might have to consider a 3.0

[croatankid]

I"ve been looking to get a newer truck. So many of the used trucks have the 3.0 in them. After finding so few 4.0s I started thinking about getting the 3.0. Does the 3.0 have any redeeming virtues?

 

[Dirtman]

It's an engine.

 

[cbxer55]

I've had a 3.0 Ranger since January 2000. It's in a 98. Nearing 175,000 miles. I have no problem with it.

 

[Curious Hound]

Relatively trouble free and durable. Aside from being gutless at low rpm’s, it’s a pretty good engine. Mine amazes me every time I go offroad.

 

[adsm08]

Does the 3.0 have any redeeming virtues?

It's 3/4 of the way to a 4.0.

 

[racsan]

as long as its not geared too low, Id have one. And swapping a rear axle out is easy, the 3.0 makes its power pretty high in the rpm band, so if its got anything besides a 4.10 in it, put a 4.10 in. And thats with stock size tires, bigger tires, deeper gears. The 4.0 ohv is my favorite ranger engine but Ive been driving a 2.3 for the last several years and its been liveable- with 4.10’s.

 

[cbxer55]

I'll be putting 4.10s in mine in a few weeks. They ship on Mar 19. Friend's shop a mile down the road installing them. Can't wait. I'm happy with my 3.0 Ranger. Modified exhaust with no muffler, IAC intake, JET chip, hood modified with Mustang heat vents, Mustang hood scoop that's semi functional (doesn't cool the air intake, but cools the entire intake manifold, TB and intake tube), and two small scoops directly over the filter. Runs great, but yeah, I have to get the rpms up to do so. The 4.10s should help a lot. .

 

[Blmpkn]

They'll go 350k+ if taken care of.

They'll be completely sackless by that point... but it'll still get you there.

 

[cbxer55]

Mine is near 175,000 and still burns no oil. Has a small silver dollar sized drip every time I park it. Funny thing, my sister had the truck from January 2010 til September 2013, put over 40,000 miles on it, never changed the oil once. Still it doesn't burn any oil. Amazing!

 

[Dirtman]

Engines is goes vroom.

 

[pjtoledo]

Engines is goes vroom.

until the cam sync bushing gives out, then it goes ____

 

[Trump8MyKids]

I forgot who said it but I remember somebody saying this:
"It has the power of the 2.3 and the gas mileage of the 4.0."
It does lack power but it is a VERY reliable motor. I do wish it had more power. There's barely anything there until you get up to about 3,500 RPMs.
Reliability is great from what I've experienced, but that could just be my truck. Bought it with 90k 2 years ago and just rolled over 153k. Oil it regularly and keep up on other general maintenance and I have absolutely no doubt it'll last you upwards of 350k as somebody previously mentioned.
Oh on the gas mileage side. The highest I've recorded was 24 on a state highway. So if you're willing to sacrifice a little power and a few mpgs for reliability, this is your motor.
also, I've never tested the 4.0 and have only test-driven a 2.3 so I'm going off what I've been told about these motors. hope this helped!

 

[Super_Cracker]

Relatively trouble free and durable. Aside from being gutless at low rpm’s, it’s a pretty good engine. Mine amazes me every time I go offroad.

The 3.0 does better at 3500 rpms then it comes alive quickly

 

[rubydist]

Given how useless the 3.0 is at this elevation, my conclusion is there are 3.0 trucks available because people are tired of getting run over by everything else on the road, and there are no 4.0 trucks available because there is nothing else decent available at anywhere near the price.

 

[8thTon]

The 3.0 OHV makes 3/4 of the power of the 4.0 SOHC, but without 3 miles of timing chain. It's a nice engine. Make sure you have 4.10 gears. Mine goes really well, but it's a 2WD standard cab. The extra weight of a 4WD extended cab will be noticable.