> Lots of people seem to enjoy trashing the 3.0 Vulcan in the Ranger.
Well, it probably starts with the oil filter location ...
Back 20+ years ago, my service manager said he liked his (dealership given) 3.0L/AT, but, the gas mileage stunk. I forget what it was, I think 17 or 18 MPG. I think I was getting 21 MPG with my 4.0L/5 speed and I was heavy footed, use to drive it up the side of the hill at the dealership, use to let a younger mechanic drive it to learn a standard (he wanted to work in NASCAR), and I still got better MPG. So, I offered him my Ranger keys and said drive it.
imho, The 3.0L and AT was a dog combo and I have avoided buying it in any of the Rangers/Fords for the past 20 years. 2.3L on the other hand, I like, both the early Tempo/Pinto and later models. I do not have the money for it right now, but, there is a Pinto with a 2.3L for sale on CL, if it is still available at the end of July, I might buy it just for the engine for an off road project.
I think one of the best setups for a Ranger was the 2.3L/5 speed/4x4/ with AC. Maybe a 3.0L with 5 speed is okay, I do not know, I just thought the 3.0L/AT was a real dog combo for a driving experience AND it got worse gas mileage IRL then the 4.0L/AT or 4.0/MT.