V6 or 4cyl?

[fortek]

I am considering the purchase of a Ranger. I owned a 2000 4cyl and was reasonably happy with it.

I have heard good things about the 3.0 and was wondering if I should consider it as well. How does the MPG compare to the 4cyl?

How much more power do you really get?

How dependable are the 4x4s, especially if you don't use the 4wd much? What about the 4x4 MPGs?

Thanks

 

[rurouni20xx]

3.0 is a revver, i got 21 and 23 stock out of my 93 3.0 4wd auto but after all was said and done b4 mods i got 19 and 17 respectively. the mods i did you prob wouldnt do (cut the a/c etc.) but they did what i wanted to do. my 4wd went out after rear ending a car 4 yrs ago, never looked into fixing it cuz i mostly hwy drove it. no problems other than maintenance stuff and the spindles wore out due to lack of lubrication. ive only rode in one 4.0 and it was hwy, i cant really tell you about power or anything cuz ive never flexed it, but the mileage isnt as good as a 3.0. if you want to mod it later and want a lot of aftermarket options i suggest a 4.0, and parts are more prevalent than 3.0s cuz they share bolt patterns etc w/ other engines. the 3.0 does not, unless you want to change the entire driveline later for a swap (tranny goes etc) parts are easier to get for a 4.0 than 3.0. im not saying the 3.0 isnt worth anything (i love mine, thats why im rebuilding it) just saying ease of finding parts and more swap options w/ a 4.0.

 

[Beef52751]

the 3.0 is an acquired taste to say the least. i had a 4.0 and as much as i loved it i dont regret buying my 3.0, i only get 14 MPG average, but i drive pretty fast, ive got 18MPG before though.
Beef

 

[fleck]

The biggest power jump is from the I4 to the 3.0 going from ~100HP to ~140HP (@ the body), the 4.0 takes you to 160HP. Think about that because 4.0s and parts for them will be tougher to find also. And whatever mods you do, even turbo, the I4 won't yield as much as the 3.0 and the 4.0 won't yield much more than the 3.0. That's why almost nobody bothers to go from 3.0 to 4.0 when the 5.0HO is basically a drop in.

I drive my RWD 5-speed 3.0 fast as hell. I take it to 5K in 1st and 2nd all day. I get 15MPG flat but I am whooping everyone's ass too. I'll probably be done with this new clutch soon enough LOL, and I'm loving every second of it

(Oh yeah my truck is on 235/75/15s too)

 

[fordboi415]

I have an 01 3.0 ext cab 5spd 5" lift and 33s and am getting 25mpg with my 31s I was getting 27mpg highway and about 20 city and that's cuz socal has a shitload of signals and horrible traffic

 

[rurouni20xx]

what did you do to the engine to get that much mpg? stock on an 03 is around 17 19 per sticker...

 

[fastpakr]

16/20 or 17/21 depending on trans. Measurement error if seeing 27mpg.

 

[Beef52751]

ive seen alot of stock 2wds that cant get 27 let alone with 5 inches of lift and 31s.

 

[triumphrider-1]

I have an 01 3.0 ext cab 5spd 5" lift and 33s and am getting 25mpg with my 31s I was getting 27mpg highway and about 20 city and that's cuz socal has a shitload of signals and horrible traffic

Man, I must be doing something wrong then. I thought getting 22-23 on the highway was pretty good.

What are you doing for calculations/correction factors?

 

[Toms01PSD]

I calculated mine at the pump. I'm getting 15.7 city/highway combined...and thats a 99 3.0 4x4 with 180k....

 

[fortek]

16/20 or 17/21 depending on trans...

That's kinda funny. I am selling my '92 Dodge Cummins diesel 3/4ton because I want to get better MPGs. It gets 19mpg average consistently.

I guess I should keep it (or focus on a 4cyl). Heck, I could get 19mpg with a V6 Ranger sitting in the bed of my truck...

Thanks for the info.

 

[fastpakr]

Don't forget the difference in fuel cost, though.

For what it's worth, with a 4 cylinder I average 22-26mpg.

 

[betomonroy]

I love mine very much... But I'm sorry to inform You that the 3.0 is no longer an option for new trucks. It is of the shelfs bubba... sorry.

 

[fordboi415]

The only mods I have are k&n filter, and exhaust, I thought I calculated something wrong as well but I have done it 5 times and my buddy and my dad have both gotten the same thing, I hardly rev the motor out and it rarely sees 3500rpms gotta love that 5spd

 

[fastpakr]

The only mods I have are k&n filter, and exhaust, I thought I calculated something wrong as well but I have done it 5 times and my buddy and my dad have both gotten the same thing, I hardly rev the motor out and it rarely sees 3500rpms gotta love that 5spd