It’s a great question, and while they share the same 'Nano' architecture, they aren’t 100% identical 'drop-ins.'
The core strengths remain: the CGI (Compacted Graphite Iron) block—the same tough stuff Ford uses in the 6.7L PowerStroke—and the dual injection system. However, for the Ranger, Ford...
I'm up in Ontario, and I’ve seen this on a few Fords during the winter months. Sometimes it's just the cold contracting the seals, but other times it's a bit of road salt/grit getting stuck in the tracks. Try cleaning the channels and applying a tiny bit of dry silicone spray. It usually does...