Might man up for some gears!

[02 ranger]

After a lot of research i have came to the conclusion that the 4.0l is not mod-friendly... at least not the same type of mods i do to my super duty. I am gonna consider some gears for some better mpg's. My Ranger is underpowered and gets terrible gas milage. I don't know for sure what gears are in my truck but if someone can tell me how to check this i will have an update for you tomorrow after noon. Also i don't remember what size of tires it was but i do know that they are Michelin ltx 2 (i think) a/t tires. Also since i don't mess with the gears in my diesel i don't know which direction i should go. I want something that will get me better gas milage them my terrible 15 miles per gallon i'm getting right now. But if it wont hurt my fuel economy more then it is right now i would like some extra acceleration. So if you guys can tell me some good gears for both fuel economy and power & acceleration i would appreciate it very much!
Thanks, Abel

 

[02 ranger]

97

open 8.8"

2750

4.10
Ok so i guess my truck has 4.10's in it. I looked at the door panel to find out what it had. I think 4.10's are to big for my use. I don't haul anything (like if it could) and i don't race it (thats what my spartan tuned super duty is for) so what benefits would i see for a lighter gear such as the 3.73? Or what do you guys recommend for me!

 

[nitrofan1]

You probably have 4.10's or at the highest 3.73's. The 4.10 will contribute to the poor MPG along with the big tires, extra front axle assy, etc... You can put in 3.55 or higher gears for better mileage but be ready for a pig on acceleration. Your truck isn't designed for good gas mileage. The only way to improve it dramatically is sell it and get a 4cyl manual.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I've never seen a 4x4 get anything good on MPG. As for the 4.0 it has plenty of options but again this engine isn't for mileage.

On a lighter note my truck got incredible MPG's a few weeks ago. The fuel pump went out and sat in the garage. Didn't have to fill up for 2 weeks! Hows that for great gas mileage? LOL

 

[02 ranger]

On a lighter note my truck got incredible MPG's a few weeks ago. The fuel pump went out and sat in the garage. Didn't have to fill up for 2 weeks! Hows that for great gas mileage? LOL

Ur wallet must have been so full! haha. But my 2008 f-250 cc short bed lariat gets 22 mpg!.... ofcarse with the help of a SPARTAN and the LACK of emissions parts. But how much improvement would i see if got 3.73's? My truck is already slow at acceleration so i dont mind it being a little slower. What website can i go to view some options?
Thanks, Abel

 

[Gotta_gofast]

My 4.0L loves the 4.10s. I manage 20-21mpg up here in Wisconsins in the summers and about 17-19mpg in the winters. I run a performance tune, have an exhaust and intake, and it's a quick little truck for a six. No problem outrunning the big boys such as my old man's 6.0 powerstroke (empty ofcourse, lol) I would stick with the 4.10 gears because the SOHC likes to spin. I know the 4.0s get pretty thirsty with a lead foot though.

 

[pontiacfieroguy]

the 8.8 came with as high as 3.08 with the l/s i beleive its either axle code 38 or 42. also ive heard you can install as high as 2.47 in there. you cant gear for both efficency and acceleration that is an oxymoron. numerically higher gears will increase acceleration and numerically lower gears will reduce acceleration but increase efficency. if you want the max mileage and dont need to haul much then go with as tall a tire as you can find and the 3.08 gears and you should see a nice increase

 

[strvger]

hmm... my geo tracker 4x4 gets 32mpg on the freeway. my ranger gets 21. both of those are good enough for me. gear change with stock size tires might get you a very few more mpg. buying new gears with master install kits are not cheap. ever figure out how long it will be before you get pay back from them? 2-3 mpgs, if you're lucky, against at least $1k (iirc) could take a very long time. just a thought.

 

[Big Jim M]

Well maybe

the 8.8 came with as high as 3.08 with the l/s i beleive its either axle code 38 or 42. also ive heard you can install as high as 2.47 in there. you cant gear for both efficency and acceleration that is an oxymoron. numerically higher gears will increase acceleration and numerically lower gears will reduce acceleration but increase efficency. if you want the max mileage and dont need to haul much then go with as tall a tire as you can find and the 3.08 gears and you should see a nice increase

In theory and on paper...maybe. But in actual practise that don't happen.
The engine must be in the rpm range that will propel the vehicle with full timing and least fuel mixture.
As the rmp decreases and the laod stays the same the computer makes changes in the fuel mixture and the timing is retarded.. So a 2:47 gear in a ranger would be a terrible milage and terrible powered vehicle.
With a 30/31 inch tire our lil trucks do about their best with a 4:11 or 3:73 gear.
Now if we could install a 400HP VEtte engine in them amybe that 2" 47 could work.. But not with any of the engines we have a choice of.
Big JIm

 

[KyleTay]

when i purchased my 04 4.0 extended cab EDGE it had 235/75-15 (about 28.5 in tall i thnk) tires and the stock 3.55 diff. I averaged 19 mph... mixed city and highway.

I moved to 265/70 15s which are 30.5 tall or so... the mpg staid the same and no noticable reduction in power.

yesterday i got a new set of 31/1050/15 tires.. they are obviously 31" tall. the acceleration has gone down a bit. but highway driving is WAY smoother with the tall tire and i think the engine is now at a perfect rpm at 45 mph for in town and 65 mpg for the highway which should keep my fuel economy right where it was before.

that being said I would like to go to a 3.73 LSD to regain the pep it used to have.

the 4x4 is what hurts your fuel economy and if you are testing you acceleration don't think about saving gas.

BTW, I have a ladder rack, boxy camper shell, and no less than 400 lbs in the bed and still get 19 average and even got 26 mpg on a long trip (set cruise at 65).

 

[Yellowsplash]

You'd be surprised...No longer are the days of 3 speed autos that required you to adjust your rearend gear to lower rpm at cruise speed. Theres a reason we have 5 speed transmissions.

I get wayyyy better gas milage with 4.88s and 33s then I EVER did with the stock 3.73 gears, stock tires or not. If you have 4.10 gears, you probably get the best gas milage your gonna get. Only the driver can change that from there...

 

[AllanD]

After a lot of research i have came to the conclusion that the 4.0l is not mod-friendly... at least not the same type of mods i do to my super duty. I am gonna consider some gears for some better mpg's. My Ranger is underpowered and gets terrible gas milage. I don't know for sure what gears are in my truck but if someone can tell me how to check this i will have an update for you tomorrow after noon. Also i don't remember what size of tires it was but i do know that they are Michelin ltx 2 (i think) a/t tires. Also since i don't mess with the gears in my diesel i don't know which direction i should go. I want something that will get me better gas milage them my terrible 15 miles per gallon i'm getting right now. But if it wont hurt my fuel economy more then it is right now i would like some extra acceleration. So if you guys can tell me some good gears for both fuel economy and power & acceleration i would appreciate it very much!
Thanks, Abel

a 4.0 is a torque engine and does most of it's work at low RPM.

Most engine mods try to make an engine rev more, the issue is that the 4.0 will NEVER be a revver because it simply isn't balanced to be...

Like it for what it is, because most attempts to make it better simply ruin it.



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