Driving down the road today, cruising at around 50. All of a sudden I heard a pop, the engine bogged down, i started slowing down, and when i would shift down to pick up speed again, it would just bog down even more. I eventually stalled out on the side of the road, wierd thing is, the engine started right back up and i pulled away with no problem, but now I smoke a little outta the exhaust. and i'm popping some codes.

KOEO - 31 and 48

KOER - 13, 22, 31, 48

Now I've experienced codes 13 and 22 before, still trying to work them out, but 31 and 48 started today and I don't understand what i'm supposed to do to fix them, and i'm not even sure if i should be driving this truck until i fix this new problem. I checked the oil, it looks normal, no white like i have water in it and doesn't smell like i have fuel in it. I had figured that maybe i had blown a gasket or something, but there's no leaking on the ground either. Any help would be great as I'm just about at my breaking point with this truck. I'm nickle and dimeing something that i'm not even sure will stay running for much longer.

 

Welcome to FTE

Check the "Tech Info" thread atop this forums thread listing page for links to your code numbers.

What color was the exhaust smoke?????

 

Alright, well I found out why i was getting those codes. I had replaced the spark plug wires this weekend and i had to remove the plug to my EGR position sensor to make room for my hand to squeze through to get to #4 spark plug without removing my intake. I never plugged it back in. I don't know if that would cause the pop through the exhaust and the bog down of the engine, but I don't get the codes anymore. It does still however smoke a little, especially in the morning when i first start it up. And the smoke is almost pure white. Another problem I noticed, if this is a problem, when i pulled the PCV valve, it was dripping oil. This isn't supposed to happen is it?

 

No, it should'nt be dripping oil. Not sure exactly what's causing it unless the return gallery is sludging up and the oil is pooling in the valve cover. Change the pcv as it might just be drawing too much(gone bad).

Pure white smoke indicates water. Might be a bad tank of gas. Are you loosing coolant? The engine won't run well with the EGR disconnected, so give it time to clear. Reset the computer for a few minutes with he battery disconnected. With the battery disconnected, turn on the lights, radio to ensure the system is discarged.

Fred

 

Are we talking about your 89 Ranger????

If so which engine & how many miles on it & whats it's mechanical condition????

Have you done any cooling system pressure & engine compression testing????

As fflintstone said, an oiled up PCV isn't normal. How is your oil consumption on this engine between OCI's????

Could be caused by a number of things, the first that comes to mind is excessive "blow by", maybe from worn, or stuck piston rings.

If the engine's mechanical condition is ok, maybe even by the wrong amount of oil in the crankcase, such that the crankshaft is dipping into it & causing excessive oil misting. So, have you just done, or ad done, an oil change & maybe miscounted & poured in too much lube??????

To as fflintstone suggested, sludged up oil returns in the top end of the engine, such that you have too much oil up there, thats being thrashed about by the valve train.

White smoke, after the engine is warmed up, is usualy a sign of water vapor in the exhaust, so thats the reason I aked about the cooling system pressure testing & engine compression testing.

Lots of possibilities, so we'll need some more clues about the condition of your engine, to make a better guess.

 

OK, where to begin. The engine runs, just not great. It's sluggish at best. I can get the truck to do 75 down the highway, but i'm litterally standing on the gas pedal. As far as the oil change theory, I did just put 4 quarts in it the day before, but it was almost dry, don't yell at me, but the dipstick was almost bone dry. I have codes 22, 33, and 42 popping on KOER. I only get about 160 miles to a tank of gas, about 15 gallons. The fuel pump is new, had to replace when i put the truck on the road in December cause of a leak in a fuel line on the pump, and i changed the fuel filter. The spark plugs and wires have been replaced as well. I also have an issue where the truck idles too high when I press on the clutch and hold it down when i'm coming to a stop light or something. It will rev up high and not stop unless I put it back in gear or come to ALMOST a complete stop. Can't figure that one out, i don't have a vacuum leak that i can find. I can't think of anything else. For the record, it's a 2.3L, 5-speed, EFIAnd also the smoke has stopped. So maybe that was left over residue or something? IDK

 

You put in 4 qts, when the dipstick was almost dry, so did you read the dipstick after you added the 4 qts????? Seems to me I remember 1 qt would bring the level up in the hatch mark, if it was showing on the dipstick, if so, then 4 qts would likely overfill it.

Did it indicate that the engine was over filled????? If so, you need to remove some & get the oil level in range on the dipstick.

On the codes 22 & 23, the computer is still unhappy with the EGR system.

On the 43 code & with your saying mpg is low, the computer agrees & says the system is running rich.

SO, if the EGR system is still acting out & it's indeed running rich & you have too much oil in the crankcase, such that the crankshaft is beating it into a froth, the engine isn't gonna be happy.

Check the oil level on the dipstick & if it's over full, pump some out of the dipstick tube, or pop the drain plug & let some out, so the level is right.

Recheck the EGR system. All vacuum & electrical connections, along with the DPFE sensor & vacuum switching valve, if this year/model used them. Get the EGR system working right.

Do a fuel pressue test, to make sure it's within specification. Check the MAF, or MAP sensors & make sure they're working & in spec. Check the O2 sensor/s response time & make sure it/they're not lazy. If it/they are the OEM ones, they may need replacing.

Let us know how it goes.