Am looking to buy a '94 Ranger 2wd, standard cab, long box 5 sp., no air. It has a fuel injected 4 cyl 2.3. Is it a good engine? Why are there 8 spark plugs?--is that good? What kind of gas mileage can I expect?

Thanks,
Rich

 

Hi,

I just got (2 months ago) a 93 2WD 2.3 standard cab with air (that needs charging but I dont need no AC). I get about 18 to 21 mpg depending on how much highway driving that includes. So your standard shift should get a little better. The thing about the auto 4cyl is that I have to floor it most of the time I want to get anywhere.

I am going to put new plugs and wires in because the wires say 1992 on them and I am assuming that means they are factory original. I am kind of afraid to because it runs really nicely as it is.

 

The deal with the spark plugs was a medium in engineering. Ford wanted the distributorless ignition but hadn't worked it out. To get the fire in two cycles they went with eight plugs. 93 and 94's are that way. In 95 they figured it out and went to the EDIS that is in most vehicles today. If I am not mistake the whole point is that the second burst helps fire the piston down.

 

Just bought the truck today to replace my 87 F150 V8. Thanks for the posts!

 

The deal with 2 spark plugs isnt to help push the piston down. The second spark ignites any remaining unburnt fuel in the cyclinder. This provides a better combustion and better fuel economy. My previous truck, an 84 Nissan, had this same set up.

 

Yep, and helps clean up the emissions..

Besides, if it needed an extra plug to push the piston back down, you just need to install bigger piston-pull-back springs..

 

You forgot about the muffler bearings that would be required.

 

and if you need either bigger piston pullback springs or muffler bearings you can get them at http://www.kalecoauto.com/