I cant say that I've ever heard of a severe engine/tranny failure on these trucks unless it was severely abused for years. Anything thats detachable from the engine will fail at some point, just a matter of when. A friend of mine had a 95 supercab xlt with the 4banger 5spd that had 180k on the clock when he bought it. He's driven the $#!T out of it since he only paid $700 for it, but has only replaced an alternator and water pump in 2 years of him owning it. His only complaint is its lack of power even with the 4.10 gears in the rear. The 3.0 V6 in my 94 has 152K on the clock and has never left me stranded(with the exception of the 45 mins it took to figure out my fuel pump relay let out and swap in the ecc relay with it). These trucks are dead nutz reliable when properly maintained.

 

i have an 83 ranger 4x4 with well over 350,000 (speedometer and odometer off) and has been abused and broke. except when it was stuck 4 wheeling never left me stranded. i would never sell it. unless it was for a million dollars.

 

Had a 93 ranger 2.3L that had 184k and never used a drop of oil in 4000 miles between oil changes. The problem was it rusted out underneath. The body was still good, but all gas straps, transmission bracket, brake lines, shackles on leaf springs, and other parts rusted out till the metal disappeared. Wisconsin salt on streets is horrible!

 

I am very pleased with my 1988 RANGER . Has 100,000 + on it. Gave $ 45.00 for it, bad starter, it was just installed improperly !!! FUN TO DRIVE !! Only use it when weather is too bad to ride my Harley !!! Wil do more mechanical fixing up this summer !!!

 

What everyone is saying is completly accurate my 1993 has never left myself or anyone else stranded for that matter. I have at times beat the Cr*p out of it. its got 213k+ on the OD now and it is my daily driver again since my 05 F-150 is in the shop for a transmission. I bet my trusty ranger will at last the big truck. my truck still cranks on the first time everytime. It is a little slow on the up hill side but I expect that. TRUST ME WITH PROPER CARE THAT TRUCK WILL LAST A VERY VERY LONG TIME!!

 

Mine is a '96 extended cab 2.3 5-speed. It had 125k when I bought it and a little less than a year later has 160k+. She's still running great, fires up on the first try, and I expect I'll still have her around years down the road. I did have a '95 ranger V6 and she had 215k+ the day I lost her to a guy who fell asleep at the wheel. Up to that point, she was still running great.

 

Had a 1991 for 7 years. Had 2.3l with 5 speed. Had 126,000 when I bought it. Rear seal went on tranny without my knowledge and melted 2 & 4 gear. Limped home. Found a used one for $300@salvage yard. Traded it in 1999. Had 296,000 miles on it and still running well. Dealer gave me $1500.00, so I had to let her go....Can't go wrong with a 4 banger ranger.

 

I've seen 325,000 miles on four different 4.0L without being rebuilt in the fleet I used to mechanic. We would use Delo 400 15w40 the diesel oil every 3000 and change air and fuel filters every 6000 miles so that is what I do with my ranger cause it works. Jap crap has nothing on Ford.

 

a freind of mine has 308000 on his 4.0 ranger.it still look/drives like new.that was the whole reason i bought the 01 in sig for my wife,oh she was mad it wasnt another s10 and after 3 frontends in a year and a half i was just sick of chevys. now she doesnt even look at her pretty(new black paint chrome wheels) s10 out back.she babys her ranger like you wouldnt believe i even got smaked up-side the head when i did a killer burnout with it

 

what climate are u using 15w40 in? i always used delo 400 or rotella t 15/40 in my mercedes diesel w/ excellent results...

 

I have a ford ranger at 259,987, and the transmission just went out, and I just replaced the transmission with a used one that was at like 70,000 miles. And now it runs good, the only thing is that the check fuel cap light is on and the check engine light is on, these just came on, and I'm not sure why, I'm guessing the fuel cap might need to be replaced or something.

 

My 98 Ranger 3.0 has 270, 600 miles on it. I replaced the head gaskets about 25K ago. Other than that, it has been just normal maintenance. (plugs, plug wires, fuel injectors, alternator, etc). Still runs good, 23 MPG and uses about 1/2 quart of oil in 3,000 miles.

 

to chime in I have 325000 on my 94. Only real problem was that the trans was the weak point. Have had it repaired a couple of times but it was bad when I bought it. The shift rails will leak on the older ones and the trans will eat itself up. Its a PIA to work on the trans and clutch as everything has to be pulled to ge the trans out but after the 1st time its easy. I use the autozone lifetime parts and they have never let me down and when I do anything its replacement time for the parts and Autozone replaces no questions asked. Last part was the alternator went out, took it out and then back got a new one.

There are lots of the 4 cyl's around out here but most have been clapped out. If you think its economy then just get the 4.0 ohv instead mileage is only 1 or 2 mpg different but the power and stuff is so much better with the 4.0. I dont know much about the the OHC but I guess the early ones were problematic from what I have read. Something about the cam chain tensionors. The 3.0 also has its problems and get about same milage as the 4.0 ohv. I get 15 or so around town and have gotten 22 on the highway.

But yes the little truck is very popular and are still selling in decent shape for 2-3K for older ones and around 5K for the later models butthat is only ballpark from what I have seen.

 

It will last as long as you got money.

 

Every salvage yard I have been in has 200 Chevy S10 and maybe 20 Rangers,,,that tells me all I need to know about how long a Ranger will last !!!!