My quest for 30 MPG - Ford Explorer Gas Mileage Tips

**BrooklynBay** · 03-18-2006, 10:31 PM

I once installed a power steering cooler from a Taurus SHO, and an inline P/S filter on my P/S. An inline transmission filter is also good, if not better than an inline P/S filter. I bought the cooler from the dealer many years ago. This should keep your P/S system in top shape for many years if you want to try it.

trucku · 03-18-2006, 11:10 PM

That doesn't sound like a bad idea.So far the synthetic fluid is still nice and red. The steering is beautiful..feels better no issues or shudder again.

*Spdrcer34* · 03-18-2006, 11:44 PM

....going back to the begining of this thread, one of the first replies was this:

The only comfort I can take is that we have a gas war going on in town between Wal-Mart and Sheetz, and right now I'm only paying .77/gal

.....it almost brings a tear to my eye........ $ .77/gal for gasoline......I'm gonna go cry now.....

Ryan

*vervepipes* · 03-19-2006, 03:04 PM

Al, have you done an in-town comparison between keeping your foot on the brakes in drive at a stop light VS putting the tranny in neutral?

aldive · 03-19-2006, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vervepipes

Al, have you done an in-town comparison between keeping your foot on the brakes in drive at a stop light VS putting the tranny in neutral?

No, I have not.

whoathere · 03-19-2006, 09:12 PM

Al, do you have any idea what mileage you get strictly in town driving? Or do you only use the Explorer for road trips.

*Rhett* · 03-19-2006, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vervepipes

Al, have you done an in-town comparison between keeping your foot on the brakes in drive at a stop light VS putting the tranny in neutral?

That doesn't change the RPM much, if any, does it? I'm not sure that would make any difference. ??

aldive · 03-19-2006, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoathere

Al, do you have any idea what mileage you get strictly in town driving? Or do you only use the Explorer for road trips.

The last in town mileage test netted 24 MPG.

mikehawk · 03-19-2006, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhett

That doesn't change the RPM much, if any, does it? I'm not sure that would make any difference. ??

Only difference that I can think of, is that by putting it in neutral you're removing a slight load from the engine at idle.

*vervepipes* · 03-19-2006, 09:58 PM

there is about 1-200 rpm differance in my truck between neutral and drive with foot on brake. a while back a friend of mine mensioned to me to keep it in N at lights to save on fuel

aldive · 03-19-2006, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vervepipes

there is about 1-200 rpm differance in my truck between neutral and drive with foot on brake. a while back a friend of mine mensioned to me to keep it in N at lights to save on fuel

I doubt that it would make a significant difference in gas mileage.

*Dre* · 03-19-2006, 10:15 PM

I don't thing there is much difference in RPMs while you do that. Coasting might not help you much as well and might be considered dangerous - just in case you need to accelerate rapidly. Even shutting your engine off at the light will not save much... you will use your starter much often. Improve on other things. Pay attention to the way you drive, accelerate, how much brake you use... sometimes we keep accelerating even though we see a red light straight ahead... let it coast... pick-up when light changes... etc...

whoathere · 03-20-2006, 11:41 AM

Al, what spark plugs do you use? And how often do you do the seafoam treatment?

aldive · 03-20-2006, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoathere

Al, what spark plugs do you use?

And how often do you do the seafoam treatment?

Motorcraft double platnium.

No set time for Sea Foam; basically whenever I feel like doing it.

*Doubt Incarnate* · 03-31-2006, 08:29 PM

i just got home from missouri, 1300.5 miles round trip incuding the cruising around when i was there. it seemed uphill the whole way there to me, i got average of 18.94mpg going to, best leg was 19.35mpg. Comin back was strange, must have been a .5% down hill grade the entire time, AVG 25.11! best was first tank on the way home with 27.28! I even averaged over 21 for the last tank, and it was pretty windy.

overall the entire trip going, coming, and local cruising, was a little over 20mpg. i ran 65mph with 38psi in the tires, and no roof rack. i did put in a new air filter just a few hundred miles before i left since you could shake dirt and grit out of the old one with little effort, and i removed the silencer too.

aldive · 04-07-2006, 06:54 PM

Interesting .....

http://www.mpgresearch.com/

aldive · 04-07-2006, 06:59 PM

Take a look at .....

http://www.lubedev.com/smartgas/ultra5.htm

Wonder what they were smoking?

spindlecone · 04-07-2006, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aldive

Take a look at .....

http://www.lubedev.com/smartgas/ultra5.htm

Wonder what they were smoking?

You Still dinkin with Acetone Al, thought it was great stuff

*IAmTodd* · 04-07-2006, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aldive

Take a look at .....

http://www.lubedev.com/smartgas/ultra5.htm

Wonder what they were smoking?

With that in mind, I should be able to get a million MPG with my 5.0l!

*vervepipes* · 04-08-2006, 01:20 PM

"warm air intake", "petrolium based oils", this sounds like it would hurt mileage as it contradics the idea of a cold air intake and the proven theory of switching to synthetic

03-18-2006, 11:10 PM	#842
trucku Wannabe Elite Explorer Queens, New York and living in Budd Lake, NJ now. 2002 Explorer XLS 4.0 4x4 Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,054 Vehicle Specs	That doesn't sound like a bad idea.So far the synthetic fluid is still nice and red. The steering is beautiful..feels better no issues or shudder again. __________________ 2002 XLS 4.0 SOHC 4x4. Frantz Bypass filter, Mobil 1 5W30.Perma-cool dual remote (2 full flow PureOne PL30001). Perma-cool remote transmission filter (Pure One PL30001). Scanguage II, Sunpro Oil Pressure Guage Gen 4 mirrors "The More Complex The Mind, The Greater The Need For The Simplicity Of Play"

03-18-2006, 11:44 PM	#843
Spdrcer34 Speed Bremerton, WA 1992 Explorer XL Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 3,884 Vehicle Specs	....going back to the begining of this thread, one of the first replies was this: The only comfort I can take is that we have a gas war going on in town between Wal-Mart and Sheetz, and right now I'm only paying .77/gal .....it almost brings a tear to my eye........ $ .77/gal for gasoline......I'm gonna go cry now..... Ryan __________________ 1992 Ford Explorer XL - with a few bolt ons...

03-19-2006, 03:04 PM	#844
vervepipes Elite Explorer Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada '98 XLT Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 429 Vehicle Specs	Al, have you done an in-town comparison between keeping your foot on the brakes in drive at a stop light VS putting the tranny in neutral? __________________ "great minds discuss events, lesser minds discuss people"

03-19-2006, 09:12 PM	#846
whoathere Wannabe Elite Explorer Rockford, IL 00 Sport Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 207 Vehicle Specs	Al, do you have any idea what mileage you get strictly in town driving? Or do you only use the Explorer for road trips. __________________ 2001 Mounty 5.0 AWD with 101k miles MAC Intake and HIDs

03-19-2006, 09:58 PM	#850
vervepipes Elite Explorer Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada '98 XLT Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 429 Vehicle Specs	there is about 1-200 rpm differance in my truck between neutral and drive with foot on brake. a while back a friend of mine mensioned to me to keep it in N at lights to save on fuel __________________ "great minds discuss events, lesser minds discuss people"

03-18-2006, 10:31 PM	#841
BrooklynBay Aerostar Forum Moderator Brooklyn, NY 88 89 93 95 96 Aerostars Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 45,680 Vehicle Specs	I once installed a power steering cooler from a Taurus SHO, and an inline P/S filter on my P/S. An inline transmission filter is also good, if not better than an inline P/S filter. I bought the cooler from the dealer many years ago. This should keep your P/S system in top shape for many years if you want to try it.

03-19-2006, 10:15 PM	#852
Dre Elite Explorer Chicago 94 Limited Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 4,822 Vehicle Specs	I don't thing there is much difference in RPMs while you do that. Coasting might not help you much as well and might be considered dangerous - just in case you need to accelerate rapidly. Even shutting your engine off at the light will not save much... you will use your starter much often. Improve on other things. Pay attention to the way you drive, accelerate, how much brake you use... sometimes we keep accelerating even though we see a red light straight ahead... let it coast... pick-up when light changes... etc... __________________ 4x4 Werks by Dre My Gallery

03-20-2006, 11:41 AM	#853
whoathere Wannabe Elite Explorer Rockford, IL 00 Sport Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 207 Vehicle Specs	Al, what spark plugs do you use? And how often do you do the seafoam treatment? __________________ 2001 Mounty 5.0 AWD with 101k miles MAC Intake and HIDs

03-31-2006, 08:29 PM	#855
Doubt Incarnate Elite Explorer "Franktucky", Ohio '99 Eddie Bauer Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 533 Vehicle Specs	i just got home from missouri, 1300.5 miles round trip incuding the cruising around when i was there. it seemed uphill the whole way there to me, i got average of 18.94mpg going to, best leg was 19.35mpg. Comin back was strange, must have been a .5% down hill grade the entire time, AVG 25.11! best was first tank on the way home with 27.28! I even averaged over 21 for the last tank, and it was pretty windy. overall the entire trip going, coming, and local cruising, was a little over 20mpg. i ran 65mph with 38psi in the tires, and no roof rack. i did put in a new air filter just a few hundred miles before i left since you could shake dirt and grit out of the old one with little effort, and i removed the silencer too. __________________ '99 Eddie B' 4.0 SOHC/5R55E/BW4405/4.10 track-loc. EE slotted front rotors, K&N CAI, 8" Kicker Solobaric.

04-07-2006, 06:54 PM	#856
aldive Elite In Memoriam 1999 XLT Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 25,271 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Interesting ..... http://www.mpgresearch.com/ __________________ Al Franklin My truck My Quest for 30 RIP Al Franklin! 1947-2010. Gone but not forgotten! :(

04-07-2006, 06:59 PM	#857
aldive Elite In Memoriam 1999 XLT Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 25,271 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Take a look at ..... http://www.lubedev.com/smartgas/ultra5.htm Wonder what they were smoking? __________________ Al Franklin My truck My Quest for 30 RIP Al Franklin! 1947-2010. Gone but not forgotten! :(

04-08-2006, 01:20 PM	#860
vervepipes Elite Explorer Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada '98 XLT Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 429 Vehicle Specs	"warm air intake", "petrolium based oils", this sounds like it would hurt mileage as it contradics the idea of a cold air intake and the proven theory of switching to synthetic __________________ "great minds discuss events, lesser minds discuss people"