My MPG SUCKS for a v6!!!

[memhorn]

BubbaFL -- how many miles on your X now? My 98 has 155,000 and it is starting to rattle, but I still can 16-17 mpg around town and 20-21 on the highway. Plus, it drives great and never burns any oil.

I wonder if any of the things Aldive does (like synthetic motor oil) keeps the tensioner/rattle problem away? Would any of those things help me at this stage (155,000 miles)??

 

[ThePhoenix]

Oh brother....

what? i am sure you read the same report about how automakers calculate gas milage...I mean from the factory

 

[HR57]

Check your Tranny (in the car, not the street)

Guys, I have a V6 2000 Explorer Sport, 51k miles on it. I drive very normal, 55 highway miles per day. I'm getting 230-250 miles to a tank. Isn't this bad for a V6 truck? MY V8 1998 mountaineer gets better gas milage! As for a tune up, only the plugs haven't been changed, otherwise everything else has been done. Any suggestions?

Chris

Have you checked your Transmission? You may have a slippage problem. I know when I had the Stealership service my '01 Sport they messed up my trans when they pressure flushed it. My mileage went from 330mi per tank to 250mi per tank. My Sport now drives like garbage. I've got to almost floor it to pull away from the light, it also brakes badly (no engine braking). I'll Never go to the Stealership again.

 

[BubbaFL]

memhorn: about 150k on the X, and it's been about 100k since the timing chains were last serviced.

 

[icom]

BubbaFL -- how many miles on your X now? My 98 has 155,000 and it is starting to rattle, but I still can 16-17 mpg around town and 20-21 on the highway. Plus, it drives great and never burns any oil.

I wonder if any of the things Aldive does (like synthetic motor oil) keeps the tensioner/rattle problem away? Would any of those things help me at this stage (155,000 miles)??

synthetic oil did nothing for mine...except make the "rattle" worse IMO..sounds like ball bearings in a blender sometimes now.

"99 sport just over 135150 miles on it

 

[Doubt Incarnate]

i'd change the plugs before i determine my motor is a gas hog. my plugs were originals i pulled at 160K. closest gap was .080 and they went up from there, a couple didnt even register on the gap tool at over .100". how it still ran i have no clue.

 

[SIRIUS198]

I got a 1998 Sport 4.0l SOHC 145000 KM on it (Canadian) this might be a little confusing for some,on 55Litres of Gas i get about 350KM if im lucky which is what ive been getting for the 4 months ive owned my x (which i love btw) im getting about 14MPG if the online calculators are correct which for me is terrible compared to my tiny little 4 cylinder car but hey its a truck 4x4 and its got some issues and im kinda stuck on what to do here so input would be nice i am an apprentice mechanic so i know enough about cars to get me by but if anyone has any experience with this code (Bank 1 catalyst Low efficiency) now im still thinking oxygen sensor and im thinking its the downstream on bank 1, and i know that this will destroy gas mileage so i figure if i fix this and do a complete tune up and tear apart my front diff (needs new bearings) than my mileage will hopefully be up in the 17 or 18 range. so any thoughts?

are you still having issues? either the cat is toast/plugged (which could be the result of other issues such as a misfire), or the down stream o2 has failed.

let me know what you figure out

 

[watisgood]

I get crap mileage as well about 14mpg never get anything bettter i have tried everything...injector cleaner...seafoam...plugs wires...air intake took it off it did nothing...tire pressure to 40psi...i will never buy a ford again.

 

[SIRIUS198]

I get crap mileage as well about 14mpg never get anything bettter i have tried everything...injector cleaner...seafoam...plugs wires...air intake took it off it did nothing...tire pressure to 40psi...i will never buy a ford again.

might be a stupid question but, how often do you leave your vehicle running or sit in traffic? mpg goes away when engine running and no wheels turning. i'm not a light foot by any means but i still average above 17 mpg.

 

[watisgood]

I am usually not in traffic i stopped warming my car up to save gas? I need to have about 20mpg that would be great

 

[mjbarrett]

Guys, I have a V6 2000 Explorer Sport, 51k miles on it. I drive very normal, 55 highway miles per day. I'm getting 230-250 miles to a tank. Isn't this bad for a V6 truck? MY V8 1998 mountaineer gets better gas milage! As for a tune up, only the plugs haven't been changed, otherwise everything else has been done. Any suggestions?

Chris

Check those plugs! It's hard but so are lots of things. The plugs will tell you what your engine is doing. You'll be able to eliminate the plugs as the possible cause of the problem and also identify what kind of problem you are having. Look at a Haynes or Clymer service/repair manual and it will tell you how to evaluate your spark plugs. There are also several websites that have spark plug eval info.
Also, calculate you MPG by the gallon, not the tank. Just reset the trip meter next time you get gas. Then the time after that, jot down the miles driven and the amount of fuel it takes to fill up, then divide miles by gallons. Too easy. Do it a few times and average your results.
Remember that you have a 1-2 gallon reserve when you are on "E" so if you try to calculate by tank it's almost gauranteed to be inaccurate.
Also, just an after thought. Make sure you're reaching the right operating temperature. A thermostat that is stuck open will prevent proper warm up, which prevents proper combustion. It's a very quick & cheap fix, too.
Good Luck.

 

[HahnsB2]

Learn to calculate your fuel economy. Miles per tank is a poor way to do so. Always divide miles driven by gallons used.

 

[watisgood]

hey guys i did change the plugs about 15,000 miles ago and just recently change my thermostat because my radiator went? Anyway s im going to jot down my mileage and see what i come up with.

 

[farmtruckman]

mileage improvements

Mizestang,

My 95 (4.0 OHV) total freeway, gets about 24-25 at best. I am holding at 65, pushing 70 on downhills going to Seattle, but I am running 5-30 Mobil 1, with 5+ extra psi in tires (31x10.50). Only other alteration is K&N filter. Running synthetics do make an improvement. Hope this helps.

 

[fleettech225]

my '99 xlt,ohv (bone stock) at 138,000 miles, still gets 15 city,, 20-22 highway.

no mods have been done. the only thing that i do,,,,,

religiously change oil, using valvoline 10w/30 and a baldwin filter, ( i use baldwin for all my filters).

I have owned the xlt for two years now, it had 109,000 when i bought her, and i immidiately gave her a complete tune up.

Oh,, i am running on Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 235/75/15

I am not at all disappointed at the quality of my truck!!

Everyone have a great weekend

 

[CHRISXPLOR]

war153, AAL, TT

war153, AAL, TT

 

[Adrenolin]

I bought our 03 Sport XLT V6 4.0L FI SOHC 4x4 15 months ago. The 03 Sport comes with a 17.5gallon fuel tank. Since then I've made 6 2400mile round trips to Canada and 2 or 3 vacation 1000mile trips up/down the eastern coast. On the highway I'll get about 20/21 MPG. I run a set of Michelin LTX M/S 255/70R16 tires inflated to 32 to 33 psi, just below the 35psi spec. City driving I get 14 to 15 MPG however I'll admit I could drive with a lighter foot in town. :shifty_ey

 

[funkeymonkey4x4]

stock fuel hog... remember it could always be worse.

ok i have a 1993 4 door ford explorer ---- stock --80,000 miles on her-- bone stock..

you all think you are having problems with fuel milage...hmmm. well i think i got everyone beat.

10 mpg..... weather you give it all it has or not... 10 mpg is what you get.
2 wheel drive -- 4 wheel drive makes no difference.

i just recently found how i can get worse.. hehe. 5.2 mpg riding 4x4 low.... thank god for the gas can full of fuel tied to my roof rack or we would have been walking a good 30 miles of dirt...

I suggest you go trailing using a buddy system. saves your feet.heheh
I recently learned this after a 15 mile hike through super soft sand. it sucks.


what i have done to attempt to correct my issue:

new plugs gapped correctly checked plugs recently and great shape - new plug wires - new pair of cats - new fuel pump - new fuel filter - new air filter - " no check engine light "this is a plus!!! and no its not burned out comes on before you start just as it should - got 3.27 gear ratio in differentials - got new stock tires @ 40psi all time - truck runs, drives and sounds great. no noticable slipage in transmission. i have replace my MAF sensor as well with no change in fuel milage. just put it on the damn code reader and not one code. compression check out 180psi .. new ideas any one. hehe

i put it out there. not looking for someone to solve my problem... just looking for idea's why it sucks so bad..


next move is to pull the computer and swap with my buddys explorer to see if he gets crap for fuel milage with the trade. of course im not going to tell him i am going to do this. i will let all know what happens after i do this. i hope the problem moves on so i can replace the damn thing and get past this.

need to buy another off road toy but i cant afford it at this rate.. my first toy is eating the money for the second.this truely sucks... need more toys...

 

[2000StreetRod]

Compression test?

You may want to check your compression to see if it is low.

Have you cleaned the MAF sensor with MAF sensor cleaner?

Sometimes adding fuel injector cleaner to your fuel tank will help.

 

[ThePhoenix]

I am gonna gues the check engine light is burnt out and there are some bad sensors that is not being revealed...