bent 6

[MTLBNDR]

I'M QUITE DISAPOINTED RIGHT NOW.

PURCHASED A 99 RANGER THAT WAS RUN OUT OF OIL. BROUGHT THE ENGINE TO A ENGINE SHOP TO REBUILD. 30 OVER, NEW PISTONS, TWO RECON RODS ECT.

LAST WEEKED INSTALLED THE ENGINE IN THE TRUCK TEACHING MY SON WITH EACH STEP. WHEN COMPLETED SHE STARTED RIGHT OFF AND RAN GREAT, AND THEN A TRICKLE OF OIL UNDER THE TRUCK. SEEMED TO BE A LEAKY VALVE COVER SO I PULLED IT OFF AND RECHECKED AGAIN. STILL SAME PROBLEM THEM WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS AGAIN. (DUMB ) THEN LOOKING EVEN CLOSER SEEMED TO BE RUNNING OUT OF THE BELL HOUSING RIGHT SIDE ABOUT A DRIP PER SECOND.

I PULLED A COUPLE OF THE COVER BOLTS AND COULD SEE THE DRIVERS SIDE LEAKING A BIT. I KNOW YOU MAY BE THINKING WHAT I THOUGHT, REAR MAIN. I HAVE PROBABLY DONE A DOZEN ENGINES OVER THE YEARS BUT NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS. SO WHAT ELSE COULD I DO BUT PULL THE ENGINE AGAIN.

WHEN IT WAS ON THE HOIST WE BEGAN LOOKING AT THE AREA THAT WAS WET WITH OIL ON THE BACK OF THE ENGINE, I COULDN'T BE SURE WHERE THE LEAK HAD COME FROM. THE SEAL LOOKED GOOD. I HOOKED UP A 1/2" DRILL TO THE FRONT OF THE CRANK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OVER FOR A MINUTE, ONE OF THE ALLEN HEAD SET SCREWS FOR THE OIL PASSAGES THAT ARE SOMETIMES REMOVED WHEN CLEANING AN ENGINE WAS SEEPING OUT OIL.

THE PLUG HAD BEEN WRAPED IN TEFLON TAPE WHEN THE ENGINE BUILDER HAD COMPLETED HIS WORK. IT SEEMED TO BE A LITTLE LOOSE. I COULD TURN IT ABOUT 1/4 TURN.
ALTHOUGH I WAS A LITTLE MAD I PULLED THE PLUG RE-WRAPPED IT IN TEFLON AND RE INSTALLED IT. "AT LEAST THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE ABLE TO DOWITHOUT HAVING TO PAY SOMEONE ELSE" I TOLD MY SON. WE RAN IT WITH THE DRILL FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND DID NOT SEE ANY MORE LEAKING. O.K.

I REINSTALLED THE ENGINGE AGAIN TIED IT ALL UP RAN THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, ALL LOOKED GOOD, EVEN PUT THE HOOD BACK ON HAPPY WITH OUR WORK. TELL MY SON "SOMETIME YOU NEED TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES". A FEW MINUTES LATER, DRIP, DRIP. AS THE OIL HEATS UP IT GETS THINNER.

TALKED WITH MY FATHER THE OLD MECHANIC, NOW I'M CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLY A SMALL CRACK IN THE PLUG AREA.

ANY SUGGESTIONS?

 

[rbohm]

8) examine the area very closely. you might find a crack or not. i suspect that the plug thread are damaged or worn out for some reason. check to see if the plug is still tight. if not then you can try tightening it back up, and then staking the plug in place.

 

[Anonymous]

Also, when you have your very close look, check the threads both in the block and the plug (setscrew) itself - a new setscrew is a good idea anyway. Also clean the area around the threaded hole very thoroughly and look very closely as you tighten it, looking for hairline cracks - another thought, since it only leaks when warm, is to drain the oil and put in the thinnest oil you can get (JUST FOR THE TEST!!) - then spin the motor as you've been doing on the hoist and look for the leak - hopefully, if it passes this test on the hoist, you'll be able to fill it with thicker oil and hopefully all should be OK......

 

[MTLBNDR]

I havn't had the chance to pull the engine again, tomorrow night will be my first chance. I did check the setscrew very carefully. I will probably get some three step spray from a welding supplier to check for cracks. (works great sometimes) We sometimes use it for checking our heat treat oven fan. Sometimes it will show hair line cracks. Mostly this problem is just disbelief in having to be doing this again. I like the idea of really light oil, (test purposes only) it may be enough to help. I hope to determine the source of the oil leak. It was a new screw, pipe thread, and it sure looked good but then again why would I have this problem if it was all so good. Thanks for the input Guys.

 

[The Plankster Prankster]

you might try using Rector-seal instead of teflon - being a liquid it might flow in and fill the issue, could be a damaged thread on teh female end, and that might be enough to take care of it. no guarantees, but i like to try all my $1 options before i try my $100 options

 

[MTLBNDR]

WELL, HERE ARE THE RESULTS. THE SEEPAGE WAS COMING FROM THE SAME PIPE PLUG. IT HAD LOOSENED A LITTLE. WE GOT OUT THE MAGNIFYING GLASS, CHECKED VERY CAREFULLY FOR CRACKS. THE BLOCK DID LOOK GOOD. UPON VERY CLOSE EXAMINATION THE PLUG SEEMED THAT THE THREADS WERE DEFECTIVE ( STOPPED JUST A HAIR SHORT OF THE TOP OF THE PLUG. WHAT I DID WAS TO GO TO THE HARDWARE STORE AND COMPARE TO A 3/8" PIPE THREAD. I PURCHASED A PLUG AND A PIPE COUPLER SO I COULD TRY THE FIT. LIKE NORMAL A PIPE THREAD WILL BEGIN TO TIGHTEN AFTER JUST A FEW TURNS. TOOK THE ONE FROM THE ENGINE AND CHECKED IT, IT STOPPED RIGHT NOW. NO SLOWLY GETTING TIGHTER AS PIPE THREADS NORMALLY DO. NOW I WENT TO VISIT THE ENGINE BUILDER AGAIN, SHOWING HIM THE PLUG THAT CAME OUT OF THE BLOCK. HE TOLD ME "YOU USED A BAD PLUG, YOU HAVE TO CHECK THEM BEFORE YOU INSTALL THESE". :fume: I TOLD HIM "YOU INSTALLED THIS PLUG AND I HAVE ALREADY TALKED WITH YOU ABOUT IT BEFORE" HE WENT TO THE BACK ROOM GOT OUT THREE MORE (PROBABLY ONE FOR EACH TIME I HAD TO PULL THE ENGINE?) AND GAVE THEM TO ME. I TRY NOT TO GET TO ANGRY, I COMPLETED MAKING MY POINT, AND WENT HOME TO FINISHMY ADVENTURE, THIS TIME KNOWING AT LEAST I COULD HAVE SOME CONFIDENCE THE PROBLEM WOULD BE SOLVED. AGAIN WRAPPED THE PLUG IN A LOCKTITE THREAD SEALING COMPOUND (NOT LOCKTITE) AND PUT HER BACK INTO THE TRUCK. STARTED RIGHT UP, WARMED RIGHT UP AND GUESS WHAT? NO LEAKS. KIND OF BITTERSWEET BUT HAPPY TO BE DONE.
THANKS FOR THE ADVICE GUYS, IT IS APPRECIATED AND NOT IGNORED.
NOW ON TO FIXING STORM DAMAGE FROM LAST SEPTEMBER AFTER JUST FINISHING UP WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY.

 

[Anonymous]

what size bent six do you have? I have the 4.0l bent six in my explorer and love it. Let me knwo how you like driving the ranger

chaz

 

[MTLBNDR]

I HAVE THE 3.0 FLEX FUEL. ACTUALLY HERE IN MINNESOTA THEY ARE MADE AT THE ST. PAUL PLANT. IT IS KIND OF A GUTTLESS WOUNDER BUT I HAD AN OFFER I COULD NOT REFUSE. I HAVE THE 4.0 IN MY F-150 AND I REALLY LIKE IT. I AM READY TO TRY THE E-85 FUEL IN THE RANGER (3.0) FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A NOTICABLE POWER DIFERENCE IN POWER WITH THE E-85, HOWEVER THE MILEAGE DROPS SO IT ACTUALLY COMES OUT ABOUT THE SAME AT THE END OF THE YEAR. BUT MORE POWER? I HAD LEASED A RANGER BACK IN 2000, I LIKED IT EXCEPT THE LACK OF POWER. BUT FOR $500 (PLUS REBUILD)IT WILL BE A GREAT TRUCK FOR MY SON, AND HE LEARNED ALOT. I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAS THE DISEASE YET BUT HAS HELPED ON THE TWO MUSTANGS AND NOW THE TRUCK.