Gas Mileage Tips, Tricks, Recommendations Needed

[BigR]

OK, with gasoline in NC at $1.75 and the owner of two Exploders, a 1996 V6 Sport (manual 2wd, LSD) and a 2002 V8 XL (AWD, LSD), I need some gas mileage tips. We're completely stock. Sport (mine) gets about 21 MPG and the Boss's Beast get 17-18 mpg.

What have you all tried, what works, what's the best bang for the buck?.

I know driving habits are #1 and I'm working on the Boss but man she loves that V8........


Big-R

 

[aldive]

Good gas mileage is indeed possible. I am getting 30 MPG on the road with my SOHC '99 4 door.

Take a look at http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44372&highlight=quest

 

[EliteConcept]

there really aren't any secrets tricks to getting good gas milage...its basically just common senese.

1. driving habits like you said, drive light footed, accelerate slowly that is dont gun it. When crusing try to drive at the lowest possible RPM you can that will use the least amount of gas, and also don't drive fast, the wind resistance on your car each mph after 55 exponentially decreases your mpg. don't idle unless you have to, when you idle its like getting 0 mpg. and lastly remove any heavy objects that you have in the truck that you won't need, each 100lbs reduces your mpg by 1% (i believe thats the number)

2. Stay current with your maintence change that oil, swap out those spark plugs, make sure your air filter isn't clogged..do these little things that can help keep your mpg up.

3. try getting an open air filter, and or a new exhaust. they can help some

4. some will chime in and tell you to keep your truck waxed with zaino. i however find it hard to believe that you truck being waxed helps out your mpg more than some crazy bit like 0.001 %. I'm not saying its not true..but i've just never beleived it.

i think thats about it....its tooo early i'm not fully in gas saving mode yet

 

[X~FACTOR]

1. remove any heavy objects that you have in the truck that you won't need, each 100lbs reduces your mpg by 1% (i believe thats the number)

I'm contemplating removing my spare tire and anything associated with it to rid of some dead weight. You guys think this is worth it.

 

[aldive]

I'm contemplating removing my spare tire and anything associated with it to rid of some dead weight. You guys think this is worth it.

No, I doubt that it will do any good based on my testing.

I get approximately the same mileage with just me in the truck as I do with 4 adults and about 500 pounds of scuba equipment.

 

[BigR]

Al, I've read your posts on the gas mileage. How much did the synthetics help? I'm also gonna remove the roof racks.

BTW, if you're south florida, flat land helps too. Here in rolling central NC, we get hit a bit by the terrain.

Any idea how much the KKM helped the mileage?

Thanks for all ideas.........

Big-R

 

[jagarundi]

OK, with gasoline in NC at $1.75 and the owner of two Exploders, a 1996 V6 Sport (manual 2wd, LSD) and a 2002 V8 XL (AWD, LSD), I need some gas mileage tips. We're completely stock. Sport (mine) gets about 21 MPG and the Boss's Beast get 17-18 mpg.

What have you all tried, what works, what's the best bang for the buck?.

I know driving habits are #1 and I'm working on the Boss but man she loves that V8........


Big-R

My method of saving gas in this gas guzzling V8 is to try to trade it in for a mini-van. I simply can NOT drive 55mph, period. I might as well walk!

 

[X~FACTOR]

No, I doubt that it will do any good based on my testing.
I get approximately the same mileage with just me in the truck as I do with 4 adults and about 500 pounds of scuba equipment.

This is probably true on the highway. Even if you have boat load of equipment once you get rolling on a straight away road the engine won't be doing much more work. Stop and go traffic (city driving) would be a totally different story, I would imagine.

 

[Nitrous SSC]

your worried about 1.75? I'm stuck in 2.00$+

I was able to do so-so with my X when it was stock but now with the bigger tires it definatly eats more gas.

Also a good thing to check is your alignment. If its off even a little it might not show on the tires but it will show in MPG. Also make sure your tires are inflated to near max PSI for all street driving.

Taking the roof rack off and spare tire isn't gona save jack crap in an SUV with the weight of ours. Thats like all the little ricers at the track that will strip EVERYTHING out of their car including windshield wipers and run .1 faster.

Keep your spare tire. They day you take it out you'll get a blowout or something.

 

[aldive]

Taking the roof rack off and spare tire isn't gona save jack crap in an SUV with the weight of ours.

Removal of the roof rack definately helped me achieve 30 MPG on the road.

I kinda like having the spare.

 

[mosinman]

gas mileage.

Yep, everyone pretty much covered it.

1. Drive with economy in mind.
2. maintain your EX. Fluids, tune-ups, alignments, tire pressure!, etc.
3. Loose the roof rack. It DOES cause measurable air resistance at
highway speeds. The weight is not the issue.
4. Try synthetic fluids.
5. Keep your spare. You are guaranteeing yourself a flat in a bad
neighborhood if you remove it - just like Nitrous SSC says!