My quest for 30 MPG - Ford Explorer Gas Mileage Tips

[Lloyd10977]

Dang, that's a pretty great average mileage from a 10 year old 4.0. How much of that driving is highway? I only get that many miles out of a tank if its 100% highway.

Highway to street use is about 50/50 with a lot of hills in this area.

 

[aldive]

On a recent trip to Naples, FL, I evaluated the ATF temperature with and w/o the Cool Collar ( http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1149575#post1149575 ) as well as tested two computer tunes for gas mileage.

The tunes were:
(1) Hypnotic Illusions ( http://www.hypillauto.com/ ) 93 max power
(2) Hypnotic Illusions 93 economy

The gas mileage was determined from a 100 mile run. Average speed ( GPS determined ) for (1) was 71.24 MPH and (2) was 70.85 MPH.

MPG
(1) 28.4
(2) 29.7

Other than the harsh shifting with these two tunes ( reported http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127945&highlight=tunes ), the performance was good and the mileage excellent.

 

[tonyd12345]

The only comfort I can take is that we have a gas war going on in town between Wal-Mart and Sheetz, and right now I'm only paying .77/gal

Where is that? Its almost worth the drive for me just to fill up my wife's Excursion. :navajo:

Tony

 

[sapacif]

I am new on the forum. I am also amazed at the gas mileage that is being reported. I have a 1998 EB, V8, AWD, and I am getting about 21 mpg on the road. Probably 14 in town. Please help me with some of these terms.

OHV
SOHC
Scanguage
SCT Programmer
Apten Chip

Is the bolt on air dam for the front bumber still an option? Is it after market.

Thanks for the help. I am just beginning to learn about the Explorer. My Eddie Bauer has a lot of nice features and is really nice on the road.

 

[aldive]

I am new on the forum. Please help me with some of these terms.

OHV
SOHC
Scanguage
SCT Programmer
Apten Chip

Is the bolt on air dam for the front bumber still an option? Is it after market.
.

Lets solve the definations first:

OHV - overhead valve engine
SOHC - single overhead cam engine
Scanguage - ( http://www.scangauge.com/ )
SCT Programmer - ( an instrument used to install computer tunes )
Apten Chip - an aftermarket computer chip ( used to be a great company, they have fallen out of favor die to lousy customer service )

The air dam that I have is aftermarket it is from Explorer Express ( http://www.explorerexpress.com/catalog/pages/airdam.html )

Hope this helps. If you have more questions, pleas ask away ....

 

[sapacif]

Thanks Aldive. I appreciate the info.

So, is the SOHC no longer available? Are all newer Explorers OHV?

 

[aldive]

Thanks Aldive. I appreciate the info.

So, is the SOHC no longer available? Are all newer Explorers OHV?

No, the SOHC is available ( not sure about the OHV ). Further, the SOHC will quite possibly be getting many more performance goodies for it now that is it available in the Mustang also.

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

So, is the SOHC no longer available? Are all newer Explorers OHV?

The last production year for the 4.0 OHV was 2000. I have one of the last of the OHVs in my 2000 Sport.

 

[svande8952]

OK, so you get 30 mpg by just driving like an old lady? I guess using the GPS number instead of the odo numbers helps a little too.

 

[Lloyd10977]

My Trip to DC

I've gathered a lot of tips from great guys like Aldive, in trying to improve the mileage I'm getting on my 95 X Limited 4X4 with OHV V6. Last week I took a trip from Rockland County in NY to Washington DC, a distance of just over 320 miles each way, with my X loaded with 4 adults and luggage for 3 days. The trip down was in freezing rain and we drove at approximately 70 mph with 4wd engaged and climate control (with defroster) in operation to keep windows fog-free and regular use of cruise control and timing to avoid heavy stop and go traffic periods on the interstates. Mileage came out to 21.6 mpg.

The return trip was a little less eventful with milder, dryer weather where the climate control system was turned to VENT, preventing cycling of the A/C compressor. Same load (plus a few souvenirs) and distance with the same stops for tolls and bathroom breaks yielded a mileage of 24.9 mpg.

Modifications? Tire pressures increased to 40 psi, tranny, diff, and transfer cases filled with Royal Purple synthetic lubricants (75W90 in the diff), engine filled with Castrol Syntec 5W30, TPS (throttle position sensor) adjusted to 0.96 volts at idle, K&N air filter, new thermostat, new accessory drive belt, and SeaFoam treatment. Nothing more.

My plan is to repack wheel bearings with the best available grease, remove the crossmembers from the factory luggage rack, and install an electric fan in a few months before this trip is repeated. I will also be searching this forum intently for anything that might squeeze out another foot per gallon.

So how did I do, Aldive?

 

[aldive]

So how did I do, Aldive?

You did great; I am proud.

 

[762mm]

Great mileage!

It is a very nice airdam you have on your explorer, Aldive (quite expensive too), and phenomenal mileage. I have the same truck (same year/engine and even similar color with 110,00 kms on it), and my mileage sucks on it (I do about 300 km to a tank of regular 87 octane, that's about 230-245 miles... the mileage used to be better when I got the truck, before I actually started messing with it).
I'm a beginner and don't really want to get into any heavy modifications (I'm still paying it off), therefore I'd like to know what would be the main mods, in your opinion, that would increase the milage without taking the engine apart, etc... Here's what I've done to the truck since I got it about a year and three months ago:

-Mobil1 5w30 synthetic oil + synthetic oil Fram filter.
-New NAPA Gold air filter.
-Transmission flushed with Quaker State semi-synthetic ATF (Mercon V), new gasket and trans filter installed.
-New Ford recommended differential fluids (80W90 in front, heavier synthetic fluid with friction modifier in the back, both Motorcraft from Ford dealer).
-New transfer case fluid (Mobil1 synthetic Mercon ATF).
-New radiator fluid (Prestone, mixed with distilled water).
-Bosch +4 spark plugs, I'm planning on changing those to Motorcrafts, double or triple platinums.
-New PCV valve (Motorcraft).
-Cleaned the IAC valve approx. 4 moths ago (helped in cold/humid starting).
-Ford repaired the cam and timing chain tensioners on warranty due to rattling, and replaced the front links/balljoint due to front end noise when driven.
-NOT YET DONE: Alignment and re-balance the tires (tires are pretty worn 4 season Michelins, probably the originals). Will do these things as soon as budget allows.

I'm getting new performance/heavy duty 8.5mm plug wires pretty soon as well to replace the originals. It seems to me like I've done quite a lot, but my mileage still sucks. I was going to get a K&N air filter, but the last one I had almost killed my previous car by leaking the red filter oil into the carburator, so I'm not so sure about K&N's anymore (it happened after a filter cleaning). Any input would be very welcome, thanks!

 

[davidmmm69]

(I'm still paying it off),

On a 1999????
or did i read something wrong???

 

[762mm]

On a 1999????
or did i read something wrong???

No, you read right... Ford was after me for a few years, because I stopped making payments two years after buying the truck at a dealer (I realized the depreciation, so I figured I'd make Ford pay for it), but we figured a friendly way to solve our diffrences! Their goons were very convincing...

Seriously though, I'm the second owner of this vehicle (paid $14000 and change CDN for it, with tax)... I bought it about a year and a half ago, like I said. It is in a very nice shape though, and the inside/ouside look like an almost new vehicle, not much rust underneath either despite the winters up here (rust treated every year, it really shows). Mine is a 4x4 though, I didn't realize Aldive's was a 2x4... Quite surprising to see a 2x4 XLT with the SOHC, I thought they were all 4x4.

Also, an important factor that I forgot to mention (guess I'm an idiot) is that I mainly do city mileage, but most of it is on large boulevards at speeds of 45-50mph... Still, I wish my mileage would be a bit better, I calculated approx 12.5 mpg!

 

[davidmmm69]

so I figured I'd make Ford pay for it I realized the depreciation

ok I do not get it. how could you seriously come to that conclusion..

do you also charge up your Credit Cards and then not pay and figure they can write it off. but in the long run every one pays for it ...

I seriously hope you are joking and pulling our leg???

when you realized the depreciation???Isn't that as soon as the rear wheels left the dealer lot.. probably lost a good $5000.00 on a newer Explorer..
My opinion and it is just my opinion that is why i never buy a new vehicle just 3 years old and let some one who needs the comfort of the warranty let them take the drastic hit on the price...

 

[762mm]

I seriously hope you are joking and pulling our leg???...

Yes, I am.., lol! Like I said, I bought it used (it was 4 years old when I bought it, more or less). I paid 14000 and change with tax/interest for it (Canadian $$$), and new XLT's like this one are 48000$ here, I checked (I have the automatic, SOHC, towing package, rear climate/radio controls, CD player, power windows/mirrors/seat, etc...)

The best thing about it is that it had a year left on a 5 year extended warranty (bought by the original owner), and I didn't even know about it till I brought it to Ford for an inspection. I used this warranty to fix my cam/timing chain tensioners problem, one ball joint and front steering links (everything described was rattling, either when idling or driving). And I haven't missed or even delayed a payment on it yet... I actually sort of make money on it, because I pay it off quicker on regular payments than the depreciation goes down, hehehe

You're absolutely right: never buy new!

 

[aldive]

A 1500 mile trip to Atlanta and Birmingham will start on Wednesday.

The trip is to do a dyno evaluation session with Doug ( http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128560 ) and to test an acetone/gas fuel mixture for mileage ( http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1185465#post1185465 ).

Results soon ..........

 

[aldive]

Mileage data as follows:

using Amoco 89 gas, Doug's 89 performance tune, acetone at 2 fl oz/10 gal gas

trip up: 512 miles MPG-30.1 Avg speed 67.8 MPH

trip back: 534 miles MPG 29.96 Avg speeed 72.1 MPH

 

[Interstate]

So would you say no change?

 

[Rhett]

So how did I do, Aldive?

I agree, you have done great. 24 mpg especially is great for an OHV. The best I've gotten is 22 mpg on a trip--and I have done it all, mod-wise. Except the electric fan...a project I am contemplating as we type...