EPA gas mileage of Rancheros

These are the EPA gas mileage figures for Rancheros they tested. They can provide sort of a benchmark to see how your Ranchero compares to the ones they tested. These are some of the earliest gas mileage tests the EPA did. I do not yet own a Ranchero but the present-day EPA gas mileage figures have been exactly accurate for the cars I have owned.
Sorry about the formatting below. I spent a long time with the spacing but the forum program ignores the spaces I inserted.


Year Engine City Hwy Combined
1979 302 15 * *
351M 13 * *
351W 13 * *

1978 302 15 22 17
351M 14 20 16
351W 16 22 18
400 13 17 15

1977 302 15 19 17
351 14 20 16
400 13 18 15

1976 351 13 19 15
400 14 19 16
460 12 16 13

1975 351 11 17 -
400 10 15 -
460 10 16 -

1974 351-4 9 - -

Footnote EPA gave for 1979 values...

 

I just tell folks mine gets 20 mpg, 9 in the city 11 hwy

 

Picture of data properly formatted.

 

Brittany gets smiles to the miles... Couldn't afford her drinking problem otherwise. 140 miles to the tank, on the freeway at 65.

 

Dang, that's a thirsty one! Out of curiosity, what is Brittany's axle ratio?

 

3:50's and 14in tires.

Would be a lot better if I went to a higher gear and 15's...

But I think it has more to do with the 3/8 fuel line, the 735 Double Pumper, and my foot! Can literally watch the gauge drop.

 

That, I don't doubt. I'll trade you Babe's 2.47 highway geared pumpkin for your 3.50 pumpkin....

 

Notes from my big road trip in 2018. Mostly stock 289, Edelbrock 500, T10 and 2.80 gear. Can't complain.

 

Not bad mileage at all. Your Ranchero must like hot weather. Standard transmission probably helps a lot.

 

Fully loaded too. Car (and occasionally driver....)

 

1978 351W Hwy and Combined values were interchanged. Now corrected. (sorry for the error)

Was: 18 Hwy 22 Combined
Corrected: 22 Hwy 18 Combined

 

I wish I could drive mine far enough to calculate it.

Goal for the spring.

 

When I moved to Texas two years ago, Babe was loaded with approximately 600# of stuff, and we could only fill her tank a max of 3/4. Knowing that, we were able to figure out that Babe averaged approximately 17-19 MPG, even going across Soldier Pass in the cold and snow. That's with a 2-barrel 351W, C4 and the aforementioned 2.47 rear axle ratio.

 

Beerbelly, what was fully loaded? The car or the occasional driver?

I left the Homestead (Sutherlin) headed to the All Ford Show we met at, was below a quarter tank by the time I got to Salem. 140 miles, took 15+gallons. Had to gas up in Eugene on the way home. It was only carrying me.

 

PoneyExpressRider... That is a beautiful Ranchero, even if it does eat gas.

 

Easy fix PER- 50 gallon auxiliary tank and a fat wallet!

 

I think I get about 12 mi/gal on mine "combined": normal and pedal to the metal

 

Uncle Beerbelly! Always wanted a rich Uncle!

 

"Strange Encounters Of A Giant CB Antenna" I presume?

 

It was the only place to pull over when Devil's Tower popped into view for the first time. Here's a close up: