Improving MPG

[Allch Chcar]

Scangauge won't provide MPG readings with rangers older than 1999.
http://www.scangauge.com/support/Com...Vehicles.shtml

you get the best gas mileage with the tailgate UP or a tonneau, but the tonneau is so expensive you will never get your money back in gas savings.

Source:
http://ecow.engr.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/ge...hi1/pickup.pdf
Results page 8. Seems tailgate down is better(<1%) with longer bed on F-150 but not on short beds whereas a tonneau cuts total drag by 5%. In RL we're talking maybe +3% FE with 40%/60% city/highway.

Keeping your tires aired up proper, your truck maintained, and tuned is the easiest and probably your safest best method. Everyone should know that by now.

But if you want to save above that and have the time/money...

You can learn to drive differently, purchase low rolling resistance tires and keep them aired up to their max recommend PSI, reduce weight, or Aero mods which benefit most at highway speeds.

In weight, as many racers know, you'll hit a money wall long before you hit a weight reduction wall. The Ranger is no lightweight either at 3,000-3,750lbs empty/fully loaded. In aero dynamics the Ranger has something in the area of .400-.450 drag coefficient with 25-27 feet of frontal area. Most modern cars have .3 Cde with 20-25 ft frontal area.

Examples include:
This dude got his taco +28% FE at 70mph. By cutting aero drag by almost half.
http://www.evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=870

Or this full conversion uh... civic:
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php?t=290
@90mph he still gets better (read twice as much) gas mileage than we do at any speed.

Places like metrompg.com are a good source and although probably nerdier and more scientific than most of you might like some of the tips can help. Most of the mods are cheap albeit not all are safe or legal example outside mirror removal and even removing windshield wiper removal. The nerdier they are the more reliable I say .

[kb2fzq]

OK, since the air filter change, I've made 4 passes checking mileage, and with hubs in, 4x4 not engaged, I can go roughly 62 miles, average top speed 45 mph, on 3.08 gallons, or 20.13 mpg....which I think isn't too bad...one of those passes we had a snow storm and I had to run in 4x4 for 2 days...man, the mileage dropped like a rock, almost half, BUT!!, I'm glad I had the ability for 4x4, it was a pretty nasty storm, and the Snow Pig just ran like it was a summer day!!!
I love my truck

[RichatSUD]

so far i have made a number of performance mods to my truck that have improved my fuel economy. These are: K&N cold air induction (had a K&N drop-in earlier and it also helped), underdrive crank pulley, cat-back exhaust (negligible). a cooler thermostat took away some fuel economy, but helped with HP, so i keep it.

reducing weight helps performance and economy too. i did this by swapping my full-size spare tire for a mini-spare from a town car and by swapping the bed liner for a paint-in liner. and as always, airing the tires up to 34psi is a must for fuel economy. i am also using a tonneau cover, and like some others have noted it doesn't seem to make a difference in mpg, though it should for someone who does more highway driving. i'm currently getting around 21 mpg in combined driving (metro Detroit area), estimated curb weight ~2,900 lbs.

2003 Ranger 4x2 XLT Reg cab 3.0L auto
KYB shocks, Prothane swaybar mountings, K&N FIPK,
Dynomax cat-back, crank-pulley, 180 t-stat