Gas sucker
#1
07-22-2018
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Location: Blairsville GA
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Gas sucker
My 09, 4.0 can’t get better then 16 mpg. I installed a full K an N, cold air intake, duel exhaust, and always a full bottle of Sea Foam every month. Is there a Spark plug, and/or wires that will help? For that matter, is there anything I can do? I drive a lot, and mpg is important. I should also mention it’s 4x4.
#2
07-22-2018
Welcome to the forum
Just FYI you already had a factory Cold Air Intake, IMO better than 3rd party
4x4 adds about 300-400lbs to weight of vehicle, so they always have lower MPG than 2WD versions of same vehicles
4x4s also tend to have larger and wider tires, another hit to MPG, i.e. the more tire that touches the road the more friction/traction you have, which is better for off-roading, but bad for MPG, friction = lower MPG
Same friction in air resistance occurs in 4x4s because they tend to sit higher, lower vehicles get a "ground effect" above say 50mph, this prevents air from flowing under the vehicle so less air resistance.
And of course trucks are not aerodynamic on the top side, lol.
So 4x4 truck would not be a good choice for MPG, but you have one so..........
2009 Ranger 4.0l 4x4 published 16mpg combined for manual trans and 15mpg for automatic
I would look at what your axle ratios are, it is on the drivers door lable, AXLE "code"
Look here: Ford 7.5 & 8.8 Inch Axle Tag & Door Codes : The Ranger Station
3.73 is average
4.10 means better pulling power but lower MPG
3.55 means better MPG but less pulling power
So higher number more "get up and go", lower number better MPG
ALSO on that label is STOCK TIRE SIZE!!!!!
Check that you have EXACTLY the same size tires, if not then Odometer is off, and if you are using odometer to calculate MPG then it will be off, taller tires will show up as LESS MPG, less miles traveled on odometer
If near by highways have mile post markers check odometer using them.
Your 4.0l SOHC engine runs 9.7:1 compression ratio, thats how Ford got 200hp out of it.
9.7:1 will ping/knock on Regular gas(87 octane), so Ford added a Knock sensor
A knock sensor "hears" pings before you can, it then advances spark timing to stop the pinging, but this also reduces engine power so...............you have to push down a little more on the gas pedal to maintain speed and than means lower MPG.
So if you are going on a longer drive try putting in 91 or 93 octane and check MPG at the end of the drive to see if it helped.
Stop the Seafoam once a month, it lowers MPG, since it is not gasoline, once a year is fine or every 6 months it you want.
Just FYI you already had a factory Cold Air Intake, IMO better than 3rd party
4x4 adds about 300-400lbs to weight of vehicle, so they always have lower MPG than 2WD versions of same vehicles
4x4s also tend to have larger and wider tires, another hit to MPG, i.e. the more tire that touches the road the more friction/traction you have, which is better for off-roading, but bad for MPG, friction = lower MPG
Same friction in air resistance occurs in 4x4s because they tend to sit higher, lower vehicles get a "ground effect" above say 50mph, this prevents air from flowing under the vehicle so less air resistance.
And of course trucks are not aerodynamic on the top side, lol.
So 4x4 truck would not be a good choice for MPG, but you have one so..........
2009 Ranger 4.0l 4x4 published 16mpg combined for manual trans and 15mpg for automatic
I would look at what your axle ratios are, it is on the drivers door lable, AXLE "code"
Look here: Ford 7.5 & 8.8 Inch Axle Tag & Door Codes : The Ranger Station
3.73 is average
4.10 means better pulling power but lower MPG
3.55 means better MPG but less pulling power
So higher number more "get up and go", lower number better MPG
ALSO on that label is STOCK TIRE SIZE!!!!!
Check that you have EXACTLY the same size tires, if not then Odometer is off, and if you are using odometer to calculate MPG then it will be off, taller tires will show up as LESS MPG, less miles traveled on odometer
If near by highways have mile post markers check odometer using them.
Your 4.0l SOHC engine runs 9.7:1 compression ratio, thats how Ford got 200hp out of it.
9.7:1 will ping/knock on Regular gas(87 octane), so Ford added a Knock sensor
A knock sensor "hears" pings before you can, it then advances spark timing to stop the pinging, but this also reduces engine power so...............you have to push down a little more on the gas pedal to maintain speed and than means lower MPG.
So if you are going on a longer drive try putting in 91 or 93 octane and check MPG at the end of the drive to see if it helped.
Stop the Seafoam once a month, it lowers MPG, since it is not gasoline, once a year is fine or every 6 months it you want.
#3
07-22-2018
RF's Exiled Elite
#4
07-22-2018
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Blairsville GA
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Completely uniformed ranger owner
My 09, 4.0 can’t get better then 16 mpg. I installed a full K an N, cold air intake, duel exhaust, and always a full bottle of Sea Foam every month. Is there a Spark plug, and/or wires that will help? For that matter, is there anything I can do? I drive a lot, and mpg is important. I should also mention it’s 4x4.
all that being said, I’m thinking this truck is getting the mpg, it’s supposed to. As far as the Seafoam, I may have exaggerated the “ every month” quote, however it is about every 2- months, which I will lower to every 6. Know for the K and N, that joker was almost $300, and I like the way it sounds, so unless someone can show Me “ if” it’s hurting the 4.0, My intentions are to leave it in?
thank You for for all the great information, truly informative and helpful. Now if I can figure out why My Sons 93 Miata gets 20/mpg?
#5
07-22-2018
You might check for excessive drag from brakes and from front end alignment.
One hyper mile technique that I know works on your 09 4.0L is letting all the way off the throttle when slowing down. The engines ECM shuts fuel off about 1-2 second after the throttle is fully closed. Touching the throttle again when slowing restarts the timer. So try to do as much slowing as you can by backing all the way off the gas.
A 2nd technique (for auto tranny) is.. when taking off from a dead start, take your foot off the brake and let the car roll about 1ft before getting on the throttle.
Of coarse.. drag from brakes and tire alignment is a ton more important.
One hyper mile technique that I know works on your 09 4.0L is letting all the way off the throttle when slowing down. The engines ECM shuts fuel off about 1-2 second after the throttle is fully closed. Touching the throttle again when slowing restarts the timer. So try to do as much slowing as you can by backing all the way off the gas.
A 2nd technique (for auto tranny) is.. when taking off from a dead start, take your foot off the brake and let the car roll about 1ft before getting on the throttle.
Of coarse.. drag from brakes and tire alignment is a ton more important.
#6
07-23-2018
Member
i have a bone stock 4x4 4.0 auto with 4.10 gears.. i get 15 mpg in town and maybe 18-19 hwy if i'm lucky.. going 55-60 mph.
what air pressure are you running in the tires? i've got mine at 36 psi which seems to help a bit. also you can try to keep the weight down.. a bunch of stuff in the bed will certainly effect mpg.
what air pressure are you running in the tires? i've got mine at 36 psi which seems to help a bit. also you can try to keep the weight down.. a bunch of stuff in the bed will certainly effect mpg.
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