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Ranger 4 cyl Gas milage ?? - READ ONLY

24 messages,  Last post on Dec 09, 2002 at 7:46 PM

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Messages Page 2 of 4

#2 of 24 Jecmec by midnight_stang

May 14, 2002 (6:34 am)

I own a 1993 Ford ranger, 2.3l 4spd automatic with just under 140,000 miles. I think a lot has changed since then. My engine has two spark plugs per cyclinder. The Ranger then switched to a larger stroke (I believe offhand) to make it a 2.5l. Then the 2.3l was reengineered with 4 valves per cylinder, and I believe still 1 spark plug per cylinder. But the gas milage should be better than what I get.
 
I've owned the truck for 9 years, and even with my high milage, my engine still has the stock valve cover gasket (never removed). New timing chain and water pump, but still the 4 cylinder is a great mill. (Especially because it survived my teenage years).
 
I get 20-21 mpg still, and that is mostly a 15 minute drive to work and back, and occasional errands here and there. On the highway, it still gets about 25-28 MPG, at 75MPHish, but it is hard to compute because of all the mixed in city milage and also because wind has a great affect at that speed on my truck.
 
Expect this to be your minimum. You said you had a 5 speed transmission, but that could be the new automatic or the manual.
 
A 4 cylinder with a manaul transmission will have some pep, but the automatic will be a little sluggish. I can still beat most civics and other 4 cylinders off the line, plus I can carry alot more in the process...
 
Anyways, hopefully a newer Ford owner will see this and let you know more current statistics, but I have confidence.
 
P.S. With any type of special available, you should be able to pick up the 3.0l v6 (manual) for around 15k, and that in a regular cab will be very peppy. The 3.0l has had reports of pinging under heavy load, grade or acceleration, so Ford has made some changes to the motor for 2002 models. I haven't heard any feedback on it yet, but on a regular cab, it should not have to work hard at all to get you through traffic.

#3 of 24 jecmec response by jackka

May 14, 2002 (4:17 pm)

The new 2.3L engine in the Ranger hasn't been around long enough for you to gather many owners' reports.
 
One negative aspect that I've read is that it will require a timing belt change at about 60k unlike most other 4 cyl. engines. This can cost $600 or more.
 
On the other hand, the big savings in purchase price compared to the competing engine from Toyota may justify the timing belt expense.
 
Thanks for posting the question. I'll be interested in reading more responses.

#4 of 24 2002 MPG by artwis

May 15, 2002 (6:51 pm)

Have only had my 2002 Ranger XLT, shortbed, 2wd, 5spd manual, 4 cyl for two weeks and 1100 miles. So far mpg is 27.8 to 30.2. The 27.8 came with air cond. on. I drive mostly hiway miles. I asked about the cost to replace the timing belt at 60k and was told approx $300. before I bought mine I asked quite a few folks in person about their similar truck. All of them told me only routine maintenace and some had over 100k on their 4 cyl rangers. Right now prices seem good on Rangers. With the XLT, 2wd,short bed,5spd manual and 4cyl (ac is no charge, power equip group is no charge) You should be able to get to $200 or less over invoice AND a $2500 rebate.

#5 of 24 100,000 on my 94 .... by losangelesemt

May 15, 2002 (7:33 pm)

Just hit 100,000K on my 94 Ranger a few weeks ago. It's the 2.3 4cyl. 5 speed manual. Truck has only had 3 oil changes done, brakes once, and maybe an air filter. No other problems with the truck, it runs like a champion. Getting around 24 mpg on highway, maybe 20 on city streets, but again the truck isn't totally in tune.

#6 of 24 wow by midnight_stang

May 16, 2002 (5:23 am)

If that's all you have ever done, you might look into a tune up, and new plug wires. One of my spark plug boots had shook itself apart at about 110k. So for one cylinder I only had one spark plug firing. That should give you some extra mpg and power.
 
Also zmax is highly recommended, it will smooth any engine and increase it's mpg. If it doesn't you get a full refund.
 
Also I have recently put Castrol GTX for High Milage vehicles oil (10w30) into my engine. The last tank gave me 21.5 mpg in purely stop and go traffic to work. That's 139,900 miles and that's with an automatic transmission.

#7 of 24 Not bad stang ... by losangelesemt

May 16, 2002 (3:03 pm)

Ya I never intended to have the truck run on 3 oil changes and basically no other maintenance. It kind of started out as a silly bet and now its more of a personal mission to see what this Ranger in its current condition will do. Hope to trade it in anyway soon, time for a bigger truck.
 
That castrol high mileage seems to be some good stuff from my experiences at least. Might have to tune this puppy up and see what happens. Hey the domestic trucks may not be as well known to run 200K miles plus, but these Rangers take a beating man and still hummin away.

#8 of 24 95 2.3 by eharri3

May 19, 2002 (11:32 am)

Regular cab, 5 speed manual. I've usuallly averaged low to mid 20's, sometimes as high as 26 if all highway and under 70 mph. Also, stuff like timing belt isn't that expensive on this truck. The labor isn't too difficult since it's a real small engine sitting in a space designed for a much bigger engine. I had both my timing and fan belt replaced at 65 thousand miles at the dealer for 292 bucks.

#9 of 24 New 2.3 engine by fedforester

May 23, 2002 (8:05 am)

The new 2.3 four is a new aluminum engine, not related to the old Lima 2.3/2.5. Overhead cam is driven by chain which does not need to be replaced like the old belts. Should be a good engine---driving one at the dealers indicates performance similar to my old 3.0. Will probably get one when the 3.0 goes.

#10 of 24 well by mjbwrtr

May 23, 2002 (8:36 pm)

mine gets 22, and last tank i had much more highway than usual and almost reached 26. thats the most it gets. its a 2.5 liter with an automatic, and a tonneau cover.

#11 of 24 hey stang by mjbwrtr

May 23, 2002 (9:37 pm)

if youre around...
my wife's saturn is having a fit...when we start it at first in the morning, it makes a loud HRMMM moan until it warms up and it also revs itself to 2,000 rpm when we put it in park. whats the deal?
we JUST replaced the idler pulley and i assumed that would fix all those problems, but those two remain. any help would be appreciated. by the way, i DID say WIFE...June 1 is our BIG DAY. wish me luck.

Messages Page 2 of 4

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