Fuel mileage tips

[ranger0001]

I have a 2005 Ranger FX4 extended cab. My gas mileage sucks, I know guys with a full size Ford pickups getting the same or better mileage. Are there any good ideas to improve my mileage. I only have 24,000 miles and last I checked I was getting 17MPG (Highway) with my 4.0l engine.

[97RangerXLT]

I have a 97 4.0. I can get 19 on the highway usually if I drive 65. If I do above 70, it goes down to 16-17.

The best you can do with it is to make sure your tires are properly inflated, you keep it tuned up (that shouldnot be a problem at 24k...) and drive a bit slower.

AJ

[Ranger44]

Pretend there is an egg under your pedal.:)

[Aubrey]

I was getting 21-23 on the freeway with off-road tires. I just put a new set of tires on and asked for a highway tread and original size and now I get 24-25 on the same 1000 mile route. Then there's the air filter.....keep it clean.

[Wicked_Sludge]

get a car.

no, seriously.

if mileage was a concern when you were purchasing a vehicle, you shouldnt have gotten something with the aerodynamic properties of a barn. trucks are made to work, cars are made to get good mileage.

17 MPG is about right with that setup...not much you can do to improve it besides keep the motor tuned up and dont drive it like its a sports car.

[Bill]

I'm getting 28-30mpg in a mix of about 30% city / 70% highway driving with my 2.3L.

My 4.0L gets about 20 on the highway.

[Ranger5.0]

i wish i got milage like that, withonly 6.5 cylinders firing at any given time, i get like 10 mpg at the moment lol

[ranger0001]

Thanks to you all.
I will buy a F-150 when the time comes, if I'm gonna get the same mpg, Why Not? Full size truck with more interior room.

Live and learn !!!

[gw33gp]

I think you are comparing your 4WD Ranger to a 2WD F-150. If you buy a 4WD F-150, I can almost assure you that you will get worse gas mileage than your 4WD Ranger if you drive it the same way.

I can get anywhere from 16 to 20 mpg on the highway depending on how I drive my 2002 FX4.

I just took a 3,500 mile trip and I pretty much knew what gas mileage I was going to get by the way I was driving and the kind of terrain I was driving on. The best I got (20 mpg) was from Albuquerque, NM to Liberal, KS on I-40 and US 54 while driving at 73 mph with cruise control on. I accelerated at a moderate pace and did not floor it when passing.

The worst I got (16.5 mpg) was from Kingman, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ while driving 76 mph on I-40 and climbing a mountain and keeping the foot in the gas pedal. Overall I averaged 18 mpg and could have raised that to around 19 to 20 mpg if I decided to keep the speed to 70 or lower and did less passing on two lane highways, but I am not that patient.

[ranger0001]

Yea, Your probably right, I am comparing 2WD F150 to 4WD Ranger FX4.

[woodyedmiston]

The final drive ratio on the 4x4 is almost always lower (higher numerically) than the 4x2. You can't get high mileage with lower gears and still be able to climb the rocks, etc.

That was a great line "aerodynamics of a brick" by the way - whoever said it . . .

[Wicked_Sludge]

it has less to do with the gearing as it does weight and aerodynamics. a 4x4 is hauling around 4-500lbs of extra "stuff" at any given time. most 4x4's also have a much higher ground clearence than their 2wd counterparts. this means more surface area to drag it down at highway speeds.

[Bent Bolt]

I have a 2005 Ranger FX4 extended cab. My gas mileage sucks, I know guys with a full size Ford pickups getting the same or better mileage. Are there any good ideas to improve my mileage. I only have 24,000 miles and last I checked I was getting 17MPG (Highway) with my 4.0l engine.

It's all how you drive. I too thought I was getting crappy fuel economy until I changed my driving habits somewhat and actually sat down and accurately figured out the mileage.

I get about 13.5 to 14.5 L/100km which is about 20 MPG in the city. Thats better than it's rated for. I simply keep the rev's below 3000 RPM. Highway MPG is better. I drive around 120/130 KPH at about 22-23 MPG. And I have an automatic.

Like was said before, drive like there's an egg on the gas pedal. Might feel like a geek but easier on the wallet.

[Sunk]

It's all how you drive. I too thought I was getting crappy fuel economy until I changed my driving habits somewhat and actually sat down and accurately figured out the mileage.

I get about 13.5 to 14.5 L/100km which is about 20 MPG in the city. Thats better than it's rated for. I simply keep the rev's below 3000 RPM. Highway MPG is better. I drive around 120/130 KPH at about 22-23 MPG. And I have an automatic.

Like was said before, drive like there's an egg on the gas pedal. Might feel like a geek but easier on the wallet.

Also keep in mind that just because the engine is spinning low RPM's doesn't mean its being efficient. Pay attention to what gear you're in and where your foot is. An engine is more efficient in its powerband (obviously) with your foot barely on the gas than at 1500 RPM with your foot halfway to the floor.

[Bent Bolt]

Also keep in mind that just because the engine is spinning low RPM's doesn't mean its being efficient. Pay attention to what gear you're in and where your foot is. An engine is more efficient in its powerband (obviously) with your foot barely on the gas than at 1500 RPM with your foot halfway to the floor.

I don't care how "efficient" it is but driving the way I do uses less fuel than if I just mash the gas pedal from every traffic light.

[Wicked_Sludge]

I don't care how "efficient" it is

if your talking about fuel economy than you do care how efficient it is :D

[Bent Bolt]

if your talking about fuel economy than you do care how efficient it is :D

Smart ass.:buttkick:

[oilpatchjunkie]

unno my piece of crap 4.0 ranger got at best 15 mpg i got a f-350 with the gutless 5.4 and i got 14 mpg haha and my old f-150 4x4 got 26 with 20 inch rims and my other work half ton gets 26 its a 04 f150 4x4 witha 3 valve 5.4 unno rangers arn made for fuel milage cause ya gotta runn them on the floor to move em

[30coupe]

...and my old f-150 4x4 got 26 with 20 inch rims and my other work half ton gets 26 its a 04 f150 4x4 witha 3 valve 5.4...

:bsflag:


http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/calculatorCompareSideBySide.jsp?column=1&id=20053

I think you are off by about 10 miles per gallon or so.

[oilpatchjunkie]

no i got the milage sheet and fuel milage sheet for both trucks we gotta keep a daily log for the trucks it varys from 22 to 26 at best

[30coupe]

no i got the milage sheet and fuel milage sheet for both trucks we gotta keep a daily log for the trucks it varys from 22 to 26 at best

I stand corrected but still in amazement as I have never heard of anyone getting that kind of mileage from a V8 4x4 of any make or model. I certainly don't think a 4.0L Ranger is underpowered for the weight of the vehicle though.

Do you know what gear ratio those high mpg trucks have?

[bartkowski]

Well have you guys looked into that HHO generator, they are suppost to be great you just have to make them yourself. You can buy the plans online there are a couple different manufactures. I plan on blowin some money just to get a look at those plans. I'm an electrician so anything crazy should stand out. Afterr I buy if any of you guys want a copy just post your email and maybe we can all give it a shot. Then we can get a group trial on this thing. If it works it was worth the money for me and you guys will get it for free.

[timstokes01]

change your spark plugs to autolite plats is one
use a k&n airfilter
change the exhaust to something like a flowmaster.
maintain the oil changes
I have used the same type oil in my ranger until now since quaker state doesn't make the 4x4 offroad anymore
if you want to get into to it change the ring and pinons to a 3.73 gear ratio instead of the 4.10
throttle body spacer.
just do not use a cold air intake system. that will drop your mileage tremdously.

I have a 99 that when it was 2 years old I did everything except the ring and pinion after installing the cold air intake though my gas mileage went from about 330 to 340 down to under 300 on a tank of gas

good maitnece will also help tremdously

[Wicked_Sludge]

autolite makes a terrible product
a K&N will not improve anything other than saving money by not buying disposable filters
the stock exhaust flows plenty for the stock motor
depending on what speed he drives at, a gear change may actually hurt mileage (the 4.0's peak torque is made at 2400 RPM, so this is where you want to ride).
a throttle body spacer does not do anything on a multiport fuel injected engine other than raise the power curve to a higher RPM
the stock intake is already a cold air intake.

[MAKG]

And while lack of oil changes can affect mileage, the primary effect is on longevity. I.e., very short. But blow-by does decrease mileage.

Peroidic maintenance in general is a good idea. You can lose mileage from damaged brakes and transmissions, as well as plugged air and fuel filters.

[Kona]

The guy's mileage figures may be in Imperial gallons not American, Imperial is 4.55 liters/gallon and the other is 4.2L /gallon.

[MAKG]

The effect is very easily calculated and it isn't enough.

That's less than 10%. Not the factor of two being claimed.

[03rangerxlt]

On my 2003 4.0L I get 23 hwy and 20 city