better gas mileage

[glidestreet]

just have a 2005 sport trac with 4.0 how to get better gas mileage out of it.

 

[ncranchero]

First off, welcome to the site and to the Sport Trac forum!:wavey:

Sport Tracs are HEAVY and gas mileage suffers because of it. You can make small improvements by maintaining it properly, ie. tune-ups, tire air pressure, pcv system, synthetic fluids,etc. Some also gain mpg by going to an aftermarket cat-back exhaust. (Some of those also lose mpg because they can't keep their foot out of it with the new sound ). Some use tuners to eek out a few less drops per mile of the precious push-water. You don't say what mpg you're getting so we don't know where you stand in your quest to save the fuel dollar.

 

[2TimingTom]

Search for a member named Aldive. He had a 2nd gen Explorer, but made a ton of mods and claimed to have gotten 30 mpgs. I'd think many of the practices he employed transcend nearly motors. I think he said one of his biggest mods was the driver.

 

[pintopaul]

well i have an 08 sport trac and i get 14 in city and 14.6 on highway fuel milage stinks its got a 4.0 5 spd automatic and 373 gears same as my 03 ranger had i was getting 18 city and 21 highway with the ranger

 

[bdmaash]

.....:wavey:

Sport Tracs are HEAVY and gas mileage suffers because of it. .....

well i have an 08 sport trac and i get 14 in city and 14.6 on highway fuel milage stinks its got a 4.0 5 spd automatic and 373 gears same as my 03 ranger had i was getting 18 city and 21 highway with the ranger

I guess a good experiment for you would be to drive a sport trac and a ranger to the scale and weigh both of them.

From what I remember lifting 20lb of weight requires less effort than lifting 40lbs, unless vehicles behave a lot differently extra energy (fuel) will be used with the trac.

You can possibly improve on those numbers. maybe buy a device that shows instantaneous mileage (like a scangauge or similar), and watch instantaneous mpg with different driving styles.

driving nicely, I've seen similar numbers to the ranger in the Trac, but I use premium fuel only - might be a waste of money but premium does burn cooler, and I do see an increase in mileage (possibly subliminal).

 

[sickwilly]

I just replaced my tranny filter (at 53K miles) and am now getting 1.5-2 MPG more than before it. I averaged 19 the last tank versus the 17+ I was getting.

Not a flush, actual drop of the transmission pan and replaced the filter.

 

[Black ST]

Some easy things?
1. K&N Drop-In Filter, Cold Air Intake, or Exhaust System
2. Spark plugs/fuel injectors are in clean condition
3. Take out the air silencer in the air intake box
4. Tire Pressure
5. No extra weight
6. YOUR FOOT/Cruise Control

If you're not in a hilly area, use cruise control as much as you can because it keeps your speed/RPMs constant. I remember one tank of city driving I got 18.2mpg by not going over 2k RPMs and using cruise control whenever possible, I just can't drive like that all the time and don't care too much to. When I don't use cruise control/drive with a heavy foot I get 12-14. But if you're looking for a 25-30mpg, it's not gonna happen

 

[glidestreet]

just fiqured with first tank of gas i am getting 17.8 miles to the gallon can i still do any better or is that average?

 

[2TimingTom]

www.fuelly.com

I think it's pretty average.

 

[Dead_Goldstar]

Synthetic Oil

Would you recomend using Synthetic oil for a 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Tract XLT with 135.000km on it.

 

[2TimingTom]

Yes.

 

[Dead_Goldstar]

Thanks for the information will do next oil change.

 

[COYOTE102076]

Just my thought on this, but if fuel economy is a priority, then DONT buy an Explorer / Sport Trac!!! LOL!

That being said, in my old '96 Explorer, I could get 20 mpg just by driving around like an old grandpaw. Drive as if there is an egg between your foot & the gas pedal. Coast as much as possible. Watch the timing of the traffic lights & learn to ( as much as possible) coast up to them and let them turn to green before having to come to a complete stop. ANYTIME you bring ANY vehicle to a complete stop, it takes a LOT of energy (fuel) to get them up & moving again. Try to pick routs that does not have stop sighn if possible. (You allways have to obey the law and come to a COMPLETE stop at them. Fuel millage be danged!)
Yeah, the $49.95 "supermiler whatzigidjets" that promice decimal increases in MPG's might help some. But if you factor in the cost of a high flow exhaust and a GOOD true COLD AIR intake, it takes a lot of miles to recover the cost input of the parts vs. just driving it like it is.
Your FOOT is, and allways will be, the #1 enemy of getting good MPG's! lol.

However, I still for the most part drive like gas is still $0.98 / gal! HA !!!!

 

[Dead_Goldstar]

Fuel Milage

Thanks for the feed back just considering the E85 alternate fuel I checked around Winnipeg and there is only 1 place that sells it not worth my time. I will use regular fuel and enjoy the truck instead of worying about fuel economy.

 

[Joe Dirt]

E85 will drop your economy ratings too. You'll use as much more in fuel as the money you saved by buying the cheaper E85.

 

[Dead_Goldstar]

E85

I really appreciate all the information I have been receiving about my truck. This site is Fantastic for getting questions answered. I just wanted to say Thank You to all of you. I will be staying away from E85 with all the information I have been receiving it's not worth it at present.

 

[twiisted71]

just running around mine gets right at 21 MPG (not many stop signs though). If i do a lot of highway thrown in the mix I can pull down 23 consistently. BUT its 2wd and stock.

 

[01sport-trac]

I have an 01 sport trac. Would it help to put a tonneau cover on it.

 

[ncranchero]

I have an 01 sport trac. Would it help to put a tonneau cover on it.

Only the looks.

 

[JohnnyO]

I have an 01 sport trac. Would it help to put a tonneau cover on it.

Probably. You see more of a difference on long-bed trucks, but it couldn't hurt.
I've had a tonneau on all my trucks because I need it but the most underpowered of the bunch, a 3.0L 4x4 Ranger, definitely held speed better on the highway with the tonneau in place.
My Trac is mostly stock, have a K&N drop-in and a Gibson cat-back exhaust, I run Mobil 1 0w-30 in the engine and Mobil 1 ATF in the transfer case. Based on the dash mpg display (I have an '08) if I keep it to 65 mph I will get 21 mpg if the road is level. If I run 80 mph I will get 16 mpg.