The BIG mpg race

[zecolleman]

I've driven my Explorer on the highway at 58 MPH and have recorded 22 and 23 MPG.

I remember when first searching for my Explorer I found so many 6s and not many 8s, but I refused to get anything but a V8.

Think about it this way, what has a harder time pushing 4000 LBs, 6 people or 8 people.....

Je you may be right But who will eat more 6 people or 8 people ;-)

 

[fedyfedz]

Je you may be right But who will eat more 6 people or 8 people ;-)

but who will eat more 6 people busting there ***** constantly or 8 people relaxing sipping lemonade...

 

[zecolleman]

good point

 

[eeprete]

Not totally a good point but a good pun. If that were the case, why not just seat 4 to a table and put a 2.3T in the Explorer....

My brothers V6 mountaineer uses the same amount of gas as my 4.6 Explorer. Even the EPA ratings are only 1 MPG off on both highway and city driving.

 

[fedyfedz]

Not totally a good point but a good pun. If that were the case, why not just seat 4 to a table and put a 2.3T in the Explorer....

My brothers V6 mountaineer uses the same amount of gas as my 4.6 Explorer. Even the EPA ratings are only 1 MPG off on both highway and city driving.

I think theres too many things that contribute to mpg, weight, tires, tune up,driving habits, etc, etc... friend has 2005 6cyl and only gets 13-14, mine isnt stock but mine gets 16-18 depending how much lead i have in my foot that day around town.

 

[eeprete]

Totally agree, comparing MPG is like comparing recipes from restaurants. I think we've spoken, right? I am from the Smithtown area.

 

[fedyfedz]

Totally agree, comparing MPG is like comparing recipes from restaurants. I think we've spoken, right? I am from the Smithtown area.

yes i believe so im from kings park your next store neighbor, if your interested I have a bunch of parts:

1. Corner Lights
2. Slightly tinted tail lights
3. Stock Grill Painted black
4. Custom Intake had prior to K&N that i have now.

 

[NHarris]

So with this V6 and V8, what are the specs on these; differential gearings, 4X2, 4X4?

 

[KPPCExplorer]

I am from the Smithtown area.

im from kings park your next store neighbor

It's a small world out there, I'm from Kings Park and a firefighter in Smithtown.

 

[zecolleman]

Both are 4x4 with same 4x4 auto .4x4 high and 4x4 low. v8 has L/S 8.8"
3200 lbs capacity 3.73 ratio with III/IV hich tow pack. not sure about the V6.

 

[fedyfedz]

Both are 4x4 with same 4x4 auto .4x4 high and 4x4 low. v8 has L/S 8.8"
3200 lbs capacity 3.73 ratio with III/IV hich tow pack. not sure about the V6.

is it possible to have a different ratio and different tow package? I think i got jipped when i looked on my id tag on the side of my door im pretty sure i have the 3.55 and the tranny is 5r55w, not sure of the tow package does it show it on the sticker? here is a pic

 

[zecolleman]

No I don´t think so. here is my sticker and tow hich. and sticker decoder
Dead Link Removed

Dead Link Removed

 

[waskly]

the v8 has a 3.55 the 6cyl has a 3.73 gears.

the v8 should get better mpg then the 6cyl. just from the gear ratio.

also the 04 with a 6cyl has 100 lbs on the 02.

lmao.

5840 is the weight on the 02
5984 is the weight on the 04.

i got money on the 02.

 

[EasyRhino]

I'm kind of surprised to discover that there are two Explorers in Iceland!

 

[zecolleman]

the v8 has a 3.55 the 6cyl has a 3.73 gears.

the v8 should get better mpg then the 6cyl. just from the gear ratio.

also the 04 with a 6cyl has 100 lbs on the 02.

lmao.

5840 is the weight on the 02
5984 is the weight on the 04.

i got money on the 02.

v8 has L/S 8.8"
3200 lbs capacity 3.73 ratio

 

[zecolleman]

Ok I have test the v8 in real city driving I went to the big city of Reykjavík and drove 70 mile in the city for two days and got 14,7 mpg. So this small town driving is not good for fuel milage..

 

[fedyfedz]

Ok I have test the v8 in real city driving I went to the big city of Reykjavík and drove 70 mile in the city for two days and got 14,7 mpg. So this small town driving is not good for fuel milage..

just drove to six flags this weekend and got stuck in the city in bumper to bumper for 4 hours mpg showed 15.2 on hwy i got 24 i also took off my spare and third row for that trip.( put the spare back on)

 

[Carguy3J]

How you drive can also have a big effect on MPG. Now, I'm not referring to the usual cries of drive it like a grandma,etc... What I'm saying is you have to drive for both the conditions, AND the strengths of the motor. You need to operate the motor in/near it's most effecient "mode" as much as possible. What does that mean?

Well, if you have a V8 with lots of low end torque, and maybe the power curve drops off at a relatively low rpm, then don't rev the crap out of it. Run it between peak torque and peak HP rpm as much as possible.

Same thing if you have a little 4cyl, that makes most of it's power at mid to upper rpm. Don't "baby it". If it doesn't start to "come alive" until 2500-3000rpm, and it's still pulling at redline, then drive it that way. WOT until you reach cruise speed, high rpm shifts, frequent downshifts when needed, to keep it in the powerband.

The SOHC V6 in the Explorers is in between. It does make it's power a little higher up than a V8, so drive it that way, and it will be more efficient than if it you drive like the V8.

Also, keep in mind that an engine is an air pump. It is most efficient at WOT, as a partially opened throttle blade represents a greater "pumping" restriction than a fully open throttle.

Now, I'm not saying you'll save gas by racing from one stop light to another. However, if you'll be able to keep moving long enough to offset the higher initial fuel use of hard acceleration from a standing stop, then the most efficient thing to do is is to open the throttle quickly and fully, until you reach cruise speed, then back off and smoothly maintain that speed. The actual distance you need to cruise before this pays off will, obviously, vary from vehicle to vehicle (as well as with what cruise speed you're trying to reach), but a good guess would be approx no less than 1/4 mile at typical light urban traffic speed, up to a minimum of approx 1/2 mile or more if accelerating to a higher cruise speed.

This is similar to why those obnoxious hypermilers kinda get one thing right, referring to pulse-and-glide, as they call it.

 

[fedyfedz]

Now, I'm not saying you'll save gas by racing from one stop light to another. However, if you'll be able to keep moving long enough to offset the higher initial fuel use of hard acceleration from a standing stop, then the most efficient thing to do is is to open the throttle quickly and fully, until you reach cruise speed, then back off and smoothly maintain that speed. The actual distance you need to cruise before this pays off will, obviously, vary from vehicle to vehicle (as well as with what cruise speed you're trying to reach), but a good guess would be approx no less than 1/4 mile at typical light urban traffic speed, up to a minimum of approx 1/2 mile or more if accelerating to a higher cruise speed.

This is similar to why those obnoxious hypermilers kinda get one thing right, referring to pulse-and-glide, as they call it.

this is good point and i read it three times lol...with giving it more gas from a stand still then mellow of at cruise speeds wouldn't that be doing extra wear on other parts of the vehicle? and would it increase mine or is this only for v6 I have a v8. I am always interested in ways to increase MPG!!

 

[waskly]

v8 has L/S 8.8"
3200 lbs capacity 3.73 ratio

out of ford, the car was built with a 3.55 rear end. unless someone changed it. the v8 is 3.55 diff.

i even checked by vin you supplied.