9 mpg at 50/50

[Mats E]

Hi, desprerate searching of what cousing the horrible milage i have on my -94 Explorer.

Here in Sweden the gas price is about 3,25 usd / gallon, witch results in an really rotten careconmy. Got an Lincoln Town car as I drive during "no snow time" as runs about 25 miles/ gallon with the 4,6 liter V8 and about the same weight.

Have been testing the car with an two hour test with instruments, the exausts are clean and engine temprature normal. Only thing that seems being changed is the airfilter and I have resently cleaned it.

Driving smoth and the best milage I ever did was crusing gently at 40 miles witch resulted in an 14 mpg.

Would be really glad to recive some idea of what cousing the bad milage.

Must be something specially,,, or?

Regards Mats

 

[TPLYNCH]

Fuel Pressure Regulator may be bad, dumping too much gas. They have a habit of going bad. Side effect of that is shot O2 sensors.

 

[Mats E]

Originally posted by TPLYNCH
Fuel Pressure Regulator may be bad, dumping too much gas. They have a habit of going bad. Side effect of that is shot O2 sensors.

Big thank for that, have ok sensors at the moment, but surly gonna check up the pressure regulators.

The engine is running great othervice, is that what may be also, or if the pressure regulator is bad, does the engine usally run badly?

Regards Mats

 

[jsdean]

you might check the plugs and wires (go ahead and change them) I was getting 21 on highway, now I get 24ish (5sp helps).

 

[MSTNGGUY88]

I only get 13-15 on my explorer since i've had it and it has no problems.

 

[expo5.0]

mustangguy- he has a 4.0 you have a 5.0 v8, his gas mileage should be different. i have owned both and his should get between 15 and 20 with an automatic. while your numbers are right on for a stock 5.0. anyways, the problem probably stems from the fuel delivery system. but if there are no other symptoms, you should first check that the engine is breathing properly (you already checked the filter, check and clean everything you can reach) and make sure it is getting at least87 octane or equivalent gas. than look toward the fuel system.

 

[MSTNGGUY88]

I run a K&N and have a Dynomax Race Magnum muffler. I run mid-grade fuel. Do you really think I have a prob? I thought I was getting normal mileage. Thanks for the help man. I was getting 235 miles on a tank of fuel before i did the mods. After I did them I was getting 285. Then I took it to Ford for the 60,000 service and when I git it back I was only getting 220-230. I wonder what they did. Any help guys thanks.

 

[expo5.0]

with stock 5.0 and no mods you should get 13-17, with intake, exhaust and a power programmer 3 i got between 11 and 21 (could have gotten 18-20 consistently if i wanted to) with a cam, headers and cold air intake 8-10 so far. (but i have pretty much floored it the whole time) with a 4.0 with no mods (this was a 93 that we used to have) we got about 16 in town and 20 on the highway. so mustanguy your numbers are close to what i got. if you were to get your computer reprogrammed i bet it would pay for itself in a year or so. i hightly recommend hypertech for the 96 explorer. i really love mine.

 

[wsc5]

If you recently cleaned the airfilter you might have to reset the computer. The change from a dirty filter to a new filter if its a k&n is almost like upgrading from stock to an aftermarket filter. The computer might be thrown off by the increased in airflow.

 

[Ray Lobato]

You might want to clean your MAF sensor, if dirty it will also cause bad gas mileage. There is a writeup on the home page, in the Explorer Tips.

 

[mahieber]

With gas mileage that bad, it has to be the fuel pressure regulator.

...or the emergency brake is still on.

 

[Mats E]

Fuel pressure regulator

Thanks for all great help, it seems like it might be the fuel pressure regulator. All other things have been checked now.

But, there is an strange thing, during an exaust-test, there four diffrent kinds of exaust gases where tested - no mesured value was un-normal. Everything seemed like there was the right amunt of petrol that was consumed.

Does anoyone know if this is someting that use to be when the fuel pressure regulator is bad?
Could the exaust-gases be ok even thoug the engine having to much petrol?
It might be that the "control-box" has quite wide tolerance to the adjusting of all parameters.

Regards Mats

 

[88vert]

If it was the fuel pressure regulator you would really notice it,rough idle,raw gas smell,hard starting,had problem last summer with 92 sport.

 

[Mats E]

Originally posted by 88vert
If it was the fuel pressure regulator you would really notice it,rough idle,raw gas smell,hard starting,had problem last summer with 92 sport.

Darn! It seems like mine has another problem thogh, it starts and run eccelent, no smell.
Only problem is the low mpg.

Thanks for the answer.

Regards Mats