Apparently, I don't know how to search properly.

But I tried.

I'm looking for information about K & N air filters and others like them on their Rangers. (Mine is the 4.0)

Has anyone ever put in one of these expensive air filters and actually gotten better mileage??

If not, let this thread die................

Thanks,
Kev

 

Someone else asked this question, the answer was no, and even used in conjuntion with other performance parts, the answer was still no. It was an actual dyno test too. Maybe someone who had the site will chime in. The dyno tests did show that a chip added some more HP and TQ.

 

Just what I thought I would get for an answer.

I don't care about torque or HP, it has plenty for what I want. Just wondered if there was a "Miracle cure" for gas mileage............yeah right.


Thanks, Kev

 

here i found that link. A chip may actually help mileage. http://www.jackphelps.com/ranger/dynotesting.htm

 

A 2x4 block under the gas pedal really works & doesen't cost much!!!! lol

If you run mostly on the higiway @ speeds between 55-70 mph, maybe a synthetic crankcase lube would help.
At those speeds I have gotten 1.8-2.2 better mpg on my 99 pushrod 4.0L. I never saw an increase in city mpg, over a two year period of running the specified 5W-30 weight synthetic havoine, vs dino 5W-30 Havoline.

Keeping the vehicle in good tune, running a good gasoline, keeping the tires aired up, remove unneccesary weight from the vehicle, slow your speed to time the lighs, so you don't have to stop & idle for a long time (we get zero mpg then) pick your route to minimize lights & traffic & go easy on the gas pedal, when you do move out.

All those things will make a positive difference in mpg & yes a well programmed chip might do some good, But they aren't cheap & getting back to even money, then realising any payback, will take a long long time, do the math!!!!

If we change, or even remove the air filter, the Mass Air Flow Sensor still measures the air intake & adjusts the air/fuel mixture accordingly, to keep it as close to stoichiometric as posible.

Just aren't any magic bullets for big gains, but changing our driving habits will likely make the largest difference & it's difficult, for those of us with 4.0L's who love to feel the thrust!!!!

Just some things to ponder, before you part with any of your hard earned gold!!!!

 

Guy's. don't cunfuse a chip with a programer there two different animals, chips are junk, where as the bama programer is the bomb as the dyno results showed. I'm a believer in synthetic fliuds, I run mobil 1 in the crank case and royal purple in the tranny, t-case and rear dffi. However as pawpaw has stated, there is no magic bullet. When my truck was new I got 18/21, after it broke in and I added the synthetics and a few mods including bama, I went up to 22/24. I do not recomend doing mods for mpg purposes, you can buy a lot of gas for what these parts cost. I do it for that olousive search for 1 more hp. A lot of these products deliever more sound than power, but even a couple hp, is a couple more than I had. All prducts aren't measured for thier total worth in hp, like an intake for instance, can give you a free'er reving smoother engine with a neat sound. Catbacks are good for a nice rumble as well as acouple hp. The bama programer and udp's deliever the most hp increase and may help mpg a bit, but 700.00$ would buy alot of gas. There's no subsitute for good maintence and a moderate driving style.

 

Yeah, you have no idea how many time i see stupid honda civics coming into tires plus with dubs on, AEM intakes, strut tower bars, and no oil on their dipstick, spark plug wires are old and cracked, and their brakes are gone. If your going to start modding something, just make sure you do the important stuff first.

 

Point well taken Wendell, good advice!! Synthetics IMO are just a good maintenance upgrade option which does reduce wear and will pay off in the long run. Lubricants need to be changed anyway, and a few extra for the good stuff is a good decision. A person following the extra mileage synthetics manufacturers claim, can offset the cost that way. The programmer like the Bama has a financial convenience built in. If you run it long enough, the extra mpgs you get will likely offset the purchase, making the extra ponnies seem like they're free, but won't save you WADS of cash. As for the intake, if the engine sounds happier, I feel happier (the ticking in my 5.0l GMC makes me ill every time I hear it), so I'll likely buy one, but not as a gas saver.

Wendell, your underdrive pulley. What was the first thing you noticed when you installed it?

Fred

 

I think more people mod their truck for the fun of doing it rather than MPG. But people just use MPG as an excuse to do it. Actually, putting a supercharger on or something would be fun too! those are supposed to increase MPG arent they?

 

The udp will let the engine rev free'er, didn't take as much throttle to take off when letting out the clutch. The udp for the 4.0 is a little pricey because we have the built in harmonic balancer. The udp for a 3.0 is like 80.00$ compared to 280.00 for the 4.0. the udp and bama do more for the butt dyno than does any other mod I've done. Sure Peter94, a SC does help with mpg as does a stroker kit and turbo ha ha. We find all kinds of excusses to buy these fancy parts, the real reason is because we want to, we like to tinker.

 

Yeah, More Potent Grins!!!

 

i can put 250+ miles on during the weekend and not have to put fuel in the ranger for monday morning----as long as i take the wife's taurus.

 

My GF went on a trip to SD. 380 miles on the OD, just under 1/4 tank of gas left, Cant wait to calculate that mileage (was with a C***** Lumina, 195k miles)

I wish I had a 4x4 ranger that was able to get this kind of mileage.

 

Best thing I ever did for mileage was get a vacuum gauge and keep an eye on my shifting. Makes you pay a lot more attention to your acceleration. My mileage around town went from 16 to 18 and has stayed there, even switching from summer to winter gas and back again. Highest ever was 27 on the highway headed from Dallas to Austin.

 

Ive been wondering what is going on with my mileage lately. Best ever MPG on the hwy is 22.7 but lately my hwy mpg has only been about 16.5-17 and I change the oil every 5K with mobil 1 synthetic and I have synthetic in the front and rear diffs. Maybe I need to clean the junky K&N filter or maybe a fuel filter change would help...its got 40K on it now.