3.0 Rangers?

"fhrblig" (fhrblig)
07/20/2018 at 11:57 • Filed to: None

Anyone here know much about them? I know most people prefer the 4.0 obviously, but how are the 3.0 ones long-term? Any major problems or trouble spots? I’m finding more of them around. This one looks ok, aside from needing tires. Plus I think I could talk them down a bit, and I might be able to squeeze my credit union to finance it short term and take advantage of the $1000 from my gap coverage.

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DISCUSSION (17)

E90M3 > fhrblig
07/20/2018 at 12:03

A high school friend got a 1999 Ranger with the 3.0L as his first car. He drove it pretty hard and never had any issues, apart from crashing it twice.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > fhrblig
07/20/2018 at 12:03

Just install 5.0 and everything will be fine.

Aremmes > fhrblig
07/20/2018 at 12:05

Dad had a Mazda B3000 (same thing) with the extended cab, much like the one in your link but in green. It felt underpowered but was acceptably reliable.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > fhrblig
07/20/2018 at 12:13

This is more about the Ranger in general but:

My buddy owned a 3.0 auto for over a decade, primarily used as a commuter. I probably drove it almost a hundred times myself. I will say that transmissions can be a weak spot, so watch out for that (reverse was the first gear he was losing on his, followed by second). The Vulcan is an ancient motor, but can be “reliable-ish.” We never broke 20 mpg , if that matters at all. Anecdotes!!!

Pickup_man > fhrblig
07/20/2018 at 12:16

Friend had one in college and it was a good little truck, wasn’t super powerful, but it hauled his motorcycle around, and 3 people with a bed full of fishing gear and got pretty good mileage doing it. Transmissions tended to be the weak spot on these though.

TheRealBicycleBuck > fhrblig
07/20/2018 at 12:37

Often called the three-point-slow for good reason. But it is the engine that will never die. Mine had 269k miles on it before I retired it. No valve jobs, no head work, no major problems. It does eat the distributor gear every 130k miles or so. Same for the clutch. The radiator and water pump in mine had to be replaced at 220k.

They are fairly simple trucks that last forever.

nerd_racing > fhrblig
07/20/2018 at 12:45

I had a 3.fail B3000, the mazda version but pretty much a ranger. It got pretty lousy fuel economy, didn’t have much power, and barely put out any heat in the winter. Needless to say, I will never recommend a Vulcan motor powered anything to anyone.

fhrblig > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/20/2018 at 14:25

Hmm. This one is right at 130k. Still planning to check it out, though.

My '09 with the 4-cylinder wasn't that slow, and it had like 6 less hp so I think I won't notice much of a difference.

fhrblig > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/20/2018 at 14:28

Maybe I should keep looking for one with the engine my '09 had. I got over 30 mpg a couple times and averaged about 27-28.

DipodomysDeserti > fhrblig
07/20/2018 at 14:30

Had one through college. Never let me down. Put around 130k miles on it. Other than brakes, and fluid changes, only repair I ever had to do was a flasher relay. Couldn’t haul ass, but did haul shit. (felt slower than my girlfriends four banger Ranger). From what I’ve heard, the 3.0 is more reliable than te 4.0.

fhrblig > E90M3
07/20/2018 at 14:33

I crashed my Ranger once, t-boning a Taurus at 5 mph because I couldn’t stop on the ice. Took out the Taurus’ right rear door and did a couple grand in damage to mine. Didn't have any lingering problems because of it though. It gave me 77k trouble free miles. I never should have gotten rid of it.

fhrblig > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
07/20/2018 at 14:34

I like that idea.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > fhrblig
07/20/2018 at 14:35

2.3?

fhrblig > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/20/2018 at 14:46

Yep. It wasn't bad.

TheRealBicycleBuck > fhrblig
07/20/2018 at 16:52

If it’s at 135k, plan on a distributor and clutch if it hasn’t already been done. At 235k comes the water pump, radiator, and hoses. That should also include the flex pipe on the intake. Those tend to dry rot from below.

fhrblig > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/20/2018 at 17:43

I’m gonna ask about the clutch for sure if I look at it. Whatever I buy isn’t likely to do much more than 7500 miles a year, fortunately. It also won’t be a truck I have to rely on to get to work, etc. Plus if things keep going well with my dad I’ll have someone to help with any repairs or upgrades. He's retired and likes working on cars and trucks.

I may hold off on looking for a bit longer just because the process of paying off my car is dragging on. I don’t want to find something I really like and then it’s sold before I can snag it.

gmctavish needs more space > fhrblig
07/20/2018 at 18:24

My dad has a Taurus with that motor. It’s the only part of the car that hasn’t failed in some way. Not fast, but the torque is low in the powerband so it could be suited to a truck, and they really are quite bulletproof.