2005 Explorer 4.0 Bad MPG Please Help!!!!!

[StangsandMavs]

Fuel injector issues would likely lead to spits and sputters... or at least that has been my experience... I've personally had some luck with Valvoline Complete Fuel System cleaner.

Has anyone checked the EGR valve? I know they can get clogged up with carbon and stick, leaving a vacuum leak.

Another thing you could chase... and I mean chase, because things like this will drive you nuts and cost you a hell of a lot more money than you'll ever save via gasoline... perhaps you might look for a matching PCM from a salvage yard, ebay, craigslist.

I had a hiccup in my 95 Explorer that I chased for a little bit... I finally just swapped to a PCM that I had picked up a few years earlier on the cheap... and the dang thing ran like a champ. Now, that's not to say that I would buy a new one of these for the sake of curiosity, but if you can grab one for $50 or so, it's probably a good risk/reward.

As another poster said, however... 11-12 MPG is not out of the realm of possibility if you're mired in a lot of stop and go traffic. Also, if you were to have oversized tires on it, your speedo would be under reporting your mileage

 

[skysthelymyt]

Also, the amount of air pressure in your tires. If you have larger than stock tires then you should use about 35psi if they are stock tires then you should use maybe around 40psi. Have you gotten anyone to check the pressure of the fuel being sent by your fuel pump? Like StangsandMavs said, the EGR should be checked and cleaned. If you are in a lot of stop and go traffic, then try to ease on the gas. These engines are gas hogs.
Check to see if all hoses are connected and wires as well. Is your explorer throwing any codes.
Does the gas pedal feel like it's stuck sometimes or that it hesitates to go?

 

[Ken46]

I am going to check on all of this today. I do have the same size tires that came on the truck but they are like off road looking tires.

 

[turborich]

My 2004 4.0 4x4 is in tip top mechanical shape, 95k on the clock, tires always at 35 psi. The best city fuel mileage I have ever achieved was 14mpg. The norm is 12-14 in the city. You're just not going to get much better, sorry.

 

[Jeremiah88]

Hi everyone,

So I just bought a 2005 Explorer 4.0 Limited about 3 months ago. This thing is horrible on gas. I am only getting about 11-12 MPG and about 190 to 210 miles to a full tank of gas. I have changed the plugs (Motor craft plugs used), new wires, new pcv valve, two new catalytic converters,new muffler,new tires,new air cleaner,new serpentine belt and two new pulleys.

I even took it to have the fuel injectors,map sensor and the throttle body cleaned by pep boys, and still no luck in fixing this problem. Now I noticed I also have a grinding noise coming from the rear differential . I am so mad at myself for buying this truck, it has been a pain in the ass and a money pit.

So my question is has anyone had this problem before? If so how can I fix it? Also if you have the same make and model what type of gas mileage do you get? PLEASE HELP ME BEFORE I BLOW THIS THING UP!!!!!!!

Try using non ethanol gas thats what i have to do mine does the same thing with the fuel millage so i switched the fuel and reset the brain now im back to 420 miles to a tank

 

[Mbrooks420]

Did all 6 plugs look the same when you removed them?

 

[Joe in NY]

Well, trouble is that no where is the mention of important factors:
-climate
-area
-city
-stop n go or highway

I *CAN* get 18+MPG easily... If I do 55MPH all day long. Doing 75MPH I get at least 16MPG. (weather, temp, wind, drafting people or not). Winter time short trips was 10-12MPG due to warm up and only 2 mile commute at school. Now in DC (can't stand driving in DC, everyone is a moron) I get 8 to 10MPG. No way around it. 25MPH speed limits, speed traps everywhere, idiots pulling out to stop in front of you or stop at a yellow, and a million tourists CLOGGING the roads!

Can't just hop on and say bad mpg!

 

[JimR1461]

This is a rather old post that came back to life, but for reference I bought a 2005 XLS 4.0 2 wheel drive late last year with over 200,000 miles and I get a consistent 16 MPG. This is in suburban driving, mainly 40-45 speed limits with a red light every mile or so and the occasional school zone or long line at the drive through window at a fast food joint.

 

[Nightking]

I get the same mpg 11-12 on my 05 explorer and I got a loud humming or roaring sound coming from my rear end and is not my hubs or my bearings and I am pretty sure it's not my tires. It gets like that when i am going from like 45 to 75 mph with my foot on the gas but it gets quitter when I gets my foot off the gas.

Do anyone got any ideas.

 

[Stynx]

I get the same mpg 11-12 on my 05 explorer and I got a loud humming or roaring sound coming from my rear end and is not my hubs or my bearings and I am pretty sure it's not my tires. It gets like that when i am going from like 45 to 75 mph with my foot on the gas but it gets quitter when I gets my foot off the gas.

Do anyone got any ideas.

my 05 xlt sport does pretty much the same thing. I wouldn't call it loud but it's very noticeable. Mechanic said maybe the hubs but not to worry about it yet. The hubs seem ok and aren't grinding or loose, diff oil was changed. I do think mine is a hub because it gets quieter when I turn right.

 

[Nightking]

my 05 xlt sport does pretty much the same thing. I wouldn't call it loud but it's very noticeable. Mechanic said maybe the hubs but not to worry about it yet. The hubs seem ok and aren't grinding or loose, diff oil was changed. I do think mine is a hub because it gets quieter when I turn right.

Is it possible for them to go out Even though they don't move up and down and side to side?

 

[Stynx]

Is it possible for them to go out Even though they don't move up and down and side to side?

Shades of grey. They might be getting old. I talked to my mechanic about it and he didn't think it was a big deal but you will probably want to replace the entire knuckle since it's a press in bearing and they are a PITA to get out. When I have to I'm already planning to replace the CV axel and every ball joint and bushing I can reach. Maybe do the struts while I'm at it.