Is this a normal amount of fuel consumption

[OllieDixon]

I bought my first Ford Explorer a few weeks back. A 92 XLT 4x4 in great shape. It's my first SUV and also first vehicle over 4 cylinders. Not sure if its burning to much fuel or not.

I have driven about 175 Kilometers (108.7 miles) since my last fill up. Mix of city/highway, one 20 min traffic jam.. Here's a pic of the gas gauge just before i turned the truck off a few mins ago.



Not very scientific i know! lol

What do you think?

 

[rhauf]

Well estimating fuel consumption based on gage movement means virtually nothing... next time you fill up measure you're mileage. i get about 15 mpg average and 19 freeway with my '93 explorer 4x4 (i can squeak a little over 20 out of it if i drive conservatively on the freeway) (in comparison to my bronco, this mileage seems great)

i usually get around 250 miles between fill ups. so half a tank would get me 125 miles. by the look of you're fuel gauge you're on par with that (if not doing better) remember this is a relatively large vehicle, and will consume fuel accordingly. it's not easy to push a 4600LB box through the air..

in the time i've owned my explorer, some of my friends have bought and sold "economy" cars to save money on gas. but considering the low cost and reliability of my explorer vs. a new car monthly payment, i'm still thousands and thousands of dollars ahead of them in savings, even if they do spend 40% less on fuel. (plus i have the added safety and comfort of a larger vehicle, and it's capable of hauling my tools, a bunch of cargo, towing my boat, among other things)

 

[OllieDixon]

Thanks for the reply.

I figured going by the gauge would be pretty inaccurate but i was just trying to get a ball park idea. I knew the truck would be worse on gas then anything i have owned before. I just wanted to make sure its wasn't worse then it could be. After doing a little searching it seems i will end up getting on the higher end of average amount of miles to this tank of fuel.

 

[safn1949]

My 94 last tank got 16+ mostly around town.I changed the muffler to a free flow,new plugs and wires and removed the airbox and replaced it with a KKM.That made a lot of difference.Stock,14-15 city 19 hwy.

 

[Burnout]

Next time you fill up, mark down the exact mileage you have. Then the fillup after that, find how many miles more you're and divide that by the gallons it took to fill the tank. That gives you the exact average mpg.

I get about 16mpg in my '04 (I know it's a lot newer) if I drive it like a normal car. 17 if I drive it semi conservatively.

 

[FirstExplorer]

I had a broken sending unit once and before I replaced it, I would start looking for fuel at 230 miles.

 

[deamon3]

These trucks don't get good gas millage so don't expect it. I only get 200miles a tank as well.

 

[iwannabamedic]

I had a 91 explorer with 4.0 ohv and replaced the auto tranny with a 5 speed and got 21 -24 MPG on back roads, drove 44 miles one way. 380- 400 miles on a tank

 

[safn1949]

These trucks don't get good gas millage so don't expect it. I only get 200miles a tank as well.

I consistently get close to 300 miles from a tank of gas,if you only get 200 then you are only getting 10.5 mpg and something is wrong,I get over 16 mpg around town with a 94 4.0,auto,3.73 rear,235/75/15 Goodyear Wranglers at 35 psi.139,000 miles and a ton of crap in the back,tools,floorjack,etc.

 

[OllieDixon]

300 miles = 482.8032 kilometers .. Hope i can get that much. I'm still on the same tank as i was in the first post. Looks like i'm going to get over 400 km at least

 

[safn1949]

If I'm just running around town figure 16 mpg x 18.5 gal =296 miles I don't usually run it down any further then that.

 

[jaschlum]

yea, you have to fill her up, then calculate miles or kilometers driver per miles consumed. for example i just did a lilttle trip. i went about 270 on 15 gallons of gas. 270/15 = 18mpgyou have to remember driving style and terrain also greatly effects mpg. a heavy foot never helps.

 

[jd4242]

I consistently get close to 300 miles from a tank of gas,if you only get 200 then you are only getting 10.5 mpg and something is wrong,I get over 16 mpg around town with a 94 4.0,auto,3.73 rear

Hey I get 11mpg on a good tank,is something wrong!

 

[jaschlum]

Hey I get 11mpg on a good tank,is something wrong!

could be a ton of things. how is it running?

Check
gapping in spark plugs
pulling any codes?
does the exhaust smell?
power issues?

your dirving style greatly affects milage.

 

[jd4242]

Haha I was just joking around!! With my mods and the way I drive,I'm lucky to even keep gas in the tank!!

 

[jaschlum]

okay i thought you were being sarcastic. ahah

 

[mawrazen]

If it running right, 300+ miles has been my minimum.

If I'm just running around town figure 16 mpg x 18.5 gal =296 miles I don't usually run it down any further then that.

I have a 1994 EB EX with 299+k miles 19.4 gallon tank. I usually get, 21-23 MPG Hwy, 16-18 City.

I have driven over 400 miles on a tank on Hwy trips.

I do think having the A/C does hurt gas mileage. But with no sending unit, 300 miles is always obtainable in my EX. If you are getting less, I would bet you drive too aggressively or have something wrong with your truck.

 

[mawrazen]

If it is running right, 300+ miles has been my minimum.

If I'm just running around town figure 16 mpg x 18.5 gal =296 miles I don't usually run it down any further then that.

I have a 1994 EB EX with 299+k miles 19.4 gallon tank. I usually get, 21-23 MPG Hwy, 16-18 City.

I have been able to drive over 400 miles on a tank on Hwy trips.

You need to get rid of any CELs if you want better gas mileage!

I also think having the A/C does hurt gas mileage. Yes, I have a bad sending unit so I base my fill ups on the odometer. Even running poorly, 300 miles is usually obtainable in my EX. If you are getting less, I would bet you drive too aggressively or have something wrong with your truck.

 

[Reejerey]

somewhere around 250-300 miles a tank is what I average, but I've got a heavy foot and 31x10.5 mt's on my ex. Might be able to get 350 if it was literally all highway

 

[pos94exploder]

i have a 19.4 gallon tank and get almost exactly 300 miles out of it and it looks like you have gone 100 miles on 1/3 of a tank so your right in there i did get much worse mpg with my auto trans now i get 17ish per gallon