My quest for 30 MPG - Ford Explorer Gas Mileage Tips | Page 93 | Ford Explorer Forums

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My quest for 30 MPG - Ford Explorer Gas Mileage Tips

best i ever got was 22mpg in an 05 rental explorer back in 05 on a cross country trip. better than the 17 i got in an 04 trailblazer i drove from FL to NY.
 



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Well, I'm not Al, but since he said he didn't know......
The Jeep 4.0L inline 6 is an awesome motor, from a durability standpoint. Also, as you mentioned, great torque. They are tough to kill. Gas mileage is another story. They are PIGS, when in it comes to mpg. Even in a 5spd stick Wrangler, they'll only get 17-18mpg. The Cherokee is heavier. The Grand Cherokee even more so. Considering that most of us can get at least that mileage w/ our 4.0L SOHC, in 4x4 auto Explorers (also heavier than a Wrangler), I think the Explorer will come out ahead, assuming both vehicles had optimal gearing,etc.... Which it should considering that the SOHC is more technologically advanced than the ancient, by comparison, Jeep I6. For that matter, I think the Explorer as a whole (2nd gen and up) is more refined than any Cherokee

That's my .02
I agree with your thoughts about the durability of the Jeep 4.0 I-6, I just love that engine! I had a '92 Cherokee 4x4 with the 4.0+auto and it was fantastic. I had 30" tires but could still manage 20 mpg at about 55, but on the interstate at 70 it was down to about 17. I'm currently looking for either an Explorer or Cherokee but I want a 2x4 and manual transmission. One of the main things I notice is the aftermarket support for the Ford that the Jeep just doesn't have(concerning the engine). You can't get pulleys or computer flashes for the Jeep 4.0, which seems to be a pretty big deal concerning mileage.
 






Who is Jon?

jtsmith is a log time EF poster, a moderator of the site and a powdercoater extraordinaire among others. He has a 347 in his ever changing Mounty.
 






Hey Al,
Also.. Does anyone know if $99 is a good deal for a EGT kit? If so I might buy one.

I'd say it is.
Here is another one that is more costly, but keeps track of max EGT:
http://www.ifamilysoftware.com/8307.html

Here is another site which has a digital pyrometer, plus a few different sensors.:
http://tscsensors.com/pmdrd0000000ao0anal.html

Buying this, plus the right sensor might bring you to a bit less than $99
http://www.coleparmer.com/catalog/product_view.asp?sku=8646003
 






Question for Aldive

Al, I was just curious what the verdict is/was on your acetone experiments.

Yes, I've read this entire thread. more than once. Yes, I've searched. Yes, I've read the acetone thread in which you appeared to be participating. However, it seems that your postings in that thread sort of trailed off, w/ no clear verdict.

Last I saw, you seemed to be getting some results. However, I'm very curious what your "final" opinion is on that matter.

I also followed some of your HHO stuff. It looks interesting, but it's just looks too time intensive for me right now. It would also seem to me that it would not really fit in my plans, as I want power, as well mpg. I'm willing to try things to improve mpg, but I'm not willing to sacrifice hp/tq capability to do it. I might be willing to moderate its useage at times, but I still want the ability to stomp on it and GO when I want to. Given that, do you think HHO is or is not compatible with this philosophy? Do you think the o2 tweaking needed w/ HHO interferes w/ performance tuning?
 






Holy cow this is a long thread. I perused the last 10 pages or so of it. Looks like there's some really good ideas in it. aldive, could you post up a complete list of all the best combination of mods that you've done from a fuel efficiency viewpoint please? I saw several posts about new tunes. I'd love to get my Explorer up around 23-24 mpg.

Mine is a 2004 XLT AWD so I'm sure there will be some differences in what you've done and what I'd need to do but more info is almost always better than none.
 












Lightfoot vs leadfoot

I have an 2005 MINI Cooper, 1.6 liter 5-speed manual, which regularly gets 30 mpg. If I drive in the city, and accelerate like a total jerk, I get about 25 and can sometimes drive it down to 23mpg. However, I recently got my Explorer Sport Trac, 4x4 with auto (I need a place to stick an infant car seat) and seem to be getting about 8 mpg. I am thoroughly intrigued to bring my mileage on the Ford to 20 mpg.

Usually, at least around here, people buy Fords to drive around leadfooted... especially to make lots of noise and cut people off... :p:

well, I think I'll get me a case of synthetic oil, a little synth tranny fluid, and start tinkering... :salute:
 






A Way...

There is a way to achieve alot better mileage. It involves re-routing your fuel line through the exhaust to get it hot. This system has bumped cars up 10-15 MPG's before. I once saw an old Fiero that was getting 25 hwy before this job and afer it was doing 38 hwy with a noticeable increase in power. The way it works is it heats up thegas so that it burns more efficiently and therefor burns less. Just dont try this with a car that you have a warranty on. I hear this can be dangerous too if youre not careful so...anyway:D Thats the only surefire way I have efer seen on my quest to discover the best way to save gas...
 






There is a way to achieve alot better mileage. It involves re-routing your fuel line through the exhaust to get it hot. This system has bumped cars up 10-15 MPG's before. I once saw an old Fiero that was getting 25 hwy before this job and afer it was doing 38 hwy with a noticeable increase in power. The way it works is it heats up thegas so that it burns more efficiently and therefor burns less. Just dont try this with a car that you have a warranty on. I hear this can be dangerous too if youre not careful so...anyway:D Thats the only surefire way I have efer seen on my quest to discover the best way to save gas...

yes, sounds dangerous, after all don't engineers design heat shields specifically for the exhaust so the gas lines don't overheat!? sure-fire is about right!

seems like people have done it though: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3788292.html
 






There is a way to achieve alot better mileage. It involves re-routing your fuel line through the exhaust to get it hot. This system has bumped cars up 10-15 MPG's before. I once saw an old Fiero that was getting 25 hwy before this job and afer it was doing 38 hwy with a noticeable increase in power. The way it works is it heats up thegas so that it burns more efficiently and therefor burns less. Just dont try this with a car that you have a warranty on. I hear this can be dangerous too if youre not careful so...anyway:D Thats the only surefire way I have efer seen on my quest to discover the best way to save gas...

you missed April fools day! :bounce:
 






The great Smokey Yunick designed a system to heat the fuel
so as to atomize more efficiently, called the hot vapor system,
and it worked. It was very complicated (and probably dangerous),
so the idea wasn't persued. In fact, his testbed may have been
the Fiero that Technoboy spoke of.......????
 






For that idea(old), look up the 200mpg carburetor. That didn't heat the fuel, but it did spray fuel into a large volume container which was part of the inlet system. Air went through the container where fuel was vaporized, coming out it burned much more leanly than fuel sprayed at the heads(or intake).
 






Ok made it through 65 pages lots of good info in there would be better if somebody would go through and take out all the crap talk and just had Als stuff. I've been running the coil and wires from Granatelli on my 4.0 and have picked up 2 mpg, going to try the syn in the diff next and maybe the zabtech throttle body next.
 






I hate to bust your bubble, but I call BS.
 






Have you had your injectors cleaned? Im sure that would regain some lost power and help your gas mileage some.

I highly recommend Injector-Rehab
 






How much are they for that? I bit the bullet for my 347 and ordered a rebuilt and matched set of 30's recently. Quality injectors are not cheap, and matched new sets are well over $450 for a V8.
 






When I send mine off to get cleaned and rebuilt, it's going to cost about $100 (For a V6)
 



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New mileage data

A round tripto Ft Myers of 175 miles.
Speed 72 MPH
Computer tune: custom mileage 89 fuel
Fuel used: BP 87

Mileage: 28.7 MPG

Notes: speed kills gas mileage
 






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