My 94 explorer is only getting 11-12 mpg (city)

[mr cribb]

When I got my explorer in December 2010, I was getting 14mpg city and 18 highway. This is a 4 door 2wd 5 speed.

I changed to motorcraft semi-syn oil 5w-30, changed trans fluid with 1qt lucas trans stuff and 1.5 qt of regular dextron 3 or 4 (whatever they sell these days). I ran about 2 bottles of lucas fuel cleaner, I got up to 15.5 city.

I changed the plugs and wires to factory replacement motorcraft plugs and wires I got from advance auto, and got to my normal 17-18mpg city and 22-23 highway.

 

[oleexplorer]

Just took my 94 on a trip and got 19.5 highway which is great. I average 15-16 in town. I drive it like a grandma and love cruise on the interstate. I havent heard anyone mention air or fuel filters. I know the fuel filters can suck to change on these but my mothers had rust come out when i changed hers in her focus at 80000. Talk about a restriction. The ethanol is a good point also. In pa they allow 15 % on all grades.

 

[mr cribb]

I havent heard anyone mention air or fuel filters. I know the fuel filters can suck to change on these but my mothers had rust come out when i changed hers in her focus at 80000. Talk about a restriction.

I kinda drug my @$$ about changing the air filter... I was holding out until I assembled an air intake.... that's been done for 5 months now.

The fuel filter I bought in Feb and it's still sitting in the truck waiting to be changed. I'm using a shop this weekend to change my clutch so I may go ahead and knock out the fuel filter too..... If ford hadn't used the awful design using the clips I might be more inclined to change a few more fuel filters.


I know what you mean about rust an such... for a while I had my grandma's 84 t-bird, and I had the factory fuel filter removed and replaced.... It said motorcraft on it, and she wasn't a dealer service person. It too had rust and gack come out of it.... it was a wonder the car even ran.

 

[Curtiswick]

please inform me where to get gasoline without ethanol in it. Ethanol was a replacement for the oxygenate., MTBE which was banned a fgew yeaars back. I work in a refinery and my position is gas chromotagraphy and on of my analyzers is for oxygenates.

Another thing to do is a fuel pressure test, checking to see how long the injectors hold pressure. If you have a sticky injector letting fuel drain that will lessen the mileage. Also dirty injectors will cause an inefficency. I myself would run seafoam through the tank and also through the front of the intake to ensure cleanliness of a ports and valves.

I don't know about where you are, but Exxon stations in Montana and Idaho advertise ethanol free fuel. I have not done a lot of checking. There are only two stations in my home town. The Conoco has ethanol, and the Exxon has ethanol in all but the premium grade.

Hope it helps

 

[Mudboy]

Thanks, I'll have to look into it. In the Philadelphia region, our refinery supplies Exxon all of their fuel.

 

[ppbskis]

Hey Guy's I 'd like to add my surprising fuel economy figures. I just purchased my 1992 4door, 4WD, XLT, auto trans, with over 104,000miles on the odometer, I am assuming since it is an old school odometer that gives you zero miles after you travel 99,999.
I have only had it three days but I travel from the Jersey Shore to Huntington Long Island NY 220 miles each workday.
95% of my commute is highway but the Belt Parkway is at times slow go, and stop and go, yet I just computed 22 mpg, which is really great as far as I am concerned.
My short list of things to do is spark plugs, trans fluid,rear oil, transfer case oil,fuel filter, drivers door hinge pin kit, dog leg piece for rotted door jamb. I have already had a mechanic replace the rear oil, transfer case oil, repack and perform maintenance on the auto locking front wheel hubs.
He was supposed to change the fuel filter yesterday but could not get the old one off in the time I needed the truck back so it is going back next week for more. Most likely several brake lines and the fuel line.
My commute used to be miserable driving a Porsche Boxster 5 speed, now driving the Explorer with the auto trans and high perch I see everything and don't mind the effed up road surfaces. I can't wait to put the Bilseiens on it as I have read great things in the other posts.
Glad I joined this site.

Joe M

 

[Mudboy]

that is great!!! have you confirmed that your speedo is dead nuts on? The reason I ask, is that I believe my tires are of stock size (235/75R15) and my speedo is off my a little bit which causes my vehicle to appear as if it's getting more miles per fill than what it actually is since the odometer is driven by the same gear as the speedo. for every 100 miles on my odometer I actually drove 90 so lets say my odometer says i went 300 miles I actually went 270. Lets say it used 16 gallons that would give me 18.75 mile per gallon uncorrected but in reality I only got 16.75

 

[Corik]

Thats interesting, It makes me wonder if my speedo is off too, the other day it said I drove like 5 miles but I could have sworn it was more like 3-4ish oh well. But the one I know with my X is that when my fuel gauge is on the E, and I mean it was in the red, and I fill it all the way I only put in at MOST 17 gallons when the manual says I have a 19.3 gallon tank.

Is this done on purpose so some dumb person doesn't run out of gas? Showing empty but there's really two gallons left in the tank?

 

[ppbskis]

Well now that you mention it my Porsche odometer indicated 220 mile round trip, the explorer shows 212, so actually it may even be getting better mileage by a fraction though. Can't wait to put in new plugs and fuel filter. PS my tires are the BF Goodrich Radial All Terrain Baja Champions.

 

[mr cribb]

I have put that kinda fuel in gallons back in before. I think mine was around 17-17.5

on the wife's durango I have put in close to 19 when it "says" it's a 21 gallon tank.

 

[Roadrunner777]

I can rarely get more than 16 gallons in. And, I have changed fuel pump assemblies, so it's the same result from 2 different sensors. Clearly, someone has been putting rocks in my tank!