'03 FX-4 --> city milage just brutal?

[djlang]

Hey, I just got a 2003 FX-4 extended cab a couple months ago (100k miles). Since then I put in new rear brakes. I'm getting somewhere around 13 mpg in the city. Does anyone have this same problem? When I get to around 40mph i get this very apparent vibration, but I don't know where its coming from (pretty sure it aint the drive train).

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Gotta_gofast]

I don't know exactly what my city-only mpg is but overall my 4.0 with 4.10 gears will average 20ish. The vibration could be a number of things. Tires need to be balanced? Loose bearings, bushings, cv/u joints, or other suspension parts.

 

[dasfinc]

Where are you located, and are you Manual or Automatic transmission?

Fuel mixes change in some areas for winter and get Ethanol heavy and will kill MPG's like here in Chicagoland.

Also SOHC rangers are only rated at 17(City)/22(highway).

My OHV 4.0 Supercab ranger only managed 15 city over winter with mixed 4X4 usage.

On a side note:

You should probably get that vibration checked out.

 

[RangerBoy94]

That vibration could be a bad carrier bearing.

 

[kunar]

That vibration could be a bad carrier bearing.

03's didnt have carrier bearings, but yeah it still needs to be checked out.

my dad daily drives a 5 speed 03 fx4 lvl2 and complains about the mileage. 14-16 mixed driving is about the best he can do.

 

[djlang]

Thanks for the responses.
It is a 4.0L V6 auto transmission.
I got the vibration checked out and the only thing the mechanic could find was the rear wheel drum kit was all messed up, so I had that replaced. The vibration is the same frequency as the rotation of my wheels, which makes me think it is an alignment issue. Can I have alignment problems even if my vehicle doesnt drift at all? The mechanic didn't think it was a bearing issue.

Thanks for the help.

 

[straycat]

Let's see...100,000 miles....not new anymore. When it was new the gas milage would be better of course. My 2wd Ranger on 33's get 24 mpg on the highway at 75 mph and right at 19 in town (stop and go traffic). That vibration is not helping on gas milage, Bro. If you can't figure out what is causing it then take it to a shop. Wheel balance issues, drive shaft, wheel bearings...etc.

 

[Junkyardexpress]

My 91 2.9 4x4 5sp 4.10 gets 19 city 28 hwy

 

[camodown]

probably needs a good tune up & less throttle. Maybe you can get it to 15-16

 

[Fordisthebest30]

If i were you id definetly get my tires balanced. It's not a carrier berring because you have a single drive shaft, they stopped the split shaft in 98, the wheel drum kit wouldn't do it. Another thing it could possibly be is the c clip in the differential, i had the same problem in my 76 corvette. My truck would shake violently at 40 mph and i balanced my tires, and now my truck rides as smooth as it did when it came of the factory floor. I wouldn't think it'd be an alignment issue, alignment has to do with the front end. I would check your u joints on the last u joint, thats typically where they go bad, but if that isn't the problem, get your tires balanced, it's like 50 bucks and it takes 20 mins to do.

 

[Fordisthebest30]

also check to see how much tire pressure is in your tires, and check your air filter. I was getting 12 mpg, then i realized i had 20 psi in all my tires. After i aired them up i was getting 20 with my 4.0 4x4 with 31's

 

[naford]

I have an 02 FX4 auto and I just got 18.5 highway. I usually get around 17 to 17.5 mixed. Even when one of the brakes was frozen I think I had better mileage then 13. Have you looked at lubbing the splines on the slip joint between the transmission and the driveshaft? I've heard that could cause a vibration.

 

[straycat]

My 91 2.9 4x4 5sp 4.10 gets 19 city 28 hwy

Say goodbye to that 28 mpg with a lift and taller tires, Bro.

 

[racsan]

my '93 (4.0 ohv, 3.73, 5 speed manual, stock 235/15 tires) gets 15 at best during the winter. best ever on a good day in the summer was 19.5 city milage is never going to be great, some times i never get into 4rth gear going through town. add winter blend fuel , longer warm-up time of the engine, cold driveline fluids ect. id consider 15 liveable. now if it was 10 or under, id consider that excessive.

 

[bilzy7]

I hit my trip-o-meter at my last fill up... 110 miles and I'm close to 1/4 of a tank. When it read 20 miles, I was at 3/4 of a tank. By doing 17 divided by 4, that's 4.25 mpg. I'm probably gonna get a gas light by 160-180 mile mark. I could get better mpg in a fukin Mack truck if the fuel lines were cut.