• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Head Compatibility question


tattooedthomas117

New Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2011
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
39
Location
Lake Elsinore
Vehicle Year
1995
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Automatic
What are the differences if any between a set of 2000 3.0 ranger heads and a set of 2002 ranger heads. I would like to send out the pair of 2000s to get machined and freshened up so I have very little done time with the truck if I ever have to change head gasgets. I just need to know if the 2000 heads will be okay to use on my 02. Any info would be greatly appreciated thank you very much
 


RonD

Official TRS AI
TRS Technical Advisor
Joined
Jun 2, 2012
Messages
25,290
Reaction score
8,291
Points
113
Location
canada
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
I have not read about any problems using either head design, flex or gas only, on a truck that will be using gas only.

Head gaskets are the same for flex or gas only, by years

Don't reuse head bolts.

Main difference in flex fuel trucks is the Fuel Sensor, to determine methanol content, computer software to use this sensor and larger injectors to add the extra fuel needed when using E85 methanol, as much as 34% more fuel is needed.
 

tattooedthomas117

New Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2011
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
39
Location
Lake Elsinore
Vehicle Year
1995
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Automatic
I'm not sure what the 2000 is but I know that the 2002 is not flex fuel and it would only be having gas ran through it not the methenal fuel. Thank you so much for the information
 

JP02XLT

Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2008
Messages
466
Reaction score
8
Points
18
Location
Indiana
Vehicle Year
02
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
3.0
Transmission
Automatic
The difference in the 02 heads is valve stem size and the beehive style springs, I have ported both and cc'd the chambers & the runners, there is no difference in the castings.

As for the flex fuel issue 2000 & up DO NOT have a sensor, it is all done by the ECU using calculations (estimates of the fuel in the tank) based off of readings from the O2's. There is another flex fuel thread on here with more detail.

JP02XLT
 

tattooedthomas117

New Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2011
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
39
Location
Lake Elsinore
Vehicle Year
1995
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Automatic
So would the heads be safe to use on the 02 engine
 

JP02XLT

Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2008
Messages
466
Reaction score
8
Points
18
Location
Indiana
Vehicle Year
02
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
3.0
Transmission
Automatic
Yes, keep the 2000 springs, retainers & rocker arms together & they will be fine, same goes for the 02 set, keep the parts together and dont interchange parts to the heads and you will be fine

JP02XLT
 

RonD

Official TRS AI
TRS Technical Advisor
Joined
Jun 2, 2012
Messages
25,290
Reaction score
8,291
Points
113
Location
canada
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
..................
As for the flex fuel issue 2000 & up DO NOT have a sensor, it is all done by the ECU using calculations (estimates of the fuel in the tank) based off of readings from the O2's. There is another flex fuel thread on here with more detail.

JP02XLT
Good info, :icon_thumby: always wonder why they had that sensor in the first place, $650 to replace.
Since Model-T days and carbs you just changed to larger jets, on EFI the "jet size" is adjustable on the fly, so never saw the reason for that sensor.

They really just needed the larger injectors and computer software that allowed longer dwell time on injectors when methanol % went up.
Gas only ECU adjusts fine to 0%, 10% and even 15% methanol mixes.
With stock(gas only) injectors you should be able to run up to 40% methanol, although you may get the 0171/0174 lean codes because of the high fuel trims with gas only computer software.
 

JP02XLT

Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2008
Messages
466
Reaction score
8
Points
18
Location
Indiana
Vehicle Year
02
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
3.0
Transmission
Automatic
Ron the ECU 00+ model strategy they use for E85 is called adaptive learning, I had a really good article explaining this that I found from Ford engineering, short explanation is that they use the O2 signal, re-fuel data, and some other information to approximate the ethanol content in the tank & adjust to a 14.7 AFR, it is a guess at best. In my case on a supercharged engine it is a nightmare. I will see if I can find the article and post it.

I have ran blends of up to 50% E85 and premium and the ECU gets lost, I get poor performance, very rich and at times, mostly idle & low RPM I get the 171/174 codes. I have even seen this on straight 93 octane, this has to be the dumbest idea that Ford has came up with as the adaptive learning really has very few true data inputs to determine what is in the tank.

So far the best all around performance I can get from blending is with 89 octane with 20% E85, runs great, hardly ever throws the codes & does not go into that extreme rich mode while cruising at 60+ mph like it does with the blend & premium.

JP02XLT
 
Last edited:

Earl43P

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
3,159
Reaction score
38
Points
48
Location
Farmington, Pa
Vehicle Year
2019
Make / Model
Ford F250 4WD
Engine Size
3.0
Transmission
Manual
Ron the ECU 00+ model strategy they use for E85 is called adaptive learning, I had a really good article explaining this that I found from Ford engineering, short explanation is that they use the O2 signal, re-fuel data, and some other information to approximate the ethanol content in the tank & adjust to a 14.7 AFR, it is a guess at best. In my case on a supercharged engine it is a nightmare. I will see if I can find the article and post it.

I have ran blends of up to 50% E85 and premium and the ECU gets lost, I get poor performance, very rich and at times, mostly idle & low RPM I get the 171/174 codes. I have even seen this on straight 93 octane, this has to be the dumbest idea that Ford has came up with as the adaptive learning really has very few true data inputs to determine what is in the tank.

So far the best all around performance I can get from blending is with 89 octane with 20% E85, runs great, hardly ever throws the codes & does not go into that extreme rich mode while cruising at 60+ mph like it does with the blend & premium.

JP02XLT

The 2000 EVTM (3.0, page 24-8 and 24-9) shows pin 34 to the EEC is from the Flex Fuel Vaporized Sensor. I'm going to guess they deleted that sensor in 01?
 

JP02XLT

Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2008
Messages
466
Reaction score
8
Points
18
Location
Indiana
Vehicle Year
02
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
3.0
Transmission
Automatic
Yeah it seems no one can pin point a date as to when they dropped the fuel density sensor.

JP02XLT
 

stmitch

March 2011 STOTM Winner
MTOTM Winner
2011 Truck of The Year
Joined
Jan 29, 2010
Messages
2,259
Reaction score
615
Points
113
Location
Central Indiana
Vehicle Year
2000
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
3.0
Transmission
Manual
My 2000 definitely has the sensor. JP's 02 does not. That should narrow the dates down a bit.
 

JP02XLT

Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2008
Messages
466
Reaction score
8
Points
18
Location
Indiana
Vehicle Year
02
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
3.0
Transmission
Automatic
Stmitch I was referring more towards month of manufacture of say a late 00 model or early manufactured 01, that seems to be where the gray area is of which does or does not have the sensor.

JP02XLT
 

stmitch

March 2011 STOTM Winner
MTOTM Winner
2011 Truck of The Year
Joined
Jan 29, 2010
Messages
2,259
Reaction score
615
Points
113
Location
Central Indiana
Vehicle Year
2000
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
3.0
Transmission
Manual
Yeah, I was just being a smartass.

I'd guess that the change took effect for the 01 model year, when they changed the intake manifold, EGR, and other significant changes, but that's just a guess.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top