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Running Rich?? #: 744

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Posted: Mon Apr 2nd, 2018 07:36 pm

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jeff18
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09 Ranger with 2.3L 5speed manual. At the tailpipe opening there is quite a bit of black soot. Gas mileage all around is about 25mpg. No codes being thrown. Is there something I can check that will give a clue as to what is going on?

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Posted: Mon Apr 2nd, 2018 07:58 pm

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Dusten
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If put fresh plugs in, and dont idle it, go for a drive, steady state, shut it down and pull them again, they'll tell a good tale. But if your mpg's are fine, I'd suspect you don't have an issue.

IF you have forscan or a similar software you can monitor fuel trims and see if the truck is commanding to much fuel.

The only sure fire way though is to install a wideband.

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Posted: Tue Apr 3rd, 2018 10:07 pm

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jeff18
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Thank you for the reply. No monitoring software. I will dig into the plugs. What shall I be looking for on the plugs?

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Posted: Tue Apr 3rd, 2018 10:36 pm

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The plugs coming out should be light tan/gray in color. This is the tell that the spark plug is running at the right temperature and that the engine is in good shape.

Dark or a black wet or dry deposits indicate an rich condition, too cold a heat range of the spark plug, low compression, retarded timing or too large a plug gap.

Then there is a plug with deposits or melted electrodes. Let us know what yours look like when you change them.

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Posted: Thu May 3rd, 2018 05:11 pm

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jeff18
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I have discovered the fuel mileage issue. It is driving habits. This thing really needs to be babied. Super light on the gas pedal up to 1750rpm and shift, do it again and once in 3rd gear short shifting to 4th and 5th is necessary.
Now getting 27mpg. Can't drive it like an economy car, must go slow up to speed and not exceed 2k rpm on the way there.

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Posted: Thu May 3rd, 2018 07:24 pm

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Yep, a truck has the same aerodynamics as a brick.

The gas mileage on my Fusion is the same way. It is an automatic so I have to drive with a feather touch. I can get 37mpg highway but I have also gotten 20 around town using the heavy foot.

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Posted: Sat May 5th, 2018 09:24 am

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I have to make a correction to the original post fuel mileage stated. All around driving it was delivering 17-25mpg.

Fusion getting 20mpg? Unreal. The Escort I had before the Ranger got 30mpg at 90mph! Around town normal driving 30mpg. The thing would get 35 mpg at 70mph. Just never got bad mileage.

Our old Volvo 240 wagons at 3100 pounds and auto tranny delivered 24mpg at 70-80mph. At 55mph they delivered 28-30mpg. In town driving was consistently 21-24mpg depending on the season. Really don't understand the poor mileage of the Ranger when I think about the Volvo wagons we had. It should do better with a stick in the city, but doesn't unless babied.
Now I understand why people forgo the Ranger in favor of a full size. Really no benefit to fuel mileage with the space you give up.
Thinking I should have kept the Escort and have the truck for the occasional chores that need the capacity of the Ranger. Live and learn.

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Posted: Sat May 5th, 2018 10:07 am

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That is why the Fusion only sees highway mileage and I have the Ranger as my daily driver. The difference in mileage on city driving is just a few mpg apart. I have not been too impressed with the Eco-Boost engine.

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Posted: Thu May 10th, 2018 02:10 pm

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Yes, I am not impressed with the thirsty 2.3 Eco-tech. Gotta go real slow up to speed and short shift every gear to get anything over 20mpg. If driven like a normal car mileage is well below 20mpg. Not impressed, but I bought it for the long haul so hopefully it lasts another 10 years.

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Posted: Sun May 20th, 2018 08:28 am

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Good news update here. After much experimenting with driving speeds and rpm, I am getting 25 in the city, and 29 on the highway.

How is this possible? shift point always at 1750rpm, and always very, very light on the gas pedal. Slowly crawl up to the shift point. On the highway anything over 2250rpm starts to quickly eat away at gas mileage. Equates to about 61mph. Not setting the world on fire, but achieves the goal of reasonable fuel mileage for a 3100 pound vehicle.

Overall evaluation: Just take your time getting there and it will happen.

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Posted: Sun May 20th, 2018 10:22 am

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Seeing how MPG looks to be of great concern, I'd suggest shopping for an early 80's 'Vagen Rabbit diesel. Sure, they're slower than the second coming of Christ and you'll probably get waved at with one finger every once in awhile, but they got an honest 60MPG on the freeway.

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Posted: Mon May 21st, 2018 10:09 am

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Been there, done that. Never will own another VW. The MPG thing is more of a disbelief than concern. My son's Highlander gets better mileage than the Ranger and it weighs more, is an automatic, and has a V6. The little 2.3 will haul the 1000 pound loads I put in it once and a while, but just ain't reasonable fuel mileage when empty.

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Posted: Mon May 21st, 2018 11:32 am

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There is a company that offers a kit to drop a VW diesel engine into a Ranger. They also offer up some crazy power mods as well. http://gastodiesel.tdconversions.com

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Posted: Mon May 21st, 2018 04:44 pm

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Replaced the diesel on my 78 once. Those little motors did really well on the fuel mileage. The beauty of the mechanical fuel pump became evident when I drove 350 miles in the rain, wipers going, headlights on, without an accessory belt. Broke out on the highway and I just kept on going. The new electronic systems can't do this.

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