Real Life Fuel Economy in V6?

[abunchofidiots]

Diesel may cost a little more, but I get 15-18mpg sporting 37" rubbers on my Superdtuy. It does seem the RBV stink for fuel economy.

 

[Jaymez]

My half ton Sierra is often over kill for most of my needs. I think a SD would be even more so. The 2001 Rack Body 4x4 I had for a work truck was terrible in the snow.

I wanted to buy a Mini when I bought the Sierra, but, the rebates were THAT much better on the full size that it would have cost me nearly $10K more to buy the smaller truck.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

IF we didn't have a bunch of ethanol mixed in with our gas, a Ranger should get pretty decent fuel economy in a V-6. It was the ethanol that killed the fuel economy and started giving RBVs the same numbers as a V-8 fullsize (plus the fullsize trucks have all been trimmed down to make them lighter and more fuel efficient in recent years). And I think the Ranger is due for an engine upgrade as well (I'd kill for a new Ranger with a diesel).

 

[Jaymez]

Last I heard, the US and Canada was NOT getting the new Global Ranger. Has that changed?

 

[schaffer]

Do you really need the 4wd all the time?


If your just commuting and need to haul stuff every now and then id get a 2wd reg cab.my friend with an auto 3.0 is getting 25 mpg or maybe even a 4 banger. Also have a buddy with a 4 banger that's pushing 30mpg.

 

[racsan]

you may not ned 4wd all the time, but when you do need it, and have it to use, its something you never want to be without. i may only need 4wd in my area a few times a year, but id not want to be without it during those few times. my truck is the older ohv 4.0 , a '93 supercab 4x4 with 3.73's manual hubs, manual transmission. i get about 15 city, 17 combined and 19.5 has been the absolute best its ever got highway. but for a 4,300 pound 4x4 with a 245 c.i. V6 i dont think thats too bad, on the other hand, my wifes blazer (S10) gets 17 in town and 23 highway, weighs a full 1,000 pounds more and the 4.3 V6 is much more of a motor. it has the 4L60E sutomatic and 3.45 gears, it is a 4dr 4x4 with around 172,000 miles. im strongly considering a mahindra if they ever come to the states, a compact truck with a diesel that will be in the area of 30 mpg. on a side note, my first ranger was a '88 supercab 2wd with the 2.3 four cyl, 3.73 gears, and the manual trans, it got 28 at best, 23 on average combined. worst it ever got was 20 in town once. not much tourque though. if you have some hilly areas or tow a little, you'll want the 4.0 otherwise you'll be in 3rd alot with the throttle floored.

 

[Jaymez]

Do you really need the 4wd all the time?


If your just commuting and need to haul stuff every now and then id get a 2wd reg cab.my friend with an auto 3.0 is getting 25 mpg or maybe even a 4 banger. Also have a buddy with a 4 banger that's pushing 30mpg.

No, I don't *need* 4WD all the time. Under ideal situations, I'd be able to find a 4x4 that gets 25MPG. However, I tend to pay close enough attention to the weather in the winter to know when I am going to wish I had it and on those days I can take my Sierra.

I would have no problem with a 2WD Ranger if it'll get decent economy. The Grand Prix I'd be replacing currently gets 28MPG on the highway. I'm willing to take a hit, just not a huge hit.

ATM, I may look for another Sport Trac like the GF drives. She's been reporting 25MPG with her 4.0, 4x4, and automagic transmission. EPA sites report differently, but, we've driven her truck halfway across the country multiple times without an issue and her estimates seem close to me.

 

[JohnnyO]

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.

Unless you get a 4-banger, 3.0 and especially 4.0 Rangers aren't much better on gas than a half-ton pickup.

ATM, I may look for another Sport Trac like the GF drives. She's been reporting 25MPG with her 4.0, 4x4, and automagic transmission. EPA sites report differently, but, we've driven her truck halfway across the country multiple times without an issue and her estimates seem close to me.

Sounds high to me but then it's pretty hilly where I live. Mine is rated at 19 hwy but I've got a K&N and Gibson cat-back exhaust and seen as high as 23 on a level Interstate (in FL) if I keep it to 65 mph.
Tires matter too. When I ditched the factory all-seasons for A/T's (stock size) I lost 2 mpg.
Lotta dudes at the Sport Trac site love the XCal II tuner but I figure the $500 it costs will buy a lot of gas.

www.mysporttrac.com

If you can live with the short bed and extender, they're the Swiss Army knife of trucks.

 

[8302ranger]

My old 89 2.9 , 2wd 5 speed use to get 28 mpg on the highway and never less than 19 mpg in the city. That was a great engine!

 

[ranger]

my dad just took my 88 4x4 2.9 5speed with 3.73 gears and 33's on a trip that was mostly backroads and got about 18

 

[dasfinc]

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.

You have a OHC engine, and you are a 2wd.

OHV trucks with 4X4 get 16-18 like clockwork (As does mine)

For the OP:

My friend has an 01 2wd 3.0 supercab, and averages 14-15 in town (1-3 mile trips only... Kills it), but gets 23-24 on the highway.

his father has an 05 4wd 4.0 supercab with a cap on the back, it averages 18-19 in town, 22-23 on the highway.

My 4.0 OHV super cab 4X4 (2000) got 17.8 with almost only highway at 70mph (Not bad honestly doing 70), but I'm confident in town I'll be getting 15-16.

My 5.0 swapped std cab 2wd (1998), stepside gets 12-13 in town, 15-16 on the highway (Not surprising...)

Same truck with the 4 cylinder got 24 in town, 26-27 on the highway (2.5 4 cylinder)



My friends father traded in his 2003 2500HD Chevy 'crewcab' *4 door* for his ranger, and says he'd never go back because the ranger is just as capable, easier to park, and the mpg of the OHC motors especially makes a big difference.

 

[02RangerXLT]

Best I've gotten in my 4.0 Supercab 4x4 is 21... going down the interstate with the cruise set on 80...

Typically get 16-18 driving around here.

Usually get 11-12 in the winter... depends on how much I use the 4wd...

In town, especially with traffic, you can almost watch the gauge move...

 

[nate09]

seen as good as 19.2 in its current form. when it was stock ive seen around 21 on average.

 

[Mike Tonon]

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

Turbo 2.3l diesel and the newer 2.3l/2.5l gasoline engines are alright. You can mod them to just get a little more power/mpg's.

 

[Mike Tonon]

Best I've gotten in my 4.0 Supercab 4x4 is 21... going down the interstate with the cruise set on 80...

Typically get 16-18 driving around here.

Usually get 11-12 in the winter... depends on how much I use the 4wd...

In town, especially with traffic, you can almost watch the gauge move...

I got 25 mpg's on my 07 Ranger (see sig.), I was driving out in the middle of nowhere and drove it as easy as possible, half the time I was coasting.