The Truth Behind the 3.0L V6
 

How is the 3.0L V6 motor? I keep hearing it has the power of the 4 banger and the gas mileage of the 4.0L. I currently have the 2.5L 4 banger and am looking at a Ranger with the 3.0L V6. Will I see an improvement in power and acceleration? I won't be towing or anything just daily driving.

What is your opinion of the 3.0L V6 motor?

No power gains, maybe a couple lb.ft @ lower RPM but nothing to shout about.

If I was going to buy a new/another Ranger, it'd be a 2.3/2.5 or 4.0. The 3.0 is a solid motor, but not very powerful or good on fuel.

It worked great for me as a daily driven truck. Cranked up every time, got me where I needed to go with enough power to have fun and get decent gas mileage.

4 cyl power, 8 cyl mileage. Will probably last forever. Personally I wouldn't buy one

strong engine, but no power and awful fuel economy... dont do it if all possible

I will say I got better mileage out of my 3.0 than I do from my 5.4. Now 4.0 mileage is probably more accurate.

Its beastly hahaha. It does me well even with my tires and lift. With a few simple add ons its alright.

My 3.0L ranger still gets better mileage than my F150 even with the 4.88 gears and 35" tires. Its been a good motor so far, no shop visits. It definitely has more power than my previous '97 ranger with the 2.3. I know the new 2.3s are more powerful than the old ones though.

maybe mine is just a p.o.s but my 3.0 in my 08 needs a new head gasket already, I've been talking to people and apparently the head gasket is a big problem with them. I've had countless other problems with my truck too. So needless to say im getting rid of it and will never buy a ford again, at least not a ranger.

It doesn't have as awful of fuel econ. as people are saying, from spring to fall I got about 18-20mpg constantly with a 4wd supercab automatic that was STOCK.

I have a '99 with a 3.0 auto that is a supercab, and it is a solid motor. It's got 190,000 on the clock and is still running strong. With the stock-sized tires on it i could easily get 18-20 mpg on about 60% city 40% hwy. Also, it has enough power to have fun with and get me in some trouble with the cops. I don't believe you will find much more of a durable engine and think its a fairly good mix between power/reliability

The 3.0 isn't as bad as most make it out to be. if you just like to DD it and take it on occasional fun trips, it a good little motor. Like everyone says the mileage isnt the best but then again it isnt the worst either. In spring to fall I average a good amount of driving and get about 19 MPG in the winter it dropps to about 15 - 16 MPG. Everything else I can say and have said has already been said. Few simple add ons can make it a little bit better of an experience

Junk.

No power, and crap fuel mileage. If you want MPG get a 4 banger and if you want power get a 4.0L. Everyone says they are bulletproof engines and all this other BS, but they aren't. They have two pretty big common issues that they are apparently infamous for. The first being the cam position sensor sync going bad and the second being a pain in the ass coolant leak. The leak comes from the timing chain cover gasket which is located behind the waterpump and takes a bunch of time to replace. Mine is currently leaking.

Get a 4.0l or a 2.3l

i have no complaints, it is what it is.... i usually get around 20 mpgs driving around town with a 5 speed, its not fast but its a ford ranger. i dont tow anything so i really cant complain about the power too much

I agree, mine is an 04 3.0 4x4 Regular cab ranger and it's great for my daily driver. It's night and day difference over my 2001 Ford Ranger 3.0 Regular Cab Ranger 5 speed....I don't know why the 04 feels so much stronger. Same gears, exhaust, and everything.

3.0 with UD Pulleys ftw

3.0 6-cylinder ftmfw!

Oh wait... I was thinking of a 2JZGTE.

i dont know how people get that fuel mileage, i get 12-13 mpg and the lift/tires didnt really change that at all. it was amybe 13-14 before them. its got 2 HP more then the 2.3, I don't do anything extreme with my truck, I DD it, I've taken it on the odd mild trails, but if i had the opportunity to swap it out for something else i would. IMO Its junk

The camshaft synchronizer was quite a shock to me when mine went bad.I have a 2002 3.0 liter..I didn't know what it was.I had a squeaking sound and luckily I found out on this web site what the problem was.I think the 4.0 also has the scynchronizer.The scary part of the synchronizer is that is connected to the oil pump.If you lose the oil pump you might lock up your engine.My mileage is not that good and power is not that great.It is what it is.Luckily I have not major problems.Just ghost type stuff that makes you scratch your head.Thanks to Toreador I was able to put lights in the instrument cluster.

I agree with the anti 3.0 sentiment. It is an OK motor, but new or used I have no idea why anybody would buy one when a 4.0 pretty much costs the same. The 2001 I bought new, the 4.0 was something like a $600 option. Big whoop the difference between 22K and 23K is nothing when you are spending that much. The mileage IIRC is about the same for comparable equipped rangers, I still think they rate at 15 city and 19 highway on a 3.0 4X4 with 4:10's.

And used, not that I ever looked at one, but used rangers with 4.0’s are so cheap I can’t imagine even looking for a 3.0.

~HJ

P.S. not that this matters much as my advice is get a 4.0, but isn’t the 3.0 a PITA to change the oil filter on a 4x4? It has been at least 10 years since I have changed one but I remember cussing, swearing and burning my arm.

Nah, it's not bad at all after 04 becuase there ins't an EGR valve in the way to change it from the top. I can easily access the it from the top.

2wd too, I burned my arm so much before I was body lifted. After that it was a breeze though.

Only time I ever changed them was in High school when I worked for Valvoline Rapid oil change. I remember cussing rangers with 3.0's and 95+ cavaliers with automatics. dranted with was 1998-99 so a while ago.

I'm trying to fix my coolant leak right now and a pain in the a** bolt placed behind the tensioner is stopping me from moving the waterpump...Oh yeah and I pay $3 a gallon of gas here in NY
2002 ranger, 3.0 motor
Could someone tell me how to remove this bolt

remove the tensioner to get to the bolt i beleive

also i have no complains from my 3.0 besides its a little shy on power. but 11 years 188,000 miles 4:10's 33's and a 5-speed. i got gas yesterday and recorded 19.8mpg