Help...2.3L wishes it was a diesel

[Dan B.]

Working on the "new to me" 1986 Ranger. I'll tryto cover all the bases to minimize possibilities.

It's a 4 plug 2.3L (EFI), five speed with a LOT of new partsthat were installed when I got it. The front cover and valve cover have beenoff.

The problem....idle is rough and it belches blacksmoke....almost like it "identifies" as a diesel. It flooded itselfso bad that it would not start (with the MSD plugs). I removed them andinstalled new Champion plugs (were in the cab with lots of other stuff) andgapped at .044". Below is a picture of the spark plugs after five minutesof run time.

New Fuel tank (unsure about the pump). Fuel level is verylow and not sure how old it is. Going to get new high test and dry gas todayand add it in.

New MSD coil, wires, cap, rotor, plugs. New injectors.

New IAC and EGR.

Compression test shows 120# at each cylinder.

Timing is set at 10BTDC. HOWEVER...I did not pull the coverto check all the timing marks to make sure they are all in sync.

Checked the firing order to make sure they had itproper...it was.

I unplugged the MAP sensor (truck was off). Restarted and theidle did not seem to change pitch. However when I plugged it back in (whilealready running) the idle did smooth out and black smoke went away for about 15seconds. Then it came right back....ugh. Got a new MAP sensor and nothingchanged.

There is a vac line (metal elbow) from the BOTTOM of thethrottle body that has a section of rubber line on it and is plugged. I'm sureit is supposed to go somewhere but I'm not sure where. I pulled the cappedrubber line off the elbow while running and the idle speeds up substantially(as expected).

The plan...for tonight I will add new fuel, clean the plugsand check the vac line from the MAP to the T-body for obstruction.

What else can I do to trouble shoot this bugger. Thanks.

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[Martin0660]

I didn't see fuel pressure regulator in your scheme.

There should be a vacuum line from the intake to the fuel pressure regulator. At idle, under vacuum, the fuel pressure is pulled down to a lower level. The regular should be 38# with no vacuum signal and go down by the vacuum amount.

A big failure mode of those is the diaphragm fails, and gas gets through into the intake.

I would check there 1st.

[Martin0660]

2.3 tuff does not like fine wire spark plugs. Suggest autolite 764 straight copper plugs.

[Dan B.]

FP regulator.....I'll check it out this evening. This truck doesn't have a valve on the rail to check pressure. But I do have to other trucks outside...a part # search shows that the same reg was used for several years so I'll swap this one out and see what happens before running to the parts store. Thanks.

[Martin0660]

Pull the hose off it a sniff for gas ... any smell it’s bad

[Dan B.]

Did some more digging before I swap the fuel pressure regulator. Found a bad section of vacuum line going to the map sensor. Spliced it with rubber line and fired it up. The idle is smooth but still fast. Must have another vacuum leak somewhere that I need to find. Meanwhile this hose circled in the picture was spitting small drops of fluid up out of it. Not sure what it is. Any ideas?

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[Dan B.]

Here is where the hose is connected to down below the intake manifold and above the motor mount. The pic is sideways.

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[Dan B.]

No bueno amigo.....

Attachment 31726

[Dan B.]

Did some research. Pvc balance valve. Apparently problems with this can mimic vacuum leak problems.

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[Martin0660]

PCV valve. Can on the block is an oil seperator ... should have a PCV valve in line then connect to intake

[Dan B.]

PCV valve. Can on the block is an oil seperator ... should have a PCV valve in line then connect to intake

Bam!! That's just what I told colt (my 14yo boy...wrenching partner) that I thought needed to be done. Thanks a ton!

[Dan B.]

PCV valve is installed and the line properly connected to the intake. Idle is smooth, still fast but getting better. I sprayed WD40 around the throttle body and vacuum lines on the T-body. The engine did speed up so I have a leak somewhere in that area.

[Martin0660]

reset the TPS, in these versions they are adjustable. If above 1.0 volts the idle will be high.

The procedure ot set is out there if you google search.