weird gas mileage issue

Cyrus2000 · Mar 24, 2009

Hi all,

I have a 96 Ranger xlt extd cab, 2.3L 4banger, 5spd manual tranny.

I have noticed lately that the first half of my gas tank nets me about 200-250miles on the trip odometer. This sees the needle on the gas gauge go from above F to right about the middle marker line. Then on the next quarter of the tank, I get about 70-80miles, and on the final quarter, running the truck til the needle is on or below the E, I only get about 40-50 miles. It seems like as soon as i hit the 1/4 tank mark, I just start losing gas like crazy. I was on the highway not long ago, and saw it drop that entire last quarter tank in under 20 miles traveling at 75mph. I know for a fact that my fuel filler neck is cracked, but other than that, I dont know of any issues with the gas delivery system. what can i do about this? its ruining my per-tank fuel economy

ceraboy · Mar 24, 2009

The non-linearity in the fuel gage response is quite normal, not only for rangers, but many other vehicles. I get about 200miles on the first half and then just over 100 before the needle starts getting too close to E for me. My mileage has always been from 23 to 28 mpg, and its been running like this since I bought it. Unless you are physically leaking fuel, which you should easily smell, it is nothing to get to concerned about.

Have you been tracking your overall mileage, this would help diagnose whether or not you have a real problem.

SykoRanger88 · Mar 24, 2009

i get like right under 20mpg i think lol it sucks...

Cyrus2000 · Mar 24, 2009

on my current tank, im only going to get about 350 miles. pretty crappy for 20 gallons, IMO. and that one time on the highway, i was making the drive from northern california to southern california, cruising on interstate 5, which is long straight and flat. i was at 320 miles on the trip gauge when it hit the last 1/4 marker on the gas gauge, and i only made it to 360 miles before it was at E and i had to stop to fill up. ive had other times on i5 where i got 450 miles on a tank. i dont know whats going on, but i feel i should get better gas mileage. i have just replaced the cat and had a new 2.25" catback exhaust put on. also, i took out the intake "smoother" thing, and i have replaced the stock air filter with a k&n cone filter, though i kept the stock airbox and snorkel.

mattpresley · Aug 19, 2009

I ony get like 16mpg, which is why the next ranger will be a 4.0

fastpakr · Aug 19, 2009

My record worst mileage with the 2.3/5 speed combo is 22mpg. If you're getting 16...

mattpresley · Aug 19, 2009

fastpakr said:
My record worst mileage with the 2.3/5 speed combo is 22mpg. If you're getting 16...

I got an automatic. been like that on gas since at least 2004

fastpakr · Aug 19, 2009

Fuel economy ratings between my 5 speed '94 and your automatic '99 are only 1mpg apart. If you're getting 16mpg, something is amiss. Instead of switching to a 4.0 because it gets the same fuel economy as you're getting now, why not investigate and fix the problem? Even the newer, lowered ratings still put you at 18 city, 23 highway (original ratings were 20/25). I regularly hit the original 27mpg highway rating of my '94.

mattpresley · Aug 19, 2009

fastpakr said:
Fuel economy ratings between my 5 speed '94 and your automatic '99 are only 1mpg apart. If you're getting 16mpg, something is amiss. Instead of switching to a 4.0 because it gets the same fuel economy as you're getting now, why not investigate and fix the problem? Even the newer, lowered ratings still put you at 18 city, 23 highway (original ratings were 20/25). I regularly hit the original 27mpg highway rating of my '94.

I would have no idea where to start there?

ctdutro · Aug 20, 2009

Might be EGR

This is going to seem like a very odd one, but look and see if your EGR piping is intact. In my 98 2.5l I had similar problems and it turned out to be a broken EGR return line that was leaving my intake sucking in fresh, hot air from around the exhaust manifold and my O2 sensor seeing fresh air between cylinder pulses. Look all along the tube i have heard they can crack and break just about anywhere.

SamMalone · Aug 21, 2009

Check your radiator fan for a siezed clutch. If its locked up you could lose as much as 4 mpg. Happened to me. Changed it and I'm back to 27 mpg.

93 Ranger 205,000 miles.

feellnfroggy · Aug 21, 2009

Cyrus2000 said:
...pretty crappy for 20 gallons, IMO....

My ranger only filled to 14.4 gallons but it was a 92 did thye change something?Double check the capcitiy maybeyou get moremileage than you think?

dangerranger83 · Aug 21, 2009

My 4 banger (87 motor) that I had only got 16 mpg in the summer and 12 mpg in the winter. My dads 84 6 cylinder only gets 10-12 mpg in the summer and 6 mpg in the winter. And he has all the emissions stuff hooked up and so did mine.

Anybody else get worse?

DailyDriver · Aug 21, 2009

Mine has been getting 17-18 since early 2008. Prior to that I was getting 21-22. Not sure why it dropped. But I was getting 425-450 a tank now it's more like 350-375.

Maybe the quality of the gas???

I'll look into the fan clutch idea though.

tomw · Aug 21, 2009

Things to check: tire pressure, air filter, spark plugs, plug wires, MAF, MAP, EGR, timing.
If your EGR is not working correctly, you can get pinging, and that will kill your mpg. The ping is the engine trying to run backwards as it is firing off before it should, so it wants to push the piston the wrong way. Can get a significant hit on mileage if it doesn't work.
Dragging brake shoes or pads.
If you have a carb, the float setting, idle mixture setting and the power valve. Choke pull down or heater tube/element.
If the MAP doesn't work, you'll have a crappy idle, and poor mileage. If the MAF is dirty or broken, you can have the same thing.
Pull the codes from the ECM or OBD-II computer.
tom

My 85 2.3/5 speed gets 23-24 driving around in rural area mixed with some freeway. On a road trip, it will get 27 w/o trying very hard.

weird gas mileage issue

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