Fouled plugs
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New User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8
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Fouled plugs
hello,
I have a 1985 Ranger that has been giving me a couple problems. While returning to school this past week, the truck began to miss like crazy, so i stopped at the autozone, and pulled the plugs. i found 3 of them mildly fouled, and one was fouled pretty bad. i changed all of them, and the truck ran fine again. i realize this is only a temporary solution, in fact i have noticed signs that the plug(s) are becoming fouled yet again. when i run the codes, i get a code that says something about the egr solenoid, a 73 i believe it is. i have cleaned the egr, and replaced the solenoids near the air filter.
the local repair shop says that i have low compression (in the cylinder with the badly fouled plug), but my compression gauge shows the compression to be fine in that cylinder. the shop suggested that i have the valve guides, or the valves themselves inspected/replaced, but i want to make sure that is a probable cause of my problems before i go about ripping the head off.
the truck has been recently tuned up, o2 sensor replaced, etc. but it has nothing but a catalytic converter for exhaust. im not sure what kinds of problems that can cause.
any help would be appreciated.
Thanks a lot.
I have a 1985 Ranger that has been giving me a couple problems. While returning to school this past week, the truck began to miss like crazy, so i stopped at the autozone, and pulled the plugs. i found 3 of them mildly fouled, and one was fouled pretty bad. i changed all of them, and the truck ran fine again. i realize this is only a temporary solution, in fact i have noticed signs that the plug(s) are becoming fouled yet again. when i run the codes, i get a code that says something about the egr solenoid, a 73 i believe it is. i have cleaned the egr, and replaced the solenoids near the air filter.
the local repair shop says that i have low compression (in the cylinder with the badly fouled plug), but my compression gauge shows the compression to be fine in that cylinder. the shop suggested that i have the valve guides, or the valves themselves inspected/replaced, but i want to make sure that is a probable cause of my problems before i go about ripping the head off.
the truck has been recently tuned up, o2 sensor replaced, etc. but it has nothing but a catalytic converter for exhaust. im not sure what kinds of problems that can cause.
any help would be appreciated.
Thanks a lot.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,417
Likes: 3
From: Durham, NC
Fouled plugs
Does it seem to be running too rich? You might
try pulling the vacuum line off the fuel pressure
regulator, and check for gas. If you find gas, then
the diaphram is ruptured, and you need to replace
the fuel pressure regulator...Good luck!!
try pulling the vacuum line off the fuel pressure
regulator, and check for gas. If you find gas, then
the diaphram is ruptured, and you need to replace
the fuel pressure regulator...Good luck!!
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Harrisburg USA
Fouled plugs
Which engine do you have?? Is it the 2.8 V6?? They are known to burn oil. Do you see a cloud of blue smoke the first time you fire it up?? My '85 burns tons of oil, mostly from the bad valve seals, which is common. If I start & shut off too often, without letting it get fully warmed up, it will foul out. Also, the more oil it burns, the more sensitive it is to a rich fuel mixture, as mentioned above. It will foul out even more rapidly with the combination of the 2 conditions. While you're under the hood checking out the enrichment diaphragm, do also make sure that your choke is opening fully after warm-up.
