Real Life Fuel Economy in V6?

[Jaymez]

I am giving serious consideration to picking up a Ranger or Explorer for use as a commuter vehicle. I'd rather have a 6 Cylinder and four wheel drive, but, fuel economy is of a greater concern. Ideally, whatever I pick up will average 25MPG on the highway.

The GF's Sport Trac is getting 25MPG on the highway with her lead foot and that's well above what both Ford and Fuel Econ.gov reports that she should get with a 6 cylinder 4x4.

Will an RBV fit the bill for me or should I look at something else? I'm not interested in picking up another car. Personally, I'd rather have a boring truck than "fun" car. The most I would consider modding whatever I found would be a moderate drop and nice wheels if 2wd, leave it alone if it's 4wd.

So far, the only vehicles I am interested in are RBV's and Colorado's.

 

[Superman]

Find one with a 2.3L in it or 2.2L diesel (even though people say they are really weak).

 

[Viva*the*Ranger]

The Colorado's get horrible millage. I know a few people that own them, and they aren't happy when it comes to mpg. I would look for a 4-cylinder Ranger for commuting, and use your 4x4 in the snowy season. During the nice part of the year, you'll save plenty of money, and stay in RBV.

 

[exbass94]

You may be able to get around 23 mpg highway with a 3.0. The best I ever got with my 4.0 was 18 mpg, and that was only once, with the cruise set at 60 mph almost the whole time. Normal mostly highway driving is 17.5 mpg.

 

[4.0B2]

When we rebuilt the motor in the EX, it got 24 on the road, cruise on 70. It's auto, 4.0, a4ld. But it ain't got that since. It gets about 21 on the interstate and 19 in town. My b2 gets like 19 with the 4.0.

 

[06RangerXLT]

You may be able to get around 23 mpg highway with a 3.0. The best I ever got with my 4.0 was 18 mpg, and that was only once, with the cruise set at 60 mph almost the whole time. Normal mostly highway driving is 17.5 mpg.

you must have a heavy foot, ive never had worse then 18 mpg on my truck. usually 21 in the city, 26 on the highway.

 

[kman]

i have a 96 ranger 4x4 with 3.0 has it straight piped out the side thats the only mod right now it has 31 mud tires and 3.73 gears and i get 23 on high way u put alittle smaller tires and a few more add ons and u will get ur 25mpg

 

[dixie_boysles]

here is my gas tracking in my 4.0 V6 Ranger (click on the badge)

 

[schaffer]

I got 16.2 this weekend 95 percent highway doing 75.....


Oh yeah my truck is on 33s. 3.73 gears with the 4.0 and no muffler.

 

[04sd]

Since you currently have an 09 full size truck I'm guessing you're looking at new Rangers?
I just checked the Ford site and it looks like the 3.0 option is history. So in a 4x4 the only option is the 4.0, the 2wd is 2.3 or 4.0. Not exactly the same as the new trucks but I bought a '92 Ranger, 4x4, supercab, 4.0, auto, 235-75 tires; new back in 92 and drove it for 12 years; 15-16 city mpg, 20-21 hwy mpg.
FWIW, I now have an 05 F150 crew cab. 100% stock, 4x4, auto, 5.4; 14 city mpg, 18-21 hwy mpg. I'm older now and probably drive it a little bit easier but still not a big difference over a Ranger.

 

[exbass94]

you must have a heavy foot, ive never had worse then 18 mpg on my truck. usually 21 in the city, 26 on the highway.

Considering the EPA rates it at 19 mpg highway, I'd say you are the exception, whereas my mileage is more typical. Like I said, I got 18 mpg with the cruise control on. I wasn't even touching the gas pedal. A lead foot is not the cause of my mileage. BTW, noticed you're in Canada. Are you using imperial gallons or US gallons?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

With my Ranger: 3.0L, 5-speed trans, 3.73 gears, 2wd and having taken the time to "break in" the motor....

I was getting 19-21 mpg around town with around 300# in the bed and an aluminum cap and around 25 mpg highway. After a couple years I started running with a soft bedcover instead of the cap....

I was getting 21-23 mpg around town and upper 20's highway (once even hit 31 mpg highway - cruised at 70 mph).

Now, I should state that this was all BEFORE they stopped letting you buy "pure" gas and everybody started pushing these "up to 10% ethanol" blends. Now I get 15-17 mpg around town and 21 highway no matter what I do. Thank you EPA for allowing me to pollute more.

 

[JohnnyO]

The last year a 4-banger was offered in 4x4 Rangers was 96 or 97. My first Ranger was a '99 3.0 Supercab, 4x4 with a stick, slow as molasses but pretty good on gas for a 4x4. I'd get 23 on the highway but I averaged 18 all-around.

At the time I was traveling a lot and I'd often rent Rangers from Budget Rent-A-Car as they had a $19.95 a day rate on Rangers. They were all 3.0 automatics and lot harder on gas than my 3.0 stick.

 

[Hahnsb2]

you must have a heavy foot, ive never had worse then 18 mpg on my truck. usually 21 in the city, 26 on the highway.

Canadian gallons are bigger..

 

[Jaymez]

Hmm. It looks like if I want to save fuel in comparison to my fullsize, a RBV isn't the way to go. With my Sierra, I have averaged 16MPG through the life of the truck and I've managed to pull down 21 MPG on extended trips when the cylinder deactivation kicks in.