I thought 20 MPG was good....... | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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I thought 20 MPG was good.......

ma96782

Explorer Addict
Joined
January 21, 2006
Messages
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City, State
Vancouver, WA
Year, Model & Trim Level
'94 XLT, 4dr
Yesterday, I took the '94 Explorer on a family trip from Vancouver, WA to Crater Lake, OR.

On the trip to Crater Lake, I averaged 22.217 MPG.

On the way back home, I averaved 22.661 MPG.

Not bad at all.

BTW, if you get to Crater Lake, OR.........try the return trip via a stop at Klamath Falls........then west on State Route 66 (back to I-5)...........the twists and turns coming down, had me wishing I had a sports car. But, in an SUV............that makes life, interesting. ;)

Aloha, Mark
 



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ma96782 said:
On the trip to Crater Lake, I averaged 22.217 MPG.

On the way back home, I averaved 22.661 MPG.
Hehe significant figures ;)
 






Hey those are great figures for a 1st gen in mountainous terrain...
 






Wow, that's quite a trip. How long does it take for you to get there? lol, takes me about an hour and half just to get to Vancover. 4.0L Rock!
 












I was at crater lake and made that stop as well, it was amazing but not quite as great as mulnomah (sp?) falls in washington(I think)

And better yet, if you think that drive was fun try it in a RV.

Also we had to make a 11 mile drive down a 1 lane dirt road down hair pin turns after a misleading sign, that was fun.
 






I have been on those roads too....and I was thinking my X could handle it!...

Maybe I'll get a chance to do it too....I plan on having the X done (drivetrain & paint) in time for the Medford Cruise next year...

Ryan
 






Now, that I've had a day to think about it..........

The good MPG figures may have something to do with:

Choice of route.......I mean long gentle climb to the top vs. a steep, hard, lead footed approach when going up a hill or mountain.

Coasting down the hills/mountain.........playing with "threshold" breaking, as you're just about to enter the curve.

Traffic…………..well there wasn’t much………….traveling in the daylight on a week day.

Tune…………vehicle is stock, and I didn’t throw any codes this trip……….unlike the CA trip.

Speed…………..I kept it, mostly 65 MPH and under…………..hardly ever going to 70 MPH, unless on a straight and flat part of the freeway.

Windows up………………I just had the A/C fixed………….even so, regular outside air temps were cool, in the day, so I hardly used the A/C. My wife liked the heater on the trip back (at night).

Trip NOTES for Folks taking the trip from Portland, OR.:

Fill up in Portland (I was actually at Clackamas /82nd Ave. when I filled up).

Travel South on I-5.

I didn't stop.........but, you may want to.........NO SALES TAX in OR...........Woodburn Outlet Stores (about 20-30 mins from Portland).............can't miss it, right along side of I-5.

Traveling South on I-5........at Roseburg…………..take the highway 138 East exit, it will take you along the scenic route , through the Umpqua Forest……..no traffic (at least for me).

Then South on towards Crater Lake and to Crater Rim Rd. You could go right or left around the crater. I went right……….left is longer, though scenic……….then, out the South end of the park. There was still snow on the ground……though the road was dry. BTW, fee is $10.

Crater Lake is pictured on the back of the OR, fifty states - quarter series.

I continued South along highway 62, connecting with highway 97, views of Klamath Lake then to Klamath Falls…………I had to fill up again right outside of town.

From Klamath Falls (nice place to eat) it was West on 66, about half way between Klamath and I-5, there was a bit of fun (maybe 10 mins.), with the twists and turns (downhill). Ever drive the road to Hana, Maui??

You’ll join I-5 a little south of Ashland, OR.

FYI……..Ashland, OR……….gas up………..a lot of folks from CA will fill up………as it’s cheaper then buying in CA. I still had a lot of gas and didn’t have to fill up until I hit Portland, OR., again.

The trip was long…………I started off about 1030 hrs. got back to Portland about 0600 hrs (w/stops)...……you may want to break it up with an overnight stay somewhere. And, if you like to gamble…………..I-5/exit 99.……….Seven Feathers Casino.

Aloha, Mark
 






Sn0boarder88,

I was at crater lake and made that stop as well, it was amazing but not quite as great as mulnomah (sp?) falls in washington(I think)

Multnomah Falls is beautiful......East of Portland, OR.........located just off of I-84.......in OR. That's a nice trip too. Did that on about 2-3 weeks ago. Averaged a hair over 21 MPG that day.

For folks who get out there and want to see more......this could be a "day trip" from Portland......also, take the time to view Bonneville Dam and the fish hatchery/ladders. Then to Cascade Locks (trip on the Columbia River, via boat), Hood River Rec. area, The Dalles (another dam). Continue a little more East, then cross the river at highway 97 head North..........checkout, "Stone Hedge," in WA. From there, you could come back to Portland, following the Columbia River, return route along WA State highway 14, or re-cross the river to I-84 (faster).

Or if you got more time and days, head to Western WA. or the south/central WA area.

Aloha, Mark
 






Thats damn good gas mileage.
 






ma96782 said:
Sn0boarder88,



Multnomah Falls is beautiful......East of Portland, OR.........located just off of I-84.......in OR. That's a nice trip too. Did that on about 2-3 weeks ago. Averaged a hair over 21 MPG that day.

For folks who get out there and want to see more......this could be a "day trip" from Portland......also, take the time to view Bonneville Dam and the fish hatchery/ladders. Then to Cascade Locks (trip on the Columbia River, via boat), Hood River Rec. area, The Dalles (another dam). Continue a little more East, then cross the river at highway 97 head North..........checkout, "Stone Hedge," in WA. From there, you could come back to Portland, following the Columbia River, return route along WA State highway 14, or re-cross the river to I-84 (faster).

Or if you got more time and days, head to Western WA. or the south/central WA area.

Aloha, Mark

Definatly spend alot of time in the columbia river valley for anyone who is thinkin of a trip there. I went to the Bonneville dam and hatchery and it was pretty cool. Also, for you winter sports entusiasts get out to timberline at Mt. Hood, the only ski area in american open year round.
 






In my trips south, I prefer to fill up in Vancouver,WA. I can make from Vancouver, WA to yreka, CA on a single tank of gas, staying on I-5.

I just have something against the state of Oregon, and their ridiculous laws against pumping your own gas. It is classified as a 'Health Code Violation' to pump your own gas. Yet the guys making minimum wage to pump my gas aren't wearing ANY type of protective gear. If it were SOOO unhealthy to pump on your own, wouldn't you think they'd make the guys that DO pump the gas wear some type of protective gear?

The REAL reason they passed that law was just to create jobs. Nothing more, nothing less. It get's people employed, and creates some type of economy. There's nothing wrong with that. Just don't call it a 'Health Code Violation', call it what it is.....a way to get those people that would otherwise be un-employable, a job.

Ryan
 






Ryan said,

I just something against the state of Oregon. And their ridiculous laws against pumping your own gas. It is classified as a 'Health Code Violation' to pump your own gas. Yet the guys making minimum wage to pump my gas aren't wearing ANY type of protective gear. If it were SOOO unhealthy to pump on your own, wouldn't you think they'd make the guys that DO pump the gas wear some type of protective gear?

The REAL reason they passed that law was just to create jobs. Nothing more, nothing less. It get's people employed, and creates some type of economy. There's nothing wrong with that. Just don't call it a 'Health Code Violation', call it what it is.....a way to get those people that would otherwise be un-employable, a job.

I smile when I think about that..........I came from Hawaii (pump your own) where gas is even more expensive, than CA, OR or WA. So, in OR the attendant will pump it for you..........and it's still cheaper than WA or CA gas (pumping your own). What does that say??

Employment.........good.

Hi state gas taxes............bad.

Aloha, Mark
 






ma96782 said:
On the trip to Crater Lake, I averaged 22.217 MPG.

On the way back home, I averaved 22.661 MPG.

What are your in town numbers like? Mine are about 12ish. When running from Beaverton to Tillmook, I get similar numbers. Or 6 is a pretty nice test with some good grades and curves.

Mark
 






Just the other day I got 12.6 MPG (mostly in town).

I was shocked.........usually get 16 MPG. Maybe (I hope) it was a mistake........like forgetting to fill up all the way last time.

I'm testing MPGs again.......since, I just installed the new thermostat.

Aloha, Mark
 






I was getting 10 with out the SC installed on a good with the wind at my back. I did a lot of work since I bought this rig. I put in all new brakes parts up front, new brake stuff in the back, correct tires, changed all the fluids in the diffs, TC and engine, new thermostat and went from auto locking to manual locking hubs. I get about 12 - 12.5 still without the SC. I got the SC back a couple months ago from Vortech after they replaced all the seals and bearings so that will go in soon. I have some tranny work left and I want to pull the stock engine fan in favor for electric and new O2 sensors. Once I find the milage on it from there, I will put the SC back and see what happens then. My goal is 15, but I think I maybe a dreamer. Next year I want to put in a nice MSD system. That should help a bunch.
 






Hey, you're in OR.......I get good mileage on long road trips through your state........did you see my thread on the CA trip? Either way, North or South, traveling on I-5 through OR.....gave me good mileage.

Aloha, Mark
 






Great mpg! My 92 (5-speed, 3.27 rear) averages 18-19 mpg which I think is really good, considering people with the 3.0L Escapes get about the same, maybe 1-2 mpg better. The 3.0L Escape is a pig on gas and I don't know why. It should be much better than the EX. Another reason why I'm keeping my Ex!

IZWACK, where do you get those Hello Kitty tires? We love Hello Kitty!


Bob
 






Yeah we be neighbors!! I can't until I put the SC back in. I really wanna see what happens to the milage. I have had to run up there to go to Walmart because we don't have one in Beaverton and the one in Woodburn isn't that great. I always buy my Castrol Full Synthetic there. It is cheaper there than anywhere else. Maybe we will see you there sometime. Mine is the white one with the really ugly bumper thumpin'. hahaha. I am almost 39 and I still got a thumpin' truck.
 



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MarksSC94,

Since you asked about "around town mileage"..........it got me thinking........before this last trip the wife had been driving around Vancouver, WA and she averaged 15.051 MPG.

We took a trip from Vancouver, WA to the Tri-cities and Wala Wala, WA then to Pendelton, OR on 7-9-06.......going, west to east, traveling mainly on I-84, I averaged 20.413 MPG......coming back, east to west, 20.951 MPG. Keeping the speedometer about 65-70 MPH w/ AC.

Trip notes:

When traveling I-84 from Portland, west to east, look for exit 69 (Moiser), take the old route 30 bypass.....really nice and curves..... ;) . Makes me think of the hard times the "older generation" had before I-84.

Just east of Pendelton, OR (exit 216)........gambling at the Wildhorse Casino (Indian).......if you wanna try your luck. :D

Aloha, Mark

PS....Diesel was selling at $2.75 (now, it's cheaper than reg. unleaded).............and the highest reg. unleaded was $3.11 a gal. Course different towns had different prices. I paid a low of $2.829 and a high of $2.969 a gallon during this trip.
 






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