does 18mpg seem low for a 2.9?

[pearldrumbum]

I went with a 2.9 truck over a 4.0 because i thought it would be a better commuter, but i'm only averaging 1mpg better than i did with my old 4L.

I'm not sure which gears I have (any quick ways to tell?), but its a 4x4 with about as small of tires as you can put on a 4x4 without it looking stupid, and I drive about 65% of the time on the freeway.

I've put a K&N filter on it, by removing the air box completely and putting a cone directly on the end of the TB. I was htinking I would change the fuel filter too, but haven't done that yet.

What kind of milage are other people getting with their 2.9s?

thanks,
Jesse

 

[Sicktight722]

I'm getting 14-16mpg in the city and close to 21 mpg on the highway. I have a '89 ranger 4x4 with 3.73 gears and stock tires. I also have a manual tranny which i think helps

 

[Jspafford]

I get 22-25 in the summer on the highway, and 15-19 in the winter with the same driving. Winter mileage sucks.

 

[deadbeat]

I have a 90 2.9 x-cab mazda 5 speed tranny, 3.73 gears, 235 75 tires, and i only get 16 in the winter and about 17 in the summer. I will never own another 2.9 and as soon as i find a 4.0, this 2.9 will be replaced.

 

[jnunez86]

i get about 16-17 on the freeway doing 70-75mph. i have 3.73 gears with 30in. bfg all terrains and a mitsu. 5 speed. i used to get really crappy mileage befor i put an msd ignition box on it. it really helped alot.

 

[grnrngr]

I have a 2.9 in my '86 B2 4x4, was driving 30 miles one way to work about 65-80mph and got 18-19 pretty consistantly..a little less if I was carrying 2or3 hundred pounds of crap with me. Don't do much driving around town, maybe a couple miles here or there to go to the store or bank, never seemed to make much difference...my '90 Ranger 4x4 was getting about 16-17 with the same tires(235/75x15 michelins) on it...swapped the tires to the B2 when the motor in the Ranger went T.U., now I got an excuse to swap in a 4.0. Ranger seemed to do a little better (seemed a little lighter when I didn't ahve the canopy on it, but that wasn't too often..Now, my brother-in-laws '93 2wd Ranger (I think it's a 2.9) gets 23-25..he says...Don't know what kinda mileage he gets with his 4.0 Explorer, but I like the way it jumps when I put my foot in it...

 

[87Ranger4me]

In the winter I get 18 and in the summer about 20, thats around town. last summer got 25 on a short trip at a average speed of 70mph.

 

[djurs]

I used to have an 87, and I think I got 20 MPG pretty consistent. My 89 extended cab gets about 15 city, and I don't get it on the highway much, but I expect it's around 18-20.

Your truck is normal. You could always give it a tune-up.

 

[volrath]

i get about 21 to 25 in the summer with my 2wd. i don't drive it in the winter though. but the cone filter on the t-body your getting a lot of hot air. if you could move it off to the side and or down and get some good cold air would also help. and electric fan really helps a lot too. i gained about 2 mpg and a bunch of power with that. the msd would help as well. i just have the msd coil and that helped to. just food for thought

 

[Dusty_Ranger]

i thought cold air intake was for power and warm air intake was for economy?

 

[Psychopete]

i thought cold air intake was for power and warm air intake was for economy?

Yup, the molecules in the colder air are more dense, ultimately allowing more oxygen to be available for combustion.

Nothing wrong with the stock intake setup. There really isn't anything that could be built that would be better unless it were a ram air setup. I suppose if you wanted a chome intake tube on a rusty, greasy 19 year old engine..

I got maybe 19mpg on the highway and 15-17 in the city at best when it was stock. I sped a lot though since I worked out of town at the time..

Pete

 

[volrath]

i would think that it wouldn't hurt though. wouldn't it get hot mounted on the t-body? hot enuff to lowe mpg or at least keep it the same? maybe it's just me though

volrath~mitch

 

[kool_ranger]

I am gettin about 17 right now with my 2wd 2.9L auto ranger... It's winter to so it's not all that bad

 

[fordwheelinman]

we're getting 26-28 out of one of our 2.9's in a Gen II bronco II with a 5spd and 3.45 rear gears and 205/75/15 tires.

 

[86freebie]

20ish

20ish with 32x11.5 stock with 3.73. if all you did was bolt a cone to the butterfly on the top of the motor you are probably sucking 150degree air. no good. and if you are like me you like the way it "sounds" full throttle which meens even worse mpg.