Smooth above 75mph

[Captain Caveman]

I've owned four Fords in my life:
-1983 Mustang 3.8L v6
-1985 F-150 straight six
-2006 Ranger 4.0L v6
-2007 Ranger 4.0L v6

Every single one of them had the same trait. Driving between 55mph and 75mph you could feel and hear the engine going. Once I hit 75mph (which is rare) it seems like the engines will get real quiet, the slight vibration in the gas pedal goes away.....the engine just seems REALLY smooth above 75mph. It's like driving an electric car.

Is it a Ford thing? A v-6 thing? An RPM band thing? Or a I'm-crazy-thing?

 

[feellnfroggy]

RPM band thing mixed with aerodynamics. Above 75 you get a slight float on stock supsension vehicles, most of the time. It spreads out the bumps so to speak and less pressure on the tires. the engine as long as it may or may not be smoothed out over a certain rpm, at 75 your running on average around 2500-3000 depending on the motor, this is a very quiet spot with factory exhaust. and even some aftermarkets.

 

[James86]

My 1999 3.0 does this too. It almost seems like its floating above 75-80mph the few times I've hit that on the interstate, and it almost feels like I'm hardly giving it any throttle too.

 

[doorgunner]

yep......my '36 Ranger twitches/wanders/etc........when it gets to 65mph....it's like riding in a Lincoln.

 

[straycat]

My 99 Ranger has always been a smoooth running truck. Hi speeds are a big A++++ as well. One thing is I do is to get the tires balanced a few times a year. I paid $100 at our loacal Goodyear shop for a liftime balance on my 33x12.5 KO tires. That was just a little over 3 years ago on the new tires I bought someplace else. This is my second set of 33x12.5 KO tires and I really love them!!!
One thing..The tire shop I bought my KO tires at did a really crappy job on the balance. I went to a place down the street that did my alignment right after my suspension lift was put on. I had them balance the tires and they were perfect. Thay wanted $75 for all 4 tires balanced. That was good for about 3,000 miles and I needed it again. I could feel a bit of vibration and I knew it was the tires. I stoped by Goodyear and they tolde me $100 for a lifetime balance. They told me if you drive off and you are not haapy with the balance they will give me my $100 back. I have been going there for a long time now!!!

 

[robertc1024]

Crack

I read this thread and was like yah, yah whatever, they're on crack (except for DG of course). BUT today I was on the interstate and wasn't paying any attention to my speed. I got to about 74 mph and my truck's riding became extremely smooth. Poor old girl, 22 years young, I never pushed her over 70 before. At 65, she's very smooth, get her to 70 and she vibrates some, 75, likes it there too. I kept going from 70 to 75 to verify. In my mind it's verified.

 

[Bennybooster]

My truck is scary to drive doin 65, its very squirrely, not to mention no ABS right now

 

[darkspork]

I've noticed this in most vehicles I've driven, it's a comfortable speed to cruise at, which is why I always drove around that speed living in CA, or any time I'm outside of ND. In the county I live in I stay at the speed limit, law enforcement seems to target military for traffic stops. Even outside the county, there isn't a whole lot (any) of crime that goes on so you are nearly guaranteed a ticket if you get caught speeding.

I also agree it doesn't feel like you are pressing the accelerator as hard at this speed.

 

[robertc1024]

Get your conceled hand-gun permit. Works for my father-in-law. He's been pulled over three times for speeding. Flashes his permit and the gendarme say "slow down a bit" and let him go. Crazy.

 

[James86]

Get your conceled hand-gun permit. Works for my father-in-law. He's been pulled over three times for speeding. Flashes his permit and the gendarme say "slow down a bit" and let him go. Crazy.

I guess I could get around to doing that, OR, just keep using common sense. It's worked as long as I've had my license - not one speeding ticket

But, seriously, I do want to look into concealed carry...

 

[darkspork]

Get your conceled hand-gun permit. Works for my father-in-law. He's been pulled over three times for speeding. Flashes his permit and the gendarme say "slow down a bit" and let him go. Crazy.

Honestly, I've only had one speeding ticket, and I probably deserved reckless driving (got clocked 47 in a 25, but was probably going closer to 65). I was stupid at in high school.

I'm going to agree with James as common sense has kept me otherwise ticket free. Avoid speeding where you can be seen, but a traffic enforcement officer cannot. For example, don't speed while climbing a hill, slow down coming up to overpasses, turns in the highway you can't see around, etc.

Most importantly, stay out of the left lane unless passing. For some reason people look like they are going faster in the left lane/look incompetent if getting passed on the right.

 

[Mike Tonon]

My 87 Ranger did this at 65 mph and less at higher speeds. My 07 either doesn't do it or I havn't noticed it.