Another gas mileage thread

[fatt_owl2.9]

Hey all...I've had my first Ford product ever for about the last 4 months now, an 87 Ranger 2.9L 5-speed 2WD. It's been a great little truck so far, it runs like a top and has been super dependable and dare I say I actually like the way it drives. This is my first time posting to therangerstation.com, and this will be my first of a few threads. Bang-up Ranger info site y'all got here, and I'm glad to have found it.

So I've been trying best I can to calculate average fuel mileage per tank of gas. I do a fair amount of highway driving, and she's been averaging (city AND highway driving) around 14 mpg.

My other concern is that I only seem to be getting about 230 miles out of a full tank. Is this typical of this breed of Ranger? I was figuring it should be getting around 300 miles out of a tank, is that unrealistic?

The truck is pretty peppy, the previous owner was an older gentleman who passed away, and it appears he did some small stuff to pep it up a bit. It's got a different ECU (has "Wrecked Bronco" scribbled on the top of it, the truck's original ECU was also included) and an electric fan with what appears to be some kind of adjustable thermostat. The truck runs pretty cool, usually much lower than 160 degrees, even on 100 mile freeway trips. On a really warm day the (aftermarket) temp gauge might finally creep up to 160. From what i've read in other threads, a cold thermostat could be contributing to making the engine run rich, and affect gas mileage, so I'm gonna see what I can do to get the thermostat set to 195. I'm also gonna make sure the timing is set to recommended spec, which is 10 degrees advance, if I'm not mistaken.

Are there any other things I should check for? Aside from the above mentioned mods, the engine appears to be box-stock. I don't have a check engine light, though I suppose I could check for faults anyway. Any advice y'all got to throw my way would be great, hope to hear from some of the knowledgeable guys around here

the fat owl

 

[BlackBII]

Rather than going by miles to the tank, try calculating it by how many gallons you put in. The Ford fuel gauges aren't very reliable...

I ususally get about 20mpg in my BroncoII

 

[Psychopete]

The truck runs pretty cool, usually much lower than 160 degrees, even on 100 mile freeway trips. On a really warm day the (aftermarket) temp gauge might finally creep up to 160. From what i've read in other threads, a cold thermostat could be contributing to making the engine run rich, and affect gas mileage, so I'm gonna see what I can do to get the thermostat set to 195. I'm also gonna make sure the timing is set to recommended spec, which is 10 degrees advance, if I'm not mistaken.

This is definitely a GOOD starting point. The low temperature is bad, for one it's harder for moisture to get out of the crank case (causes sludge), the engines internal components are not expanding as they should, and the computer is not going into closed loop (which is when you're going to get the best economy). 12btdc has typically been OK, but 10btdc would certainly be safe.

FWIW, I didn't know if you knew, but you'll have to pull the SPOUT to prevent the computer from advancing the timing to set it correctly.

Pete

Edit:
With the alternate PCM, I wonder if the OP swapped that (from an 88+ BII?) in and removed the EGR system..

 

[fatt_owl2.9]

Yeah, as far as calculating the mileage, whenever I fill the tank I always set the trip odo to 0000, then the next time I fill up I divide the number of miles on the trip odo by the exact number of gallons put into the truck, as read on the gas pump. It seems to be hovering between 13 and 14 mpg. Only getting 230 miles to a full tank is still a concern for me.

FWIW, I didn't know if you knew, but you'll have to pull the SPOUT to prevent the computer from advancing the timing to set it correctly.

Pete

Edit:
With the alternate PCM, I wonder if the OP swapped that (from an 88+ BII?) in and removed the EGR system..

Yes, thanks to the great info around here I have been made aware of the SPOUT connector, and the process for properly setting timing. Funny thing is, a mechanic buddy of my dad's was messing with it one day not long after I got the truck, and he pulled the connecter out. The truck had (and still has) a driveability issue, basically it's kinda herky-jerky at part throttle, and also sometimes when you let off the throttle, that feeling like it's bouncing off the clutch. He pulled the connector and I drove the truck with it disconnected for a few weeks. That driveability issue went away, the throttle action was totally smooth, and I was getting a bit better mpg. However all the engine's pep also went away, and you could always hear light backfiring through the exhaust upon deceleration. The engine temperature would fluctuate quite a bit as well. I've since learned what the SPOUT connector is and plugged it back in, I'm sure it's not a good idea to drive around with it disconnected, although the few weeks I drove around sans connector don't appear to have done any damage.

EDIT: I am not sure what the EGR equipment looks like or where on the engine it is located, but I can find out and check it out.

 

[Jspafford]

I get 22-24 in the summer mostly highway...

I've got almost 2 weeks on this tank and I've not put gas in it since a week ago last Saturday. I drive 35 miles a day.

 

[The Fox]

I get around 20mpg on the street on my ranger with a 5 speed Mitsubishi FM146, 4x4 and 3.73 gears. I get only about 22 on the freeway because of the low gearing.
Nick

 

[IMenriched]

Yeah, as far as calculating the mileage, whenever I fill the tank I always set the trip odo to 0000, then the next time I fill up I divide the number of miles on the trip odo by the exact number of gallons put into the truck, as read on the gas pump. It seems to be hovering between 13 and 14 mpg. Only getting 230 miles to a full tank is still a concern for me.



Yes, thanks to the great info around here I have been made aware of the SPOUT connector, and the process for properly setting timing. Funny thing is, a mechanic buddy of my dad's was messing with it one day not long after I got the truck, and he pulled the connecter out. The truck had (and still has) a driveability issue, basically it's kinda herky-jerky at part throttle, and also sometimes when you let off the throttle, that feeling like it's bouncing off the clutch. He pulled the connector and I drove the truck with it disconnected for a few weeks. That driveability issue went away, the throttle action was totally smooth, and I was getting a bit better mpg. However all the engine's pep also went away, and you could always hear light backfiring through the exhaust upon deceleration. The engine temperature would fluctuate quite a bit as well. I've since learned what the SPOUT connector is and plugged it back in, I'm sure it's not a good idea to drive around with it disconnected, although the few weeks I drove around sans connector don't appear to have done any damage.

EDIT: I am not sure what the EGR equipment looks like or where on the engine it is located, but I can find out and check it out.

yes you should be getting better MPGS (exspeially 2wd and manual tranny)...unless you got it to the floor always.
agreed with hotter thermosate...cooler 160* one were installed to help stem the tide of cracked heads.

if the new thermostat doesn't cure it..it should improve it.
plug in the spout connector again....& unplug the 02 sensor...note whether your performace improves again (be sure to tuck those wires up out of teh way of the exhuast)

 

[rickcdewitt]

1)My other concern is that I only seem to be getting about 230 miles out of a full tank. Is this typical of this breed of Ranger? I was figuring it should be getting around 300 miles out of a tank, is that unrealistic?

2) an electric fan with what appears to be some kind of adjustable thermostat. The truck runs pretty cool, usually much lower than 160 degrees, even on 100 mile freeway trips. On a really warm day the (aftermarket) temp gauge might finally creep up to 160. the fat owl

1)how big is the gas tank? the 16 gallon tank(using 14+- gallons)only gets me around 250 miles or so,and thats about 17.5-18mpg.your mileage has to be connected to the truck not warming up and the sputtering issues

2)buy a 195 thermostat and make sure the electric fan thermostat isen't set really low(or too high or the truck will overheat).or just get rid of the electric fan,the flex-a-lite setup is crap and unreliable at speeds that don't blow enough air over the sensing bulb.i'de have to crank the dial down for wheeling and up the rest of the time.