I am looking for mileage more than power. Would I notice anything? If so, what do they run in price.

 

I picked up about 1.5 mpg on my 4.0 with a performance tune. You can buy the Bama X2 programer from Bob Jusnes ( www.jusnesmodified.com) for about $400 but Doug can also make a 87 octane mpg tune for you that would give you a little more mpg.

 

A tune will help significantly. Also, on a 3.0, look into an efan and a pulley. We sell them together in a kit on our site.

Then theres always the three basic ones. Stay off the gas, keep your tire pressure up, and keep your filters clean.

 

A block of wood cut the right thickness, and placed under the accelerator will help your MPG more than a chip or tuner......In other words, driving habits affect MPG more than anything else....assuming your vehicle is properly maintained.

 

Synthetic fluids, and a bama programer can help your mpg, it has mine. But the reality is, that a 3.0 ranger isn't going to get the mpg of an escort, it's a truck and will use fuel accordingly. The 3.0 is the worst of the 3 engines offered in the ranger, as it uses as much fuel as the 4.0, but as the power of the 2.3. But it is a good long lasting dependable power plant. When my 4.0 reached 5,000 miles, I swapped to all synthetic fluids (engine, tranny, t-case, and rear diff) I also had the bama programer, I went from 18 mpg to 22 mpg on my drive to work, but I also believe my engine had finally broken in as well. I am real happy with the mpg of my truck for what it is, I have the 4.0 4x4, supercab, 5-speed, and 4:10 gears, I have gotten as high as 24 on a trip, but the gears hurt me at higher speeds. What are you getting now with your 3.0 ? You may be do better than you think with that motor, an auto trans, 4x4, and 4:10 gears, cause with that combonation I don't think it will ever be great so to speak.

 

I think you guys are somewhat overselling the mileage benefits of the Bama Xcal2 a little. Here is the data I've collected: (4.0 sohc, FX4, 4.10 gears w/ manual)

Stock: 6294.6 miles on 321.349 gallons = 19.59 mpg
87 perf tune: 3288.1 miles on 163.631 gallons = 20.09 mpg
87 mileage tune: 1483.1 miles on 73.647 gallons = 20.14 mpg

My experience is that you need at least 1000 miles to draw conclusions from mileage data, and I'm still collecting data on the 87 mileage tune, as I think it might creep up just a little from here. (I also put the e-fan on at the same time I put in the 87 perf tune, so that benefit is included for the Bama data.) Even so, its only 1/2 mpg difference, and would take a looong time to pay back the $400 for the tuner, not to mention the $200 e-fan.

But, there is a significant performance difference - I haven't had it on a dyno yet but, there is a freeway on ramp that I use regularly. This ramp has a very tight corner at entry and happens to have a mile marker right at the end of the ramp. With the stock tune, the Ranger would be at 60 mph at the marker, no matter how hard I pushed the pedal through the floor. With either of the Bama tunes, the truck is at 64 mph at the marker. I've done this enough times over the past 3 years to confidently say that there is a real difference in power with the Bama tune. I personally like the part throttle response of the 87 mileage tune better than the 87 performance, so I'll likely keep that one.

Also, several guys on the RPS site claim that they get significantly better mileage with the 93 tune, enough to more than pay for the extra cost of premium gas. (How any of this will translate to a 3.0 is speculation.)

Bob is right on the money when he says "Stay off the gas, keep your tire pressure up, and keep your filters clean." Those have made a huge difference for me.

 

Interesting data!! Bottom line, don't believe ANYTHING from these "PERFORMANCE MOD" companies!!!

 

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Matt