Since the other thread I posted in was for the Ranger 4WD pickup.

I bought gas at Murphy USA #6691, check the mileage on the trip meter which was 123.1 miles. I put in 4.927 gallons of regular, which sold at $4.059/gal. My calculation comes out to 24.9848 mpg. That's for a Ranger with the 3 liter V-6 engine coupled to the Mazda 5-speed manual overdrive transmission. A combination of drive-throughs, towing around 1,000 lbs and highway driving.

 

That's pretty good, and sounds about right. What rear end ratio do you have? My 3.0 w/Auto with 4.10 rear gets 21 tops, but as low as 18.5 when I've been hauling weight around with the AC on. AC seems to make about 1 MPG difference, but when its pushing 100 every day, its worth it!!

 

Based on that information, it's good.

 

Don't hold me to it, but I'm assuming 3.75 or 3.55. It's been equiped from the factor for towing - i.e.: it had a 2" ball and 4-wire plug installed at the factory.

The only time I use the A/C is when it's humid, like this evening was. Rarely drive on the freeway. Most of the time I drive on the back roads doing not more than 55 mph. The best I have got was 29.3 mpg on a long trip on a 2-lane state highway at 55 mph using the cruise the whole trip. And didn't have EGR problems.

Also, I always inflate the tires as the tire manufacture recommends. So in this case the Firestone tires I have call for 35 psi (I have 32psi) and the sticker in the door jam calls for 28 psi. When I got the truck, the edges of the tires were wearing out faster than in the middle. Now they are wearing evening across the tread since I put in 32 psi. Front are wearing very well, no feathering at all, no cupping on any of the four tires and as I let go of the tiller (steering wheel) it tracks straight and true. No pulling to the left or right.

None of the 4x4's I had has such a beautifull handling like I have with this Ranger and my 1980 Dodge D-150 learner (rookie driver) pickup. I will admit I miss the ease of driveability in snow with the 4x4's. Would be nice to be able to afford an old rust bucket for the winter and save my fuel sipping 2WD for better weather driving.

 

Got gas today as I got paid again. Bought Shell gas this time. Truck seem to run good on Shell gas. Bought 6.129 gallons of regular @ $4.079/gallon. The trip meter showed 166.2 miles which comes out to 27.117 mpg. Or based on the cost per gallon versus the mpg - it is 15.04 cents per mile.

 

I notice that it takes 10.3 gallons of gasoline to move the gauge needle from 1/8 tank (low fuel light on) to just over the full mark. According to the manual, the standard cab short bed is suppose to have a 16 gallon gas tank. So let me get this straight, when the low fuel light comes on (1/8 tank) - I still have another 6 gallons of gasoline in the tank!?

 

Nope. I have about 2 1/2 gallons in reserve when my light comes on.

 

Yep 1/8 of 16 is 2, but with that you other calculations seem to be right on.

What gets me is the 15 cents per mile, can you imagine the 10 to 12 mpg cost per mile? 40 to 45 cents - ouch.

My GF took a trip in to town last night and the Explorer needed 16 dollars for the round trip.

I remember filling my 77 F100 in the 1980s for 16.00 dollars!

Anyway, keep up the high MPGs is your Ranger, but don't get depressed when your cost per mile doubles by Christmas!.

 

Hi guys....I wanted to check with the experts and see what you all thought.....I have a 99 ford ranger extended cab 3.0 flex fuel v6 auto with 202,000 miles. Trailor towing package which came with 3.73 gears from the factory I finally got tired of the gas mileage I was getting with my 31's 16-17 average..A little too much tire for the motor. I have since then put the original tires back on 225/75/r15 and am now getting roughly 24mpg. My question is how much mileage could I gain by swapping the gears out from 3.73 to say 3.08?? I understand that once I do that big tires and towing are gone but I am more concerned with gas at this point. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

I think you'd be lugging the engine if you swapped to 3.08. You'd probably need smaller tires again.

 

Hmm, and I thought the 14.4MPG that I got in the work truck today was pretty darn good.

 

I get 27 out of mine on average. So that sounds about right.

 

Here are the axle codes BTW Ford Ranger Axles - The Ranger Station

 

What is that truck set up with?

I plan to finish up some work on my 99 Ranger scab with auto and a 3.0.
It's been a while since I drove that truck and I forget what kind of MPGs I was getting. 16-20 maybe?

 

my '88 2wd s/c would get 27 hwy, it had the 2.3,5 spd & 3.73's the '93 4x i drive now gets 17-19 at best, 15 in town its a 4.0 5 spd with 3.73's and also a supercab. the 2.3 is a excellent milage motor but lacks guts for towing or long upgrades in certain areas. you are better off to have your motor running in the correct rpm range for best milage. and the 3.0 makes its power higher in the rpm band than most. turning 3,000 wont hurt it at all, and its happy there. 2,000-2,500 for the 4.0 im not sure about the 4 cyls, probly 2,500 to 3,000 check the specs on the tourque output, that rpm is a good target to be at. lugging the motor is harder on it than reving it some.