My 2000 Ranger is my commuter truck. I drive it about 40 miles a day to and from work and generally I don't mess with it unless it stops running or something. So basically I ignore it unless its a problem. Its working just peachy now and except for a faulty fuel/air mass sensor it has never stopped once. But one of my co-wokers was talking about this trip to a JiffyLube they had and how the guy was trying to talk them into all these cavity flushes got me thinking about my own truck's maintenance.

Do vehicles like this really need engine flushes, tranny flushes, coolant flushes every 40,000 miles? I have a 4 speed automatic and I was under the impression that the tranny was essentially filled with a non-degrading lubricant that never needed changing. That the engine could be cleaned up by just changing the oil sooner than normal a few times, that flushing the coolant wasn't really necessary unless it started turning to sludge and your truck was overheating anyway. Besides, how bad could things get in 3 years and 60,000 miles?

What about things like the plugs and wires, fuel filter, and all those other components that were so problematic when emissions controls became common - like the crap I had to fiddle with on my 1980 Mazda B2000 (PVC valve, carb float, vacuum lines, choke diaphram,....). I guess my thought was that the engine computer would compensate for most of that, but plugs have to wear out eventually and wires get brittle with age and use. I just am afraid I'll start fiddling with it and end up with an unreliable commuter truck - and I really don't need an unreliable commuter truck.

 

Regular Schedualed Maintanence is a GOOD idea. but when you have some guy from jiffy lube telling you that you need all your fluids changed, hes probably just trying to get your money. ALSO, it is important that you do change your fluids. our "dodge" minivan had some sensor get all gunked up with crap in the transmission, and it stoped working, mainly because we hadent had the fluid changed on it for 73k (and its a dodge). But they hooked up their little computer, allowing them to tell the tranny what to do, put some kind of detergent into it, drove it around for a whle, and wa-lah, it was good as new, for 240$ that is. so in the long run, regular maintenance is a good idea, but dont let people talk you into doing it whenever you get your oil changed is all i'm trying to say.

 

Like Peter sez, ignore that nonsense from jiffy lube. Everything you need to know is in the maintenance section of your owners manual. Remove it from the glove box & read it.

 

move down

 

Welcome to FTE eigenvector,
NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO NEEDING A RELIABLE VEHICLE! Oddly enough...Fluids do leak out!
You must also acquire a repair manual to help in you ventures into the unknown; your vehicles inner-workings.
Explore the many threads we have here @ FTE so you can make a sound judgement call and not feel apprehensive about what you do to your truck! The people here are terrific! You will find a resolution to your problems.
______________________________________________
‘90 Ranger: 2.3L, EEC-IV, EFI, DIS, 2wd, Mazda 5sp

 

I hear what you're all saying, and no I don't listen to the guy at the JiffyLube without understanding his/her motives first. I've worked on enough vehicles to know how to do the simple things and some of the more complex things too (I put myself through college rebuilding carbs for a local shop). But that said, I guess I have this notion that the modern vehicle is not the '80 Mazda that I worked on back in high school.

What I'm hearing is that the manual is correct and if I follow it to the letter I should be OK. That said, the manual really doesn't talk about things like PVC valves (does this thing even have one?? - 2000 Ranger 6 cylinder, throttle body injection), choke lines, plugs, wires, distributor caps (I would imagine this thing is electronic and doesn't need periodic maintenance) - or even things like vacuum lines.

Is the best bet to pick up a Chilton's and start reading? I'm not going to work on it unless it breaks, but the Chilton's would at least give me an idea of what is going on under that veritable jungle of an engine compartment.

 

my '71 bronco was a nice-and-simple machine. 302-2v 3spd coulmn, power nothing all kinds of room to work on and knew what every wire and hose was. .......those were the days.....

 

Your truck should have a PCV valve (its pcv, not pvc, (maybe just a typo)). but it talks about it in my haynes, and plug wires are fairly simple, at least on my ranger. just pull one wire, plug in the new one. The haynes covers things fairly well, just needs some more pictures in my opinion. But theres others like chilton and a ford service manual. somewhere on this site theres a thread about which is the best. But the manuals should help you out fairly well, and if you get stuck, just post a question and you'll get help, which is why i love this site!

 

Yeah I can never keep those two acronyms straight. Poly Vinyl Chloride, Positive Crankcase Ventilation....One of these days I'll keep them straight.

 

Don't be shy about having the rad flushed. New or old, you have to keep the cooling system up to task or you will realy regret it. This is one area where neglect or being cheap can turn around and cost you LARGE.