Improving Fuel Economy

[domiNATE]

Hi,

I'm looking to increase the fuel economy in my 2003 Ranger.

I was wondering if putting on a K and N Air Intake would help out some. Basically I wanna know what helps out these 4.0's the most.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.


Also, the owner's manual says I'm supposed to have a 19.2 gallon tank, but when I'm just about on empty, it only takes about 15 gallons to completely top it off. Does the tank have a reserve or something like that?


Thank You and have a Great Day!

 

[Big Jim M]

??

Hi,

I'm looking to increase the fuel economy in my 2003 Ranger.

I was wondering if putting on a K and N Air Intake would help out some. Basically I wanna know what helps out these 4.0's the most.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.


Also, the owner's manual says I'm supposed to have a 19.2 gallon tank, but when I'm just about on empty, it only takes about 15 gallons to completely top it off. Does the tank have a reserve or something like that?


Thank You and have a Great Day!

If the fuel milage could have been improved cheaply doncha think Ford would have improved it?
Most times guys complain about milage they are driving short distances and the choke system is on many times per tank..
On the freeway for several hundred miles at 55 mph you should be getting over 20mpg..
Sometimes it is simply the guy has installed tires taller than stock. Two things have happened. The odometer is now incorrect and the engine thinks the Ranger is going uphill all the time.. Which equals bad milage.
As for the K&N... all it will do is pass more dirt than the stock filter and make more NOISE..
Big JIm

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Yeah there really is nothing that you can do to improve fuel mileage signifigently... K&N filters atleast the cold air ones have been shown to decrease power and mileage. An exhaust system would possibly free up some HP and get you a little better mileage.

The 4.0L SOHC isn't known for good mileage, but with simple driving habits you can really increase your fuel mileage. I regularly see 25mpg with my 3.0L on the highway if I keep the speed about 55 but if I step it up to 65 it usually drops to about 20 at best. Same with the city I was driving regularly from stop lights and around town getting 10 -12 in the winter time but by driving calmly everywhere I got it up to 15 - 17.

As for the fuel tank, mine says the same thing 19.5 gallons but when I fill up it usually shows 16.5 gallons. I believe the extra 3 gallons are a reserve to get to a gas station or whatever. Kind of like on motorcycles.

 

[rusty70f100]

I think it is best, when looking for mileage, to do the basics first.

1. Make sure all the electronics and engine control systems are working properly.
2. Make sure the engine is in good mechanical condition. Make sure it has good compression, and doesn't make any odd noises.
3. Run synthetic fluids.
a. They have a higher viscosity index than conventional lubricants. This means, that as the temperature changes, they don't change in viscosity as much as a conventional of the same rating. This can help with cold starts by allowing the oil to get up where it needs to go faster.
b. Run a lighter fluid if the vehicle allows it. If you're running a 10w30 engine oil for example, switch to a 5w20. If you're running a 5w20, switch to a 0w20. The lower the viscosity of the oil, the better the mileage. Ford switched a lot of their engines to 20 weight, and back-spec'd many, for a reason.
c. Run synthetic in the engine, transmission, and differential for the maximum mileage benefit. Use synthetic grease.
4. Ensure proper tire inflation.
5. Ensure the odometer is correct. This can be verified either by GPS (my favorite method) or using highway mile markers. If the odometer is wrong, so will be your mileage calculation.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I think it is best, when looking for mileage, to do the basics first.

1. Make sure all the electronics and engine control systems are working properly.
Very good idea

2. Make sure the engine is in good mechanical condition. Make sure it has good compression, and doesn't make any odd noises.
Also very good idea

3. Run synthetic fluids.
a. They have a higher viscosity index than conventional lubricants. This means, that as the temperature changes, they don't change in viscosity as much as a conventional of the same rating. This can help with cold starts by allowing the oil to get up where it needs to go faster.
b. Run a lighter fluid if the vehicle allows it. If you're running a 10w30 engine oil for example, switch to a 5w20. If you're running a 5w20, switch to a 0w20. The lower the viscosity of the oil, the better the mileage. Ford switched a lot of their engines to 20 weight, and back-spec'd many, for a reason.
c. Run synthetic in the engine, transmission, and differential for the maximum mileage benefit. Use synthetic grease.
You'll spend more money on synthetic fluids than you'll save from the minuscule performance/mpg gains that you would get... Run regular old dino oil (Motorcraft is good) and just keep up with maintenance intervals...

4. Ensure proper tire inflation.
+1

5. Ensure the odometer is correct. This can be verified either by GPS (my favorite method) or using highway mile markers. If the odometer is wrong, so will be your mileage calculation.
+1

I fixed it...

 

[rusty70f100]

You fixed nothing. I stand by my statements. I've seen the results first hand.

It's ok if you have a differing opinion. To go say someone else's is wrong, just because yours is different, is the height of arrogance.

 

[ronclark]

I am a believer in synthetic at least in in the trans and diff. i switched a 4cyl 5 Speed to synthetic it sure helped. there is a hill i could just make it with out dropping in speed on in 5th and it can do it.
Not sure if it will pay back in the extra cost. but with the cost of oil going up there is not going to be much different in cost soon.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

You fixed nothing. I stand by my statements. I've seen the results first hand.

It's ok if you have a differing opinion. To go say someone else's is wrong, just because yours is different, is the height of arrogance.

AND??? I never said you were wrong... I said everything you said was correct, but that you would never make up the extra cost of switching to synthetics... I agree synthetic fluids do help (I even said they did)... Just that you'd never "save money" by switching... Now, if you had a high performance, high stress engine, I would say synthetics would help... Our trucks though? It's just a waste of money... You wouldn't earn enough improvement to offset the exorbitant costs of full synthetic fluids... Next time you should thoroughly read what others write before you start throwing around the insults...

 

[289-tiger-]

We all try to bolt on products or clean the unit to get better gas mileage, but these days it would be prudent to vote and actually receive a product that contains a 100 percent gasoline product and not a 10 percent additive that evaporates off and destroys engines that are not designed for its consumption. And folks still buy and add drygas in the winter????

Good luck

 

[Original_Ranger84]

AND??? I never said you were wrong... I said everything you said was correct, but that you would never make up the extra cost of switching to synthetics... I agree synthetic fluids do help (I even said they did)... Just that you'd never "save money" by switching... Now, if you had a high performance, high stress engine, I would say synthetics would help... Our trucks though? It's just a waste of money... You wouldn't earn enough improvement to offset the exorbitant costs of full synthetic fluids... Next time you should thoroughly read what others write before you start throwing around the insults...

I agree with this, Although I placed synthetics in my transmission and drive train stuff, I feel its worth it. You may spend twice as much but you doen't change it half as often. I switched to Motorcraft Synthetic blend which is cheaper then most dino or synthetic oils and seems to work as well if not better IMO.

 

[rusty70f100]

AND??? I never said you were wrong... I said everything you said was correct, but that you would never make up the extra cost of switching to synthetics... I agree synthetic fluids do help (I even said they did)... Just that you'd never "save money" by switching... Now, if you had a high performance, high stress engine, I would say synthetics would help... Our trucks though? It's just a waste of money... You wouldn't earn enough improvement to offset the exorbitant costs of full synthetic fluids... Next time you should thoroughly read what others write before you start throwing around the insults...

It was the fact that you claimed to have "fixed" my post that I found insulting. If you had simply stated your opinion there would have been no problem.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

It was the fact that you claimed to have "fixed" my post that I found insulting. If you had simply stated your opinion there would have been no problem.

He didn't mean anything by it... we do this stuff all the time. Just let it go.

 

[wahl_7s]

DO NOT RUN A FULL SYN IN THE DIFFERENTIAL.run a blend 80-120 is good i've had a few rear end builders and racers tell me not to run a full syn in a diff. it's not good for them! i run full syn in everything in my race truck except the diff.

 

[BlackBII]

All these posts and no one has mentioned the #1 thing to do in order to improve gas mileage....

Drive like a grandma, people.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

All these posts and no one has mentioned the #1 thing to do in order to improve gas mileage....

Drive like a grandma, people.

Did in my first post here... well basically. Drive 55 on the highway, and don't race off of stoplights.