My quest for 30 MPG - Ford Explorer Gas Mileage Tips

[yoohooman480]

any semi non expensive mods that can be done to a 94 explorer sport ot get some better gas milage on the highway??

[aldive]

Originally Posted by yoohooman480

any semi non expensive mods that can be done to a 94 explorer sport ot get some better gas milage on the highway??

I would start with a complete switch to synthetic fluids.

[yoohooman480]

are there any places that will change the fluids to synthetic or is there a place for me to find info on how to change the fluids

[Rhett]

Originally Posted by yoohooman480

are there any places that will change the fluids to synthetic or is there a place for me to find info on how to change the fluids

Right here on this site is some good info on that. And it's not just synth fluids that will help your mileage. Keeping your truck in tune with regular maintenance will do wonders. So does a light foot. And always remember that our trucks (1st gens) will never get as good mileage as the 2nd gens with the SOHC engine. They sip gas. Our trucks gulp it. If you can get over 20 mpg on the highway in a 1st gen 4x4 with an auto transmission, you're doing quite well, based on the results of others I've seen here.

I have the same truck as you, except I have done some mods--some have given me better mileage--and some have given me worse mileage:

++ mileage:
synth fluid in front and rear diffs (this helped my mileage some)
synth ATF (this helped my mileage a lot)
synth oil (I use AMSOIL 10W-30 weight--thinking about going 0-30 though)
KKM air filter (thinking about smooth intake tube)
2.5" mandrel-bent exhaust and aftermarket muffler (I use magnaflow)
what else
aftermarket computer program (I have apten/diablo)

minus (-) mileage mods:
pushbar (50+ lbs weight plus bad aerodynamics)
Lund SunVisor (50+ lbs weight plus bad aerodynamics)
fogs mounted to push bar (bad aerodynamics)
roof rack (bad aero)
all-terrain tire tread (yes, this is a minus to mileage)

undetermined effect on mileage:
larger MAF
larger TB
bigger spark plug gap (still experimenting with this)
Jacobs plug wires

And of course other things like adding an electric fan would help your mileage. I just haven't done that with my truck. The cumulative effect of my mods has been:

May 2000: 13/18 mpg
Oct 2004: 15/22 mpg

[yoohooman480]

I'm on a pretty tight budget. Which ones of those are worth spending the couple extra bucks on to get better highway mileage. I'm on the highway most of the time and was just trying to make sure that I dont over spend on changes that will send me into negative #'s. I'm looking to get better gas mileage but if it means spending more to make it better than ot just pay the few extra dollars please tell me

[terdrocket]

I think Al's secret is he cut a hole in the floor and drives it like fred flinstone :p

[aldive]

Originally Posted by yoohooman480

I'm on a pretty tight budget. Which ones of those are worth spending the couple extra bucks on to get better highway mileage. I'm on the highway most of the time and was just trying to make sure that I dont over spend on changes that will send me into negative #'s. I'm looking to get better gas mileage but if it means spending more to make it better than ot just pay the few extra dollars please tell me

Please be advised that the synergistic effect of the various components allow for the enhanced mileage.

If I were going to do one thing to enhance mileage, I probably would make the switch to synthetic fluids.

Good luck ...........

[old mechanic]

Originally Posted by terdrocket

I think Al's secret is he cut a hole in the floor and drives it like fred flinstone :p

I don't think 4WD EX's will ever get what Als 2WD EX gets. But their are still good tips in Als thread that will pertain to all EX's.

[aldive]

Today I did a road test to (1) appraise a new computer tune (2) evaluate the new Garmin 2620 StreetPilot GPS and (3) eat lunch at a great Chinese restaurant in Tampa, FL.

The journey was 126 miles ( total ) average speed was 67.8 MPH and the mileage was 32.8 MPG. The tune tested was not written for max mileage and yet did a formidable job in that respect. A supplementary review of this tune will be posted soon.

The trip was driven entirely with the voice commands from the 2620 ( with the Tampa location programmed in for the rout and the reciprocal was to my home in Sarasota ). I was beyond impressed; this GPS was dead accurate at every turn and to the destination ( both ways ).

The Sweet and Sour Pork was nearly worth the trip.

[spindlecone]

Al
any plans of getting Dynoed before your tune review?

[aldive]

Originally Posted by spindlecone

Al
any plans of getting Dynoed before your tune review?

I have 3 more tunes that I have yet to road test before any dyno tune ( fine tune the tune ) evaluation.

[spindlecone]

Originally Posted by aldive

I have 3 more tunes that I have yet to road test before any dyno tune ( fine tune the tune ) evaluation.

Thats great, can't wait to see the graphs

[Nate1]

Originally Posted by aldive

Today I did a road test to (1) appraise a new computer tune (2) evaluate the new Garmin 2620 StreetPilot GPS and (3) eat lunch at a great Chinese restaurant in Tampa, FL.

The journey was 126 miles ( total ) average speed was 67.8 MPH and the mileage was 32.8 MPG. The tune tested was not written for max mileage and yet did a formidable job in that respect. A supplementary review of this tune will be posted soon.

The trip was driven entirely with the voice commands from the 2620 ( with the Tampa location programmed in for the rout and the reciprocal was to my home in Sarasota ). I was beyond impressed; this GPS was dead accurate at every turn and to the destination ( both ways ).

The Sweet and Sour Pork was nearly worth the trip.

What resturant?

[aldive]

Originally Posted by nweibley

What resturant?

P F Changs

http://www.pfchangs.com/

[spindlecone]

Originally Posted by aldive

P F Changs

http://www.pfchangs.com/

Small world
Phinnius fosgate Chang and I were dormies at UCSB, 1963-65

[Nate1]

Originally Posted by aldive

P F Changs

http://www.pfchangs.com/

You know, I have been a bit unsatisified by PF Changs recently... I dunno why but the quality has been suffering IMHO.

I assume you went to the PF Changs at westshore mall? (Which also means you were about a mile and a half away from me) There are a few other great oriental places around here... a few that deserve notable mention are TC Choys, The Bamboo Flute, Indosheen(sp?), and this place on Dale Mabery touted as "the best sushi in the world" (it's not, but its really good )


You got excellent milage though...

[aldive]

Originally Posted by nweibley

You know, I have been a bit unsatisified by PF Changs recently... I dunno why but the quality has been suffering IMHO.

I assume you went to the PF Changs at westshore mall?

and this place on Dale Mabery touted as "the best sushi in the world" (it's not, but its really good:

I was not at all impressed with (1) the service (2) the food (3) the parking at the Mal ( should have never gone on a Saturday ). I will not go there again.

Yes, at Westshore Mall. If I had known you were that close, you could have certain ally joined us for lunch ( my treat ).

I do not eat "bait".

[Nate1]

Originally Posted by aldive

I was not at all impressed with (1) the service (2) the food (3) the parking at the Mal ( should have never gone on a Saturday ). I will not go there again.

Yes, at Westshore Mall. If I had known you were that close, you could have certain ally joined us for lunch ( my treat ).

I do not eat "bait".

I agree with all of the above, certainly there are better spots in tampa to enjoy (another is "The Yellow Door" on howard, albeit a bit pricey)

Also, I would be glad to sit down for lunch with you sometime, altough I will be happy to pay, LoL I think I can pay for lunch if I drop $300 on a whim into an air purifier :p

And, hey, bait is good ... now I wouldn't go chomping on any old greenback, but the best single bit of food I have ever had was a nice bit of eel sushi, and it was throughly cooked thankyouverymuch :p

Al, do you travel to Tampa to eat often? That seems like quite a trip, although I must admit there are quite a few nice places to eat around here

[aldive]

Originally Posted by nweibley

Al, do you travel to Tampa to eat often? That seems like quite a trip, although I must admit there are quite a few nice places to eat around here

I travel to Tampa often, though not to eat Chinese. My trips are based on visit to marine aquarium stores. I often visit Marine Warehouse
on W Hillsbotough. A bonus is the fact that there is a Wing House a few shops away.

[Nate1]

Originally Posted by aldive

I travel to Tampa often, though not to eat Chinese. My trips are based on visit to marine aquarium stores. I often visit Marine Warehouse
on W Hillsbotough. A bonus is the fact that there is a Wing House a few shops away.

Oddly enough I eat there for lunch about once a week because it is less than a block from my school