Ranger Gas Mileage

[mdmarble]

I've got an '02 Ranger Supercab 4 door with the 3.0 engine in it. I dont really do that much freeway driving, just mostly around town and to school. Driving to school I have a total of 10 stop lights and stop signs that I need to stop at, so factor that into the gas mileage part. I dont have that many steep hills, and of which I do have, are very short. My truck is competely empty, except for me and a few things, but nothing heavy in the bed. I dont have any lift on it, and I've got 27" Michelin X Radial LT tires that are almost still brand new. I dont drive fast at all either. When I'm excelerating I never really go above 3000 RPM.

I figure I should be getting about 16 or 17 mpg. Turns out I'm only averaging 14.5 to 15 mpg. Is any one getting the same kind of mileage as I am, or is something a little off. Any one with any tips?

Any one with any info I really appreciate it.

Thanks,
-Mike

 

[metalmacguyver]

the 3.0 likes to be run at higher RPM where it is in its power band. start by trying to adjust your driving to compensate for that.

 

[skippy]

i have the 2.8 and drive very much like you.my tires are the same and i get pretty much the same mileage.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Shift at 3500-4k and keep the revs around 3k when cruising, 3.0s like higher RPMs.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

i have the 2.8 and drive very much like you.my tires are the same and i get pretty much the same mileage.

Wow! really? My 2.8L gets like 22 mpg and i drive the same. Well 29" tires. I get like 18 with 4x4 locked in.

Maybe you need to get a tune up on it, that will probably get better gas mileage, and tire pressure.

 

[CJREX]

That's about what my 4.0 Supercab gets with 33x12.50 MT tires.

I actually get a bit better.

Something's up. I would think it should be better.

Clogged cats? Air filter? Fuel filter?

How many miles on truck?

 

[4x4junkie]

Sounds like a pretty short trip to school (10 stoplights).
It's probably not getting the mileage because the engine barely gets warmed up before you reach your destination. I'd say you're doing right about normal.
Shifting at 3200-3500RPM may make a difference, although the engine probably should be fully warm to see the full effect from it.

 

[mdmarble]

That's about what my 4.0 Supercab gets with 33x12.50 MT tires.

I actually get a bit better.

Something's up. I would think it should be better.

Clogged cats? Air filter? Fuel filter?

How many miles on truck?

Firt, guys, thanks for the replys.

I got my truck probably about 6 months ago, and its only got 39k miles now. Its the middle of wrestling season right now, so during school (right now its christmas break) its only to and from school. It is fairly short, and the cold mornings with the heater on, it does take a little while for it to heat up. It's not fully warm until about I'm half way there.
As far as my fuel filter goes, I have no clue what kind of condition its in, nor do I know how to check it. Any one that can PM me with some directions I'd appreciate it. My air filter dosent look too dirty, but I've been hesitant to change it because I was asking for a K&N FIPK for christmas that I never got.

Running at higher RPM's is a suprise. I never would have thought that might actually make a difference. I could sware I noticed a difference when I first bought it and I was a lead foot every where I went, and now that I'm trying to conserve gas after having my truck, I'm not going quite as far on one take a fuel.


This is another question. I wish I would have thought a little more when I bought new tires about four months ago, but now I want to put some BFG All Terrains on my truck. I'm thinking about 30x9.5R15. My brother just gave me his old wheels from his ranger. I think they are the opptional alloy wheels. Doe any one know how 30in tires are going to affect my mileage. As well, when I hit a bump hard or when I'm offorading, will it be easy for my wheels to rub in the fender wells?


Thanks,
-Mike

 

[skippy]

Wow! really? My 2.8L gets like 22 mpg and i drive the same. Well 29" tires. I get like 18 with 4x4 locked in.

Maybe you need to get a tune up on it, that will probably get better gas mileage, and tire pressure.

you running the feedback carb?i am and i can't hook up spark advance,engine dies.jan 1st the truck no longer has to have emmissions,can you guess what i'm contemplating?it's a rolling resto and i've only just begun.

 

[JohnnyO]

15 or so is about right for in-town driving. Also remember that when you're sitting at traffic lights you are getting 0 mpg. If yours is an automatic that is about as good as it gets. I used to have a '99 Ranger SC 4x4, 3.0/stick and I averaged 18 in mixed driving.

The fuel filter you can't check, just replace it if you don't know how long it's been there. The manual says to replace it every 30,000 miles.
A K&N or whatever won't make any difference.
30" tires shouldn't affect mileage much if at all but your speedo will be off (shows less miles than you actually traveled), so unless you compensate for that when you calculate mpg, it will look like you're doing worse than you really are.
Rangers are not champs on gas mileage unless you have a 4x2 4-banger. Just the basics, keep it in tune, clean air and fuel filters, proper air in the tires, change the oil when you're supposed to.
There are no miracles.
What I would tell you to try:
Remove the airbox silencer. This is free.
Synthetic oil. Mobil 1, Pennzoil Platinum, or Royal Purple.
Synthetic ATF in the tranny if it's a manual, get it flushed with fresh if it's an automatic.
Synthetic ATF in the transfer case.
Fresh synthetic gear lube in the axles, the Valvoline Quicky-Lube has a suction machine and will do it for cheap. Besides, that's the only way to do the front anyhow.
Best mpg mod for the money is a lower restriction exhaust like a Gibson cat-back. True duals with big pipe will actually hurt mileage.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

you running the feedback carb?i am and i can't hook up spark advance,engine dies.jan 1st the truck no longer has to have emmissions,can you guess what i'm contemplating?it's a rolling resto and i've only just begun.

Yeah i am but i might have higher gear ratios plus there is only one stop light that i don't even go through. I also let my truck warm up and have a manual choke because otherwise it dies in the winter (-10 degree weather doesn't agree with it). I removed just about every bit of emissions stuff on it because the cops don't care up here. 3.73 gears. i also replace the spark plugs every year.

 

[skippy]

Yeah i am but i might have higher gear ratios plus there is only one stop light that i don't even go through. I also let my truck warm up and have a manual choke because otherwise it dies in the winter (-10 degree weather doesn't agree with it). I removed just about every bit of emissions stuff on it because the cops don't care up here. 3.73 gears. i also replace the spark plugs every year.

-10 weather doesn't agree with me,lol.i have original 3.45 gears and everything under the hood is as it came from the factory.it has 6 mo old plugs and rebuilt carb,every piece of the ignition is fresh,except the pcm.i have at least 40 hours if not more in troubleshooting tfi system.at this point,frankly a vacuum advance dizzy,holley 2 brl and duraspark sounds more reliable and cheaper to maintain.have some plans to raise this puppy slightly and drive the piss out of it.starts right up and has power,have dusted many folks at the stop light.i suspected you took some emmisions stuff off of it,22 mpg is pretty good.i clocked two tanks so far,14 and 15.but i don't drive mine but 20 to 40 miles a week so i'm ok for now.don't ask how much i've spent on the emissions,i'm embarrased.

 

[mdmarble]

Does any one have a truck similar to mine, 02 Ranger supercab four door 3.0L?? What kind of mileage are you guys getting out of your trucks, what kind of conditions do you drive in and how do you drive them?

 

[98ranger4x4]

i have a 98 3.0 supercab and i get around 16-17 driving around town with 31s and 3.73s. a tuneup might help you out. as far as tires 30s fit just fine with no rubbing at all, my 31s just barely touch when the suspension is compressed and i am turned all the way but i have a 15x8 -19 offset wheel which gives me less clearance, my fitment guide at work (discount tire) only calls for down to a 0 offset.

 

[ford ranger]

Does any one have a truck similar to mine, 02 Ranger supercab four door 3.0L?? What kind of mileage are you guys getting out of your trucks, what kind of conditions do you drive in and how do you drive them?

I have a 07 4x4 sc. XLT 4 door 4.0l auto o/d same kind of driven mostly around town i think tires are 29's or something like that 255/70r16 gears are 3.73 and last i cheaked around 17 mpg that with mt foot out of it.