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My 2000 Ranger 4X4

June 5, 2008 about Ford Ranger

I have a 2000 ranger 4x4 3.0 V6 and for awhile I was only getting 10-13 MPG in the city and asked ford what the problem might be because I told them that when my gas cap is on that I can still push down on it about 1 inch. They wanted me to bring it in and they wanted to do some testing which would set me back $100. I refused and said that I'll try something before and see if thats the problem. I bought a new stant locking gas cap at advance auto parts and put it on and immediately noticed that it DID NOT budge like the original one did. It turns out that I was slowly leaking gas fumes out of the cap but not enough to trigger the service light. I ran a full tank when I changed caps and it went up to 17-20 MPG(highway) 15-16(city)and I also noticed a slight horsepower jump as well. To those who read this and being ranger owners, CHECK YOUR GAS CAPS AND SEE IF THEY ARE LEAKING. Later

Matt K

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Story replies

June 6, 2008 by Gene H.

Way to go Matt. I knew this was you right away. I suggested you were loosing fuel through that loose cap. Glad you are getting better gas mileage. See you at work.

June 6, 2008 by Gene H.

HUH!!

June 11, 2008 by Matt O.

I have a 99 ranger 4X4, 3.0 and found that if you run mid grade fuel I get 4 extra miles a gallon. My ranger gets 28 mpg with mid grade - highway, but burning high grade does not add anything.

July 16, 2011 by John in Chico

Vapor loss at a rat of equaling 3 to 4 MPG? I don't think so. If you can get a scanner and drive it around monotoring the coolant temperature I'll bet that it isn't reaching 192 to 195 degrees and under 15psi cap pressure. Your thermostat is partially stuck open and the cap isn't maintaining 15psi. coolant pressure, keeping the coolant temps low. The PCM will run the engine rich as if a carb. choke was closed, running the engine rich. A thermostat and a 15 pound cap will retore the MPG. to the original numbers.

July 16, 2011 by John in Chico

Running high octane fueles in a low compression engine without high loads will carbon op the combustion chambers causing detonation. Using high octane fueles in low compression engines means that the anti-knock additives will not be used as intended and remain in the combustion chambers eventually building up and even causing engine knock from contact between the head-carbon-piston. If the engine doesn't require high octane fuels using them can damage the engine.

July 16, 2011 by John in Chico

I though our Explorer was getting unheard of mileage until we got a Tom-Tom and got a very different speed reading. Larger tires and the wrong gear at the transfer case made for some impressive mileage. Not. A 4.0L engine gets in the 17MPG range. Nowhere near mid-20's. Even in the mountains in high elevation it's just a couple mpg, not 10mpg.

November 7, 2014 by new ranger

2000 ranger 4.0l manual transmision 50 miles on high way at 67 mph but 15mpg in city driving

July 2, 2015 by blugenes

i get 13 mpg with my 2002 ranger with a 4.0 in it....it sucks cant afford to drive the thing...45.00 to fill up and only get 220-230 miles from a tank...help...no loose gas cap:)

January 15, 2020 by Dan

In response to the November 7, 2014 comment. 50 MPG on highway? BULLSHIT! You must have been towing it. I have a 2000 3.0 LTR Flex and it only gets 13 to 15. And that is with a remanufactured Jasper engine and no Flex fuel. Just regular gas.