Back Again with a 2009 Supercab XL 2.3

[Bustedup]

Greetings folks! Be away for about 5 years. Sold my 2005 2.5 SWB Flareside and just bought a 2009 XL Supercab 2.3 with automatic. It is stripped down! Only options I can see are automatic and A/C. Crank window and manual locks. AM/FM radio! No jump seats. 168K miles. She has been neglected. A quick look shows a bad valve cover gasket leak, leaking water pump, he heater valve/4 hose connecter is leaking and there is a power steering leak somewhere. Former owner died of malignant melanoma and I bought from family. WHAT A CONVOLUTED COOLING AND HEATER HOSE SYSTEM! Really FORD? I know this is a Mazda engine but damn, could you have made the cooling/ heater hose system any more complex? Did you hire German engineers for this? The more hoses and fitting the bigger the bonus?
Will be getting the cooling system sorted out as well as all the leaky components. After that, I will start collecting new and used parts to repair low speed deer impact damage to the left front. Inside is nasty because he rode his muddy mutts around in it on his farm.

 

[RonD]

Yes, the 2.3l DOHC Duratec engine was made for FWD Cars, not RWD Trucks

So mounted east-west the plumbing is not too bad
Mounted north-south requires extra plumbing
If transmission is ever out replace the gaskets and hose at the back of engine, can't get at it if it ever leaks without pull the trans, or engine

Nice looking Ranger

And just FYI in the late 1990's automatics became the "standard" transmissions, optional manual trans cost extra, lol, well on most models
And can't even get manuals on anything theses days

 

[racsan]

The 2.5 “mazda” in my ‘09 escape is a little weird itself, thermostat/housing is down low on the engine block instead of up high on the end of the cylinder head, pcv is behind the updraft style intake manifold (plastic) and you need to take that intake manifold off to replace it. I haven’t looked for the oil filter yet. On the bright side I have lots of room with this 4cyl, could just about mount a toolbox between the engine & firewall.

 

[Bustedup]

Yes, the 2.3l DOHC Duratec engine was made for FWD Cars, not RWD Trucks

So mounted east-west the plumbing is not too bad
Mounted north-south requires extra plumbing
If transmission is ever out replace the gaskets and hose at the back of engine, can't get at it if it ever leaks without pull the trans, or engine

Nice looking Ranger

And just FYI in the late 1990's automatics became the "standard" transmissions, optional manual trans cost extra, lol, well on most models
And can't even get manuals on anything theses days

You gotta be crapping me? The previous owner put a new trans in it. So you gotta pull the tranny to replace hoses? Jeez......................

 

[DrWho42]

welcome back!

 

[RonD]

Picture of the rear of a Ranger 2.3l Duratec: https://www.therangerstation.com/forums/index.php?attachments/2022-05-22-16-33-34-jpg.76798/

The larger fitting with silver number can leak, not common but.................
Also has a hose at the bottom

 

[pjtoledo]

You gotta be crapping me? The previous owner put a new trans in it. So you gotta pull the tranny to replace hoses? Jeez......................

Houdini may be able to get it replaced but us normal guys would have real issues doing it.
by the way, that's a 2002 engine. other than the aluminum valve cover and the intake flapper it is identical to a 2005.

 

[Bustedup]

Picture of the rear of a Ranger 2.3l Duratec: https://www.therangerstation.com/forums/index.php?attachments/2022-05-22-16-33-34-jpg.76798/

The larger fitting with silver number can leak, not common but.................
Also has a hose at the bottom

What is the 45 degree angle pipe thing on the top right and what is the pump looking thing on the top left?

 

[pjtoledo]

45 pipe is coolant outlet (or inlet, not sure which way its flowing) from the head. it turns and goes towards the front, above the exhaust manifold.
there is an O ring inside it where the next tube attaches.
pump looking thingie is the EGR solenoid.
in the head, exhaust port #4 has a side hole that feeds some exhaust gas thru a tunnel in the head going to the EGR solenoid.
solenoid then allows EGR gas to pass out the front of the head into the intake manifold.

 

[Bustedup]

45 pipe is coolant outlet (or inlet, not sure which way its flowing) from the head. it turns and goes towards the front, above the exhaust manifold.
there is an O ring inside it where the next tube attaches.
pump looking thingie is the EGR solenoid.
in the head, exhaust port #4 has a side hole that feeds some exhaust gas thru a tunnel in the head going to the EGR solenoid.
solenoid then allows EGR gas to pass out the front of the head into the intake manifold.



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Thanks for the info. I must say, I wish I had done more research before I dropped the cash on this thing. If I would have known this, I probably would have crossed the 2.3 off my list and stuck with looking for an older 3.0!

 

[Bustedup]

This is same engine in the Miata I believe. I wonder if the MX-5 has this coolant hose maze??????