Loosing Compression
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 62
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Loosing Compression
This is my first post here on the Ranger site. My dad bought a '87 Ranger 2.3l 4x4 w/ 5-spd. The engine just doesn't have any power and takes a very long time to accelerate to 50 mph. In first, we accelerate until the engine is at 3000 rpm, then when we shift to 2nd, it practically dies. While idling, if we rev it up, it starts to shake and idle poorly when the rpm comes back down. After digging into it, we found that we are loosing compression in #3 cylinder. If we shut it off right when the rough idle starts, and check compression, it will crank about 5 - 10 full revolutions with 0 psi then all of a sudden it comes up to about 150. Has anyone seen this before? I don't know anything about these engines. Does this engine have hydraulic lifters? How much can be checked/changed without pulling the head? We took of the vavle cover and didn't see anything broken. A little insight on this problem would be helpful. Thanks in advance!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,436
Likes: 117
From: Virginia
Ditto on the sticking valve. If we assume you are doing the compression test correctly, and the gauge is good, then there is no other way you can go from 0 to 150 psi. "Is the compression leaking out of the intake or exhaust valve?" - is probably the next question you may think of, but at this point it shouldn't really matter. Sounds like it is time to take the head to your local machine shop and get it rebuilt. Let us know what happens.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,851
Likes: 111
From: SW Va
I agree, it sounds like a sticking valve.
Could be valve stem gum, varnish, or combustion camber carbon deposits flaking off & preventing the valve/s from closing.
Several things come to mind to try, depending on what kind of top end deposits you found when you removed the valve cover.
Could be valve stem gum, varnish, or combustion camber carbon deposits flaking off & preventing the valve/s from closing.
Several things come to mind to try, depending on what kind of top end deposits you found when you removed the valve cover.
