Why do so many Ranger Owners want a Diesel?
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From: Connecticut
Why do so many Ranger Owners want a Diesel?
What is it about diesels that are so attractive to current Ranger owners? I've read a lot of posts over the past several years, in several different forums, wherein people have been clamoring for Ford to bring "over here" the European/Mexican/Asian version(s) of the Ranger which are equipped with diesel engines.
The attraction certainly can't be the price of diesel fuel which ain't no bargain these days compared to regular gasoline. Not to mention diesel pumps aren't nearly as many and therefore re-fueling is not as convenient, on the whole.
I've heard some people talk about "better low end torque" regarding diesels, but on the other hand, I've never heard anyone with a 4.0L (OHV or SOHC) complain about their Ranger's low-end power. I've personally never had any problems pulling anything I've ever needed to with my Ranger (of course I haven't been stupid about it, either). So it's not as if you can't get a Ranger right here, right now in North America that has good low-end grunt.
So I have to wonder - why this fascination with "Diesel Rangers"?
The attraction certainly can't be the price of diesel fuel which ain't no bargain these days compared to regular gasoline. Not to mention diesel pumps aren't nearly as many and therefore re-fueling is not as convenient, on the whole.
I've heard some people talk about "better low end torque" regarding diesels, but on the other hand, I've never heard anyone with a 4.0L (OHV or SOHC) complain about their Ranger's low-end power. I've personally never had any problems pulling anything I've ever needed to with my Ranger (of course I haven't been stupid about it, either). So it's not as if you can't get a Ranger right here, right now in North America that has good low-end grunt.
So I have to wonder - why this fascination with "Diesel Rangers"?
Umm, I don't understand where you get your facts...
1) Diesels have more torque(or in the truck world, power). And upgrade well if there's an aftermarket. We 4.0 SOHC guys are happy with out power, BUT (on to point two)
2) Diesels get better gas mileage. Plain and simple.
3) Diesel fuel pumps are everywhere. I live in Alaska, every gas station has them. I live in Minnesota too, every gas station has them.
4) Diesel fuel sometimes has an inverse relationship to gas. This is because during the summer demand goes down because people stop heating their houses with fuel. So its price can actually go down.
5) Diesel engines are reliable as all hell. The only engine off the top of my mind that could possibly match the reliability of a diesel is the ford Inline 5 300 in F150s and F250s in the 80s/90s.
To sum it up, their mpg offsets the gas price, diesel is easy to find, more power and upgrada posibilities is better, and reliable as heck.
-Aaron
1) Diesels have more torque(or in the truck world, power). And upgrade well if there's an aftermarket. We 4.0 SOHC guys are happy with out power, BUT (on to point two)
2) Diesels get better gas mileage. Plain and simple.
3) Diesel fuel pumps are everywhere. I live in Alaska, every gas station has them. I live in Minnesota too, every gas station has them.
4) Diesel fuel sometimes has an inverse relationship to gas. This is because during the summer demand goes down because people stop heating their houses with fuel. So its price can actually go down.
5) Diesel engines are reliable as all hell. The only engine off the top of my mind that could possibly match the reliability of a diesel is the ford Inline 5 300 in F150s and F250s in the 80s/90s.
To sum it up, their mpg offsets the gas price, diesel is easy to find, more power and upgrada posibilities is better, and reliable as heck.
-Aaron
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From: Centennial CO
Like what Aaron said. I actually considered a 7.3L Powerstroke before settling on my Ranger, because of what Aaron just stated. Gas milagewise, I have a friend who has a 2003 7.3L that he just got to 24MPG with. How he did it is beyond me, but he takes it in for regular PM. I love my 4.0L, strong, quick, pulls with ease, but if I had the option right now to swap a 3.0L Powerstroke or put a brand new 4.0L in, i'd go with the Powerstroke.
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From: Haverhill, MA
Originally Posted by mental ambiguity
Pretty much the reasons Aaron said.
That, and diesel around here is way cheaper than regular gasoline at the moment..
That, and diesel around here is way cheaper than regular gasoline at the moment..
x2 hmm reg gas= 3.07
or diesel = 2.70
what would u pick lol. and all the gas stations around me have all get diesel. alot are remodeling and have signes out saying diesel will be here soon so it must be more popular now
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Delaware
Originally Posted by Morph
Can run veggie oil etc. with certain modifications as well.
Who cares about MPG if your not paying for your used fry oil?
Who cares about MPG if your not paying for your used fry oil?
Originally Posted by Bullpar
I want a diesel for the torque, my 01 4.0 is weaker than hell.
You should get a tuneup or something. People notice how powerful my 04 4.0 is even with my 35s. It'll throw you in your seat. When it was stock I just couldn't stop racing the damn thing against every car.
One time some stock 350 Chevy on 31s decided he'd race Andy from a stop sign sortof near Andy's house. I was behind Andy, and the chevy was in the left lane. The chevy took off, and Andy was following, but with his 3.0 and 35s, it was sortof a slow death. But I gunned it and timed it right and as the gap between them gained I zipped through and smoked that Chevy.
Even if they do have more power, it's not like the 4.0 is what is limiting our towing capabilities, it's the frame/rear axle components. The motor could pull more than what the truck is rated at right now. So are that many people here power hungry and want to race their trucks or something?
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From: SE Michigan
Originally Posted by 05RangerXLT
Even if they do have more power, it's not like the 4.0 is what is limiting our towing capabilities, it's the frame/rear axle components. The motor could pull more than what the truck is rated at right now. So are that many people here power hungry and want to race their trucks or something?
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From: Wyoming MN
Originally Posted by Red_Ak_Ranger
You should get a tuneup or something. People notice how powerful my 04 4.0 is even with my 35s. It'll throw you in your seat. When it was stock I just couldn't stop racing the damn thing against every car.
~HJ
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From: SE Michigan
Its all about Torque curve, and the ranger doesn't have a very flat one, and the lower a torque curve starts, the better off you are when pulling. Plus, the ranger only has 238 ft-lbs of torque, my old blazer had 260, and at a lower Rpm. My ranger tows my boat fine, better at faster speeds, and my old truck pulled it better at slower speeds....
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From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by Red_Ak_Ranger
Umm, I don't understand where you get your facts...
1) Diesels have more torque(or in the truck world, power). And upgrade well if there's an aftermarket. We 4.0 SOHC guys are happy with out power, BUT (on to point two)
2) Diesels get better gas mileage. Plain and simple.
3) Diesel fuel pumps are everywhere. I live in Alaska, every gas station has them. I live in Minnesota too, every gas station has them.
4) Diesel fuel sometimes has an inverse relationship to gas. This is because during the summer demand goes down because people stop heating their houses with fuel. So its price can actually go down.
5) Diesel engines are reliable as all hell. The only engine off the top of my mind that could possibly match the reliability of a diesel is the ford Inline 5 300 in F150s and F250s in the 80s/90s.
To sum it up, their mpg offsets the gas price, diesel is easy to find, more power and upgrada posibilities is better, and reliable as heck.
-Aaron
1) Diesels have more torque(or in the truck world, power). And upgrade well if there's an aftermarket. We 4.0 SOHC guys are happy with out power, BUT (on to point two)
2) Diesels get better gas mileage. Plain and simple.
3) Diesel fuel pumps are everywhere. I live in Alaska, every gas station has them. I live in Minnesota too, every gas station has them.
4) Diesel fuel sometimes has an inverse relationship to gas. This is because during the summer demand goes down because people stop heating their houses with fuel. So its price can actually go down.
5) Diesel engines are reliable as all hell. The only engine off the top of my mind that could possibly match the reliability of a diesel is the ford Inline 5 300 in F150s and F250s in the 80s/90s.
To sum it up, their mpg offsets the gas price, diesel is easy to find, more power and upgrada posibilities is better, and reliable as heck.
-Aaron
In short, where are your "facts"?
P.S. Here in CT, maybe 1 in 5 stations have a single diesel pump. And diesel fuel is currently only about a dime per gallon cheaper (6 months ago they were the same).
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From: Wyoming MN
Originally Posted by Rockledge
P.S. Here in CT, maybe 1 in 5 stations have a single diesel pump. And diesel fuel is currently only about a dime per gallon cheaper (6 months ago they were the same).
I'll Only adress this one, My buddy jesse has two almost Identical Dodges
Both 3/4 ton 1999 Ext cab short box 4x4's. One a V10, One a Cummins. In normal Driving the Cummins gets more than twice the "Fuel" mileage as the V10. Both are capable trucks, but the V10 cost about 2.5 times the amount to drive the same distance. The only benefit I'll give the V10 over the Diesel is Consistancy. It gets 10 MPG Empty or pulling a bobcat. The Diesel Gets 24 empty and about 14 pulling the same bobcat. So Diesel would have to Be about $7.50 right now to make the V10 an equal competitor. Not to mention the diesel is pushing 250K miles and other than the typical Dodge problems (ie, Hubs, tranny, rear end) it still runs like a top. The V10 has about 140K and is starting to show its age.
~HJ
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From: Grand Rapids, MI
Originally Posted by Rockledge
These are all assumptions and presumptions until you post some hard specs. Does the 2.5L diesel really have more low-end torque than my 4.0L? What are the horsepower and torque ratings? What about MPG?
In short, where are your "facts"?
P.S. Here in CT, maybe 1 in 5 stations have a single diesel pump. And diesel fuel is currently only about a dime per gallon cheaper (6 months ago they were the same).
In short, where are your "facts"?
P.S. Here in CT, maybe 1 in 5 stations have a single diesel pump. And diesel fuel is currently only about a dime per gallon cheaper (6 months ago they were the same).
Lets take the 1.9 TDI that VW put in its Mk IV Golf, Jetta, and Beetle. It puts out 100HP and 177Ft. Lbs of Torque (Source: Middle of page )
The 1.8t (Turbo charged gasser, a little smaller) puts out 150HP and 155 Ft Lbs of torque (Source: Search 1.8t Torque ).
Gas=Higher HP, but lower Torque.
Diesel=Lower HP, but higher Torque.
Torque is what gets you moving. You could have 1000 HP car with 20 Lbs of torque and a motor scooter is going to beat you off the line.
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From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by HAZZARDJOHN
I'll Only adress this one, My buddy jesse has two almost Identical Dodges
Both 3/4 ton 1999 Ext cab short box 4x4's. One a V10, One a Cummins. In normal Driving the Cummins gets more than twice the "Fuel" mileage as the V10. Both are capable trucks, but the V10 cost about 2.5 times the amount to drive the same distance. The only benefit I'll give the V10 over the Diesel is Consistancy. It gets 10 MPG Empty or pulling a bobcat. The Diesel Gets 24 empty and about 14 pulling the same bobcat. So Diesel would have to Be about $7.50 right now to make the V10 an equal competitor. Not to mention the diesel is pushing 250K miles and other than the typical Dodge problems (ie, Hubs, tranny, rear end) it still runs like a top. The V10 has about 140K and is starting to show its age.
~HJ
Both 3/4 ton 1999 Ext cab short box 4x4's. One a V10, One a Cummins. In normal Driving the Cummins gets more than twice the "Fuel" mileage as the V10. Both are capable trucks, but the V10 cost about 2.5 times the amount to drive the same distance. The only benefit I'll give the V10 over the Diesel is Consistancy. It gets 10 MPG Empty or pulling a bobcat. The Diesel Gets 24 empty and about 14 pulling the same bobcat. So Diesel would have to Be about $7.50 right now to make the V10 an equal competitor. Not to mention the diesel is pushing 250K miles and other than the typical Dodge problems (ie, Hubs, tranny, rear end) it still runs like a top. The V10 has about 140K and is starting to show its age.
~HJ
But does that really prove anything when we're comparing a Ford Ranger 4.0L to a Ford Ranger 2.5L "duratorque" diesel?
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From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by Morph
Cubic inch per cubic inch, diesels are more powerful as far as torque goes.
Lets take the 1.9 TDI that VW put in its Mk IV Golf, Jetta, and Beetle. It puts out 100HP and 177Ft. Lbs of Torque (Source: Middle of page )
The 1.8t (Turbo charged gasser, a little smaller) puts out 150HP and 155 Ft Lbs of torque (Source: Search 1.8t Torque ).
Gas=Higher HP, but lower Torque.
Diesel=Lower HP, but higher Torque.
Torque is what gets you moving. You could have 1000 HP car with 20 Lbs of torque and a motor scooter is going to beat you off the line.
Lets take the 1.9 TDI that VW put in its Mk IV Golf, Jetta, and Beetle. It puts out 100HP and 177Ft. Lbs of Torque (Source: Middle of page )
The 1.8t (Turbo charged gasser, a little smaller) puts out 150HP and 155 Ft Lbs of torque (Source: Search 1.8t Torque ).
Gas=Higher HP, but lower Torque.
Diesel=Lower HP, but higher Torque.
Torque is what gets you moving. You could have 1000 HP car with 20 Lbs of torque and a motor scooter is going to beat you off the line.
Jetta and Beetle discussion isn't going to convince me.
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From: Wyoming MN
Originally Posted by Rockledge
OK, I'll concede that a Cummins diesel gets better gas mileage than an 8.0L V10 Dodge monster-guzzler.
But does that really prove anything when we're comparing a Ford Ranger 4.0L to a Ford Ranger 2.5L "duratorque" diesel?
But does that really prove anything when we're comparing a Ford Ranger 4.0L to a Ford Ranger 2.5L "duratorque" diesel?
Now I don't care about the 2.5 diesel, I have no idea what it is. But if there is/was a Diesel that was Comparable to a 4.0 in ability and performance, the dodge comparison is still valid. The ranger gets about 15-17 MPG in 4x4 4.0 trim. I bet it would be pushing thirty with a comparable diesel. Not to mention it will go 300K miles where as 200K on a 4.0 is rare. So like I said, Diesel would have to be about $6-7 for it to even out to a gas truck.
~HJ
