Fuel mileage tips

[ranger0001]

I have a 2005 Ranger FX4 extended cab. My gas mileage sucks, I know guys with a full size Ford pickups getting the same or better mileage. Are there any good ideas to improve my mileage. I only have 24,000 miles and last I checked I was getting 17MPG (Highway) with my 4.0l engine.

 

[97RangerXLT]

I have a 97 4.0. I can get 19 on the highway usually if I drive 65. If I do above 70, it goes down to 16-17.

The best you can do with it is to make sure your tires are properly inflated, you keep it tuned up (that shouldnot be a problem at 24k...) and drive a bit slower.

AJ

 

[Ranger44]

Pretend there is an egg under your pedal.

 

[Aubrey]

I was getting 21-23 on the freeway with off-road tires. I just put a new set of tires on and asked for a highway tread and original size and now I get 24-25 on the same 1000 mile route. Then there's the air filter.....keep it clean.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

get a car.

no, seriously.

if mileage was a concern when you were purchasing a vehicle, you shouldnt have gotten something with the aerodynamic properties of a barn. trucks are made to work, cars are made to get good mileage.

17 MPG is about right with that setup...not much you can do to improve it besides keep the motor tuned up and dont drive it like its a sports car.

 

[Bill]

I'm getting 28-30mpg in a mix of about 30% city / 70% highway driving with my 2.3L.

My 4.0L gets about 20 on the highway.

 

[Ranger5.0]

i wish i got milage like that, withonly 6.5 cylinders firing at any given time, i get like 10 mpg at the moment lol

 

[ranger0001]

Thanks to you all.
I will buy a F-150 when the time comes, if I'm gonna get the same mpg, Why Not? Full size truck with more interior room.

Live and learn !!!

 

[gw33gp]

I think you are comparing your 4WD Ranger to a 2WD F-150. If you buy a 4WD F-150, I can almost assure you that you will get worse gas mileage than your 4WD Ranger if you drive it the same way.

I can get anywhere from 16 to 20 mpg on the highway depending on how I drive my 2002 FX4.

I just took a 3,500 mile trip and I pretty much knew what gas mileage I was going to get by the way I was driving and the kind of terrain I was driving on. The best I got (20 mpg) was from Albuquerque, NM to Liberal, KS on I-40 and US 54 while driving at 73 mph with cruise control on. I accelerated at a moderate pace and did not floor it when passing.

The worst I got (16.5 mpg) was from Kingman, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ while driving 76 mph on I-40 and climbing a mountain and keeping the foot in the gas pedal. Overall I averaged 18 mpg and could have raised that to around 19 to 20 mpg if I decided to keep the speed to 70 or lower and did less passing on two lane highways, but I am not that patient.

 

[ranger0001]

Yea, Your probably right, I am comparing 2WD F150 to 4WD Ranger FX4.

 

[woodyedmiston]

It's the gears!

The final drive ratio on the 4x4 is almost always lower (higher numerically) than the 4x2. You can't get high mileage with lower gears and still be able to climb the rocks, etc.

That was a great line "aerodynamics of a brick" by the way - whoever said it . . .

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

it has less to do with the gearing as it does weight and aerodynamics. a 4x4 is hauling around 4-500lbs of extra "stuff" at any given time. most 4x4's also have a much higher ground clearence than their 2wd counterparts. this means more surface area to drag it down at highway speeds.

 

[Bent Bolt]

I have a 2005 Ranger FX4 extended cab. My gas mileage sucks, I know guys with a full size Ford pickups getting the same or better mileage. Are there any good ideas to improve my mileage. I only have 24,000 miles and last I checked I was getting 17MPG (Highway) with my 4.0l engine.

It's all how you drive. I too thought I was getting crappy fuel economy until I changed my driving habits somewhat and actually sat down and accurately figured out the mileage.

I get about 13.5 to 14.5 L/100km which is about 20 MPG in the city. Thats better than it's rated for. I simply keep the rev's below 3000 RPM. Highway MPG is better. I drive around 120/130 KPH at about 22-23 MPG. And I have an automatic.

Like was said before, drive like there's an egg on the gas pedal. Might feel like a geek but easier on the wallet.

 

[Sunk]

It's all how you drive. I too thought I was getting crappy fuel economy until I changed my driving habits somewhat and actually sat down and accurately figured out the mileage.

I get about 13.5 to 14.5 L/100km which is about 20 MPG in the city. Thats better than it's rated for. I simply keep the rev's below 3000 RPM. Highway MPG is better. I drive around 120/130 KPH at about 22-23 MPG. And I have an automatic.

Like was said before, drive like there's an egg on the gas pedal. Might feel like a geek but easier on the wallet.

Also keep in mind that just because the engine is spinning low RPM's doesn't mean its being efficient. Pay attention to what gear you're in and where your foot is. An engine is more efficient in its powerband (obviously) with your foot barely on the gas than at 1500 RPM with your foot halfway to the floor.

 

[Bent Bolt]

Also keep in mind that just because the engine is spinning low RPM's doesn't mean its being efficient. Pay attention to what gear you're in and where your foot is. An engine is more efficient in its powerband (obviously) with your foot barely on the gas than at 1500 RPM with your foot halfway to the floor.

I don't care how "efficient" it is but driving the way I do uses less fuel than if I just mash the gas pedal from every traffic light.