My 4.0l Ranger is horrible on gas. Want to swap with 2.3l. Can it be done?

[magnavia]

Hey everyone,

I drive a lot and the 4.0l in my ranger gets about 15mpg and is costing me too much money. It's an extended cab XLT, 4x4, with automatic tranny.

Here's the thing. I hate automatics, and I don't like the 4.0l's fuel economy.

I can pick up a used 2.3l motor with 5 speed tranny (2wd) for about $100. Should I pick up that? Would any parts of that tranny be useful?

What else would I need to complete the conversion if I bought that? Would it be better to hold out for a 2.3l/3.0l with manual 4x4 tranny?

I need to either swap the powerplant/tranny in this truck, or I will sell it to buy a different truck.

 

[TheTopher]

I think you'd be better off selling your rig and buying a different truck. four banger five speeds are a dime a dozen.



If you sold your 4.0 and bought a 2.3 you'd probably come out ahead a few bucks...whereas if you were to buy the motor/trans and swap them you'd be out the time and money for an engine swap and your truck would be worth less than it is now.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

if i would be near i would trade u my 2.5 5spd for yours lol

 

[daniel3507]

hell i wish i got 15 with my 4.0

 

[magnavia]

I understand that buying a truck that meets my needs sounds easier, but locally most rangers are just 2wd. When they are 4x4, they are much more then I paid for my current truck ($800 as is). Keep in mind I live in a smaller city (~100k so things arent as common as other areas.)

Either way, I have a car that will become my daily commuter and take this Ranger off the road due to excessive fuel costs. I put about 23,000 kms on it in 8 months, and I only get about 450km a tank, at $80-$100+ CDN a pop, depending on fuel prices. So about $5000 in gas in 8 months?? Insanity.

This truck has 325k on it right now, and that right there affects its resale. The body and everything is great on it, and I doubt I would get anything similar in shape for what I could sell this for.

 

[Downey]

are you serious you bought a truck you cant expect to get 30 mpg if you want something that gets good gas mileage but a cheap car and keep the truck

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

If you want fuel economy, get a car. Or a motorcycle. Swapping a 2.3L into your Ranger isn't going to net you a vast increase in fuel economy, you'll probably get 18-22 mpg around town and high 20's on the highway with a 3.0L and stick or a 2.3 and stick.

You want to talk about expensive fuel costs, lets talk the F-350 dumps we use for work. 8 mpg around town. 9 mpg highway. About the only upside is that those numbers don't change when it's loaded down or dragging a trailer an machine.

 

[03ranger4x4]

yeh the 4.0 is shitty on gas...when i used my dads(which is becoming mine) ranger for pizza delivery at 4.00 a gallon, it sucked...big time. then again i drive with a heavy right foot, and theres alot of hills in my town.

 

[Ozwynn]

you got something wrong. my 91 Explorer (4.0L, A4LD, 3.73 L/S, 31x10.50) got 17 around town and 22 going from spokane to seattle....... 20 going from seattle to spokane...... I got 13 that year it spent most of the winter in 4wd.

I had a 91 XLT reg cab shortbox 2wd with a 4.0L and auto that got low 23 from Biloxi,MS to Berrien Springs, MI and back ...... about 15 around base/town because of my 18 y/o lead foot........

 

[Gotta_gofast]

I get better mileage with my 4.0L SOHC Xcab 4x4 with 4.10s than I did with my single cab 4x4 splash with a 3.0L and 3.73s. And yes, I have a mildly spirited driving style and I still manage to 18-19mpg with the new truck. I was lucky to get 17 with the 3.0L.

 

[willievhook]

hmm, i get 18-19 mpg in my 4.0, and thats around town and gravel roads, on the highway i've squeezed out 22 mpg

 

[Will]

Either way, I have a car that will become my daily commuter and take this Ranger off the road due to excessive fuel costs.

SO what are you wanting to mess up the truck for?

My B2 get's 13-14mpg town and 20-21 highway. That's all they get I'm afraid. My crewcab diesel gets 18 town so I stopped driving the B2. And when diesel went up to $5/gallon a couple years ago, I eased into the Honda that gets 38mpg town. I may get bullied by Subaru drivers, but it feels great to drive 380 miles on a tank and only put 10 gallons back in it.

 

[adsm08]

get yourself some plugs, wires, and filters man. the 4.0 is a work horse, not a fuel sipper, but you should pull at least 17 out of it if you don't drive like an idiot.

 

[tony314]

If you are sucking through fuel that fast, something is wrong. I have the 4.0 and do much better than that. Also , if you got the 4.0 expecting miracle gas mileage then you were deluding yourself.

 

[daniel3507]

i got all you guys beat. 11mpg and i dont even drive crazy.