97 4.0 Ranger MPG questions

[pcollins]

Comparing the size of the AD on my page to the size of the Search button, I'd be more likely to order a pizza than do a search if I was a new member. Maybe the search feature could be made more noticeable somehow? Not everyone who joins these forums is an internet/forum expert.

Back on topic, I got 21.5 MPG in my '97 4.0L. That was a 4x4 and 5 speed stick.

 

[killj0y]

besides the latest generation of fords the only thing v8 produced from 68 or so on i have not seen in a ranger is a real hemi. it would piss me off to see that as well. so if i wanted to put a hemi in a ranger what part of the forum should i search?

No one is intentionally bashing, clearly if your doing something as involved as that then yes by all means post a question, but the guys here are saying do a simple search first, you MIGHT find what you're looking for without crowding the forum with the 5000th post about mpgs. If you.DON'T find anything then post a question. I'm fairly new mechanically but it costs me nothing to take 5 minutes to do a proper search. Anyways most of the guys here are super helpful but it it's frustrating to see the same post 10 times a day even I could even click next page once or twice and see the exact same question. Just my 2 cents.

 

[armadillon]

Pfft, I'd rather have someone call me out for not searching then go for days without someone posting anything at all. What the hell, wait for 400 views then post "wtf?" and THEN we tell them to search?

 

[killj0y]

Ps I have a 2.3 and get that mileage so that's not all that bad. I'd gladly swap motors with you OP. Course I do probably need new plugs and o2 sensors. Not much else would help since the rest that could help has been done.

When did you last check your plugs, oil, transmission fluid, diff fluid, air filter,o2 sensors, air pressure? Have you run fuel system cleaner, cleaned the maf, throttle body, checked for plugged cat/muffler, checked codes, fuel filter, etc..lotsa things you could do maintenance on that might help and def won't hurt.

 

[killj0y]

What about tires and gearing? Lotsa variables so check some out and post back results.

 

[bobbywalter]

Pfft, I'd rather have someone call me out for not searching then go for days without someone posting anything at all. What the hell, wait for 400 views then post "wtf?" and THEN we tell them to search?

400 ok really....you know what i mean...typically it takes a few hours to get 30 views or so till they cry.....i know you know what i am talking about...


certainly i do understand the cases at hand....so why does any bashing come about? post the search function and move on too hard? if the guy/gal does not get it after that and makes the first rude comment because of it then its on them.....thats when you get the wood out and start clubbing them like a baby seal....

 

[killj0y]

Pfft, I'd rather have someone call me out for not searching then go for days without someone posting anything at all. What the hell, wait for 400 views then post "wtf?" and THEN we tell them to search?

Me too

400 ok really....you know what i mean...typically it takes a few hours to get 30 views or so till they cry.....i know you know what i am talking about...


certainly i do understand the cases at hand....so why does any bashing come about? post the search function and move on too hard? if the guy/gal does not get it after that and makes the first rude comment because of it then its on them.....thats when you get the wood out and start clubbing them like a baby seal....

I have def been one of those who gets 50-100 views and no response, I get the picture after 10 or so views. eventually someone chimes in though and is helpful just takes ages and maybe a bump. But usually by that time I found the info elsewhere.

Just gotta tell the noobs to search sometimes, besides if you want help try helping yourself first. Anyways sucks but no one wants to hold anyones hand over something so simple. It's a truck and you likely will never get very good mpg without major work/mods/or just making it unusable as a truck. Armadillon mentioned a tune and I'd love to believe his numbers but i'm skeptical he could almost double his HP and MPG with just a tune...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

IMO it usually doesn't take much longer to throw what I know (if anything) at the OP and then recommend a search for more info that to downright run them down with a ball bat. Chasing off newbes with rude behavior isn't really helping the site any.

If I don't know anything I usually don't post, silence speaks louder than words.

To the OP, Ford is sometimes (especially in the '90s) really stupid on their differential gearing/tire combos. The parent's '94 Explorer with 3.27 gears and stock 235/75-15 tires was doing good to get 16mpg as it grabbed for an average of two gears on hills... they had the poor thing all but trying to idle down the road which a little 4.0 isn't meant to do. You might check into that, make sure your tires are stock to close size or start planning a regear... figure about a grand an axle if you have to pay to have it done. A chip or tuner won't really yield specacular results on an older gas engine like a 4.0, there is only so much you can do playing with only ignition timing and throwing more fuel at it.

 

[bobbywalter]

Me too


I have def been one of those who gets 50-100 views and no response, I get the picture after 10 or so views. eventually someone chimes in though and is helpful just takes ages and maybe a bump. But usually by that time I found the info elsewhere.

Just gotta tell the noobs to search sometimes, besides if you want help try helping yourself first. Anyways sucks but no one wants to hold anyones hand over something so simple. It's a truck and you likely will never get very good mpg without major work/mods/or just making it unusable as a truck. Armadillon mentioned a tune and I'd love to believe his numbers but i'm skeptical he could almost double his HP and MPG with just a tune...

IMO it usually doesn't take much longer to throw what I know (if anything) at the OP and then recommend a search for more info that to downright run them down with a ball bat. Chasing off newbes with rude behavior isn't really helping the site any.

If I don't know anything I usually don't post, silence speaks louder than words.

To the OP, Ford is sometimes (especially in the '90s) really stupid on their differential gearing/tire combos. The parent's '94 Explorer with 3.27 gears and stock 235/75-15 tires was doing good to get 16mpg as it grabbed for an average of two gears on hills... they had the poor thing all but trying to idle down the road which a little 4.0 isn't meant to do. You might check into that, make sure your tires are stock to close size or start planning a regear... figure about a grand an axle if you have to pay to have it done. A chip or tuner won't really yield specacular results on an older gas engine like a 4.0, there is only so much you can do playing with only ignition timing and throwing more fuel at it.

yeah.....thats what i am getting at.

 

[theAntihero]

yeah.....thats what i am getting at.

I agree as well. Its not the actual hey do a search its the venom behind it.

This is a forum, there is supposed to be some dialog. Plus sometimes people do searches that come up with nothing, the search engine on this site isnt exactly a well oiled machine when i entered tailgates once it came up with pretty much every single post on this site.

To the OP: i have a 914wd supercab with a manual and the 4.0, ive gotten 24 ish pretty regularly but have gotten 33mpg when i first ressurrected it and 17 when i drive stoopidly.

 

[captaingeek]

I don't know...

coming to a forum to discuss a topic. kicking off discussion by asking a question. sounds crazey to me!! lets roast this guy for coming to a discussion forum and making discussion!

 

[PanamaExpat]

dq409... don't take it personally. Once you get to know these guys they aren't so bad. Some of them are downright mean and nasty or like me just antisocial. I will normally search and post a couple links as well as mention the search function but there are a few members that are more like playground bullies than anything else. Hell, even I am scared to ask questions sometimes because of the backlash.

Anyhow welcome to the forum. Don't take the razzing too hard and even if we seem a bit rude you won't find a better Ranger resource on the web.

 

[killj0y]

If I get razzed I don't care lol. It's just a forum this one is nice compared to sone of the other forums I post in.

 

[--weezl--]

dq409... don't take it personally. Once you get to know these guys they aren't so bad. Some of them are downright mean and nasty or like me just antisocial. I will normally search and post a couple links as well as mention the search function but there are a few members that are more like playground bullies than anything else. Hell, even I am scared to ask questions sometimes because of the backlash.

Anyhow welcome to the forum. Don't take the razzing too hard and even if we seem a bit rude you won't find a better Ranger resource on the web.

all we are asking is make an effort to find your answer, before asking us to do the work for you...

if you make a post like

"i've searched everywhere, and i just can't find what tire pressure my truck is supposed to have, can someone help me?"

i'm going to see right through the bullshit and know you didn't try google, or the search on this page... conversely though, if you say i've tried looking through the other engine swap section, and can't find if a cummins 6bt will fit without modifying the fire wall, there's a good chance that you probably didn't find that, because there isn't 1000 places that have that answer...

lets see, what dumb questions have been posted, that a simple search could come up with the answer? the first one that comes to mind is "how do i make my truck more fuel efficient?" along with "has anyone done a 5L swap?" "how do i do a SAS" "how do i bleed my clutch?" and "how do i lift my truck for cheap?"

legitimate questions, that i'll believe you did search, with no results would be like "where can i find replacement headliners?" "how do i do a projector retrofit?" "want to install mustang seats, will they fit?" or "what is this connector for, and why was it unplugged?"

 

[killj0y]

all we are asking is make an effort to find your answer, before asking us to do the work for you...

if you make a post like

"i've searched everywhere, and i just can't find what tire pressure my truck is supposed to have, can someone help me?"

i'm going to see right through the bullshit and know you didn't try google, or the search on this page... conversely though, if you say i've tried looking through the other engine swap section, and can't find if a cummins 6bt will fit without modifying the fire wall, there's a good chance that you probably didn't find that, because there isn't 1000 places that have that answer...

lets see, what dumb questions have been posted, that a simple search could come up with the answer? the first one that comes to mind is "how do i make my truck more fuel efficient?" along with "has anyone done a 5L swap?" "how do i do a SAS" "how do i bleed my clutch?" and "how do i lift my truck for cheap?"

legitimate questions, that i'll believe you did search, with no results would be like "where can i find replacement headliners?" "how do i do a projector retrofit?" "want to install mustang seats, will they fit?" or "what is this connector for, and why was it unplugged?"

This is what I was saying except ...

legitimate questions, that i'll believe you did search, with no results would be like "where can i find replacement headliners?" "how do i do a projector retrofit?" "want to install mustang seats, will they fit?" or "what is this connector for, and why was it unplugged?"

True but I'm sure I've read several headliner tidbits plus there's even something in the tech section or diy with camo even lol. Projectors omg that gets asked often enough mustang seats I've seen a handful of times not too often and the last two will doubtfully come up with anything in search so understandable.