2001 Ford Ranger XLT from North America - Comments

I recently bought a 2001 Ranger XLT, 4 door, 3.0, Flex Fuel, 98k miles. It has K&N Filter and 235/75R15 (oversize tires). I had the computer recalibrated for the tire size at a Ford Dealership to make the Speedo/Odo read correctly. I'm get BAAAAD mileage too. I didn't at first. At first I was getting 17 city (Los Angeles) and 27 highway. I attributed the poor city/good highway mileage to the tires, which result in lower RPMs at highway speeds. Anyway, I have a rapid clicking noise coming from the left side of truck when accelerating onto the freeway. It starts at about 2500 RPM and stops at 4000 RPM or if I let up on the gas. So, thinking it was engine ping, I tried an octane booster. BAD IDEA! The ping didn't go away and my mileage DROPPED to 12-14 city and 17-19 highway! And it acts like I'm dragging a ship anchor behind me after driving for several hours. Whoa! $100 to Ford to troubleshoot and NO TROUBLE FOUND. Hmmm... Well, I had some old O2 sensors (from a '93 Taurus) and put them in. My fuel economy has gone up some. Looks like the Octane Booster dealt a death blow to my O2 sensors and possibly the CAT. So, I'm going to put in new O2 sensors and see what that does. I've had no codes at all this entire time.

Oh, by the way. The 90 MPH limit SUCKS! But here's one for you. If you hit the 90 MPH limit or REV Limit, it will set a code in the computer. For my $100, Ford Service did tell me that the limits had been hit/set in the computer. What can I say, I had to try it out to see for myself. Yep, 91 MPH and the engine starts cutting out.

I'm considering removing the K&N and going back to the stock filter. I don't see an advantage to having it.

The tuned exhaust sure sounds SWEEEET though.

I had a 1994 Ford Ranger 4x4 super-cab with a 3.0 engine and 5 speed transmission. I bought it in 2000 with about 130,000 miles on it. I traded it in 2006, and have regreted it ever since. When I traded it in it had nearly 300,000 miles miles on it and still ran excellent. The only major repair I had was replacing the clutch; just basic maintenance besides that. I consistently got 22-24 m.p.g. in all types of driving conditions (which came out to about 360-400 miles per tank, 16 gallons). I have also heard the newer rangers do not get as good gas mileage as the older ones. I'm not sure why, perhaps it has something to do with the emission system. Sorry about every-ones luck.

I have a 2001 Ford Ranger with a 3.0 V6. It's extended cab with the edge package. I don't get the best gas mileage (12-14 in town and a little better on the highway). Now when I bought the truck I was getting it with the smaller engine thinking it would be good on gas for the in town driving that I do. I don't go crazy on the gas, but it seems to not get up to speed the way I would like it to.

Recently I went shopping and when I came out to leave I started the truck and it would turn over, but wouldn't stay running (it would die within 10 seconds). Not knowing what it was I checked all the fluid levels and ended up adding a little oil and disconnecting the battery cables... after reconnecting I started it and it died again... tried it one more time before I was about to call a tow truck and it started and stayed running. But shortly after then it has shifted very rough from 1st to 2nd. The check engine light has come on and I found that my mass air flow sensor was bad! Now I can find one for a 3.0 flex fule at any place for a reasonable price... but for the unleaded 3.0 Ford wants to charge 200 and I can't get it any where else!

If anyone can tell me a little more about what I might be able to do it would be great. I'm a college student and funds are very small!

I hope others have better luck with their rangers... but personally I won't be buying another one.

I made a very bad mistake and traded my 2000 Ranger 2WD, Extended Cab with 3.0L Flex Fuel, manual 5 speed in for a new 2008 Ranger.

Biggest problem is fuel mileage with the 2008. My 2000 with 3.0L always gave me 21 MPG around town, winter or summer for 86,000 miles. Highway was about 22 to 23 MPG and my new 2008 Ranger with 3.0L, 5 speed sutomatic gives me 17 MPG around town.

I only have about 1,000 miles on it, but I hear this is the best I can expect.

Just what happened from 2000 to 2008 to drop 4 MPG. I have been driving for over 35 years and my habits have not changed.

I have 2001 Ford Ranger Extended Cab 4.0L, and I am getting about 8.5 to 12 miles a gallon. Just about two weeks ago I was getting 22 miles a gallon and it just hit like that. I called the guy I use to work with at an auto shop and they told me to change the mass air flow meter, and the air filter and the PCV valve, and clean the throttle plates. I came to realize that none of that helped, even though most of them were bad.

I called someone else I know, and he told me to try and get a locking gas cap, and to stop using octane booster; the octane booster will gum everything up like your injectors, and your cats and O2 sensors, so stop using it.

The locking gas cap actually worked. I'm still not getting 22 out of it any more, so I think I still have to clean out the octane booster, but I found out that some one was stealing my gas. Hope this helps ya'll out.

I own a 96 Ford Ranger Super-cab with the long bed. I have been looking to purchase a newer year and in doing so I have done quite a bit of research. This is what I found:

ALL Rangers have an emissions control device which funnels portions of the post-combustion exhaust BACK into the intake. This is an EPA mandated device (but not illegal to remove after purchase!) and removing it can increase your mileage by 4-6 miles. Contact a mechanic or a hot rod shop to see about getting it removed.

Larger tires cause less gas mileage. It's a fact, and unavoidable.

Rangers have a intake muffler on them. It is meant to quiet the sound of the intake, it is oblong and oval in shape and is situated between the MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor and the throttle body. Replacing it with a straight piece of PVC piping of similar diameter can increase horsepower and oddly enough gas mileage at the sacrifice of a slightly louder intake.

Ford Catalytic Converters and exhaust are notorious for leaking causing inefficient airflow and bad mileage. Check these for leaks and replace accordingly. My suggestion would be to go aftermarket or if it's legal in your state, a cat-less system.

The 90 mph limit is a pain in the rear, but it is put in place to keep people who don't know how to properly drive a truck from killing themselves. (The mechanics of driving are different because of the weight bias when empty especially at high speeds.) If you absolutely have to go faster, then purchasing a Predator or similar tuning device cannot only erase the governor (It is electronic not analog, the computer controls the speed based on a programmed number in the default settings) but it can optimize your system for performance/gas mileage balance. It plugs into the OBD port and functions as a diagnostic tool as well.

That's my two cents. No vehicle is perfect, but in my opinion the Ranger has many excellent qualities that makes a small investment into customization well worth the trouble.

I had bought a with 01 with 70,000 miles and loved it. just not enough space in the cab. it was a man with 2.3 and that baby got 29mpg back and forth to school and I hit 35mpg on highway in summer. it was great except for 2wd with open diff I got stuck everywhere, because I live in country. it slid all over road in snowy conditions. I also had a problem of it hesisate when it started, but $30 for Napa fuel filter no more problems. it was easy for tune-up, but anything else was a pian to do. thermostat went out and no aftermarket supplies for it so it costed $90 and hard to do so another $90 for labor. I wish I still had it, but atfer getting re ended at 65mph back crumpled and ruined cab too, along with the seat whcih my head broke head rest. it was very quick off line and topped well over 110. I did have toneu cover to help gas mileage. if I could get a 2.3 with 4x4 and super cab I would be in love.

I have a 1998 4x4 4.0 liter 6 Ranger 5 speed extra cab. The truck is very strong and I enjoy driving it. The fuel mileage is 14.7 mpg city and almost 20 mpg freeway. A v 6 Ranger is a much different truck than the in-line 4. The tires are larger and it will haul more weight. You have to compare apples to apples to be fair. I do agree Trucks don't have very good fuel mileage. I believe all trucks should have diesel motors as they do overseas.

I have a new 2008 Ford Ranger FX4 with the 4.0 engine and I get about 20 mpg city and 24-26 mpg highway. Keep your foot off the floor helps a lot but there's a trick to the rangers that stems back to the older fuel injected Kawasaki street-bikes. Find your coolant temp. sensor and install a variable resistor in-line with it (similar to the thermostat in your house) and adjust it so it tells your computer that the engine is running a little warm - but not too hot or it will run too lean. that'll boost your mileage anywhere from 5-8 mpg depending on your driving habits.

I bought a 2001 Ranger, 3.0L V6 regular cab two years ago. I have to admit that I love my truck - except for the mileage. I have never checked to see just how many mpg I'm getting, but I know that it isn't very good. But like someone here said - if you want economy, buy a Civic. I don't do a lot of driving and so the poor mileage doesn't really bother me. I have found a lot of good points about the truck that overrides the gas it burns. I didn't know about the 90 mph engine cut out situation, and will probably never experience it. The fastest I drive on the freeway is about 70 - 75 mpg.

I was saddened to read that Ford is discontinuing the Ranger in 2009. I don't know what make of truck I'm going to buy if that happens. The only trucks I've ever owned have been Ranger - I've had a few of them and I'm going to miss them when they're gone, as I'm sure a lot of people will.

Change the spark plugs. I did and I went from getting 14.4 mpg to 18.5 mpg. Cause at one time before I got the truck, someone put in the wrong spark plugs, and I had no idea until I was trying to figure out why the gas mileage was so bad. This was for a four door 2001 4x4 off road Ranger. So it can't hurt.

I have an '01 4.0L V6 Ranger Edge. I've put a K&N Cold Air, and a Jet Power Management chip along with some e3 Diamond Fire spark plugs (the spark plugs are amazing the engine fires up SUPER quick and I've noticed a much quicker response to the pedal along with smoother shifts) And my gas mileage is amazing as long as I'm in a good mood while driving. If I drive economically I get around 20 city and 25 hgwy. When I drive aggressively my gas mileage is cut almost in half. But I love the 4.0L V6 it has so much power for such a light truck and gets the job done. No problems from me.

I have a 1998 4 door super cab 3.0L V6. I get 14 street and about 15 highway.

I changed the PVC valve, spark plugs, fuel filter, air filter (K&N), I cleaned the air intake, added fuel system cleaner, correct tire pressure, and drive like a grandma :(. Still nothing works.

When I changed the spark-plugs and cleaned the air filter and pumped up my tires, I got about 1-2 more mpg for about 1 1/2 tanks, then it went back to normal. Seems like the only thing to do is check for leaks, add a computer, new O2 sensor, new cat converter. To do this will cost a pretty penny. :(