work. Maybe a template could be generated with boxes to check for the main gripes and additional notes. Or better yet, Phil could just get us access to the Ford database.

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[Blue Streak]

Really? Wonder if that is typical. I just did my first fill up, so haven't established my MPG yet.

My take on it is I do not have to push the throttle as hard ( unless I want to have a little fun) to get up to speed & when cruising to gain some speed if need be. I think it's more about driving style. ?

 

[SemperVee]

Hoping for high reliability. Like the engine so much just got a brand new 2.3 with 30 more HP in a stick shift 2020 Performance package Mustang!

 

[landiscarrier]

It's a well made truck and engine. The few problems or issues that you may read on here or people will state represent a very small percentage of Ranger owners. The only think I regret about my Ranger is the lack of a power sliding rear window! haha

The engine is top notch, in my opinion!

 

[Floyd]

This is what I'd like to see on this forum.
I'd like a thread specifically setup so a member can post once and list what problems they have had with their truck. The member can go back and edit their post when new problems come up or old problems get fixed. No other posts would be allowed. No jokes, no gifs and no BS. That way somebody searching on the net would find comprehensive information that doesn't get lost in the noise.
I'm not a software engineer so I don't know how it would work. Maybe a template could be generated with boxes to check for the main gripes and additional notes. Or better yet, Phil could just get us access to the Ford database.

Just got back from Florida, (2 months with my travel trailer)
I opened the hood in January pretrip for oil change.
Next opened it again this morning.
Oil is perfect...full, clean, and smell free!
Heck even the windshield fluid reservoir was large enough to last the trip.

Here is a comprehensive list of "what problems I've had with my truck" in the first two years ...

1] none
2]nothing
3]no fuel issues
4]no performance issues.
5]no reliability issues.
6] one stupid unnecessary recall for taillights

 

[Leftcoast]

Just got back from Florida, (2 months with my travel trailer)
I opened the hood in January pretrip for oil change.
Next opened it again this morning.
Oil is perfect...full, clean, and smell free!
Heck even the windshield fluid reservoir was large enough to last the trip.

Here is a comprehensive list of "what problems I've had with my truck" in the first two years ...

1] none
2]nothing
3]no fuel issues
4]no performance issues.
5]no reliability issues.
6] one stupid unnecessary recall for taillights

So your post would have a recall for taillights. Thanks for playing.

 

[Floyd]

So your post would have a recall for taillights. Thanks for playing.

Not quite... To be precise, that was "one stupid unnecessary recall for taillights"
There was nothing wrong with the taillights.

 

[Leftcoast]

Not quite... To be precise, that was "one stupid unnecessary recall for taillights"
There was nothing wrong with the taillights.

I'd keep the whining out of the thread. There's plenty of others threads to menstrate in.

 

[Jrel209]

Not quite... To be precise, that was "one stupid unnecessary recall for taillights"
There was nothing wrong with the taillights.

Haha, wouldnt a recall suggest otherwise?

 

[F150stxguy]

Well, I tried to spec out a 2wd xl crew cab 3.3 with the Ford website, and it went according to plan until it came time to choose the rear. It gave me the 3.73 gears but wouldn’t let choose the locking differential. It made me switch to one of the bigger engines. I’d just check the box for 4wd with the 3.3 and 36 gallon tank, but man, that’s a lot of weight and might negate fuel savings.

My local Ford dealer has around 20 Rangers in stock. I think I’ll just head down that way this weekend and inquire about extended test drive.

Anyone know what the cost of stock turbo replacement is for the 2.3? Ya know, so I can start saving for when the warranty runs out lol.

Thanks all for the replies. I’ll probably pull the trigger after this week if the test drive goes well. I hope they wouldn’t mind me sneaking away for 100 miles just to get a feel hehe.

 

[Rp930]

Haha, wouldnt a recall suggest otherwise?

Not really. The failure rate was single digits if I remember correctly. Mostly it was a check it and reassemble.

 

[Floyd]

Haha, wouldnt a recall suggest otherwise?

Yes, a suggestion...Often nothing more.
I went 16 years with an open recall when there was nothing wrong with my cruise control on my last Ranger, and a decade with an open recall on my 1995 Mustang with nothing wrong with the hood.

Recalls can be legit sometimes and a simple courtesy or CYA at others.
My vehicle... I decide.

 

[Dmc]

I tend to think it’s a supplier issue related to the injectors themselves. This is why some folks had the injectors replaced and it totally fixed the issue, others replaced and it fixed it to some extent, others replaced and it got worse. Ford has had Injector issues in the past which caused recalls.

One of the members here had no issues at all until 10k miles then his started in earnest. That’s the strange part about this and why driving styles don’t seem to be a major factor.

My only use of the truck so far has been highway commuting somewhere around 25 miles each way. No short trips which are generally a problem for DI engines.

The only other thing I think could be causing this would be an PCV issue. The oil should be getting plenty hot enough to volatilize all of the gasoline out of the crank case and send it back to the intake to be re-burned. If this isn’t happening then it’s just continually evaporating and recondensing in the crank case which really isn’t good.

I wish there was an PCV delete method to just vent the crank case to atmosphere old school and see if it fixes it.

That would not fix the fuel to oil problem. The fuel is past to the crank and mixed with the oil once there there is no way to separate it from the oil . The blowing the pcv to the atmosphere is only going to solve a coking problem. I helped that problem with a catch can . It will still not solve it

 

[Floyd]

That would not fix the fuel to oil problem. The fuel is past to the crank and mixed with the oil once there there is no way to separate it from the oil . The blowing the pcv to the atmosphere is only going to solve a coking problem. I helped that problem with a catch can . It will still not solve it

So, no fuel in the oil... no catch can, right?
Guess mine will stay stock, at least for the first decade.
How many oil changes can you do for the price of a catch can?

 

[SFB]

Fun fact. Suzuki motorcycles and atv’s back in the early 2000’s to even now have automatic fuel valves for the carburetor equipped models. They operate off of engine vacuum and when they fail (roughly every 5 years or so) fuel dumps into the crankcase mixing with oil. Most people are oblivious of it happening until the engine is hard to start from vapor locking.

Working in the powersports industry at a Suzuki dealer I don’t know how many dirt bikes and ATV’s I saw with severely diluted engine oil. Like 5 to 1 gas to oil or worse and I never saw an engine need rebuilding or even show signs of premature wear from that. If you don’t believe me google ”Suzuki petcock failure”

So a tiny bit of gas in the oil is 0 concern to me

My oil tested at 1.5 percent oil to gas dilution, not too bad and that was at roughly 7500 miles on the oil, so I move the oil change to 5K, which is where I would normally change my oil. I had been going by percent of life and trying to change at 50%. So I will go to 5K instead and keep my eye on it.

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