Ranger aint got no go power nor fuel econmy

[breezyj]

I got a 95 4cyl 5spd ranger and it only get roughly 18 mpg and aint got a lick of power I need to know what to do the plugs were changed earlier this year and timming belt last year so other than swapping out for a v8 what else can i do

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Where do you live? Around here it's always up or down hills and that kills the 4-cyl trucks for fuel economy.

A V-6 with a 5-speed and the proper axle gears does good. My Ranger with the 3.0L, 5-speed and 3.73 gears was decently quick and I got 19 mpg around town with a cap and 25 mpg highway with a cap, when I went to a tonneau cover I got 21 around town and up to 31 highway.

I have a buddy who has a similar Ranger with a 4.0L, auto and 3.08 gears and it does decent. My ranger would smoke his in a drag race, but his isn't too bad and he gets around 18 mpg city.

Besides that, it's a Ford, not a Ferrarri, you can't expect sports car performance from a truck unless it's something like a Lightning.

 

[The purple one]

Did you change the fuel filter? How many miles on it?

 

[gribly]

I would pull the intake manifold and throttle body off to clean them by hand, and then seafoam it. I'd also change the fuel filter.

 

[LearjetMinako]

Its a 2.3. It is, and will always be a gutless wonder of an engine. Thou that fuel ecomony does suck. My 2.3L gets 20mpg or better in city driving only. On the highway, I can expect to get around 24-26mpg.

Some things you want to check or change:
Air Filter
O2 sensor
MAF sensor
Carbon build up

 

[breezyj]

i have changed the fuel filter and also removed that muffler on the intake it helped a little but not much it still has trouble gettin down the road and gettin up hills 5th gear is useless only good if you are gonning down hill

 

[06RangerXLT]

its a 4 banger, so no power anyways.
your truck is probably full of stuff so it makes it even slower.
and your putting your foot to the floor to try and make up the difference in power, which is killing your mpg and most likely burning your piston rings.

be happy. if im getting 18 in the city in doing good.

 

[breezyj]

i dont put my foot in it nor do i have anything in the bed thank you very much I actually drive it rather easy my big thing is I got a 1992 Buick century wagon with a v6 and i get around 21 mpg puliing a 14ft john boat so the truck should do better than that

 

[06RangerXLT]

well get a tonneau cover. soft not hard as hard has more drag. keep ur tires inflated. clean ur air filter, clean your mass air sensor, check that your cat isnt plugged, check your wheel bearing for abnormal drag along with brakes. run your rpm around 2500 rpm during normal driving. check your clutch isnt slipping. if the clutch is gone theres your problem. the list goes on.

 

[Earl43P]

Shift at higher rpms, staying in each gear longer than you think you should.

Sounds like you are lugging it (shifting into higher gears too soon, way below the power band).

 

[feellnfroggy]

Its a 95, possible time to check your catalytic converter. How many miles on it? I agree with pulling the upper intake apart and scraping everything clean, Def clean out your injectors by hand, as well as anything else you see tons of carbon build up on, then seafoam it. It did wonders for mine. Gears will give you the 'feel' of more power. other than that it is a 4 banger, A small turbo from an eclipse or something if you set it up right with maybe 5PSI or less would be safe on the stock internals and give you a mild bump in the pants-o-meter. Maybe a new timing belts, plugs wires, just general maintenance. Thats about all you can do without diggin in.

 

[breezyj]

Its got new plugs and a new timmming belt the exauhst has been replaced from what appears to be a header back What about a coil pack breakin down could that be some of the problem if so should I go with stock or upgrade to accel or msd?

 

[06RangerXLT]

Its got new plugs and a new timmming belt the exauhst has been replaced from what appears to be a header back What about a coil pack breakin down could that be some of the problem if so should I go with stock or upgrade to accel or msd?

The exhaust was changed? its a long shot, but you could have no back pressure and you could have burt valves that aren't sealing, giving you bad compression. do a compression test to see.