gas efficiency?

[maxpayne29]

my truck is a 4WD XLT, it is absolutely terrible on gas mileage. Is there any way to improve it? and does anybody know of where i can get new tires that won't cost me an arm and a leg???

 

[MrShorty]

1) Define "absolutely terrible" gas mileage. If you're getting between 15 and 20, with no obvious faults, then you might be getting as good as you're going to get. If you're getting less than 15, then start by pulling codes from the computer, checking fuel pressure, cleaning MAF, make sure lower intake is tight, no misfires, etc.

2) How much is an arm and a leg worth? What other items (mileage, treadwear warranty, tread pattern, etc.) do you want to take into account?

 

[410Fortune]

A 92 with umpteen miles on it will not get he best mileage, but there are things you can do to imoprove it a bunch.

But first we need some details

What transmission?
How many miles on the truck?
What gears are in the axles?
how big are your tires?

What kind of tires are you looking for?

 

[scottswierenga]

I too suffer from milage pains to the tune of about 10mpg city and about 12 HyWy. You asked him for some info and I wanted to shoot you mine to see what you guys think

Tranny: A4Lblahblahsomethingelse, automatic
Miles:120,037
Gears: unknown, but I would like to find out. I did a search to try to find out how I find out but found out nothing. say that 5x's fast.
Tires: 31's, 6months old, not looking for new. Walmart had a good price compared to other tire joints, you might only spend an arm...and get to keep your leg.

My truck just had to go in to Certified Transmission for an estimate, it's all f*#ked up. I am kinda hoping that that is what was killing it and after the "new" one goes in it will be better. Who knows, but only 200 miles to a tank of 16/17 gallons is killing me here.

 

[jimbo74]

http://www.explorerforum.com/ntrprize/

do a search for aldiv'es quest for 30

learn to deal with the fact it is a 4500 pound truck and not a 30 mpg civic

 

[mynameisaric]

i get 200 miles to a tank of 19/20 gallons. 220 if i'm lucky. 4.56 gears and 33's, so that accounts for alot, but aldive on this board gets something like 500 miles a tank i think. he also uses all synthetics and has quiet a bit of money invested into the fuel economy of his truck, such as an electric fan, and i think he has an intake n such. i dont really know the details. the more i read his threads, the more i realize i just have to ease up on the skinny pedal to get better mileage. if i were to go lighter on the skinny pedal i could probably squeeze 240 miles a tank out of my truck even with my p0171 and p0174 cel codes.

 

[xxwhitecastlexx]

What kind of gas mileage do you get...
Highway I get around 13mpg...
City 11mpg...

Just did the plugs and wires... No help...
I got the 4.0 v6 SOHC...

I thought the plugs and wires would help a little but they didnt...
Just to give ya a heads up...

 

[Mbrooks420]

Aldive doesn't get 500 miles to a tank/30mpg with any kind of normal everyday driving. An old beat 4.0 should still get 14mpg with stock tires. A sohc in tune should get 17mpg on the highway easily. You should probably get 17 mixed driving.

 

[xxwhitecastlexx]

A sohc in tune should get 17mpg on the highway easily. You should probably get 17 mixed driving.

how should I start Diagnosing then... I was told it was my plugs and wires... Did that no change... MAF was replaced recently... fuel pressure seems ok... Cant think of anything else...

Could a bad exhaust ruin it too??

 

[aldive]

Aldive doesn't get 500 miles to a tank/30mpg with any kind of normal everyday driving.

He doesn't? Please tell us how he drives.

You are dealing with a 1st generation Explorer and it will not get as good as a 2nd generation.

Keep the faithl you can always do better.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Do you get a consistant 30mpg to every tank of gas in your Explorer?

 

[Mbrooks420]

I worded the above quoted statement wrong. What it should have said was "Aldive doesn't get normally get 30mpg, everyday, driving his Explorer" Unless, of course, I am mistaken.

 

[aldive]

I worded the above quoted statement wrong. What it should have said was "Aldive doesn't get normally get 30mpg, everyday, driving his Explorer" Unless, of course, I am mistaken.

Not quite sure what that sats but, I have never said that I get 30 MPG driving in town, it has always been stated as highway mileage.

Further, yes, I consistantly get 28-32 MPG on the hughway.

 

[Mbrooks420]

but aldive on this board gets something like 500 miles a tank i think. .

That was what I was responding to. I didn't want a new member to think that it is reasonable to get 500 miles to a tank, on every fill up. The above statement kind of made it look like 500 miles is for a normal tank of gas. I can squeeze 20mpg out of my Mounty by driving pure highway, but I don't consider that my fuel economy.

 

[scottswierenga]

enough already

Good gracious, you guys sound like you are haveing a pissing match over gas milage. I asked about mine not because I thought I might get the economy of a damn civic or nothing, but rather that I used to get about 260 a tank even after I bought the 31's about 6 months ago and now it's down to 200 miles to a tank. For not having done anything to it in that time, that might have been detrimental, I think it's a drastic change. A friend thought my auto hubs may not be disengaging but I looked into it but they are fine and not locked up. In a different thread, someone suggested cleaning the MAS, that had no effect, I could eat off it now but it was as if I never touched it; it wasn't even dirty to begin with. I am hoping that MAYBE there was a LOT of un-necessary friction in the tranny that is to be replaced here soon and the new one will "spin freely" and give back those extra miles. I also was thinking that the new K&N filter might have helped so I got one a few months back but again...no change...in the slightest.
I'm not on the quest for 30mpg but it would be nice to get from my current 10 back to my old 15. With my little bit of driving each day (13 miles for work...round trip) it would make the differance of having to fill up 4.6 days later.

 

[hermitrl]

I have a 92 EB 4by4 and my gas mileage has been absolutely horrible. Gas is 1.02\litre now. In the last 2 days I drove aprrox 350kms tops and put 70 bucks in the tank. It is tuned and runs good----stock tires 3.73 rear and automatic. I guess either pump the gas to her or sell it. I don't want to trun this into a for sale and stel your thread but thought I'd stick it in.
This truck has been good to me but the gas is breaking my wallet. She will be parked soon and putting an 88 Tempo on the road.
If anyone in ontario is looking for a good parts truck I will make a deal with you. Just replaced rear tires, entire front end and shocks, front ujoints for 4by4, and brakes 4 months ago. New starter and 4by4 works fine.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Good gracious, you guys sound like you are haveing a pissing match over gas milage. I asked about mine not because I thought I might get the economy of a damn civic or nothing, but rather that I used to get about 260 a tank even after I bought the 31's about 6 months ago and now it's down to 200 miles to a tank. For not having done anything to it in that time, that might have been detrimental, I think it's a drastic change. A friend thought my auto hubs may not be disengaging but I looked into it but they are fine and not locked up. In a different thread, someone suggested cleaning the MAS, that had no effect, I could eat off it now but it was as if I never touched it; it wasn't even dirty to begin with. I am hoping that MAYBE there was a LOT of un-necessary friction in the tranny that is to be replaced here soon and the new one will "spin freely" and give back those extra miles. I also was thinking that the new K&N filter might have helped so I got one a few months back but again...no change...in the slightest.
I'm not on the quest for 30mpg but it would be nice to get from my current 10 back to my old 15. With my little bit of driving each day (13 miles for work...round trip) it would make the differance of having to fill up 4.6 days later.

In order to have a pissing match, you have to be arguing that something you have it better. I just didn't want new guys to think they should expect rediculous mileage. I don't think there is too much friction in your failing trans, but it is probably slipping to some degree. Did you check the pressure at the fuel rail? Plugs and wires recent? Use any oil between changes?

 

[StaTTiKK]

yo yo, here is a question. My father has a 98 5.0 mounty, and just recently had a tune up. they cleaned the fuel system injectors etc, and put platinum plugs in, and since then he has gone from 19 to 20 down to like 14 what the hell. Any ideas what the hell could be wreong here. Also, put a diablo chip in, still no luck with any ANY More mileage.

 

[davidmmm69]

my 2002 which was tuned up recent;y can not get more than 14 MPG either on highway or local driving...

my 1995. wow i am up to about $90.00 a week in that thing now. maybe i shuld have sold this last week and kept my van I sold..
either way it will be a few years before i can drive it again.

 

[xxwhitecastlexx]

ok so update on my situation... Clearly was an exhaust issue.. I am now back to my 15/16 mpg range.. The culprate(sp?) was a bad muffler... I'm still getting a little miss hear and there... but definitely got the truck running better...

Now with all this said and done.. you have to take into account that most gasoline station are getting Fuel with ethanol Mixtures... Now they say "it is safe to run for our vechiles".. But I post in other forums as well.. and yes it is safe.. But no one said anything about efficient... I notice that when I do fuel up at a station thats has a 10% mixture of ethanol.. My truck will ping/miss a hell of a lot more.. I also notice about 230 miles per tank... Vs with regular fuel (no mixture) I get around 250-260... Our trucks were simply not tuned for the ethanol mixtures.. which in the long run will hurt us a little more when it comes to fuel funds...

just my opinion...