Ford Ranger 3.2 Diesel Engine Problems (FIXES)
The Ford Ranger 3.2 Diesel Engine problems range from any of the following.
- Intake Pipe cracks causing the engine to go into limp mode and lose power.
- The Oil Pump will not prime if the oil is left to drain for longer than 10 minutes which could result in catastrophic engine failure.
- Crank Position Sensor failure causes the engine to shut off without any warnings
- EGR Failure
This article will discuss a few known problems owners can expect with the 3.2 5-cylinder Diesel Ford Ranger and Mazda BT50.
It is a pretty robust engine with good performance figures on paper, however, like most diesel engines it also has its issues.
So, having found the potential issues with my 3.2 Ford Ranger, let’s delve into each one to grasp how they develop and find possible fixes.
Concerning the oil pump not priming after long oil drainage: It’s not a direct problem, but for us Ranger owners doing our oil changes, it’s vital to keep an eye on this situation between services.
Let’s look into each issue in more detail now.
When Ford developed the 3.2 5-banger they wanted more power than the previous 4-banger but something not as thirsty as a 6-cylinder.
For the required power output, the two options in their range of turbo-diesel engines boiled down to the five-cylinder engine and a V6.
The engine is robust, “torquey” and tows beautifully with a really good spread of power
The V6 might have been a bit big for the engine bay and the five-popper was cheaper to produce, hence they opted for the 5-pot 3.2.
The engine is robust, “torquey” and tows beautifully with a really good spread of power – plus it sounds good too.
It does, however, have some minor niggles that we’ll address next.
GOOD TO KNOW: Ford Ranger 3.2 Transmission Problems
Let’s start with the intake pipe.
Intake Pipe Crack
The Ranger’s intake pipe can unexpectedly develop cracks. It’s wise to check it regularly for tiny cracks or tears.
An easy way to do this is to let the engine idle briefly to build pressure, then run your hand along the pipe feeling for air blowing out.
Remember, cracks might not be visible, so gently feel along the whole pipe for leaks.
After that, turn off the engine and listen for any sucking noises from the intake pipe, which signal a leak.
You can swap the pipe with a sturdier silicone or metal version for a replacement.
Symptoms of a cracked intake pipe include the following:
- The engine running hotter than usual
- Drop in performance
- Excessive black smoke from the exhaust
- Error Code P00BD
NB: If you are venturing out into the unknown with your 3.2 Ford Ranger and your intake pipe appears fine, as a precautionary measure, take along some heat-resistant silicon tape and a few extra steel pipe clamps.
In the event you need to carry out an emergency repair in the sticks It’s a fairly simple repair that requires only basic tools.
This bush repair should be able to get you home just fine.
You will need to isolate the crack, then tape it up securely with heat-resistant tape and clamp it close using the metal pipe clamps.
This bush repair should be able to get you home just fine.
This is hardly a major issue, just something to be aware of as a 3.2 Ford Ranger owner.
Next, let’s look at the oil pump priming issue.
The Oil Pump Will Not Prime After A Ten-Minute Oil Change
This is a more complex issue/condition that you as an owner need to keep in mind if you are a bit OCD with regards to carrying out oil changes between service intervals to keep the engine oil running clean.
It’s probably not necessary to do oil changes that often since the men in white coats have sat down and thought things through, meaning the recommended intervals will do just fine.
NB: If you were to do an oil change by yourself, ensure you do not exceed the 10-minute mark so don’t get distracted, and make sure you answer any “nature calls” before you get started.
It’s also probably a good idea to run the engine hot and then drain the oil immediately after shutting off the engine since this means all contaminants will be evenly mixed within the old oil.
Another reason for this is that the hot oil is a lot thinner, meaning the drainage will be quicker. You should never exceed 5 minutes when doing an oil change.
the 3.2 diesel Ranger cannot prime itself and deliver oil once all the oil has drained out for longer than 10 minutes.
The reason for not exceeding the 10-minute mark is due to the sophisticated variable pressure oil pump.
The 3.2 diesel Ranger cannot prime itself and deliver oil once all the oil has drained out for longer than 10 minutes.
This is bad news if you’ve already done this since starting the engine could lead to catastrophic engine failure.
Also, there is no way to prime the pump yourself.
Click here for a detailed explanation of the Ranger/Mazda 3.2 Oil pump priming procedure
The reason this becomes a complex problem is that the engine management ECU setting for engine oil dilution needs to be reset with a laptop via the OBD port inside the cabin.
This is designed that way so that the engine can make all the right settings when managing the regeneration of the DPF filter.
This is a highly complex system that you do not want to mess with.
So stick to under 10 minutes, and rather make it 5 just to be safe!
Next, let’s look at the crank sensor.
Crank Position Sensor
The CPS (Crank Position Sensor) is a known and common problem with the earlier versions of the 3.2 Ford Rangers.
The common problem is that the CPS works itself loose which results in the sensor not being able to get a true reading or pick up the position of the crank.
There has been a revised CPS which is mounted differently and incorporates a rubber tip that is ejected upon start-up to ensure the correct gap is achieved for a true reading.
The crank position sensor fault could be caused by any of the following:
- Dirty-toothed gear on the flywheel.
- CPS works itself loose resulting in
contact with the toothed gear on the flywheel causing damage
Other Issues
The EGR and DPF failures experienced on Ford Rangers are not Ford-specific and a common problem across most modern, sophisticated diesel engines.
Check the EGR for coolant leaks regularly. Some owners have chosen to blank off the EGR to prevent further headaches.
Make sure you know the pros and cons of doing this first.
Helpful Resources
Final Thoughts
The straight-five engine or inline-five engine is a real Gem and almost as smooth as a 6-potter but still delivers decent torque and power throughout the rev range.
The engine is robust and reliable and should give you many happy miles if taken care of properly.
