Governor's can be defeated. Drive a 3.0 for a while and that rattle will be music to your ears.

My old 4spd 350 chevy with 4.11's consistently got 12mpg, almost as good as what I get in my ranger

 

i have the 3.0 . it is under powered and the gas mileage fluxuates, its not very consistent. it is better at higher rpm's power wise and i hardly use the o.d. i'm not one to go by however, i've got a lift and 33" tires on it. if i had my choice i'd get the 4.0 next time. the 3.0 is a reliable engine and that is something to consider and believe it has its spot in smaller rangers such as parts trucks or your sons first vehicle because they do take a lickin but not in a 4 wheel-drive with a class three hitch, it really don't make much sense.

 

Everybody keeps saying what a dog the 3L is. But I have it in my 2000 ext. cab 4x4. I get an average of 19 mpg, and I have no problems running down the freeway. I also have no problems keeping up with little sports cars off the line. Maybe they don't know how to drive, or aren't expecting my truck to have 4.10s and a 5 speed stick.

Also to compare it to the 4L, you can't just bench race them. Yes, the 4 makes more power, but it also weighs in heavier. I chose the 3.0 over the 4.0 because after factoring power-to-weight ratios, the 3.0 was a better performer, hands down. Although the ability to run ethanol doesn't hurt either. I just need a turbo or charger to get the most from the E85.

 

I have a 94 Ranger with the 4.0 OHV auto tranny, 3.27 gear ratio and i've drivin my dads 2000 3.0 5spd 4x4 3.73 and i have no idea how you can say that the 3.0 is a better performer. That thing cant accelerate in OD going up hill at all. Unless the 4.10's really make that big of difference. But i dont know how you can say the 3.0 is a better performer. The 3.0 in my dads truck is a slug. Gets good gas mileage however, i'll give you that. But if you were to compare the 2000 3.0 to the 2000 4.0 SOHC i think the 4.0 would be the better performer hands down.

 

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Yeah, sorry, by the way welcome to FTE. I didnt realize it was your first post. 3.0 is a good engine and gets better gas mileage, but i think if you compare it to the 4.0 SOHC the SOHC would win. Gas mileage would be alot closer to the 3.0 than the 4.0 OHV is and it would just blow it away in power.

 

the 3.slow is garbage. weak, just weak

 

I have a 4.0L 5speed and i love it. Its quick but the 3.0L is alot better in gas.

 

My 95 4.0L ohv tops out between 120 and 130 mph,and thats bone stock. I have a 8.8 rear end with 4:10 gears. But dont get me wrong i would like to have a 3.0 because it way better on gas.

 

Trust me, its not really that much better on gas. My dad bought a 2000 3.0 ranger and the gas mileage is like 1-2 MPG better than our 4.0 ranger (94), the main difference is the power. His 3.0 is a gutless dog, and it only has like 35k on it. His IS a 5 spd too. I would always choose the 3.0 over the 4.0 any day of the week, the better gas mileage doesnt make up for the power difference.

 

well now i can say i've owned both! i recently traded in my 3.0 on a vehicle for my wife.
but then i went and bought an '03 fx4 with the 4.0 sohc and what a power difference. seriously, its like night and day. mpg is less but i can't complain!

 

my ex bought a 3.0 Edge. I couldn't stop thinking on the way home of buying her an FRPP blower for her bday . the cheap whipple blower IMO is the only advantage a 3.0 would have over a 4.0...