My quest for 30 MPG - Ford Explorer Gas Mileage Tips

[aldive]

Originally Posted by davidmmm69

what about the visors for the windsheild I had one on a old blazer i had years and years ago..

Those things cause a lot of drag.

[spindlecone]

Originally Posted by CDW6212R

I didn't know that the spoiler had a pocket inside of it. That is extra drag, I thought that they smoothly deflected air down. The Ford spoilers just divert air down, with the simple plate style that someone already referred to.

I wonder if it could be helped by filling the pockets with a curved section, to divert air down onto the window. Regards,

OEM ford spoilers work as a spoiler should,I know because with the back window down, drive in the rain, you will flood the backseat, been there done that

[davidmmm69]

most of them have holes for the air to move thru and some are large holes. so i wouldnt think it drags much at all.

[Rhett]

davidmmmmmm

Visors, which fit on the front cab of a vehicle, which Al was referring to, do in fact produce a lot of drag, even if they have air flow holes, as mine does.

Spoilers, which fit on the back of a vehicle are what you're talking about, right?
I don't know what kind of drag they produce, or what effect they have on mileage.

[davidmmm69]

Originally Posted by Rhett

davidmmmmmm

Visors, which fit on the front cab of a vehicle, which Al was referring to, do in fact produce a lot of drag, even if they have air flow holes, as mine does.

Spoilers, which fit on the back of a vehicle are what you're talking about, right?
I don't know what kind of drag they produce, or what effect they have on mileage.

I was thinking of getting one for the front..
that is what I meant...

[spindlecone]

Originally Posted by Rhett

davidmmmmmm

Visors, which fit on the front cab of a vehicle, which Al was referring to, do in fact produce a lot of drag, even if they have air flow holes, as mine does.

Spoilers, which fit on the back of a vehicle are what you're talking about, right?
I don't know what kind of drag they produce, or what effect they have on mileage.

A well designed spoiler will produce do drag, yet break up back pressor, thats the intent plain and simple.
As to better MPG? could care less

[Skibum1989]

What about wind deflectors that go on the side windows? I have these on my X and use them a lot in rainy seattle when I need fresh air, but is it killing my MPG?

Here is an example of what I'm talking about: Wind Deflector

[aldive]

Originally Posted by Skibum1989

What about wind deflectors that go on the side windows? I have these on my X and use them a lot in rainy seattle when I need fresh air, but is it killing my MPG?

Here is an example of what I'm talking about: Wind Deflector

I have never tested them nor used them at all. I seriously doubt they would cause any problems though.

[davidmmm69]

Originally Posted by Skibum1989

What about wind deflectors that go on the side windows? I have these on my X and use them a lot in rainy seattle when I need fresh air, but is it killing my MPG?

Here is an example of what I'm talking about: Wind Deflector

Thjose are nice. you definatly do not have to keep the windows up while driving.. it is so much nicer driving with the windows down with those things installed...

[briwayjones]

Originally Posted by Skibum1989

What about wind deflectors that go on the side windows? I have these on my X and use them a lot in rainy seattle when I need fresh air, but is it killing my MPG?

Here is an example of what I'm talking about: Wind Deflector

I have them and get up to 22MPG. They don't seem to hurt.

[Rhett]

Regarding the visors: I have a Lund visor and it probably hurts my mileage, but then again I have no firm data to support this hypo. Before I had the visor and push bar (extra weight there) I hadn't done all of the mileage-improving mods...so it's hard for me to say exactly HOW much it hurts mileage. Maybe I would get 23 mpg on the highway instead of 22 mpg...maybe not.

[MtDew]

Originally Posted by Skibum1989

What about wind deflectors that go on the side windows? I have these on my X and use them a lot in rainy seattle when I need fresh air, but is it killing my MPG?

Here is an example of what I'm talking about: Wind Deflector

I put them on my 03 X and didn't notice any change at all. Except now my arm doesn't get wet when I'm driving

[Castees]

Al + Doug,
Wanted to thank you both for all the help. Al, this is usually the first thread I look at when I check on here. On your advice, I made quite a few changes to my Explorer (and my driving style) and the help I received from both you and Doug from Bamachips allowed me to make my recent 4000+ mile drive from Wichita, KS, to Anchorage, AK, on the ALCAN hwy very doable. The entire trip cost me roughly $900 US in gas (87 Octane the whole way). Without either of your two's help, it very easily could have been 1.5-2 times that cost!! Here's what my Explorer had done to it for the trip:
1) MAC intake from Explorer Express
2) Carbra from Explorer Express (to help protect the radiator/paint from the bugs)
3) 87 Performance tune from Doug at Bamachips
4) Flowmaster 50 Series muffler and new 3" tailpipe (new "catback" exhaust)
5) Changed to synthetic fluids
6) Washed as often as I could along the way

The Explorer weighed in at 5530 lbs when I put it on the scales fully loaded up here (started the trek at an empty weight of 4540 lbs). Rated empty weight is around 4200 lbs.

The terrain I encountered ranged from fairly flat (KS, parts of CO, WY and MT and all of Alberta in Canada) to mountainous (CO, MT, and both British Columbia and the Yukon in Canada and of course AK). I crossed the Rockies once in the States and once in Canada.

Things going against me as far as gas mileage was the terrain changes, the Westin Grille Guard (I hate this thing!! PLEASE! Someone make a bolt-on plate winch bumper for the Gen 2's!! ), the Wilderness rack with lights (was a HUGE help in Montana!), drag from a full size spare and two 5-gal jerry cans up top and the weight associated with conducting a military move (she was sagging pretty bad in the back).

My Ex is a 1999 5.0 V8 with AWD. Even with all of these challenges, I averaged 20 mpg with a high of 24! Low was 17. This is an incredible increase from what I had been getting (14 mpg HIGHWAY!)

Al, thanks for all the advice on here, you're a huge inspiration!
Doug, the tune was phenomenal!! I highly encourage ANYONE looking for a sure increase in performance and milage to go to Doug at Bamachips and have him help you out. Looking forward to hearing about those improvements in Al's tune from your recent conference. Keep up the great work!

[aldive]

New economy tune evaluation

For some time now I have been testing a new computer tune that Doug Studdard ( http://www.bamachips.com/ ) wrote for me. This is a tune designed for maximum gas mileage.

The first road test was very promising, but before I get to that I shall report on the tune’s drivability in town. This tune has a nice idle and throttle response is fine; all around driving is good.

I took a 75 mile road trip on I75 using this tune. The average speed was 66.2 MPH; fuel used Amoco 93; distance traveled was 78.4 miles ( all GPS determined ). The tune was Doug’s experimental mileage tune.

The mileage was 34.2 MPG. This is the best I ever achieved in the Explorer.

The only glitch was a CEL. OBD II trouble code P1151 caused its illumination. I cleared the code and it has not reappeared. There was never a code during in town driving. Other than the visual CEL, I could not notice any driving anomalies.

After discussing this with Doug he did some of his programming magic and rewrote the file. I subsequently loaded the modified file into my truck. There has not been a CEL during in town driving. Another highway test trip is upcoming.

[spindlecone]

40 MPG is in the works, keep us posted

[rfuree11]

34.2 MPG?!?! Holy crap. Keep up the good work

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

Aldive, this thread is out-of-date.
You need to post another one:
"My Quest for 40."

[spindlecone]

Originally Posted by rfuree11

34.2 MPG?!?! Holy crap. Keep up the good work

Anyone actually believe 34.2 mpg is possible?

[rfuree11]

Originally Posted by spindlecone

Anyone actually believe 34.2 mpg is possible?

Not in mine lol, but we both know that Al is insane

[spindlecone]

I'm at 41.8 MPG, am 100 % honest about the MPG, trust me