I'm new so bare with me. and i thank you all for you imput and info. I'm going to be buying a '96 ranger with a 2.3 sohc waste spark ign. 4x2 5 speed man. I've owned rangers in the past and have better luck with mileage out of a full size truck . The other rangers I've owned got about the same milage as my v8 full size maybe a little better but nothing to write home about. I'm a die hard Ford guy but currently driving a (it hurts to say) 1991 dodge shadow america 2.2l 5 speed man. Although the odometer does not work im guessing I'm averaging about 30-35 mpg and it's going to hurt dropping in mileage. I'm thinking with a **** ton of work and thought, I can better the mpg on the ranger with the old school methods like making a cold air intake (I'm a broke **** so I build what I can and buy cheap) I'm thinking of using 3" exhaust pipe and wrapping it in header wrap to deflect the heat, and making the exhaust itself as free flowing as possible. Also was thinking on gasket matching upper and lower intakes and changing to hotter plug. Just wondering if it would be worth the effort and how would I tune it to my mods (should I advance the timing a degree or 5 )and was thinking on changing the final drive gear to a high ratio but would need to find a speedometer gear any thoughts?

 

All those things are well and good, but you won't be able to come close to your low to mid 30 MPG's in your current car.

I just bought a 2000 Saturn SL2 for improved gas mileage, it gets around 36-38 on the highway and will only take 2 years for the gas to pay for itself

 

i figured i wont come close to the mpgs of the car but would like to get as close as possible im not a big fan of cars or dodges

 

short shift it, keep the speed down

 

Not sure if you have an extended cab or regular cab, but my truck's just like yours with extended cab and 4.10 gears. Regular cabs have 3.73. In mixed driving (shifting at about 3,000 rpm, and 65 mph on the highway) the best I'll get is about 25 mpg, and a 22-23 in winter. To be honest, I wouldn't expect more than that out of a 2.3 Lima powered Ranger, after all this engine's based out of the late 70's which makes it dead reliable but of course not as efficient as a truly newer design. A 2002+ Duratec 4 cyl would get you closer to 30 mpg if that's what you're after.

 

I get 28 with a Duratec extended cab

 

did anyone here try the acetone mixed in the gas for better gas milage? ive been doing that and can really tell a difference in the pep in the truck. i do get a bit better gas milage but i really enjoy the extra pep. ive checked this out on utube and it has mixed reviews. some say its great and others say its bad to add that. any of you try that?

 

97 2.3l.. I get around 28 no problem. 2wd skinny lrr tires. idk what else but i get some decent mileage with this thing

 

Maybe a hard bed cover, K&N filter, header, hi flow exhaust

 

Not that I would recommend doing this, because these things are very corrosive on your fuel lines. But some of the rangers are flex-fuel. I've used Toluene in my jet ski to raise my octane.