06 Ranger 2.3L 5-speed, 51k miles.
Last week or so, it'll crank maybe 10 seconds before firing.
Seems OK first thing in the morning, but after it warms up out I have the problem.
fuel filter has 20k miles on it, was thinking of replacing that. Air filter is pretty new.
Maybe got some bad gas ? No codes to pull.
Still getting great gas mileage.
Anything else to check ?

 

I think maybe your on the right track to suspect a fuel delivery problem, so why not try a KOEO & KOER fuel pressure test & see how things look, before parts replacement.

At KOEO the fuel pump should come on for about two seconds, to build pressure, before you crank the engine. If it's not doing this, or does it inermittently, look to the fuel pump relay & try swapping it for, say the AC relay & see if things get better.

I suppose you could have a problem with fuel vapor pressure, if whats in the tank is "winter" formula & it's turned unusually warm where you are & the vapor pressure is low enough to cause problems on a hot engine after shut down & the engine heat soaks.

It happens this time of year, around here, especially when folks run their tanks low, on a return type fuel system, the ones that cycle unused fuel from the engine compartment, back to the tank.

Those type systems, when run low on fuel, will just continue to cycle hot fuel back to the tank, heating whats remaining in the tank, until she vapor locks.

I've seen them towed in from the interstate, this time of year, when the folks from up in cold country drove south & were running below 1/4 tank.

Did you last fill up at a sorta out of the way place, that doesn't pump much gas & maybe still has winter formula in there????

Just a thought or two to ponder.

 

Mine does the same. Sometimes more than others. I'll be watching this thread to see if you figure anything out.

 

well here in No. FLA, it has been chilly in the morning, say 40, and has been getting up to about 80 by lunch time, which is when I mostly have the problem. so the switch to summer fuels MIGHT be happening now...
Where I get my gas is a place called Racetrac, they pump a LOT of gas, they get about $300/mo business out of me.

I'd be more willing to live with it a bit to see what happens, but I have to drive to Kansas City next weekend, and don't want any unpleasantness.

Good suggestions, thanks.

 

Try some higher octane fuel from a good source like Shell or Mobil, and see if that tells you something. I have the same truck set up, and a tank of Shell V-power gas cleared up slow starts and hesitations. Near Lake City!