is mileage really that bad?

[pud]

i just searched up mpg on here and ive read anywhere from 10-25 mpg. Whats the scoop with that? I found a 3.0L ranger but im really scared now, I drive 60 miles round trip a day to work and back.

[6CylBill]

Depends on the gearing / tires / your right foot. I got nearly 17 in my full size pickup - I would think you would get easily 20! How are you set up?

My mom's escape with a 3.0 used to get great gas mileage. then we put 30' AT's on and it dropped dramatically. =/

[rangergurl04]

i get between 250 and 270 miles to a tank but thats driving city all the time. i fill up about every 5-6 days depending on how much drivin i do

[6CylBill]

Originally Posted by rangergurl04

i get between 250 and 270 miles to a tank but thats driving city all the time. i fill up about every 5-6 days depending on how much drivin i do

Not bad at all. I could go 277 miles all highway on my small tank. So 270 mostly city is outstanding. (O_o

It's all about the setup and your right foot!

[blue beast]

I get 21mpg at 80 mph on the highway for trips to so. carolina. with my 3.0 ranger
it all depends on the gearing and your foot!! I did the same trip with the tailgate

down to see if it helped, I actually dropped to 20mpg so a tonneu cover would
probably help bring the mileage up. There was a couple a few years back who
reported some crazy high mileage with their ranger they kept it at the speed limit
and did some other things and I think they got up around 30mpg so it all depends
on the variables. The money you save on parts and service should make up for
anything they really are good trucks all around, I worked at a company that had
4 rangers and one s-10 that sucky-10 cost more in fuel, parts, downtime and not
to mention that it feels like a car, then all 4 ford rangers put together!! I put it on
paper and showed the compay owner and we got rid of that pig the next week!!

[rangersvt04]

i can get 425 on a tank at high way speeds out of my truck. its a 96 3.0l 2wd 5speed.
thats about 25ish mpg. city driving well its 16-18.

[tomb1269]

I have had highway mileage of 21/22mpg running 68-72mph. I live 15 miles from the Lincoln tunnel NJ side and travel towards it everyday. I average 15/16mpg summer and 13/14 winter. I did replace the thermostat with a 180 vs the stock 195 this could be some of the winter summer effect. However, I just had a code PO125 come up on the truck. The code is to low a temp for closed loop operation after having been on the highway over 30 minutes. I think the engine temp was flaky. I have changed it and will report any fuel mileage changes as I get data.

[RangerPilot]

Yeah you need the temp at least above 190 for it to go into closed loop.

The 3.slow gets usually low to mid-20s on the highway. Not bad by any accounts.

[tomb1269]

I have been running a 180 thermostat for nearly a year and a half without issue until recently when I had the PO125 code pop-up............I like the 180 as I do some towing and regularly sit in traffic in the summer with A/C running and outside temps above 85 with 80-90% humidity.........

[PlowboyTrucker]

What's the best gearing for the best mileage on a 3.0? I'd prefer the auto, but if manual is that much better, I might go for it.

Would a ranger with a 3.0 be a good first car/truck? I'm buying in May and am trying to do my research now. I'd be looking at trucks from 93-96 with around 150,000-200,000 kms on them.

[jokerforever]

Plowboy, a 3.0 Vulcan power Ranger would make a great first truck. With good maintenance they’ll last like a diesel and can put up with a ton of abuse; perfect for a first time driver. Plus if in the rare case something does go wrong long blocks are a dime a dozen on EBay and in junkyards and is a good easy project for a young mechanic.

I would go with the manual, a slushbox will suck some power and you don’t have that much to spare. Again, that’s perfect for the first time driver as everybody should know how to drive stick.

As for the gearing if you’re looking for fuel mileage I would go with 3.55 in a 2wd, 3.73 in a 4x4, maybe lower if you find it. If you want a little more pep do 3.73 in 2wd and 4.11 or higher in 4wd. Just remember it’s a trade off either way you go and if you do more stop and go driving lower gears (numeral higher) might get better mileage in the city than on the highway.

I wouldn’t be too worried about the engine in a high mileage 3.0L truck but make sure that the chassis around it isn’t worn out. Good Luck!

[PlowboyTrucker]

Thank you very much jokerforever!