Fuel mileage comparison

richep · #1 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 03:27 PM

I have a 2001 Ranger with 4.0 and was wondering if anyone knows how it would compare with an F 150 for fuel mileage? I bought a ranger because I am on the highway a lot and figured it would be better on fuel than a larger truck. According to a friend, his Dodge fullsize with hemi gets better highway mileage than my 4.0.

rubydist · #2 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 03:34 PM

I think your friend is telling a very tall tale - my neighbor had to trade off his Dodge w/ hemi because it was killing him on gas - 10-13 was it.

Our 03 F150 5.4 will get in the high teens (~17-18) on the highway. The Ranger gets a little better than that (19.5 all around for the driving I do).

sfcwoodret · #3 (**permalink**) 02-24-2008, 09:32 AM

Just looking at weight differences will tell you the 4.0 Ranger will get better mileage.

Greg R · #4 (**permalink**) 02-24-2008, 10:03 AM

According to www.fueleconomy.gov the '01 Ranger 2wd with the 4.0 gets 20 mpg on the highway. The F-150 2wd gets 18 mpg on the highway with the 5.4 and 19 mpg with the 4.6. If you have a 4x4 all highway ratings drop by 1 mpg.

richep · #5 (**permalink**) 02-24-2008, 04:49 PM

My Ranger must need some work, because for the last 40,000 miles, I've been getting 16 mpg. A while back I was reading a post on here about 4.0 mileage, and many others were getting the same.

rubydist · #6 (**permalink**) 02-25-2008, 06:58 PM

It depends how you drive it - the sohc engine likes to run between about 2400 and 4000 rpm - often guys with the auto will not push on the gas enough, and it will shift too soon and allow the rpms to get under 2000. When that happens, the torque curve has fallen off significantly, and you will get lower mileage. I've found you get better mileage with actually pushing it a little harder.