High Mileage Ranger Report

[IdahoRanger]

I wish...I drive like I have a cop in tow...still on the original brake pads!

Maybe that's why it blew. ?

I drive hard.

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[Msfitoy]

Maybe that's why it blew. ?

I drive hard.

Miles?

 

[IdahoRanger]

Miles?

Just under 40k. 55k until it goes boom..

 

[Blue Streak]

I took the Ranger in last week for "the works" and got the full synthetic oil change. The asst. service mgr. said that Ford has a number of TSB's which do fix the different problems but owners on this forum have reported that sometimes these fixes only last temporarily. She said that Ford has not come up with a permanent solution (disappointedly) yet such as a re-designed transmission that prevents the transmission problems in the 1st place.

Talked with a Service advisor there (who owns a Ranger Raptor) that I have known quite awhile from another dealership who I trust because he is straight forward and doesn't try to cover up for Ford. He explained the tranny problems in mechanical detail but in a nutshell said that the problem was too many gears which creates stress on the parts due to the numerous constant interacting functions in the tranny.

However, a number of owners on this forum have reported their tranny's have gone over 100,000 without a hiccup. One of them without doing any maintenance or service to it.

Just a take on what you stated. When I drive mine I decided what speed tranny I want. Depending on driving conditions I have anywhere from a 5 speed to a 9 speed 10 speed somtimes. So the tranny is not constantly hunting for gears. Also always in tow mode. Not sure if this helps but can't hurt. 5+yrs & 40,000 Smiles.

 

[TubbyZ28]

122k pop goes the headgasket, just put brakes on for the first time at 121k. tow fairly regularly

 

[Big Blue]

Talked with a Service advisor there (who owns a Ranger Raptor) that I have known quite awhile from another dealership who I trust because he is straight forward and doesn't try to cover up for Ford. He explained the tranny problems in mechanical detail but in a nutshell said that the problem was too many gears which creates stress on the parts due to the numerous constant interacting functions in the tranny.

As a design engineer I have to disagree with this assumption. No offense to your friend. The increased number of gears would actually reduce the stress on the parts by reducing the speed/rpm difference between gears when shifting. The main wear parts in an automatic transmission are the clutches. So the reduced speed mismatch that they need to overcome should reduce wear. It will also reduce the magnitude of the torque pulses the the entire drive train sees. The only real limiting factor is the time required to accomplish the shift, which is part of the reason for skipping some of the lower gears, when a gear is not held very long.

 

[Big Blue]

Just a take on what you stated. When I drive mine I decided what speed tranny I want. Depending on driving conditions I have anywhere from a 5 speed to a 9 speed 10 speed somtimes. So the tranny is not constantly hunting for gears. Also always in tow mode. Not sure if this helps but can't hurt. 5+yrs & 40,000 Smiles.

I'm reading your statement and am trying to understand how you are actually deciding how many gears your transmission has/uses. Are you manually shifting in S, or are you locking out gears in D?

Also, I hear so many people talk about their transmissions hunting for gears. Occasionally watch my gears on the dash and have a gear display on my Torque Pro screen, I have NEVER noticed my transmission hunting for gears during normal driving. The only time is while towing my 4000 lb TT it my jump between 8th, 9th and tenth depending on grade. I eliminate this by simply locking out 9th and 10th when I tow. My 2019 XLT FX4 has 35K on it and shifts are smooth and does not lugg in town. It was properly filled from the dealer, don't know if it was corrected at PDI. I really don't have a relationship with a service advisor because other than a battery replacement under warranty and minor recall notice on the fan motor, my truck has not been back to the dealership.

 

[Blue Streak]

I'm reading your statement and am trying to understand how you are actually deciding how many gears your transmission has/uses. Are you manually shifting in S, or are you locking out gears in D?

Also, I hear so many people talk about their transmissions hunting for gears. Occasionally watch my gears on the dash and have a gear display on my Torque Pro screen, I have NEVER noticed my transmission hunting for gears during normal driving. The only time is while towing my 4000 lb TT it my jump between 8th, 9th and tenth depending on grade. I eliminate this by simply locking out 9th and 10th when I tow. My 2019 XLT FX4 has 35K on it and shifts are smooth and does not lugg in town. It was properly filled from the dealer, don't know if it was corrected at PDI. I really don't have a relationship with a service advisor because other than a battery replacement under warranty and minor recall notice on the fan motor, my truck has not been back to the dealership.

I am locking gears out in drive.

 

[jdh951]

Oh, I didn't even think about that. I'll always consider this 'THE FORUM' for Ranger. At least in heart.

Stay around and fill us in on your new 6G and how it treats you!

 

[SFB]

Sorry to bust your assumption....but I drive it as hard or as normal as anyone else, mainly in the busy city on I-95 else in the everglades. I take it miles out in the everglades on the narrow levy bumping and skidding all over the place, hauling a 12ft fishing kayak. I do this twice, sometimes three times a week--day and night. Some of them levy roads are a challenge for 4x4's let alone a 2wd with a locking diff. Yet I still maintain the mileage that I posted, yes sir, and that's a fact.

Beautiful picture, thanks for sharing. Curious though, do you verify your milage with math? My trucks milage is usually off by 2mpg.

 

[SFB]

I INSTALLED THE FORD PERFORMANCE TUNE, I RUN 91 OCTANE AND AM VERY EASY ON THE GO PEDAL. AS A RESULT, I AVERAGE 26MPG. I WISH FORD WAS PAYING ME TO SAY THIS!!!

Well they'll probably hear you, you're on caps, you're yelling

 

[GhostStrykre]

122k pop goes the headgasket, just put brakes on for the first time at 121k. tow fairly regularly

ooof this just happened to you?? Dang. This seems fairly rare for the 2.3L in the Ranger.

 

[ZCoker]

Beautiful picture, thanks for sharing. Curious though, do you verify your milage with math? My trucks milage is usually off by 2mpg.

I’ve always relied on the gauge. My 2024 is getting even better mileage. I even think it’s a heavier truck, taller and wider. All in all, I’m sure it’s close because my wallet meter says so lol

 

[ZCoker]

Stay around and fill us in on your new 6G and how it treats you!

Sure will. It’s pretty much the same as my last truck with some intriguing tech. It’s one of those XLT’s that has almost everything a lariat has except the leather seats….but at thousands less. Couldn’t pass it up. I’m quite confident that it will run out like my last one.

 

[SFB]

I’ve always relied on the gauge. My 2024 is getting even better mileage. I even think it’s a heavier truck, taller and wider. All in all, I’m sure it’s close because my wallet meter says so lol

Only curious, you’re happy with it is all that matters. The gauge isn’t far off usually on mine it’s plus 2. I usually set my cruise at 80 when on a trip, any thing over that and mileage isn’t as good, obviously. Anything less is great but you’ll get hammered by traffic doing 80 plus. I’ve been able to maintain 18 around town babying it.

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