Project: 25mpg 4x4 4.0L 1997 Ford Ranger

[4ringcircus]

Ugggg~ its cold outside and my gas mileage has been terrible this past month~ My power bill says the temp has averaged 20 degrees F between 1/27 and 2/25. The engine doesn't get up to temp until I'm over half way to work.

Today's fill calc'd at 18.6mpg's. That's without an engine fan, without power steering, with a tonneau cover, with a front belly pan, mud flaps removed, and driving about 50mph on the highway. Considering my goal of 25mpg, that's disappointing.

However, my truck used to do 15mpg in the winter prior to the mods, so nearly a 4 mpg improvement. I guess that's good...

The real good news is that I wired up my kill switch today. I'm excited to see how much improvement that gives me~ should be about two weeks till my next fill up.

[JRMichler]

When you get good with the kill switch, you should be able to get 20 MPG in winter and 25 in the summer.

If you only log the summer mileage, you will be at your target.

[4ringcircus]

Holy cow, JRMichler, I just checked your fuel log, you are over 50% above epa with a 32.2 lifetime mpg. What percentages would you say are due to your kill switch/grille block/areo topper?

[Honda100]

Back in the states I had a Range Rover 4.0L V8 that would constantly get 24.5-26 on the freeway at 57 mph cruise. Drag coefficient was .31 and I usually would lock the truck in access mode (low down). I know, apples and oranges, but I mean to chip in regarding the drag coefficient and aero mods, because if a Rover V8 (some of the worst mpg engines I know of) 2.5 ton SUV can do 25, I am sure your Ranger can easily match it. While old tech, the Cologne motor is a decently efficient one so I believe there's a lot of untapped resources regarding aero mods.

Also, I had a 4.0 Ranger 4x4 and never did reach 20 mpg....or 18....or even 17. I think 16.7 or 8 was my best tank, but that was a construction truck that was always hauling stuff. Anyway, I think you're doing well. Sorry to ramble.

[JRMichler]

Here ya go: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...yon-17070.html

[Rick323]

Put a block heater in-you'll get your 20+ mpg in the winter.

[4ringcircus]

Ha! I used to have a functioning block heater. Back in the day the Ranger was my x-wife's daily driver. First winter we had it, I would plug it in for her at night. Despite the obvious need to unplug said block heater, she would simply drive out of the garage violently ripping the plug out of the wall. Yeah.... she destroyed it. (Insert comment about women drivers here... not that I'm saying anything, I'm just saying).

Guess I'll add fixing the block heater to my to-do list.

[JRMichler]

Back when I was testing my block heater, I anchored the block heater cord with some wire ties. Then I replaced the plug on the extension cord with a better one from the hardware store. I anchored the extension cord to the wall and took up the excess. Last, I lubricated the plug with wax so it would easily slip out of the plug.

I was right - it wasn't long until I forgot to unplug. It worked perfect, it unplugged itself and the extension cord barely reached the floor. No mess, no damage, no regrets.