Gas mileage

[campermama]

Hi All, got an 01 4x4 4.0 v6, auto, it is running fine but the gas mileage is really really bad. Any ideas? No lights on, no codes.

Thanks!

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

how bad is "really really bad"? how did you calculate your mileage? how many tankfulls have you gotten bad mileage with?

always start with basic tune-up items such as fuel and air filters, plugs, wires, check tire pressure, check for hanging brakes, accuracy of speedo/odometer etc.

 

[almostclueless]

Did the mileage drop, or are you just trying to get more than you ever got since you're owned it.


Sludge is right (hate saying that!!)

 

[BUGNUT]

Mileage sucks on all 4.0 Rangers. I have a 2000 XLT 4.0 5spd auto 2wd and if I drive like an old man on a Sunday drive I can get about 16mpg.

 

[Ozwynn]

now see i had a 91 2wd with a 4.0L and auto. it got 21 mpg from Biloxi MS to Berrien Springs MI and back. got 16 riding around town/base. My 91 Explorer got 20 mpg.

 

[Herkypilot]

now see i had a 91 2wd with a 4.0L and auto. it got 21 mpg from Biloxi MS to Berrien Springs MI and back. got 16 riding around town/base. My 91 Explorer got 20 mpg.

I've got a 2002 4.0 4x4 5sp manual, 64K miles which is new to me as of a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately, it's a third vehicle which I don't need to commute 48 miles round trip to work. My first measure in mixed driving was 15.6. I changed the fluids in the tranny, X-fer case and rear diff. The tranny Mercon fluid was nasty - never changed since new I'm sure. The rear end gears are 4.10 which isn't helping mileage any - good for torque and towing though. Explorers I had in the past had 3.73 rear ends with auto 5 spds and typically got 20-22 mph on the hwy. It also doesn't help that the previous owner put wider tires than stock on also. It creates more rolling resistance (and are noisier also). The next thing I need to do is pull the plugs and ensure proper gap. The one I pulled recently had a gap of .045 when it calls for .055 to .065 (I think).

Herkypilot

 

[racsan]

why is it that the same driveline setup in a exploder will get better milage? is the exploder lighter? my '93 4.0 4x4 s/c 5 spd manul with 3.73's gets 19 at the very best (17-18 most of the time) and about 14 in town. ive heard of exploders reguarly getting 20-21. i know some have 3.55 gearing, but that doesnt seem like enough of a gear change to bump the milage that much. i know my truck weighs 4,300 pounds. i have no idea what a exploder weighs. it does what i need it to do fine. im not about to spend 1,000 bucks on a gear change for a few mpg, if anything id put lower gears in it to help when towing.i do run stock size tires.

 

[Ozwynn]

explorers weigh closer to 5000 pound. as to your other question, i got no Idea ....... just if you want to do a 4.0L swap then the explorer engine/trans is coveted.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

i know my truck weighs 4,300 pounds.

what did you do to that truck to make it weigh 4,300lbs? a 4x4 ex. cab 4.0 weighs 3500lbs curb. weight from the factory....

the heaviest a '93 explorer (for comparison) ever got was just over 4,100lbs. thats a 4 door, 4x4, eddie bauer, with auto trans.

SUV's are...believe it or not...a little more aerodynamic than a pickup. thats why they usually boast better highway economy, while city economy is usualy compairable or lower than a similar ranger.

 

[racsan]

its got a 'glass cap, tube steps,grille guard and receiver hitch. had the cap and hitch on it when i bought it. i went over the scales at the local grain elevator one sunday to see what it weighed. there is a digital display you can see through the window that never gets turned off. very useful when you want to know the weight of something. i ought to strip my truck of all the extras and weigh it again just to see what it would be bare.

 

[Ozwynn]

what did you do to that truck to make it weigh 4,300lbs? a 4x4 ex. cab 4.0 weighs 3500lbs curb. weight from the factory....

the heaviest a '93 explorer (for comparison) ever got was just over 4,100lbs. thats a 4 door, 4x4, eddie bauer, with auto trans.

SUV's are...believe it or not...a little more aerodynamic than a pickup. thats why they usually boast better highway economy, while city economy is usualy compairable or lower than a similar ranger.

my 91 explorer weighed 4750 empty with a full gas tank. my 2wd Gen2 short cab short bed ranger weighed 4100 pounds iirc.

those both came from cat scales.

 

[2manyfords]

A third generation Ranger Ext Cab 4x4 4.0L equipped truck weighs close to 4000lbs bone stock.

Added on what racsans truck has on it, 4300lbs is totally believable.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

my truck tips in right at 3300 with me in it...right where the specs say it should

i know an ext. cab is good for 300lbs. but a 3.0 and 4.0 should weigh very close to the same.

i just went and checked my door sticker. my GVWR is 4600lbs. if my truck weighed the same as your gen2, BDAB (it should be more since mine is 4wd), that would give me a useful payload of about 500lbs. lets see a full tank of gas is easily 100lbs....plus my skinny butt, along with my girlfriends skinny butt adds about 250...that leaves me a useful payload of a wopping 150lbs

you guys SURE on your numbers?

 

[Sunk]

My dad's 94 4.0 Extended cab weighed in at 3200 IIRC, and my 88 2.9 X-cab was 2900.

 

[Ranger44]

my truck tips in right at 3300 with me in it...right where the specs say it should

i know an ext. cab is good for 300lbs. but a 3.0 and 4.0 should weigh very close to the same.

i just went and checked my door sticker. my GVWR is 4600lbs. if my truck weighed the same as your gen2, BDAB (it should be more since mine is 4wd), that would give me a useful payload of about 500lbs. lets see a full tank of gas is easily 100lbs....plus my skinny butt, along with my girlfriends skinny butt adds about 250...that leaves me a useful payload of a wopping 150lbs

you guys SURE on your numbers?

I'm with Wicked on this one. My 4cyl, 5spd, Reg cab, Short bed, 4x4 was weighed at 3,250lbs.

A extended cab only weighs 290lbs more than a regualr cab. Believe it or not. It's all in the curb weight numbers from FORD.

Now...if people have body armor such as skids, sliders, bumpers, etc it will vary the weight.