What did you do to your Ranger today? (Part Deux!)

[sgtsandman]

I looked at it holding down the driveway and thought to myself, "i really need to take the Ranger out for a drive"

so far it is still holding down the driveway.

AJ

I think you just called your Ranger fat. And you just told us you are neglecting it.

 

[Bill]

Well, what was your mileage???

Fresno to Visalia, then from Visalia to Sacramento at 55 to 60 mph. 292.4 miles, 9.553 gallons, 30.608 mpg. This is the 2.3L Duratec manual transmission with stock (225/70-15) tires and 180,000 miles. The best gas mileage I've had in the past was a little over 31 mph the second summer I owned it. This is flat terrain (Hwy 99). So, fuel economy hasn't decreased at 180,000 miles. This is where my obsession with changing the oil pays off.

For reference, the original EPA rating for this truck is 24 city/29 hwy. The test for this rating is no longer considered valid because it doesn't reflect the way people really drive (55 mph, warm/dry weather, air conditioner off, windows rolled up, no extra weight in the bed/trunk,). The newer methods for determining fuel economy require testing at 65 mph, acceleration, running the air conditioner, cold weather, etc. The revised EPA guestimate for the 2wd 2.3L Duratec with manual transmission 21 city/26 hwy. I'm getting 27-28 at around 65 mph most of the time. Colder weather will drop it below 27 mph, but we only get about three months out of the year where it's that cold here, and even then it's only that cold on and off for short periods of time. The exception is the higher elevations where the cold weather and thin air really mess the fuel economy.

 

[Curious Hound]

Changed the oil, cleaned up some wiring, replaced the starter relay, filled up with fuel, trimmed the driver side inner fender liner, removed a bump stop, greased the steering pieces and parts, and put my tools, parts and recovery gear back in the big toolbox on the back.

Changed oil in mom's car, too.

 

[sgtsandman]

Fresno to Visalia, then from Visalia to Sacramento at 55 to 60 mph. 292.4 miles, 9.553 gallons, 30.608 mpg. This is the 2.3L Duratec manual transmission with stock (225/70-15) tires and 180,000 miles. The best gas mileage I've had in the past was a little over 31 mph the second summer I owned it. This is flat terrain (Hwy 99). So, fuel economy hasn't decreased at 180,000 miles. This is where my obsession with changing the oil pays off.

The mpg sweet spot is 55 - 60 mph. So I'm not surprised you were able to bump your mpg up doing that. Anything past that, mpg starts dropping.

The best I ever saw with my 2011 was either 23 or 24 and the speed for the trip was about the same. Of course that was before I ditched the road tires for bigger all terrains. Now, on a good day, I might see 21 once in a blue moon. 19-20 is more the norm for along trip. I've yet to have the 2019 on a low speed highway trip. So no idea what it would get. It hits the 24 mpg estimate pretty well though. At least until we hit Texas and the highway speeds bumped up to 75...

The 1998 never got the mpg it was supposed to. I got 22 mpg on average before the regear from 3.45:1 and still got the same with better performance and could get out of it's own way after the regear to 4.10:1. 22 mpg was pretty much our family experience with I4 equipped small trucks, so never thought much of it.

 

[Bill]

The mpg sweet spot is 55 - 60 mph. So I'm not surprised you were able to bump your mpg up doing that. Anything past that, mpg starts dropping.

The best I ever saw with my 2011 was either 23 or 24 and the speed for the trip was about the same. Of course that was before I ditched the road tires for bigger all terrains. Now, on a good day, I might see 21 once in a blue moon. 19-20 is more the norm for along trip. I've yet to have the 2019 on a low speed highway trip. So no idea what it would get. It hits the 24 mpg estimate pretty well though. At least until we hit Texas and the highway speeds bumped up to 75...

The 1998 never got the mpg it was supposed to. I got 22 mpg on average before the regear from 3.45:1 and still got the same with better performance and could get out of it's own way after the regear to 4.10:1. 22 mpg was pretty much our family experience with I4 equipped small trucks, so never thought much of it.

The best EPA estimate for a 2wd 4.0 is 21 mpg with a manual transmission. I previously owned two 4.0s with automatics and the best I could get out of them was 21 mph.

 

[Snoranger]

The best EPA estimate for a 2wd 4.0 is 21 mph with a manual transmission. I previously owned two 4.0s with automatics and the best I could get out of them was 21 mph.

That’s pretty slow...

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

The best EPA estimate for a 2wd 4.0 is 21 mph with a manual transmission. I previously owned two 4.0s with automatics and the best I could get out of them was 21 mph.

When I had a 99 4.0 4wd I ran the goodyear wrangler authority’s and I got 22 mpg. As soon as I put mud tires on it, I got 17-18mpg.

If I run mud tires on my F350 I get 16.75, but if I run street tires I get 18mpg.

 

[sgtsandman]

The best EPA estimate for a 2wd 4.0 is 21 mpg with a manual transmission. I previously owned two 4.0s with automatics and the best I could get out of them was 21 mph.

The spec sheet for my 2011 quoted 23. Probably was optimistic but was obtainable but not on a regular basis. At least not in Appalachian territory.

 

[Uncle Gump]

That’s pretty slow...

That's a full 10 mph faster then I've had my Bronco II going...

 

[racsan]

Im considering putting the stock 14’s back on & swapping the cable gear for a bit just to see if I can do better than 21 on my ranger. Kinda have my doubts, Im guessing with the 4.10’s (had 3.45 originally) it will be spinning 3,000 rpm in 5th @ 55 mph with the tiny 14’s. Im at about 2200 now with the 235/75/15’s, the stock 14’s are about 3” shorter. might have to start in 2nd. Would look way weird though. If I could get 25 mpg though that would be awesome.

 

[Maritime Drag Racing]

One more piece of the puzzle installed today.......

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Ordered a rebuilt M5OD r1 for her. I recomend Mid West Transmission if anyone else is looking for a rebuild.

I’m also looking for the trans shift lever, T-case shift lever assembly and boot if anyone is looking to sell one.

 

[sgtsandman]

Im considering putting the stock 14’s back on & swapping the cable gear for a bit just to see if I can do better than 21 on my ranger. Kinda have my doubts, Im guessing with the 4.10’s (had 3.45 originally) it will be spinning 3,000 rpm in 5th @ 55 mph with the tiny 14’s. Im at about 2200 now with the 235/75/15’s, the stock 14’s are about 3” shorter. might have to start in 2nd. Would look way weird though. If I could get 25 mpg though that would be awesome.

My 1998 still had 225/70R14s when I sold it. It was getting about 22 mpg. So, I don’t think the change will make much of a difference.

 

[broncc]

Just continuing the tradition of driving half finished projects down the street...

 

[Bill]

The spec sheet for my 2011 quoted 23. Probably was optimistic but was obtainable but not on a regular basis. At least not in Appalachian territory.

Here's the EPA mileage for 2011.

Fuel Economy of 2011 Ford Ranger

Fuel economy of the 2011 Ford Ranger. 1984 to present Buyer's Guide to Fuel Efficient Cars and Trucks. Estimates of gas mileage, greenhouse gas emissions, safety ratings, and air pollution ratings for new and used cars and trucks.

www.fueleconomy.gov