11.3 mpg, this can't be normal!

[16EBBOY]

Well mines a V6. And since i have had it, my dad and i have changed the sparkplugs, the fuel filter, the oil was freshly changed the day before we got it, the air filter is brand new. The transmission fluid is next on our list and some rearend seals and fluid. Yes ive realized im actually getting pretty decent gas mileage for my short commute and the idling it does when warming up, also with heat on full blast, and defroster!

 

[Alienman8]

that isn't terribly bad, I'm a high school senior with an '07 Explorer Sport Trac, V6, which I believe you have as well (engine type at least...) and while I won't deny the fact that I drive in no manner that is "MPG friendly" I have about a 7 mile commute to school, and two hills, one going and one coming back, both of which are pretty big hills, and I think my MPG is somewhere around 10, possibly lower, I know I've had it as low as 9.4, but that's really due to it being a lot of stop and go, and the way I drive... And yes, that is not a error on my part due to not changing oil, etc. I even have the KKM intake =P

 

[Rngrs3910]

Have you hit the "RESET" button on your dash while on the AVG. MPG screen since you've bought the truck in the cluster of "INFO", "SETUP", "RESET"?

The "Avg. MPG" calculator is exactly what it says, an average caulculator. It calculates your average since the last time you reset the calculator. It's not instantaneous to your driving, like when you're coasting down a hill in neutral it doesn't say 99.9 MPG (I had a volvo that used to do that). If you drove to school for a week getting 11 MPG, then reset it and hopped on a highway, it may say 17-20 MPG. But if you drive to school for a week getting 11 MPG and then hop on the highway without resetting it you may only get it up to 13, even though your driving at a better MPG than that. My point is that if the person you bought the car from spent a lot of time idling and in stop and go traffic and put the first 20k on the truck, and never reset the computer while they owned it, you may have bought it with the computer reading 11 MPG, and would have to put another 20k on it driving highway speeds to get that calculator to average out to somethign in the middle.

If you scroll through the INFO screens, do you have one that is a bar graph whith 5 bars of increasing size? That is your instantaneuous indicator. When youre flooring it on the highway it will show one bar, but when you're coasting in overdrive at a steady RPM it will be up at 4 or 5. Have you tried watching this while your driving your 3 mile commute to see where its at during the course of your trip?

 

[16EBBOY]

Just to update everyone, i am now getting 14.5 MPG AVG. The reason like most of you said was the reason for my low MPG was because of my short commute. It is now up alittle because i went alot of place around town looking for jobs. I reset the AVG everytime i fill up along with the gallons used and trip a and b. Surprisingly, knock on wood, my vehicle is in prestine condition seeing as ive gone through all the matience records and boy did the dealer rip them off. the dealer did all their matienence. my transmission fluid was flushed and serviced at around 65000 if i recall correctly, and my truck has 71,200 on it now. they also did some fuel system treatment which is obsurd and ive never heard of that. its an excellent vehicle i love it! now im kinda glad i didn't wait longer to get the V8 because i probably wouldve been getting alot WORSE than now. and the V6 power is adequate for my needs.

 

[08Mountaineer]

I have a 08 v6 awd and with the kkm intake and magnaflow exhaust I avg 13mpg. I did a full tune up last month hoping new plugs/wires, fuel filter ect would help the mpg but no luck. I did look up the window sticker from the link on this site and there it is 13mpg so I guess its right on. I prob would not have bought it knowing the mpg but I love it now so Im still glad I did.

 

[Henders]

Great to hear you have the mileage up! Just remember the MPG is a ROUGH average of what your mileage is. If you calculate it by hand (actual miles traveled divided by how much gas you put in should be a bit better. As I said in my earlier post, monitor your MPG. If your MPG drops and your driving situation hasn't changed, then you might have a problem somewhere that need to be looked at (most likely air filter obstruction) or plugs and wires. Other than that have a GREAT time with your EX!

 

[stevetheelder]

I also have an '06 Eddie Bauer 6-cyl. Have had it for about a year. I get about 19 mpg on a trip (I usually drive @65-75 mph). Around town I get about 13.5 mpg, according to the computer. These cars are gas hogs in local driving conditions. But if you want to have a nice big car -- you must be ready to pay the piper.
Good luck.

 

[roverz]

Has anybody been using www.fuelly.com I started using it a few months back and it would be great to ahve all the Explorer and Rangers on there so we can see averages.

 

[mb02020]

i have an 06 eddie bauer with 76000 miles and it has the v8. my commute to work is about 8 miles each way and i average about 14.8mpg. on the highway i can average around 24 when i am cruising at 65mph.