My 06 Ranger with a 3L vulcan engine is misfiring on cylinder number 5. The valve seat is pushed in and the dealership is recommending I get the heads machined for $2200 and than if still leaking recommend I get new heads. I am looking at about $3000. Apparently this is a common problem with this year Ranger. The dealership is saying there is a TSB out on it but because I am past warrenty it is my responsiblity for the cost. The dealer wants to machine it and put a deisel engine valve seat in it to make it stronger.

Any Ideas on if I should let the dealer fix it or go to another mechanic and let them do the work? Also should I just buy new heads or have them machined? I can get two aftermarket machined heads for this engine for $550 and labor for $600 at an alternative mechanic. Or I can get my heads machined for around $600.

I just don't want to deal with this again after a couple years. The truck is relatively new and has been great up to now.

Any help is appreciated

 

HERE is a copy of TSB 05-26-3.

I've never heard about a "diesel engine valve seat fix" for a bad 3.0L head. Any more info on that?

If it were me, I'd go with a local mechanic over the dealership. There's nothing mystical about replacing heads on an OHV engine that's been around for over 20 years. If the new heads are made and installed correctly, then you shouldn't ever have a problem with them.

 

So you suggest don't get my current heads machined? Buy aftermarket heads or heads that have been machined off of a different model using the same engine?

 

That's what I would do.