manifold leak?

[coliniscool]

So my explorer gets on average about 14-15 mpg. (about 3/4 in town 1/4 highway). I was talking to someone recently who has the same exact explorer as me 97 xlt but with a v8 and he gets like up to 20. he said that he had his truck taken in when it was getting really bad gas mileage and they found a cracked manifold. is this something i could check myself, if so how?? or should i take it in and have the shop guys try and figure it out?

 

[ExplorerDMB]

Well did he drive more highway than you? It depends on driving characteristics and where your driving. I doubt a cracked manifold is your issue cause you'd hear an exhaust leak if you had a cracked manifold bad enough to give you bad gas mileage andmore than likely you'd get a CEL for being lean

-Drew