10th Feb 2008 15:26: No reputable mechanic will defeat or remove an EGR system in this day and age. That's called tampering with the emissions system and is a Federal offense that carries fines and jail time if the tamperer is convicted. The EGR system is there to reduce formation of oxides of nitrogen by reducing the temperature in the engine's combustion chambers. Bypassing the EGR will raise the combustion chamber temperatures and can cause engine damage that won't be covered by warranty. Bottom line; don't do it.
Removing the catalytic converter is also a Federal offense if a mechanic does it. Car and truck owners may be able to get away with it in some states, but I don't recommend trying it. Aside from the damage it does to air quality, removing the cat can change the exhaust system backpressure and throw the EGR calibration off.
I have a 1994 4.0L 4x4 Ranger that is a primary driver and gets 18 mpg on the highway. It is a strong truck and pretty good for all climates and terrain, and I run Cooper ATR's on it. I can drive 260-280 miles on a tank of gas. Is there anything that doesn't cost and arm and a leg that I can put on this little truck (like special spark plugs, etc.) to get better mileage?
Wow, all you people complaining about your gas mileage; most of you have the 4.0, which in most cases is at least 2 times as big as a Civic's motor. Also it's a bigger vehicle and it's a truck, not some little nip toy that weighs 1000 pounds soaking wet. You're not going to get 30mpg because it isn't a fricken riceburner piece of crap, it's a Ford truck, what do you expect!
I just bought a 2001 Ford Ranger XLT offroad with the 4.0, and I'm getting about 400-500km out of each tank. I mean you can't expect a 1/4 ton truck to have a 100L tank in it, cuz there would be no room to mount it. I mean it's got a big enough tank for the size of the truck.
To 13:02: Unfortunately there isn't a lot you can do about your mileage. It's a BIG V-6, and your truck is a 4-wheel drive. You're doing pretty good, actually, to get 18. My friends 4X4 Tacomas get about the same mileage. Changing rear end gearing would help, but would hurt your low-end pulling power. DON'T fall for the gimmicks advertised in magazines to boost your mileage. None of them work. You may get a TINY increase in mileage by switching to full synthetic oil and a K&N high-flow air filter. I do this with all my vehicles and it seems to boost mileage MAYBE 1/2 mpg. I know that isn't much, but it helps.
I've owned 4 Rangers, all were great trucks. My last was a 3.0 V-6 2-wheel drive Sport and it got 23-24 highway, but it wasn't a 4X4. If it's any comfort, our last Explorer was a 4.0 V-6 Sport 2-wheel drive and we felt absolutely ecstatic to get 19 mpg on the highway. That really isn't all that bad. My last 2 5.0 V-8 Mustangs got a whopping 11-15mpg. Try living with THAT at $4 for gas!!!
I just bought a 2001 Ford Ranger, and it's a good truck, but it has no balls. It takes me forever to go from 0-60. And it has absolutely no power.
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