My quest for 30 MPG - Ford Explorer Gas Mileage Tips

[aldive]

I got 32 MPG in my '97 EX last summer on one trip.

Congratulations; thats awesome mileage.

-A transfercase is good for sucking atleast 5MPG out of you.

Where did you get that data?

-

I also ripped out the A/C (that pump never shuts off), thats good for 2-3 MPG (that is if your pump is new,they get worse with age, besides,

-I shaved the roof rack (at highway speeds those cross bars can rob of you 1-2 MPG)

Again, where are you getting these numbers?

Also there are more additives in Canadian gas that do improve milage (that's why the price of gas is $0.80/litre here [3.89L = 1 GAL.),

Please elaborate.

 

[shockguys]

91 Exp MPG

Flaming,

Of course I was sort of a lead foot! So I was surely not a help to my low mpg, lol! Eh well, I guess I hadn't gotten completely rid of my younger ways at that time.

 

[celly]

Also there are more additives in Canadian gas that do improve milage (that's why the price of gas is $0.80/litre here [3.89L = 1 GAL).

I COMPLETLEY disagree with you. Firstly, we're stuck with winter gas for a good chunk of the year which makes your mileage worse, not better. Our fuel prices are higher than the US for one reason and one reason alone....TAXES.

Al asked you to elaborate on your claim. I'd like to know where you came up with this information as well. It's the first I've ever heard it. I do know we as Canadians pay a lot more in taxes than our American friends but nowhere as near as much as our European friends.

Even in the middle of summer when we don't have to deal with winter gas, I get the same mileage as my American friends with similar mods and driving styles. That's across two Explorers with different engines (SOHC 4L and 5L V8).

 

[BrooklynBay]

Maybe a custom tune could help you even though the gas isn't the best quality?

 

[flamingX]

Cold Air?

The mileage differnce was determed by testing it personally, (a K&N rep. told me it would be 5MPG)

As for the horsepower thing, thats what K&N's testing claims. I know it did make the differnce of beating my wives Dodge Caliber R/T after I installed it, where as before I could'nt.

On the factory round canister filter the engine was starving for air at anything above 2000RPM, Which in turn causes the engine to run rich (thus useing way more fuel than needed)

 

[aldive]

On the factory round canister filter the engine was starving for air at anything above 2000RPM, Which in turn causes the engine to run rich (thus useing way more fuel than needed)

How did you determine this?

 

[flamingX]

Congratulations; thats awesome mileage.



Where did you get that data?

-

Again, where are you getting these numbers?



Please elaborate.

Transfer case; is based on comparesons between two simularly speced trucks one 2WD, the other 4WD that my brother owned (mind you they where Chevies) Cosumer Report magazine will back that up.

A/C; Grade 12 autoshop text book

Roof rack; Consumer Report Magazine

As for Canadian gas Quality, a close friend of the family is a small business owner that does 80% of his business stateside, and he claims he gets almost 3MPG more on CA. gas. And my father-in-law (who used to own a Petro-Can distrabution centre untill he was bought out by Iving Oil) swears by the whole addive thing.

http://www.gas-mileage.us/tips this site will back up most of it.

 

[flamingX]

How did you determine this?

After driveing a short distance with a new filter, checked it, and it looked like a crushed beer can.

 

[flamingX]

plus you feel the differnce in the throttle from before I installed the K&N (got rid of the flat spot in the torque curve)

 

[celly]

As for Canadian gas Quality, a close friend of the family is a small business owner that does 80% of his business stateside, and he claims he gets almost 3MPG more on CA. gas. And my father-in-law (who used to own a Petro-Can distrabution centre untill he was bought out by Iving Oil) swears by the whole addive thing.

I am skeptical of these claims but you never know. I'd prefer to see some actual evidence and not the anecdotal variety. It's the first time I've heard this.

As far as the cost of fuel up here, we still pay a LOT more in taxes than they do in the US. It sucks really. I spent a summer in Wisconsin a decade ago and spent about 40% less on gas than I would of if I was in Canada and that includes a high exchange rate.

 

[aldive]

I am skeptical of these claims but you never know. I'd prefer to see some actual evidence and not the anecdotal variety. It's the first time I've heard this.

I have never heard any of this before.

I do not beleive it to be factual.

 

[gavin]

Transfer case; is based on comparesons between two simularly speced trucks one 2WD, the other 4WD that my brother owned (mind you they where Chevies) Cosumer Report magazine will back that up.

EPA-estimated mileage for 2008 AWD V8 Explorer: 13/19
EPA-estimated mileage for 2008 2x4 V8 Explorer: 13/20

EPA-estimated mileage for 1997 V8 Explorer AWD & 2WD: 14/18


5mpg for just a t-case?!?!

 

[aldive]

5mpg for just a t-case?!?!

Utter nonsense.

 

[flamingX]

I am skeptical of these claims but you never know. I'd prefer to see some actual evidence and not the anecdotal variety. It's the first time I've heard this.

.

I would like to see a study done on that myself (I've been hearing it for years)
I do know there is diffence in Diesel South of Tennesee (no anti-gel additive). I get trucks in all the time with clogged injectors in the winter.
Plus all the truckers I've talked to will tell you never buy "yankee" fuel (sorry for the pun.), Because your truck will never run right on it.

But, no, I've never seen hard evidence

 

[flamingX]

You serioslly think, those extra gears (that do add extra load to a motor) could'nt possably affect mileage, espeicaly AWD models that have extra wheels to drive.
That's like saying riding the brake won't slow you down

 

[celly]

I would like to see a study done on that myself (I've been hearing it for years)
I do know there is diffence in Diesel South of Tennesee (no anti-gel additive). I get trucks in all the time with clogged injectors in the winter.
Plus all the truckers I've talked to will tell you never buy "yankee" fuel (sorry for the pun.), Because your truck will never run right on it.

But, no, I've never seen hard evidence

I don't doubt that there are regional differences in the makeup of gas in North America, but given that we're stuck with Winter Gas for much of it, we lose out for sure. My mileage gets much worse in about October of each year and better in about May. I'd gladly do without the self-imposed gas line anti-freeze (which is all it is) if I had a choice!

I especially hate ethanol additives. Sure they claim it's good for the environment (despite the problems they create by producing it). Mileage simply blows with that gas. Out here in the west, I avoid Husky and Mohawk like the plague because of it. I tend to get marginally better mileage with Shell gas and with Chevron when I visit BC.

 

[flamingX]

I tend to get marginally better mileage with Shell gas and with Chevron when I visit BC.

Me and a friend of mine (me driving a '76 Monte Carlo, him driveing a '94 Honda Civic) tested that theary one summer. we would buy nothing but one type of fuel for 1 month, then run our tanks empty and switch to another for the next month. We did this for 4 months straight, testing Petro-Can, Esso, Shell & Sunoco (him running 87 Octane, me, 89).

We found that Petro-Can & Esso where the same, but not as good as Shell, and Sunoco was a tad better than Shell. (Canadian gas companies do advertize that formulas do vary province to povince due differnces in climate)

 

[gavin]

You serioslly think, those extra gears (that do add extra load to a motor) could'nt possably affect mileage, espeicaly AWD models that have extra wheels to drive.
That's like saying riding the brake won't slow you down

did I say it would make no difference?
nope, I sure did not.

But it most definitely would NOT make a 5mpg difference, just having a t-case there.

How did I prove it? Notice the EPA-estimated mileages for 2008 and 1997 model-year Explorers with the V8, 2WD and AWD.

Granted, these are EPA-estimated, but I most definitely would believe those numbers to be much closer.

5mpg difference JUST for having a t-case is utter non-sense.

Ok... just for giggles, let's look up a 2008 Chevy Silverado.

2WD auto: 16/20
4WD auto: 16/20

these are EPA-estimated, again. Again, I know they are estimates. But if EPA-testing shows that the mileage is damn near the same, then where does 5mpg come from?

a used vehicle.. older vehicle... yes, I can see that, especially if the vehicle wasn't taken care of very well. A t-case can most definitely cause parisitic drag, especially if bearings are worn.

I know this, because when I was having issues with my Explorer way back when, I took it into the dealership since it was under warranty. After receiving it back, I was getting ~16mpg. Before-hand, it had dropped to around 13mpg.

 

[CDW6212R]

Are you saying that a so called "cold air kit" improved your gas mileage bby 4 MPG? Thats amazing. I have never seen numbers that high.

Further, are you saying that the "cold air kit" improves HP by 10%? How did you determine this?

Psst Al, he changed to the new air cleaner from the stock air cleaner((old air filter)). That's the conclusion of 99% of the weird and wild claims. "My new plugs gained me 4mpg, they are much better than ..." LOL,

 

[exgmman]

I especially hate ethanol additives. Sure they claim it's good for the environment (despite the problems they create by producing it). Mileage simply blows with that gas. Out here in the west, I avoid Husky and Mohawk like the plague because of it. I tend to get marginally better mileage with Shell gas and with Chevron when I visit BC.

I agree with the statements about the winter gas.
As far as the ethanol goes, ALL the stations here in MB have ethanol in their gas (it's the law), so it doesn't pay to avoid certain stations. I use Co-op simply because they re-imburse you for a percentage of the gas you buy.
Last Febuary I got almost $500 back from them.
A couple years ago while in AB, I did notice a bit better gas mileage on Shell gas.