After reading this forum on the 2.5 4-popper ive come to the conclusion that the 2.5 is worthless as a speed built engine.

The money spent modding your 2.5 will be much better spent in so many ways seems to be what people are saying.

My dads' 1992 Dodge Dakota 2.5 gets better gas mileage than my 98 ranger... Besides good reliability, I'm beginning to think kina down on my 2.5. I want like hell to swap it out but it's cheap to run besides the "not as good as it could be" mileage...

So what is the 2.5 good for in your opinion?

what kinda gas mileage are you getting? I get on avg about 23-27 MPG but I do a lot of highway as well. you CAN turn the 2.3 into a nice motor by doing a turbo swap (check out the FAQ on the 2.3 Turbo forum).

You do have to realize too, that this little 4 banger is hauling A LOT of weight. I think my 98 ext cabs weighs about 3400lbs, plus me and my garbage, round that up to around 4000lbs. (I usually carry my bowling equipment, toolbox, and a cooler around most of the time).

I love my 2.5, great MPG, I can still haul a trailer with a couple loads of mulch, I got plenty of room in my ext cab. Other than going fast it doesn't lack that much.

If you improve the lima's low-points (head work & cam so it can breathe) you can wake up the engine pretty well without adding a turbo, and still be OK mileage-wise as long as the rest of the engine is functioning properly, and you're geared correctly for the size tires you're running.

After reading this forum on the 2.5 4-popper ive come to the conclusion that the 2.5 is worthless as a speed built engine.

The money spent modding your 2.5 will be much better spent in so many ways seems to be what people are saying.

My dads' 1992 Dodge Dakota 2.5 gets better gas mileage than my 98 ranger... Besides good reliability, I'm beginning to think kina down on my 2.5. I want like hell to swap it out but it's cheap to run besides the "not as good as it could be" mileage...

So what is the 2.5 good for in your opinion?

As far as I'm concerned, I could give a rat's ass about HorsePower with gas being $3.16/gal I love my 2.5 5Speed it get's me from a 2 b cheap!

After reading this forum on the 2.5 4-popper ive come to the conclusion that the 2.5 is worthless as a speed built engine.

(Snip a bunch of stuff...)

So what is the 2.5 good for in your opinion?


1. Good. Ford makes v6 and v8 engine options in various other vehicles for speed purposes. Pay more...get more.

2. Basic, low cost (relatively speaking) point A to point B transportation.

If I wanted speed, I'd have kept my Camaro and swapped in an LT1. Granted, I am now looking for a mid to late 90s PSD crew cab truck, which could peel some tires if I want, but I do know that I did not pay $3000 to buy my 4 cylinder Ranger for speed rather than for super-duper reliability...which it excels at.

The End.

This is true, I can nevr complain about the reliability... :D