My quest for 30 MPG - Ford Explorer Gas Mileage Tips

[aldive]

I noticed a while back you said you had removed your EE lower kit (blocks,CK,&TT), do you still have the rear kit with blocks & U-bolts? I want to slightly lower my exploder down on the '03 Cobra rims to help a bit with handling. By the way your quest is now mine but with a 5.0 & 2wd '97 exloder. Just let me know.
thanks
Charles

Sorry, I no longer have them ( sold a long time ago ).

Good luck with your quest.

 

[spotdog14]

Blah, i have read a few pages, but no where near all of them, so please excuse me if i say or ask something that has already been said or asked.

Ok, my girlfriend and i have a 95 Limited that has 165k on it. Right now on trips we average about 20 mph going about 60 mph. We have larger tires on it, i dont remember what the original tire size was, but they were 15inch rims (something like P235/75 R15), the new tires are P245/70 R16, with Goodyear Fortura Triple Treads. I have noticed an increase in gas mileage going to the new tires from my old Goodyear Wrangler AP's (which were the most horrible tire).

Also i have a K&N air filter, just the replacement filter, not the cone filter. I am also debating on taking off the roof rack, but i like how it looks, but if it saves MPG im all for it. And the last time i detailed the X i used a polymer sealant so its nice and smooth as glass.

Anywho, we had the tranny rebuilt not to long ago, so what i am thinking my next step will be is to next time replace my engine oil with Mobile 1, then the tranny fluid with Mobile 1? Then the front and rear diff with some synthetic, and possibly the T-case. And what i would also like to do is replace the plugs and wires since i think that they are original (we are the third owners).

Do you guys have an recommendations as to good plugs and wires?

Thanks guys, im hoping to beat the 25 MPG barrier.

 

[CDW6212R]

Jump straight to the high dollar synthetics, Amsoil and others are about 50% more than the local store synthetics, but they will save enough money in gas to pay for the costs. Keep the K&N air filter until it seems even slightly dirty, then buy the Amsoil EA filters, they will filter air far better and last as long.

Use at least Mercon V in the trans and transfer case, it's a better fluid than Mercon, which is now obsolete and soon unavailable.

Tires make a big difference in mileage, the weight of a tire can vary greatly by brands and models, plus the tread pattern has a certain resistance, they differ.

Buy high quality plug wires, not the cheap lifetime local parts store brands. Ford is a good base choice, and there are a small few others which will be near the same price as the Ford parts. The recommended Motorcraft plugs are good choices also, don't waste money on special/odd plugs, basically a spark plug just works, either it's working properly, or it's missing, or fouling etc. The gap set is more important than the type of plug, check them at 25K or so. Good luck,

 

[aldive]

Use Mercon V in the trans and transfer case,

I would go with full syntheytic for all of the above.

 

[aldive]

Do you guys have an recommendations as to good plugs and wires?

Thanks guys, im hoping to beat the 25 MPG barrier.

I definitely recommend Motorcraft Double Platinum plugs. AS for wires, there are plenty of good ones out there; I personally use Jacobs wires.

You can easily get 25; good luck.

 

[briwayjones]

I definitely recommend Motorcraft Double Platinum plugs. AS for wires, there are plenty of good ones out there; I personally use Jacobs wires.

You can easily get 25; good luck.

Motorcraft plugs are Autolite plugs. So get some Autolite Double Platinum Plugs they will be easier to find and probably cheaper.

 

[CDW6212R]

Okay, as edited, I meant at least Mercon V. I just finished reading the article from last fall, where Mercon is being eliminated by Ford. Too many people and shops have been substituting Mercon for Mercon V. I don't like the much higher price of normal ATF now, I was used to $1/qt. and $3.25 bought you the good B&M Trickshift fluid. That was the 80's, wow time flies.

 

[Turdle]

Tonight's "mythbusters" would interest you Al.

Big Rig Myths episode 131

 

[BrooklynBay]

http://articles.news.aol.com/busine...usy-gas-mileage/20070601105909990002?cid=1712

 

[trucku]

kewl...them buster guys...forgot about it was watching Ghost hunters...New episode. this thread gives all kinds of info.lol

 

[spotdog14]

Tonight's "mythbusters" would interest you Al.

Big Rig Myths episode 131

yah that was a pretty good episode. When on long halls i usually try to stay behind some big rigs to get better MPG, but i try to stay safely behind them, not ride their ass... lol.

 

[xpl951]

My rear diff calles for 80w90 and i was wondering what you guys used for the mobil 1 synthetic. I was told be a ford mechanic NO 75w140
But i was thining about just using 75w90

what do u guy think?

 

[Maniak]

I've been using teh 75/90 synthetic diff fluid on our 8.8 (with a detroit locker) @ 4:10's for the last 150k+ miles. So far so good..

Thats with a lot of highway miles.. I change my fluid about once a year (30k miles or so is my best guess).. Fluid never came out burnt.. it always smelled/looked about the same as it did going in.

~Mark

 

[zippee]

I use 75w90 also.

 

[shootthemoon]

Baby steps

Al- I was excited to see this thread and your ability to achieve over 30MPG.... until I saw your list of mods!!! holy cow where do i start? I'm a pretty ignorant fellow lookin to increase my mpg. Can u recommend a couple (more simplistic) modifications that I could begin with that would make a difference increasing my mpg but are a good bang for buck? If u had to start with one thing what would u suggest? Anyone? Thank you!

 

[mattferkey]

also getting great mileage

I subscribed to this fourm awhile back to help troubleshoot a problem awhile back on my explorer, and have been doing mileage modifications little by little on my own. Thanks to Al, I have gone from 28.6mpg to 32.09mpg, using a few of his ideas that i never would have thought of on my own. I have a 1997 Explorer XLT 140k mi 4.0sohc 4x4 with the 3.73's, I am also running 30" bfg's allterrain tako.... 32.09 was my personal best over 3 tanks averaged out the temps were between 75 and 83 f and the cruise was set at 65. I only stoped to fill up.

ngk tr55ix plugs and motocraft wires
k&n fipk
b&m shift kit for 5r55e
bfg allterrain ta ko at 42 psi
mobil 1 0w20 in motor
amsoil atf in tranny
amsoil atf in transfercase
amsoil 75w90 severgear in diffs
envirosafe in ac system
blackmagic 150 electric fan
brembo rotors and ceramic pads
flowmaster 50 suv dual dual exhaust
voltage stabilizer


Hey Al... somthing I think you might be interested in for your quest...
First of all let me start off saying that I have done the research, and am certified with automotive AC... There is a product that replaces r134a, it is called envirosafe. it is a hydrocarbon coolent which takes 30% less energy to compress than the 134a. After reading that you most often drive with the windows up and the AC on, this could free up some load on the serp. This product doesnt require any retrofitting or modification, and mixes with the existing oil in the system.

 

[CDW6212R]

Welcome, Matt is it, and thanks for the AC idea. I often run stop and go with the AC running, and accelerating is harder with the AC on. Regards,

 

[aldive]

Al- I was excited to see this thread and your ability to achieve over 30MPG.... until I saw your list of mods!!! holy cow where do i start? I'm a pretty ignorant fellow lookin to increase my mpg. Can u recommend a couple (more simplistic) modifications that I could begin with that would make a difference increasing my mpg but are a good bang for buck? If u had to start with one thing what would u suggest? Anyone? Thank you!

I would do the simple things first:

tire pressure
synthetic motor oil
synthetic ATF
synthetic diff oil
remove roof rack

thenj:

underdrive pulleys
cat back exhaust
air intake

then:

computer program

Hope this helps you.

Good luck ....

 

[aldive]

Thanks to Al, I have gone from 28.6mpg to 32.09mpg, using a few of his ideas that i never would have thought of on my own.

Way to go; excellent results.

Hey Al... somthing I think you might be interested in for your quest...
First of all let me start off saying that I have done the research, and am certified with automotive AC... There is a product that replaces r134a, it is called envirosafe. it is a hydrocarbon coolent which takes 30% less energy to compress than the 134a. After reading that you most often drive with the windows up and the AC on, this could free up some load on the serp. This product doesnt require any retrofitting or modification, and mixes with the existing oil in the system.

Thanks, I shall look into it.

 

[BrooklynBay]

I know that they make low rolling resistance tires for electric vehicles. I'm sure that they make them in all sizes. Al, do you have any experience with them?