My 1998 Ford Ranger 3.0L V6 Is Running Lean? How do I fix it?

I have a 1998 Ford Ranger 3.0L V6, and I had a Diagnostic Scan on it earlier today, and one of the trouble codes that bothered me was the "Engine Is Running Lean". I replaced the fuel injector on Cylinder 2 today. I have 6 new plantinum spark plugs, and wires that were put on about a week ago. The truck is running really good right now. It was running on 5 cylinders recently, because of the bad fuel injector. I took it out for a drive today, and the temp. Stayed at the normal level, and nothing seemed different, except that I got back more horsepower. There was one other code, and that had to do with the EGR system. The EGR Vacuum Selonoid is bad, and it needs to be replaced. Could that be one of the reasons my engine to running too lean? What could be the other causes of this problem on my truck? Please help? If you help me out a lot, I will award you best answer, and give you extra points.

I have a 1998 Ford Ranger 3.0L V6, and I had a Diagnostic Scan on it earlier today, and one of the trouble codes that bothered me was the "Engine Is Running Lean". I replaced the fuel injector on Cylinder 2 today. I have 6 new plantinum spark plugs, and wires that were put on about a week ago. The truck is running really good right now. It was running on 5 cylinders recently, because of the bad fuel injector. I took it out for a drive today, and the temp. Stayed at the normal level, and nothing seemed different, except that I got back more horsepower. There was one other code, and that had to do with the EGR system. The EGR Vacuum Selonoid is bad, and it needs to be replaced. Could that be one of the reasons my engine to running too lean? What could be the other causes of this problem on my truck? Please help? If you help me out a lot, I will award you best answer, and give you extra points.

Thanks! I assume your truck is setting a P0171 and/or P0174? A lean running code means the vehicle has reached its rich limit and can't correct the lean condition. The malfunction egr system will raise combustion temps and cause a raise in tailpipe emissions (increase nox emissions). Which would not effect rich/lean run condition. In the case of the egr being stuck open it would richen the mixture. A misfire will raise unburned fuel in the exhaust causing the vehicle's o2 to read rich not lean. But, if the injector was not introducing fuel into the cylinder at all, that will cause a lean condition. Check for false air leaks, any leak after the MAF sensor. I would not suspect the o2 since its in good enough condition to sense a lean condition. Also do you have an KN filter? Oil from the filter can contaminate the MAF causing false readings. When is the last time the fuel filter was changed? Partially blocked fuel filter will cause fuel starvation due to lack of volume reaching the injectors. More info for you and the other people reading and answer this question. A stuck open egr will NOT cause a lean fuel condition. The o2 only send signal to the ecm for rich or lean fuel not oxygen. Excessive exhaust gas entering will lean out oxygen but richen fuel. Exhaust gas lack oxygen it is an inert gas. So therefore the o2 would read rich and the vehicle would set p0172 and p0175 when it has reached it's lean fuel limit. Be careful of the info you receive from people on here. Most likely a vacuum leak, mass air flow sensor or oxygen sensor. I'm leaning more towards a vacuum leak, though. Since you have that vacuum solenoid code for the EGR I would check around there for a broken vacuum hose or torn diaphragm.

Most likely a vacuum leak, mass air flow sensor or oxygen sensor. I'm leaning more towards a vacuum leak, though. Since you have that vacuum solenoid code for the EGR I would check around there for a broken vacuum hose or torn diaphragm.

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