Can this MPG be right?

[CrabGuy]

I made my first long trip in the Ranger yesterday (550 miles @ 65-75mph, all highway- Sacramento to Oregon Coast). I filled up twice and checked mileage. It came out to be 20.6mpg and 21.1mpg. I pumped at the lowest flow setting, topping off only to the next full gallon after the pump tripped off. Does that sound awfully high for 4WD and 4.10 gearing, it does to me? Odometer was checked against a GPS and it's spot on. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled and certainly not complaining but I only get 13mpg in town driving. I did add a full can of Berrymans Fuel Treatment before I left but I doubt that adds anything. Anyway, the truck ran perfect and I found the truck very comfortable, powerful in the hills, and so much easier than my E350 I usually drive up here.

 

[fastpakr]

That seems reasonable to me.

I'm more curious about 13mpg in town - you should be doing better than that.

 

[Dirtman]

Eh my truck gets mid 20's highway (think 26 was my best) but is abysmal around town at like 14-15. But that includes a ton of stopping and idling. I have found turning the OD off if I'm not on the highway increases my fuel milage around town quite a bit because the transmission shifts into OD way too early and leaves the engine lugging when your doing 35-45. Everytime I get in the truck now I immediately turn OD off until I get on the on ramp for the highway. Made a big improvement in city mpg for me.

 

[19Walt93]

My 04 Ranger Supercab had 4.10's, a 5 speed, and a (heavy) fiberglass cap and would usually get 20 or so on a trip. It could get 21 in flat country- IE- not New England. Your 4.10's act like 2.87's when in overdrive, assuming a .7 overdrive. If your town driving includes a lot of stop signs or traffic lights, you get zero mpg at stops.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I did a little better then 20mpg on a trip to Florida a couple years back. Conditions were good and the A/C was off most of the trip.

Everything changes after wheels and tires... bumpers... blah blah blah.

I'm about high 17's now. The more city... that number goes down a bit.

Your 13 city has some variables like idle time... stop and go... etc... 13 still seems low to me.

 

[CrabGuy]

Thanks everyone. My city driving is all short stoplight to stoplight and short errands which probably explains the 13mpg city. I'm glad to hear others get similar highway mpg with the 4.0L. I was assuming I'd get 16-17 tops based upon EPA numbers. For a truck with 215K miles I'll take 20-21mpg anyday over the dismal 14mpg in my 2011 E350. I did add 3psi to the tires so maybe that helped also.

 

[don4331]

My daughter's B4000 has a couple tanks right around 11.5 liters/100km (20.5 mpg US) when running 110km/h (~68mph) on highway. It's a 4x4 with 4.10s as well.

13 around town sounds like you're aggressive on the skinny pedal. My son's 2WD with 3.55s has a couple tanks in winter about that range - but he drives it like he's borrowed it.

Note: I was impressed that it got 15mpg (US) while towing the 5th wheel, but I had a pretty good tail wind.

 

[Roert42]

My 4.0 auto 2wd got about 17 consistently before the s/c
the 4.0 MT 4wd gets 19/20 doing the same drive

 

[dvdswan]

I would say that is pretty reasonable with the hills/mtns in that area.

 

[RonD]

Short trips means computer is running the Choke(rich mix) when engine is cold, which is abysmal MPG, under 10MPG for first 4 minutes or so

Idle is also rich mix, and as said 0 MPG
Which is why "in town" driving can get a big drop in MPG

But great to hear you got over 20MPG with a truck and 4 liter V6 on highway
The rear axle gearing would only matter if speed was over 75MPH or so
Around town the 4.10 ratio is a benefit

 

[don4331]

@RonD

My '17 F-150 knocked back >30mpg from Calgary to Vancouver and its got a 5 liter V-8

 

[RonD]

Great, but its all downhill on my Map, lol

Calgary is 2" or 3" higher than Vancouver on my Map


Yes, the newer engines are way more efficient than even 10 years ago

Speaking of downhill
Fuel injection has a big benefit over a carb when going downhill
If you are coasting in gear, foot off the throttle, the computer will shut off fuel injectors and just add fuel now and then to keep Cats hot
With a carb when coasting in gear, vacuum would go high so SUCK more fuel that needed from idler Jets, lowering MPG more than just at idle
Some would shift to Neutral on long downhills because of this
With fuel injection don't do this, you use almost no fuel when coasting in gear and engine RPMs are above 1,500, under that the computer will turn on injectors at idle levels

 

[sgtsandman]

My 2011 used to get that fairly regularly on the highway before I started modifying it. Now I’ll see 20 once in a blue moon but 18-19 is more normal.

 

[cschannuth]

My 5.0 gets close to 20 highway and averages about 14 in mixed driving. It’s a 5 speed with 3.73’s.

 

[19Walt93]

I made my first long trip in the Ranger yesterday (550 miles @ 65-75mph, all highway- Sacramento to Oregon Coast). I filled up twice and checked mileage. It came out to be 20.6mpg and 21.1mpg. I pumped at the lowest flow setting, topping off only to the next full gallon after the pump tripped off. Does that sound awfully high for 4WD and 4.10 gearing, it does to me? Odometer was checked against a GPS and it's spot on. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled and certainly not complaining but I only get 13mpg in town driving. I did add a full can of Berrymans Fuel Treatment before I left but I doubt that adds anything. Anyway, the truck ran perfect and I found the truck very comfortable, powerful in the hills, and so much easier than my E350 I usually drive up here.

Don't top off like that, if there isn't enough air space in the top of the tank it can get liquid fuel into the evap system. I fill on the lowest speed, too, but when it clicks off I hang up the nozzle.