Are the 3.0 v6's Just Plain Gutless ?

[B3000SE]

I just picked up a 94 B3000 SE Ex Cab for cheap($1300) and its in excellent shape.It runs smooth everything works so far.But one thing that has been buggin' me to no end is....... Geezus this thing is gutless ! ! Is there symptomatic issues or things that I need to check,replace or change ? Or Is this the way these Trucks are ? I am aware of the obvious upgrades(intake exhaust,engine swaps etc) to make more power but In a matter of speaking I cant see why Ford would make a truck lacking so much power...... any help will be appreciated....Many Thanks

 

[babytruck]

I dont really know my 3.0l is alright I mean its not a 150 but my guess would be to make them last longer, and reliable.

 

[mc_muench]

IMO the 3.0 have plenty of power, you just have to know how to drive them. The 3.0's peak power is at alot high rpm then other engines, like 3500ish IIRC, you gotta keep the rpm up past that. Which is why a manual is way better than auto when coupled with a 3.0, if you have an auto swap it with a 5spd. And the 3.0 is a very durable and reliable engine, I love mine.

For mods look at rogueperformance.com and regearing can help too.

In short, REV the snot out of it...

 

[bcost882]

i like mine. it doesn't keep up with my buddy's wrx but it accelerates fine and the only problem i have is it can't keep the speed up on the hills to cali. otherwise i spin the tires fine with 3.73s and 225/75-15s. i think it does better than a 4.0l auto but thats not sayin much. i see the power round 2500 to about 3800 but after that it just is like a tractor loud as crap but doesnt go anywhere

 

[B3000SE]

LOL Thanks mc_muench....I was Hoping not to rev the snot out of it..... This is my First Mazda/Ranger, Ive only had it for a few days and it just seems underpowered.... It runs smooth and quiet but it seems to just need to grow a set ya know ? Its a nice enough Truck to lift and keep but im afraid to put bigger tires on it or it might not go anywhere or at least not fast ha ha

 

[mc_muench]

You're welcome, thats the thing about 3.0's tho, they dont have big cahones, but they can take a kick to em and keep going, so dont be afraid to kick it. And if you wanna get bigger tires, a regear is definitely in order

Hell, if I drove any other car like I did my truck, it would prolly disintegrate or implode or something...

 

[pfrye2007]

My 3.0 runs pretty good. I have a 2000 3.0 what is funny is the new 3.0 actually has around the same horsepower of the 4.0 v6 that was in your older explorers and rangers lol. the 3.0 being 155 hp now like in mine and the 4.0 in a 94 explorer or ranger with 160 hp lol. But the 4.0 has better bottom end tourque for pulling and going up hills this is for sure and the 3.0 Is a slightly higher reving engine.

 

[B3000SE]

Well I just took it for a ride down to Kmart(about 4 miles) and I drove her like ya said mc_muench.... It didn't do too bad ..... I had to rev the Nutz off of it to get on the freeway but it did it and seems that it will do it all day long too..... Its slowly growing on me... I have an 08 Corolla S that is my daily driver and I guess I compared it to that....

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Yeah My 3.0 does awesome with the stick behind it... I mean I half a$$ raced an escalade and was beating it till I tried to pull over and it was next to me not letting me pull onto the freeway on ramp.

But I get it up to 65 -70 no problem. all with 31's and 3.73 gears.

 

[B3000SE]

I am going to do some research and find an 8.8 axle with some different gears,it must help in the power department in some ways,but I am trying to save fuel too....

 

[mc_muench]

Try to find an 8.8 with L/S and 3.73 or 4.10 gears, the axle number for should be R6 or R7 on a ranger and D2, D4, D5 on an explorer.

check out this...
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Axles.html

 

[AllanD]

IMO the 3.0 have plenty of power, you just have to know how to drive them. The 3.0's peak power is at alot high rpm then other engines, like 3500ish IIRC, you gotta keep the rpm up past that. Which is why a manual is way better than auto when coupled with a 3.0, if you have an auto swap it with a 5spd. And the 3.0 is a very durable and reliable engine, I love mine.

For mods look at rogueperformance.com and regearing can help too.

In short, REV the snot out of it...

Peak torque is up at 3000rpm and peak power is at 5000rpm.

Don't be afraid to spin it.

I've personally held a 3.0 at 4200rpm for several hours,
but that was in a taurus.

AD

 

[03ranger4x4]

Peak torque is up at 3000rpm and peak power is at 5000rpm.

Don't be afraid to spin it.

I've personally held a 3.0 at 4200rpm for several hours,
but that was in a taurus.

AD

x2 a few years ago, on the way back from a an amusement park, it was like a 4 hour drive and my friend held about 104+ most of the way (the car had no tach, but im sure the rpms where up there) in his tuarus. The speedo went to 85 and it was buried the whole time. Like literally off the whole guage face. We only know how fast we were going becuase a cop stopped us and let us know, along with a ticket lmao.

We did eventually kill the engine by driving it with no coolant, on the way to junkyard in first gear bouncing off the rev limiter. We put pancake syrup in the oil aswell for shits and giggles. It made it about 10 miles, and went it finally croaked, it smelled like breakfast. It was also knocking like a jack hammer. But if you dont do that to your engine, im sure high rpms are no problem.

 

[Airmaster]

I hear what you're saying, but I've learned over time that this thing has to be driven like the car engine it has. Drive it like a car, high RPM's. Not only will it drive better but it's more efficient when you rev it the right way. Give the engine the gas it needs, have fun and spin em out!

I normally shift around 3000 rpm when doing the daily grind, when im cruisin i like to hit that sweet spot around 3500 and 4000, make it scream a bit, haha

 

[mc_muench]

I dont know when I shift cause I dont have a tach but I know I rev er...WTF Ford? no tach + manual tranny