averaging 14 mpg's

[babytruck]

So I have had my ranger for about year now and noticed that my miles traveled per gallon average aprox. 14. I have researched this site and know you all are getting alot more out of your trucks. I only run premium, and drive around 6 miles a day. ALL of the maint. is up to date, all fluids changed-oil, diffs, tranny, transfer, i have a cat back system, the plugs and wires are only a month old. no codes, the truck has a little bit of a rough idle but runs great. Could the fact that i have live axles be the reason my mileage sucks? I don't know... Thanks for the help.

 

[RangerSkate28]

I get about the same. don't run A/C and maybe change your fuel filter. Live axles barely make a difference on MPG from what i've heard.

If you have an auto tranny like me and that doesnt help either.

I just baby the pedal and use it when i need it. helps a little but its small gains

 

[babytruck]

I have a standard transmission.
And I don't drive the piss out of it.
I don't run the AC or the defrost unless I absolutely have to.
The fuel filter is 6000 miles old...
This is just bugging me.
Thanks.

 

[Bigschwerm]

I noticed on my first tank of 87 octane that i got 18.4 mpg specs of my truck are in my signature...

14 does seems quite low maybe the 02 sensor?

 

[bcost882]

there is no need to run your truck on premium. the truck is not tuned for it so it is just wasting money in that aspect. plus you can foul your cats with premium octane fuel and not the right tune. My truck runs on 87octane and has 3.73s with 31s and still gets 16 atleast(my wife driving cause she drives weird). the other thing is if you drive alot of short distances without letting the truck warm up cause it sucks gas down. i drive barely a mile to work and i suck down gas like no tomarrow cause the engine doesnt warm up.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Agree with bcost.
Richard

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Yeah as long as you warm up the truck and drive it right it should pull off good MPG's.

I get about 18 city and upto 25 highway. Make sure its warmed up, and I keep it about 2,000 RPM's if I can as long as it doesn't lug the engine (alot of people say run at about 3,000 RPM's but I have found I get about 19mpg's highway like that)

THis engine likes high RPM's and can sit there all day at even 4 - 5,000 RPM's but it like every other engine gets the best mileage at the lowest possible RPM's without luggin the engine...

 

[Big Jim M]

If all you drive is six miles a day I'm surprised that you get 14 mpg average! That first six miles is on a cold engine and is getting the worst milage the engine gets durig a run.
To really find what milage the vehicle gets it isn't possible in six mile trips.
Big JIm

 

[red93terror]

man the absolute best i ever got out of my 3.0 was 10. i had 3.73s, 32x11.50s and a small lift. it was a dog, too. but i miss it so bad its making me hate my new truck.

 

[Giovatl]

Try gas without ethanol. I noticed about 2 mpg increase from 19 to 21.

 

[stmitch]

I think there are a number of contributing factors at work here. The truck in your avatar appears to be 4wd, so thats not helping anything. The extra weight of an extended cab will have an effect as well( can't tell from your info). I think the biggest thing though is the distance you drive like BigJim said. Its pretty tough for your truck to produce any kind of respectable mileage on such short trips.
On the other hand, it must be nice to only drive 6 miles a day!

 

[Original_Ranger84]

I think there are a number of contributing factors at work here. The truck in your avatar appears to be 4wd, so thats not helping anything. The extra weight of an extended cab will have an effect as well( can't tell from your info). I think the biggest thing though is the distance you drive like BigJim said. Its pretty tough for your truck to produce any kind of respectable mileage on such short trips.
On the other hand, it must be nice to only drive 6 miles a day!

Even so my truck is an extended cab (4door which is possibly heavier?) fiberglass stepside bed, and oversized tires and I still average almost what my friends 2wd does.

But I do agree, maybe let it idle a couple minutes before you leave every day or plug it in a few hours before you leave or park it in a heated garage everynight so it can get warm before you take off...

 

[snomaker321]

I got around that when my truck was running right and my driving is mainly just to school and around town(I live 2 miles from school and a mile from work)

 

[3literEarl91]

Wow, my 91 2wd 5-speed will avg. 22 in mixed driving. I agree that 4wd hurts but I wouldnt think that much. Mine used to avg 18. But I have sincebecome a father and now drive like a grandpa.

 

[Rearanger]

If all you drive is six miles a day I'm surprised that you get 14 mpg average! That first six miles is on a cold engine and is getting the worst milage the engine gets durig a run.
To really find what milage the vehicle gets it isn't possible in six mile trips.
Big JIm

I think Big Jim has hit the nail on this one, especially given babytruck's location.