There has got to be a way to get better mileage. I have owned my 2003 Explorer since it had 7k on the OD it now has 94k. When I purchased it 18/22mpg consistantly now 16/19mpg. I took a trip last summer Grand Teton/Yellowstone National parks, mpg average for the whole trip 23mpg. I kept track wanted to know how much fuel was going to cost. On one of our day trips from Jackson Hole to Old Faithfull and back 8am to 7pm, starting, stopping, sight seeing, up and down hills, AC on, speed through the parks 45mph. My X got 25mpg from the station we filled up at 8am to when we filled up again same station 7pm. We traveled 367 miles used 14.6 gallons of gas(10% ethenol), amazing to me. I have figured out why, it was altitude. From the time we entered Idaho we were almost always above 3000' above sea level, the vehicle adjusts for altitude(thinner air, MAF adjusts mixture to allow more air) and runs better at higher altitude National parks 6000'-11,000'. My mom lives East of Boise, ID at about 3500' every time I visit her I average over 21mpg that includes 75mph on Idaho highways. If someone can figure out a way to trick/tune the MAF to allow a leaner mixture sea level-2000' Alt. our Explorers can get much better mileage.
I am pretty sure that having the right gearing for the tires on these vehicles is very important to mileage. I expect to see an improvement when I get my 4:10's put in here soon.
