Wow, the 1983 Ranger could get 39 mpg!

[Garth Libre]

The best I get with my 4 cyl manual 2010 is 30 mpg.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The best I get with my 4 cyl manual 2010 is 30 mpg.

There is an ad from 83 claiming the 300 I6 F100 with a 4sp O/D getting 33.

EPA claims back then were total BS

 

[Garth Libre]

Sometimes the EPA numbers were correct. My 1993 VX Honda easily got 50 plus mpg and was rated at 48. My VW Jetta diesel wagon always got 45 plus (before it wouldn't pass inspection for being a polluter). My 2019 Mazda 3 manual gets 40 plus mpg all day.

 

[fastpakr]

The EPA did need to revise their numbers quite a bit from the old predictions. To Rusty's point, the 1984 (as far back as I can get on the EPA fueleconomy webpage), the 4.9/manual combo was rated for 20/30 in the original numbers. When they were corrected a while back, those dropped to 16/22. That's a huge change.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Sometimes the EPA numbers were correct. My 1993 VX Honda easily got 50 plus mpg and was rated at 48. My VW Jetta diesel wagon always got 45 plus (before it wouldn't pass inspection for being a polluter). My 2019 Mazda 3 manual gets 40 plus mpg all day.

They changed their rating system at some point to be more accurate. But i know in the 80's they tended to be very optimistic.

My sister had an 88 1/2 Escort pony with a TBI 1.9, no power steering, no ac and a 4 sp and it would get 40 on the freeway. Best mpg i ever seen lol.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The EPA did need to revise their numbers quite a bit from the old predictions. To Rusty's point, the 1984 (as far back as I can get on the EPA fueleconomy webpage), the 4.9/manual combo was rated for 20/30 in the original numbers. When they were corrected a while back, those dropped to 16/22. That's a huge change.

 

[Roert42]

I had a 300 w/ 5spd, single cab short bed, 2wd.

I was very excited when I got my mileage up to 18mpg from 15.

 

[Roert42]

"Actual Highway mileage and California ratings are lower."

Thanks California for ruining everything.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I had a 300 w/ 5spd, single cab short bed, 2wd.

I was very excited when I got my mileage up to 18mpg from 15.

A guy i knew had one of the "fuel saver" package F150's. His was an 84. Had a 300 with the 4sp O/D and a 2.47 rear. It was so nutless i went to back it up uphill once and thought the parking brake was stuck on.

It did get like 24mpg if you kept it right at 55. By comparison around the same time i had an 83 F150 with a 300, Bulldog 4, and 4.10's. Mine would disembowl an elephant but got between 8 and 10mpg.

At WOT i was hitting road gear (4th) about the time he hit 2nd.

 

[Roert42]

A guy i knew had one of the "fuel saver" package F150's. His was an 84. Had a 300 with the 4sp O/D and a 2.47 rear. It was so nutless i went to back it up uphill once and thought the parking brake was stuck on.

It did get like 24mpg if you kept it right at 55. By comparison around the same time i had an 83 F150 with a 300, Bulldog 4, and 4.10's. Mine would disembowl an elephant but got between 8 and 10mpg.

At WOT i was hitting road gear (4th) about the time he hit 2nd.

Mine was a 92, so it had the efi too. Originaly had the 3.08s, it was a dog but it got 15mpg no matter what. Highway 15mpg, stop and go in NYC 15mpg, full to the bump stops with concrete 15mpg.

I swapped the gears to 3.55s, was amazing to drive. MPG went up to 18 on my commute, normally about an hour of 35/45 mph.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Mine was a 92, so it had the efi too. Originaly had the 3.08s, it was a dog but it got 15mpg no matter what. Highway 15mpg, stop and go in NYC 15mpg, full to the bump stops with concrete 15mpg.

I swapped the gears to 3.55s, was amazing to drive. MPG went up to 18 on my commute, normally about an hour of 35/45 mph.

My 96 4wd had 3.55's with a 300. I got around 13mpg but never hurt for power.

 

[Roert42]

My 96 4wd had 3.55's with a 300. I got around 13mpg but never hurt for power.

Were you in California?

This add says you should get at least 20 mpg. lol

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Were you in California?

This add says you should get at least 20 mpg. lol

Never been never plan to be lol

 

[Roert42]

How else could you possible have such low MPG compared to the ratings?

 

[Djea3]

EPA claims back then were total BS

I had 69 and 71 C20, 350 engines. Tuned with vacuum gage and by ear I was able to get 18MPG fully loaded. BY that I mean exceeding load capacity by almost 150% and towing heavy.
Same tune up method, Dodge 318 Commander motor home pulling a Forde F150 4X4, 18 mpg. The 4X4 itself could not get 13 ever.

Then I had an 81-82 chevy 6 cylinder (don't remember engine) truck. Supposed to sip the gas at something like 24mpg. I got 11 mpg, and could never get better hi-way or city, literally same mileage always.

Drove a RENTED 2011 Dodge Challenger, fully loaded trunk and 5 passengers. 600 MILES at 75-80 mph average, 36mpg SF to Seattle through the Sierra and cascades...twice. I was tempted to purchase that vehicle from the rental agency. But it was during 911 and I had lost my job.

Rented a 2011 Prius in CA in 2019 with 150K miles on it (private rental), drove Los Gatos CA to Carson NV, then on and around and back always at posted speed. 53 MPG. HUGE mountains and great mileage.

It is NOT a crap shoot it is insanity. The numbers and tune up information etc mean NOTHING. For some reason I was able to use vacuum and HEAR the engine run better than the specs (before I lost my hearing). And occasionally an engine/power system produces Far better than any average.

Not sure what it takes today but it is time that engines begin to get guaranteed mileage or returned!!! However there is not much excuse for a truck with a smaller engine not being able to see 30+ MPG loaded. Consider either the motor home OR the Challenger...either one has so much more HP and one has 3X the wind/drag of a truck by itself.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ALL MANUFACTURERS NEED TO FIND THIER SOLD VEHICLES THAT GIVE EXCEPTIONAL MILEAGE AND PURCHASE THEM BACK TO EVALUATE AND FIND OUT WHY AND REPLICATE THE RESULT. THIS MIGHT BE THE KEY TO ACTUAL DECENT MILEAGE IN ALL VEHICLES!!!!