My quest for 30 MPG - Ford Explorer Gas Mileage Tips

[aldive]

Have you entertained the idea of using syn ATF in the power steering? Less parasitic drag from the pump = more power/mileage. Not sure what Ford's spec is on thier PS fluid and/or what would be a compatible syn alternative... Just putting ideas on the table.

I use PS fluid in the PS pump. It has been fully synthetic PS fluid for years.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[spindlecone]

The first 1000 mile plus trip with the new C & L MAF ( http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136883&highlight=MAF ) will be conducted over the 4th of July.

Very curious to see how this MAF affects gas mileage. I will run one leg (500 plus miles ) with Doug's dyno tuned 93 tune and the return leg ( 500 miles ) with Doug's 89 tune.

I will not be using acetone on this trip in order to evaluate the MAF only.

Data soon .......

Al a few weeks back you said you were going to dyno the New maf housing, looking I believe for 8-14 H.P, did that ever happen? if so can you report the results?

 

[aldive]

Latest mileage data is at http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1248267#post1248267

 

[snocross1985]

Results look good as always Al. Are you going to start running Acetone again to see what your combined results will be?

 

[aldive]

Results look good as always Al. Are you going to start running Acetone again to see what your combined results will be?

Yes.

 

[snocross1985]

Curious to see how that will turn out. Anything planned for the next mod in your quest?

 

[aldive]

Curious to see how that will turn out. Anything planned for the next mod in your quest?

Lots of plans, nothing definite currently.

 

[Doug904]

Hey Al,

I just got back from an Advanced Training class for SCT exclusive dealers and boy did I learn a great deal, even about milage. I'm headed out the door this morning to hopefully tune that STS turbocharged Explorer if everything goes right but I'd like to send you some new milage files when I return. We had a huge discussion about this while I was there and I learned some new adjustments that should really help out.

Send me an email that I can send you some files at.

Thanks, Doug.

 

[aldive]

Hey Al,

I just got back from an Advanced Training class for SCT exclusive dealers and boy did I learn a great deal, even about milage. I'm headed out the door this morning to hopefully tune that STS turbocharged Explorer if everything goes right but I'd like to send you some new milage files when I return. We had a huge discussion about this while I was there and I learned some new adjustments that should really help out.

Send me an email that I can send you some files at.

Thanks, Doug.

You have mail.

This sounds great ...........

 

[Lloyd10977]

Hey Al,

I just got back from an Advanced Training class for SCT exclusive dealers and boy did I learn a great deal, even about milage. I'm headed out the door this morning to hopefully tune that STS turbocharged Explorer if everything goes right but I'd like to send you some new milage files when I return. We had a huge discussion about this while I was there and I learned some new adjustments that should really help out.

Send me an email that I can send you some files at.

Thanks, Doug.

Anything that I might be able to use on a second gen OHV-V6?

 

[aldive]

To further the quest for more and more mileage, I am now testing a new computer tune ( actually two tunes ) that Doug Studdard ( http://www.bamachips.com/ ) wrote for me to test.

The tunes were written to maximize gas mileage and are based on new data Doug brought back from SCT.

One is for 89 gas and the other 93. Currently testing the 93 tune.

Time shall tell ..........

 

[snocross1985]

Can't wait to hear how the results turn out, Al.

 

[aldive]

Is my Lund wing costing me mileage?

In a discussion with Jeff Draper, he pointed out that one of the biggest problems with the Explorer shape is the drag caused by the area of low pressure created at the rear of the truck. Due to the shape and it's bulk. That spoiler will deflect a good bit of air upwards, causing the low pressure area behind the explorer to be greater.

Further, Jeff, an engineer with wind tunnel experience, pointed out that one would probably get an improvement in mileage if you had a spoiler on the rear that deflected the flow downwards to fill in the area behind the vehicle with higher pressure air from over top of the vehicle.

I shall remove the wing/spoiler and do a long test drive to see what effect it has on my mileage. Then I shall investigate a spoiler that deflects airflow downwards.

Jeff, thanks for the idea.

 

[Orumus]

Well I'm new to this website and I was reading over this thread. Alot of usefull info. I noticed alot of people where saying how bad there gas mpg was on there 4x4 exp. I just wanted to share a little bit of info from my own minor mods to my 2001 4.0L 4x4.
I drive 207 miles once a week with my own vehical for work related pick ups. Anyway using the asumtion that my fuel tank is 20 gal(20.whatever acourding to ford)when I first bought it a few months ago I was getting about 17.3mpg(btw this trip is 99% highway)Oh and also my G-tech says my exp made 192hp at peak.

About 2 weeks ago I finaly got around to doing a general maint mod I have done to every one of my vehicals since I was 17. This includes bosch +4 plat spark plugs,nascar silicone wires, K&N stock air filter replacement. did a complete trans flush and replaced it with synth trans fluid with quick silver auto trans fluid aid.K&N oil filter, Oil replaced with quaker high performance synth 10w40 and engine restore fluid. Coolent flushed and replaced with prestone 60/40 with heat transfer aid fluid.

After doing these minor things on my next trip I got 23.8mpg and this week I got 24.3mpg also my G-tech now says I have 206 hp at peak. I knew these things helped with gas milage and hp but I never knew it was this much. Not bad increases for spending less then 100 dollars and 3hours of time

 

[aldive]

I will be experimenting with a new TB in the next week or so.

 

[aldive]

I first bought it a few months ago I was getting about 17.3mpg(btw this trip is 99% highway)Oh and also my G-tech says my exp made 192hp at peak.

About 2 weeks ago I finaly got around to doing a general maint mod I have done to every one of my vehicals since I was 17. This includes bosch +4 plat spark plugs,nascar silicone wires, K&N stock air filter replacement. did a complete trans flush and replaced it with synth trans fluid with quick silver auto trans fluid aid.K&N oil filter, Oil replaced with quaker high performance synth 10w40 and engine restore fluid. Coolent flushed and replaced with prestone 60/40 with heat transfer aid fluid.

After doing these minor things on my next trip I got 23.8mpg and this week I got 24.3mpg also my G-tech now says I have 206 hp at peak. I knew these things helped with gas milage and hp but I never knew it was this much. Not bad increases for spending less then 100 dollars and 3hours of time

Welcome to the site ....

What mods have you done to your truck?

 

[Orumus]

That is all at this point. Although my next mission is to make a custom directed air intake for a K&N conical air filter. Also im checking out a hypetech power programer right now lol

 

[aldive]

That is all at this point. Although my next mission is to make a custom directed air intake for a K&N conical air filter. Also im checking out a hypetech power programer right now lol

Is the HP that your G Tech reports crank HP or RWHP?

I assume you have the SOHC motor???

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

Al, I agree with Jeff's reasoning. (I'm not an AE, but have some experience with military and civilian aircraft.) That HUGE rear hatch area has concerned me regarding aerodynamics ever since I bought mine.

The stock Ford rear air deflector is probably as good as it gets. The shape of it does deflect the airflow downwards, giving a dual purpose, to clean the window, and improve the aerodynamics. With today's CAFE standards, could Ford have possibily done wind-tunnel studies on the Explorer, when designing the rear deflector?............... Nah

 

[Orumus]

it is a sohc and those numbers are estimated crank hp it can also report whp but thats to depressing at this point for my exp. I think it reported it at 160 or something when I first got the exp LOL.