2000vs1996 ranger
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2000vs1996 ranger
i have a 1996 and my dad has a 2000 ranger there both 2.3 5 speeds but my 96 gets way better mpg then my dads. my 96 gets 26 and my dads gets 20mpg. i was wondering whats the difference in motors from them years?
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Dexter, MI
Welcome to FTE. This is a great site for all things Ranger.
For starters, are the rear axle gear ratios the same? My '91 had a 3.45 ratio and I felt that 3.73 gears would have given me better gas mileage because the engine would rev better and not have had to lug as much. Are both trucks rear wheel drive or are both 4 wheel drive? If yours is 2 wheel drive and his is 4 wheel drive, the 4 wheel drive would have friction losses that would made a difference in gas mileage.
Oh, I just remembered, starting in '98 the 4 cyl. engine was increased in displacement to 2.5 liters - more power, but probably lower gas mileage.
All of the questions and comments are to suggest that you need to be sure you are actually comparing apples to apples and not comparing apples to oranges.
For starters, are the rear axle gear ratios the same? My '91 had a 3.45 ratio and I felt that 3.73 gears would have given me better gas mileage because the engine would rev better and not have had to lug as much. Are both trucks rear wheel drive or are both 4 wheel drive? If yours is 2 wheel drive and his is 4 wheel drive, the 4 wheel drive would have friction losses that would made a difference in gas mileage.
Oh, I just remembered, starting in '98 the 4 cyl. engine was increased in displacement to 2.5 liters - more power, but probably lower gas mileage.
All of the questions and comments are to suggest that you need to be sure you are actually comparing apples to apples and not comparing apples to oranges.
Last edited by michigan66; Oct 16, 2012 at 05:25 AM. Reason: Added comment.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Dexter, MI
Thad, do both trucks have the same transmission or is one a 5 speed manual and the other an automatic? Even if both are automatics, are they the same model/specs?
Also, how many miles are on each vehicle and where is each one on routine maintennce, plugs, wires clean MAF, IAC, etc.?
Also, how many miles are on each vehicle and where is each one on routine maintennce, plugs, wires clean MAF, IAC, etc.?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,344
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From: Sioux Falls SD
I had a 95 with the 2.3L supercab 5speed and currently own a 99 supercab 2.5L 5 speed. My 99 gets the mpg you get and my 95 got 2mpg less than the 99 while being alot Less powerful.
I have a friend that has a 96 supercab 2.3L 5speed that gets less mpg than my 99 also. Biggest difference between 96 and 2000 was change in front suspension and upsize of tire from 14" to 15". Gear ratios were changed from 3.73 in 96 to 4.10 in the 98-2000 models but with the larger tire the overall ratio stayed the same.
Sounds like your dads 2000 may need a tune up, how do the two trucks compare for power?
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my 96 and my dads truck are almost the same there both 2 wheel drives 5 speed manuals the only deffernce is mine has a step side bed thats fiberglass and my dads is a reguler short bed and there both reguler cabs but my dads truck is like a draggster compared to my pinto, my 96 will barly do 75mph in 3rd gear then when you put it in 4th gear it drops to 60 and wont go any faster inless your going down hill and i cant even use 5th it just boggs down. my dads will do any speed you want it to in any gear even 5th pulls its self and its had a tune up recently all the oils changed and even the wheel bearings repacked. all ive done to mine is change the oil and just keep it going. it seems like mine would be the one getting the crappy mpg but it does great on gas
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Thad, do both trucks have the same transmission or is one a 5 speed manual and the other an automatic? Even if both are automatics, are they the same model/specs?
Also, how many miles are on each vehicle and where is each one on routine maintennce, plugs, wires clean MAF, IAC, etc.?
Also, how many miles are on each vehicle and where is each one on routine maintennce, plugs, wires clean MAF, IAC, etc.?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Sioux Falls SD
power wise your dads 2000 is just like my 99 and your 96 acts like my 95 did. But my 99 gets great mpg and the doggy 95 got crap mpg.
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