Say a fellow just bought a new '05 Edge 3.0/Auto and was wanting to...well....maybe get a little more "pep" from the plant and not ruin the factory warranty.What or where would he do/go to first? Also...I'm looking for door sill protection. Are there any custom or off the shelf available? I see them for F-150's and many others. And BTW...it's a really nice truck.

 

Well the little "extra tweaks" I've done to my 99 4.0L Ranger & 94 Taurus 3.8L have, ALL TOGATHER, made a noticeabe difference in driveability, smoothness, mpg.

1) Set the spark plugs gap to the low (narrow) side of specification.

2) Torqued the plugs to spec.

3) Cleaned the plugs ceramic insulators well, then buttered them lightly with Dow Corning, or GE silicone dielectric grease.

4) Cleaned BOTH ends of each spark plug boot inside & completely but lightely buttered the insides of the boots, with the dielectric grease. (this will help give a good hot spark & prevent flash over or high voltage drop, on wet humid times)

5) Thoroughly clean the top of the coil pack & spray it with silicone. DON'T do this with the engine running, ingesting silicone isn't good for the O2 sensors!!!!

6) Use a premium synthetic crank case oil, like Havoline Synthetic & a good oil filter, like Motorcraft.

7) Use a GOOD Quality paper air filter, like Motorcraft, & keep it changed on time. DON'T use cheap paper filters!!!!

8) Keep the tires aired up to spec.

9) Use top tier gasolines, like Chevron or Chevron/Texaco.

10) Do at least a weekly blow er out, with periods of rpm above 3000, for 2-3 miles, or punch it daily when going up a 'ON" ramp, to help keep the carbon deposts down. The top tier fuels add pack will help too.

As I've said, any one of these "tweaks' by themselves, probably won't make much notceable difference, but TOGETHER, they have made a noticeable & measurable difference for my rides & WON'T negatively affect your warraty.

 

Havoline synthetic is "good"? Everything I've read says its junk. Just my .02

 

The 3.slow is what it is. Reliable, but way past its time in the Ranger lineup in all honesty.

The suggestions may help in the back of your mind (not that they are bad for keeping things in tip-top shape), but none of them exactly have the effect of a supercharger, raised compression, extra cubic inches, better flowing cylinder heads, and whatnot.

Oh, to boot, I bet the engine isn't broken in yet, so maybe there is more to come, but not that much.

If you are against a chip to at least help the tranny and raise the shift points--the 3.slow loves revs at least--then maybe taking on a slightly older rig with a 4.0 would have been better in hindsight.

 

The 3.0 is has plenty of pep for my XLT with a 5-speed, but my freinds edge with an auto is disapointing. His gas milege is noticably less then mine and i kill him in a race every time. He regrets not getting a stick after seeing that mine is more powerful and gets better gas milege.

 

Sounds like your friend might like to look into a properly designed chip for the computer, if all he wants is a little more out of his rig, under certain conditions.

You can get chips with more than one program, that can be switched between, that'll offer the best the engine/tranny has, for the occasion.

As has been said, the 3 slow isn't going to become a rip snorting, tire burning, road monster, without major work, that would affect the warranty.

But you can keep it at optimum plus maybe a little & not affect the warranty.

Then AFTER the warranty is up maybe get more with a chip, or N2O bottle (but they are't cheap) & must be properly done up, but IMHO, to really feel and realize a big diference, there just isn't a good substitute for CID, for where MOST of us rev!!!!!