Long term reliability of the 2.3

[Porpoise Hork]

I don't work with my truck or tow so I don't have to worry about the severe duty aspect...I change the oil every 5K. My only concern is the carbon build up on the intake valves but I figure someone will develop a way to clean this by the time I have serious mileage on the truck.

With the factory oil/air separator in the PCV system to minimize oil vapor from returning to the intake, the implementation of advanced cam shaft/valve timings, and the addition of an EGR cooler the problem with intake valve buildup should be significantly reduced over the life of the engine. Not to mention running a catalyst safe cleaning agent in the intake every 20K miles couldn't hurt.

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[Joeiconic]

not every ranger owner ends up on these forumns, and i feel like more than half of the members here have confirmed they at least smell gas in their oil, myself included. How that impacts the

I believe this is a significant over estimate. The fuel in oil poll has 1700+ posts and more than half appear to be by the same people. There’s a fuel in oil poll thread with 40 responses. I believe I read that there are 10,000 members of this forum, but others can confirm. If that’s accurate, the number of “confirmed” fuel in oil posts is somewhere between 1-5%. And, in that group, there are still no reports of failures or damage in that 18 month old thread.

 

[ems]

When I got my truck (new, approx 30 mi) there was a pretty significant fuel smell to the oil. Within 1000 miles the smell had decreased considerably, no fluctuation of oil level. Now at just shy of 5000 miles the smell is hardly there and the oil level has remained stable. Most of those miles are primarily highway commuting at about 50 miles per trip.

 

[Jim C]

someone explain this to me because i really am having a time getting my head around this.
ive had naturally aspirated cars in the past (im over 60) & changing the oil on those the oil ALWAYS had a dmell of gas (was told it was from blow-by) makes sense to me & as such these turbos have the same look & smell.

so what is with this "gas in the oil"?

 

[MTB-BRUH]

Also something to take into consideration, would you smell gas in the oil if you weren’t trying to smell for it? Seems a lot of the times when you are searching for something like this you will smell fuel in oil even if there is none.. not to mention aren’t oil and gas both petroleum products? To me they would both smell similar. Best way to know is if your oil level is rising

 

[Dmc]

Gassy oil engine cokeing valves . Don't know how long the 2.3 will live ? On my 2nd 2020 and has the same problems as the 1 st 2020 . So I added a catch can to help slow the cokeing as far as the oil I will send it out on the oil change to decide how soon to change it .would I buy a 2.3 again well I guess so I did it twice . I rather have a v6 non turbo tho as I bleed blue

 

[Dmc]

someone explain this to me because i really am having a time getting my head around this.
ive had naturally aspirated cars in the past (im over 60) & changing the oil on those the oil ALWAYS had a dmell of gas (was told it was from blow-by) makes sense to me & as such these turbos have the same look & smell.

so what is with this "gas in the oil"?

It's excessive gas in the oil my 1st 2020 with only 3400 miles had filled oil pan to show on the stick well past the curly scew on the dip stick

 

[Dmc]

I believe this is a significant over estimate. The fuel in oil poll has 1700+ posts and more than half appear to be by the same people. There’s a fuel in oil poll thread with 40 responses. I believe I read that there are 10,000 members of this forum, but others can confirm. If that’s accurate, the number of “confirmed” fuel in oil posts is somewhere between 1-5%. And, in that group, there are still no reports of failures or damage in that 18 month old thread.

Your calculations would be incorrect . As there is people on here who don't change there own oil and take it to a dealer to change and a dealer would care less to see it it's over flowing with gas . This problem effects every one . It's been a issue with 2019 2020 unknown with 2021 but sure it's there . I have owned 2 now and both have the problem. Some people don't care as they say it's under warranty. My uncle has one and it too is a problem but he has the I don't care ford will fix it .this truck will become a Fiesta in the long run when some one sues ford for it

 

[Trigganometry]

Ok I’m one of those that is experiencing this. Have sent out a sample to Blackstone and did have some but not to the extent of others. Here is my take on it as I don’t think it has any long term ramifications for life of engine. After an oil change you replace with fresh oil to recommend height. From that point on engine allows blowbye to migrate to oil. Makes it to top hole or even the twist. It levels out here and stays. It’s almost like the sloshing of top fill is helping to regulate and vent the amount present.

I believe some sort of catch can will help trap the “vented” byproducts so you don’t have to burn it off.

I fully expect this engine to have a long life with scheduled oil changes.

 

[RedlandRanger]

Your calculations would be incorrect . As there is people on here who don't change there own oil and take it to a dealer to change and a dealer would care less to see it it's over flowing with gas . This problem effects every one . It's been a issue with 2019 2020 unknown with 2021 but sure it's there . I have owned 2 now and both have the problem. Some people don't care as they say it's under warranty. My uncle has one and it too is a problem but he has the I don't care ford will fix it .this truck will become a Fiesta in the long run when some one sues ford for it

The problem does not affect "everyone" - I've tried hard to look for a rise in my oil level, and it has not happened in over 2 years and 20k of driving. My oil level has stayed constant.

My guess is there is some underlying commonality to those who are experiencing it. Driving style, trip length, or maybe there is a supplier issue. I don't know, but I know if does not affect everyone for sure. My opinion is that it is a relatively uncommon thing, but that is just my opinion - I have no real facts to back it up.

 

[Samsquanch]

The problem does not affect "everyone" - I've tried hard to look for a rise in my oil level, and it has not happened in over 2 years and 20k of driving. My oil level has stayed constant.

My guess is there is some underlying commonality to those who are experiencing it. Driving style, trip length, or maybe there is a supplier issue. I don't know, but I know if does not affect everyone for sure. My opinion is that it is a relatively uncommon thing, but that is just my opinion - I have no real facts to back it up.

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.

 

[Floyd]

Its all a roll of the dice...... personally if i needed to tow over half the time. Id look into a vehicle thats built to tow. In addition, i just believe a v4 turbo engine in a truck wont outlive a naturally aspirated v6 when having to lug all that weight around. I think its just basic thermodynamics.

I have my concerns of the reliability and durability due to gas in oil and ac issues popping up. Keep in mind, not every ranger owner ends up on these forumns, and i feel like more than half of the members here have confirmed they at least smell gas in their oil, myself included. How that impacts the engine in the long run, i cant say im no trained mechanic. Theres also small stuff that im not certain on how it will impact long term, such as the cold start transmission sluggynish and shudder/vibration at slow speeds that i feel 90% of people have. And to be fair, im not sure how much crap other owners are dealing with on other midsize trucks since i dont go on their forumns.

With all that said i love the truck and it currently fits my needs as a moderate offroad adventure vehicle that can help with house hold chores with taking crap to the dump and buying mulch etc. And as long as i get 8 years and up to 100k miles i’ll be happy.

The last V4 I saw was a Saab Sonnet.
Your belief is unfounded.
So far I have towed more than half the time.
Every engine's oil gets contaminated , (especially offroad)...that's why you change it regularly... synthetic or not.
This one no more than others, Direct injection is common today , try going back to a slobberdog carburetor!
I am a "trained mechanic" ,
Let's compare again in eight years?

BTW... there was a lot of uninformed noise and concern about the 4.0L in the previous Ranger.
I heard the noise and bought it anyway, then sold it 18 years later approaching 200,000 miles. Never touched it or added a quart of oil.

Of course I have seen broken engines of every conceivable type and configuration, from a 1CYL Briggs and Stratton to a 12CYL Cat diesel.
Paul Simon Said "Everything put together sooner or later falls apart".
but I have also seen plenty of owners who could destroy an anvil with a rubber mallet.

 

[Blue Streak]

I am with Rob. June will be my 2yr anniversary little over 28000 miles & my oil level has never fluctuated from the top hole. I have towed with it driving habit is pretty much always the same, get into it when needed or sometimes just because. Have started driving in S mode with better fuel mileage than D mode. It is a mechanical piece of equipment & anything can happen.

 

[Tom_C]

Have started driving in S mode with better fuel mileage than D mode.

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

 

[Blue Streak]

Its all a roll of the dice...... personally if i needed to tow over half the time. Id look into a vehicle thats built to tow. In addition, i just believe a v4 turbo engine in a truck wont outlive a naturally aspirated v6 when having to lug all that weight around. I think its just basic thermodynamics.

I have my concerns of the reliability and durability due to gas in oil and ac issues popping up. Keep in mind, not every ranger owner ends up on these forumns, and i feel like more than half of the members here have confirmed they at least smell gas in their oil, myself included. How that impacts the engine in the long run, i cant say im no trained mechanic. Theres also small stuff that im not certain on how it will impact long term, such as the cold start transmission sluggynish and shudder/vibration at slow speeds that i feel 90% of people have. And to be fair, im not sure how much crap other owners are dealing with on other midsize trucks since i dont go on their forumns.

With all that said i love the truck and it currently fits my needs as a moderate offroad adventure vehicle that can help with house hold chores with taking crap to the dump and buying mulch etc. And as long as i get 8 years and up to 100k miles i’ll be happy.

Tow mode & manually shifting you can put the engine in it's sweet spot & I don't believe towing is an issue, that's the way I do it. Like any motor you need to find out were it works the best for your situation, No manufacture can do that for you.

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