2001 ranger got no guts

[knot2kwik]

I have a 3.0 v6 ranger with 62K on it. It runs well around town but has no top end power. It has a 5 speed. I have done the plugs and wires. Had the injectors cleaned. When I come to a substantial grade I am in 3rd gear floored doin 35mph. It doesn't run hot, so I think that eliminates a plug cat converter. It idles well. I have had this truck for about 6 months. I took it to what I thought was a good shop and was told by the guy who "test drove'it that "that's just how these trucks are"
It is a 6 cylinder, power should be there.
again, for everyday driving on the roads it is fine, just no top end performance. No check engine lights.
Can you guys help?
John

[rivguy]

the 3.0 is a gutless turd - the 4.0 has power but you made a big mistake expecting power out of the little v-6

[Psychopete]

Originally Posted by knot2kwik

I have a 3.0 v6 ranger with 62K on it. It runs well around town but has no top end power. It has a 5 speed. I have done the plugs and wires. Had the injectors cleaned. When I come to a substantial grade I am in 3rd gear floored doin 35mph. It doesn't run hot, so I think that eliminates a plug cat converter. It idles well. I have had this truck for about 6 months. I took it to what I thought was a good shop and was told by the guy who "test drove'it that "that's just how these trucks are"
It is a 6 cylinder, power should be there.
again, for everyday driving on the roads it is fine, just no top end performance. No check engine lights.
Can you guys help?
John

I never was a fan of the 3.0L. Some people like them though. I love my 2.9L. It was designed for normal use, that isn't a drag truck man. If you want upper power, you have to open it up by changing the power curve. A cam can do wonders, but you have to modify everything for it to even make a difference.

Pete

[Marbles1984]

I beg to differ the 3.0 being a gutless turd. I raced my buddy in his S-10 4.3 and blew him away by a long shot.
You just gotta know when to shift. the peak torque for the 3.0 is about 3600 RPM's so if you shift it at about 4000 pretty quick then you will see a difference.

Also, get yourself a custom exhaust with a glasspack put on. It works wonders.

[rodeo02]

John, did the perfomance get worse on your 2001 3.0L? or has it always lacked top end power? You think the 3.0L is bad, you should try a 2.3/2.5L ranger! Your 3.0L is a 'stang compared to a 2.3/2.5L! I think alot of it based on what you are used to driving.
G/luck
Joel

[knot2kwik]

I am not complaining because it is not race ready. It just does not have power on the top end when pulling hills. Just me in the truck, no trailer, no load.
When coming up a long grade I am in third gear floored and getting only 35 mph.
Fuel economy is good but power is not there.
I bought it used and it is still under warranty. i took it to a local independant shop and put plugs, wires, fuel filter, air cleaner on it and performance was SLIGHTLY improved. The mech that worked on it told me that, "That's just how they are"
I disagree. I am not looking for the V8 whoosh of power, justt enough to do 55 pulling long grades.
The truck is stock with stock size tires.
John

[Marbles1984]

I don't know what it could be then. My truck goes up steep hills just fine in any gear and its completey stock except for custom dual exhaust and a valve cover breather

[2000mudder]

you could also try oxygen sensors. i have a 2000 3.0 4 wheel dr with 33x12.5's on it and it goes pretty good. i got a jet chip and gibson exhaust. it did get bogged down on interstate 77 south through west virginia but thats a pretty good grade hill.

[Marbles1984]

Well I just came back from my grandmas and I noticed at 35MPH in 3rd gear my tach showed about 2400 RPM's. This probably wouldn't get you up a steep hill. Keep in mind that a 2001 ranger with a 3.0 V6 has max torque at 190@3650 RPMs. Just start shifting down when your going up hills and don't be scared to get the RPMs up. These engines like it in the higher RPM rang.

[bermis519]

Sounds to me like your just bogging it down. Need to upshift like the above person said. Giv er' power captun, you can do it!!!!LOL

Mike

[diezelman]

I recently purchased a 98 with the 3.0 4x4 and 40k miles, its an auto, but in my opinion it is gutless. I got 265/75r's on it, but I dont think it would bog it down that bad. Oh and when I kik on the A/C, I gotta get in the right lane lol! I didnt buy the truck for speed, but it does move a little slower than I expected it to. Looked into a jet chip, then the gas jumped up even more, so truck got parked, back to driving the "beater with a heater" for now.
Edit: Reading other post I just came to the relization that an exahust leak will F-up mu milage good, hmm...now what to replace it with.
JP

[diezelman]

well had the exaust checked by two different muffler shops, no leaks, running great. And the O2 sensors are good...I guess I just got a gutless gas hog
Any ideas of what else may cause poor power/milage?

JP