Sir:

I started a thread a few days ago about my woes with a 99 Ranger.  Let
me recap what's happened to this point then I have some questions for
you.

99 Ranger 4X4, 5-speed, 3.0L V6; 92K miles; serviced religiously.
It's my adult daughter's truck and she is a fanatic about service --
probably because her old man taught her to drive on an old VW Beetle
and made it clear to her that if it blew up, she wouldn't get anything
else.

She was driving along minding her own business -- she's also fanatic
about observing posted speed limits -- CHECK ENGINE light came on, oil
pressue needle dropped to zero, came back up, flickered, and she shut
it down.

She waited a few minutes and checked the dipstick -- oil was full.  No
sign of oil being flung out anywhere.  She cranked it, heard tapping
in valve train and shut it down, towed to dealer.

Dealer told me he "tore down the bottom of the engine" -- I asked what
that means and he said -- dropped the pan, pulled two mains and two
rod bearings.  He found:
-- three teeth had broken off the "synchronizer" which drives the oil
pump
-- minor scoring on mains and rod bearings

He quoted $4,780 for Ford rebuilt engine and advised against simply
repairing the broken synchronizer.

I consulted with my son -- who is a Jeep nut and has lots of
experience pulling and replacing engines.  He suggested that we tell
the dealer to put it back together, pull it to son's house, and think
about it -- he was going to talk with some gearhead friends of his
about either replacing it with a junkyard engine, or, replacing mains,
rod bearings, align bore crank journals, and slap it back together.

So -- I called the dealer and told him to put it back together and I
would come get it.

Few minutes later, the service advisor called me back.  He said the
"shop foreman" suggested that they replace the busted synchronizer and
put the truck back on the road, without any guarantees.

I am somewhat suspicious that perhaps they inspected the engine and
figured that all they needed to do was replace the synchronizer -- but
-- they thought they could sell me a new engine.

Now, granted, they are probably wise to be defensive -- if they
slapped it back together and it blew up in a few weeks, they would
have to be concerned that I would be a very unhappy customer, hence
their push to put in a new engine.

And that's where it sits.  They told me the new synchronizer would be
in place Monday.  They will test oil pressure before releasing it to
me.

Now -- in response to my earlier post, you said:

QUOTE

The Ford 3.0L V6 is one of the most reliable engines ever
built and usually wear out the vehicle in which it came.  If
it were mine, I would look for a low mile salvage engine.
The failure you have is one that I have only seen in a few
engines.  Usually it is a result of excessive oil pressure
for some reason.  Most of the time you will find a faulty
pressure relief valve and and engine that is drive hard from
cold start.  The oil pump drive shaft is usually the victim
in the V8's.  Again, I would have no qualms about getting a
salvage engine.  Many yards will let you see the vehicle it
was/is in and some will also start it for you to see
running.  The better yards will provide at least a 30 day
warranty.  You stand the best chance of getting a good one
if you are in a southern state.  Beware of flood damaged
vehicles from the past few years.  You should be able to get
a decent engine in the $4-600 range.  I had similar problems
when the trans in my truck went while we were buuilding a
few years back.  If it's not one thing, it's two or three!!

END QUOTE

I'm intrigured by this statement:  " . . . Usually it is a result of
excessive oil pressure
for some reason.  Most of the time you will find a faulty
pressure relief valve and and engine that is drive hard from
cold start. . . "

Questions:
1.  Where is the pressure relief valve and can I replace it myself?
2.  Does the pressure relief valve require periodic replacement?
3.  Should I tell my daughter to crank it and let it warm up for a few
minutes before driving off -- to avoid hard driving on a cold engine?
4.  What and where is this "synchronizer" that had three broken teeth?

If this engine fails, we'll go for a junkyard replacement.

Finally, being an ol' Mississippi redneck now lost in Virginia, I
appreciated your comment about finding more engines in Southern
states!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you.