4.10 gearing for better mpg?

[boboz1]

Hey all
I have a 2000 5.0 4dr explorer and was wondering if I upgraded to 4.10 gearing in my truck it would get me better mpg? I forget what my stock gearing was but I know it is under 3.73. Maybe 3.31? something odd like that.
I do mostly city driving here in Hawaii and our blocks here are very short compared to the mainland. So my stop and go is very frequent. I put gas twice a week and I do use 92 octane due to engine pings on anything lower than 92.
Only mods I have in the truck is a mac intake and a single in dual out flowmaster muffler.

Thank you
boboz1

 

[Blee1099]

Your gas mileage will get worse.

 

[CDW6212R]

Welcome, and I'd suggest 3.73's for best mileage, but a PCM flasher is easier and might do more depending on what you have now. A lot of vehicles gain more from the PCM tune than anything else.
I'm swapping from 4.10's to 3.73's very soon in my SOHC Explorer. Good luck,

 

[boboz1]

Welcome, and I'd suggest 3.73's for best mileage, but a PCM flasher is easier and might do more depending on what you have now. A lot of vehicles gain more from the PCM tune than anything else.
I'm swapping from 4.10's to 3.73's very soon in my SOHC Explorer. Good luck,

Thanks for replying guys.
Ok I guess I won't do 4.10 gearing.
I am sorry if this is a dumb question but what is a pcm flasher? where can I get one?
thank you

 

[CDW6212R]

Ah, the computer that runs the engine/trans is a powertrain control module. The newer PCM's from 1995+ can have a simple device called a flasher change the programming in it. The flashers are about $375 new I believe, and usually includes three new programs. There have been several "tuners" on this site doing the work, right now the main one is very good and does all of that. His name is James, there should be a link on the bottom of the main forum page, Henson Performance. He does also sometimes have a used flasher for sale. Currently the 3rd generation is out, made by SCT, the 2nd gen is just as good for our 95-01 trucks.

You may have 3.73's now, most later 302 trucks do. I'd worry more about the pinging and having to use higher octane fuel. Maye a good tune up would help a lot to begin with. Regards,
http://www.hensonperformance.com/

 

[boboz1]

Ah, the computer that runs the engine/trans is a powertrain control module. The newer PCM's from 1995+ can have a simple device called a flasher change the programming in it. The flashers are about $375 new I believe, and usually includes three new programs. There have been several "tuners" on this site doing the work, right now the main one is very good and does all of that. His name is James, there should be a link on the bottom of the main forum page, Henson Performance. He does also sometimes have a used flasher for sale. Currently the 3rd generation is out, made by SCT, the 2nd gen is just as good for our 95-01 trucks.

You may have 3.73's now, most later 302 trucks do. I'd worry more about the pinging and having to use higher octane fuel. Maye a good tune up would help a lot to begin with. Regards,
http://www.hensonperformance.com/

Thanks for the info.
I will looking into getting a flasher.
Tune up was done but my mpg still and really sucks here in Hawaii.

Thanks again.

 

[99SportX]

The pinging is usually due to carbon build up, or so I have heard. My dads 5.0 does it sometimes when it runs 87 gas. I don't know what to do about it.

I just switched from 4.10 to 3.73 in my explorer and I believe the 3.73's are a better match for street driving on stock size tires.

 

[trj360]

The pinging is usually due to carbon build up, or so I have heard. My dads 5.0 does it sometimes when it runs 87 gas. I don't know what to do about it.

I just switched from 4.10 to 3.73 in my explorer and I believe the 3.73's are a better match for street driving on stock size tires.

if it's just carbon buildup a good seafoaming should do the trick

 

[boboz1]

The pinging is usually due to carbon build up, or so I have heard. My dads 5.0 does it sometimes when it runs 87 gas. I don't know what to do about it.

I just switched from 4.10 to 3.73 in my explorer and I believe the 3.73's are a better match for street driving on stock size tires.

I guess I was thinking the 4.10 would give better acceleration which would mean I would press less pedal on city driving and I was assuming it would save me gas. Being in Hawaii our blocks here are short the stop and go is very frequent.

As for the carbon build up like trj360 said seafoam might do the trick I have used seafoam in the past and it has worked. Right now I am trying something else I am using Lucas injector cleaner. I add one bottle to every other fill up. I buy it by the gallon to help keep the cost down. I am not sure if this will help with my pinging but I will do this for about 1 month and then try to see if I can go down to 89 octane gas without hearing any pinging. 92 octane is just getting to expensive for me.

 

[trj360]

How much is gas in Hawaii anyway?

 

[boboz1]

How much is gas in Hawaii anyway?

Today I just filled up with 92 at a price of 4.54 just 8 days ago it was 4.45 I don't pay attention at the 87 or 89 since I don't use those.

Kind of sad I calculated my mpg and found out I only got 7.2 mpg since my last fill up.

 

[CDW6212R]

Something is wrong there, that engine is not running right. Work on the tune up items first, get a scan done for error codes. You have an issue that needs to be taken care of before dealing with gears/PCM/fluids etc. I got as low as 9-10mpg while delivering mail, but that is acceptable for going 28 miles in 2.5 hours. Regards,

 

[boboz1]

Something is wrong there, that engine is not running right. Work on the tune up items first, get a scan done for error codes. You have an issue that needs to be taken care of before dealing with gears/PCM/fluids etc. I got as low as 9-10mpg while delivering mail, but that is acceptable for going 28 miles in 2.5 hours. Regards,

I did a tune up about 3 months ago. New plugs, fuel filter, Oil change every 3000 miles with mobile1. Air filter is a Mac filter. I do have a cam sensor malfunction but it affects my idle sometimes it misses. I just haven't had time to change it yet. I did not think that would make to much difference with my mpg since I only feel the problem at idle.
I also just checked tire pressure today and that was ok too. I think? 37 psi.

If I am missing something please feel free to reply.

Thank you

 

[The_Driller]

Today I just filled up with 92 at a price of 4.54 just 8 days ago it was 4.45 I don't pay attention at the 87 or 89 since I don't use those.

Kind of sad I calculated my mpg and found out I only got 7.2 mpg since my last fill up.

Wow we pay $5.10/gal in Canada for regular and around $5.60/gal for premium.. wow are we getting ripped off here.. We have all the oil and natural gas going ur way.. what a great world!

 

[boboz1]

Wow

Wow we pay $5.10/gal in Canada for regular and around $5.60/gal for premium.. wow are we getting ripped off here.. We have all the oil and natural gas going ur way.. what a great world!

I have to say I feel little better now after hearing about your gas prices there. I think I would be going crazy if I was living there.

 

[The_Driller]

its the price you have to pay to live in the best country in the world! and most of the time we take our sled dogs out so they don't burn much.. and going from igloo to igloo is not that far.

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

Are the 3.75s even more fuel efficient than the 3.55s?

I would think that the 3.55s are more fuel efficient because the engine RPMs are not as high, saving gas, especially true on highways.

 

[RockinExplorer]

I think 3.55's are probably fine if you have stock tires, but if you have bigger tires you should go higher, i'm thinking about going to 3.73's with my 265/75's but with money tight right now its tough.

 

[CDW6212R]

The best gearing will be different for each car, driver, and the usage. For most normal stock Explorers, the 3.73 gears are about the best. If you spent 90% of your time under 30mph, then higher ratios would be better. The other end is also true, if you spend the vast majority of the time(90%) above 50mph, then lower ratios would be better.

boboz1, if you have an issue with the timing(cam sensor) I would get that corrected very fast. The timing is critical to efficiency and power. Go through that and double check everything else, then recheck the fuel mileage.

 

[boboz1]

The best gearing will be different for each car, driver, and the usage. For most normal stock Explorers, the 3.73 gears are about the best. If you spent 90% of your time under 30mph, then higher ratios would be better. The other end is also true, if you spend the vast majority of the time(90%) above 50mph, then lower ratios would be better.

boboz1, if you have an issue with the timing(cam sensor) I would get that corrected very fast. The timing is critical to efficiency and power. Go through that and double check everything else, then recheck the fuel mileage.

Ok now that is what I was thinking since I do about 90% city driving in Hawaii with all these short blocks by the time you hit the 30mph speed limit you almost can reach the next intersection. And so I was thinking if I had 4.10 gearing it would help. I can't remember my stock gear ratio I had my Vin. # checked with my friend at Ford and I know it was lower than 3.73. Also yeah cam senor, I do have to get it changed soon as I have some time to take it in.I take it for granted since I only feel the problem when I am at idle in place for to long.

Thanks guys