The First Gen's Quest for Better Gas Mileage Update 6/02/14

[swimmernate]

Link to first post
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=408948

Results so far-

Avg MPH/Miles Driven/Gas Taken/MPG/Mods to Car/Oct. of Fuel @ This Fill

1. 75______143.3______9.4______15.2______Left over Berryman's in tank______87
2. 65-75______105.3______5.2______20.23______Last bit of Berryman in tank______87 - Pretty sure I didn't top off, throwing this out
3. 25-65______170.5______11.9______14.32______None______89 TopTier (TT)
4. 25-55______70.5______5.43______12.98______None______89 TT
5. 25-55______21.5______1.05______20.5______Cleaned MAF, TB, Air Filter Case______89 TT

Got bored today and topped off my tank with a little more then 5 gal of gas. Got 12.98 MPG and that's about what I'm used to. That's for in town driving, stop and go. I'm being very careful not to use too much throttle and waste gas.

After I filled up (line 4) I cleaned my MAF sensor and to my surprise it really wasn't that dirty. But I cleaned it anyways cause why not. I broke open my throttle body and cleaned that up. It was a little dirty, enough to clean but I would be surprised if it really made that much of a difference. I checked my PCV valve and it was good. Had a nice rattle to it as I shook it up. Wiped that down clean and put it back. I took apart my air filter box and cleaned that up, just got all the dust and stuff out of it. My air filter should get replaced (dirty but not bad at all) but I'm going to wait till I can afford a KnN or likewise. I took a look at my spark plugs while I was at it and they are not bad. However I think I'm going to get those replaced next, mostly because that's prob the next mod I can afford right now. I know NKG are good plugs but does anyone have any other suggestions?

So I took a little drive just to get a feel for the car. I don't think it felt more powerful (from TB being cleaned) or responsive but she ran well. My X was very well taken care of before I got her. I will admit that the 21 miles I drove were mostly highway miles with only about a quarter being in town. So I can't really say that the MAF and TB cleaning significantly upped my gas mileage but I certainly am pleased with the mileage. I will have to get a more accurate reading next fill (will be all in town).

More updates will come.

 

[Gadget X]

Iirc, the motor craft plugs are recommended, but the ngk might be just as good.

 

[swimmernate]

Thanks!

 

[natenkiki2004]

It's been discussed on here many times, ONLY use Autolite and Motorcraft. They work the best in these engines. Unfortunately, the double-platinum Motorcraft ones aren't manufactured anymore so it might just be best to go with the Autolite 765.

With that said, I'll probably grab the Motorcraft SP-486 sometime. Have a look:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181215717160

 

[jd4242]

It's been discussed on here many times, ONLY use Autolite and Motorcraft. They work the best in these engines. Unfortunately, the double-platinum Motorcraft ones aren't manufactured anymore so it might just be best to go with the Autolite 765.

With that said, I'll probably grab the Motorcraft SP-486 sometime. Have a look:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181215717160

Personally I HATE autolite and my motors wont run off them.NGK all day for me...

 

[Roadrunner777]

The sticker in your engine bay over the radiator should show the correct spark plug, which I wager is Motorcraft ASWF-42PP. It has both a platinum tip and a platinum button under the electrode. There is a good reason you need this configuration, but I have never found a good easy way to explain it. Spark plugs with only a platinum wire tip will wear out faster. (Technically, only 3 of the 6 will wear out faster, but I digress.)

As mentioned, they are long out of production. The only place you might find these now would be a well known auction site. As I write this, there is an auction for 2 plugs, $10 for the pair with free shipping. I saw this coming a few years ago and hoarded enough for 2 future plug changes, otherwise I would have bought them myself.

 

[natenkiki2004]

Personally I HATE autolite and my motors wont run off them.NGK all day for me...

Might have something to do with all your mods? NGK is great, don't get me wrong. But, I've spent a LOT of time researching plugs and the majority of people run, and are happy with, Autolite or Motorcraft.


As for Roadrunner, he's talking about the coil pack's waste spark system. Basically pairs of plugs are grouped together (1 & 5, 2 & 6, 3 & 4) and are both fired at the same time due to how the coil is setup. It sends a positive voltage out #1 , through the engine block and back out #5 . This means that the spark is traveling in opposite directions in #1 and #5 causing different wear patterns.

If you check your plugs every so often, swap sides with them and you'll negate any wear on a single-platinum plug. Single-platinums are rated to 60,000 to 100,000. Is any of us really going to go that long without pulling the plugs? Swap them at 30,000 and replace at 60,000? I'm all for the double-platinums but they're significantly more expensive and harder to find. $25 for a 6-pack of single platinum Motorcraft sounds good to me.

 

[jd4242]

Might have something to do with all your mods? NGK is great, don't get me wrong. But, I've spent a LOT of time researching plugs and the majority of people run, and are happy with, Autolite or Motorcraft.


As for Roadrunner, he's talking about the coil pack's waste spark system. Basically pairs of plugs are grouped together (1 & 5, 2 & 6, 3 & 4) and are both fired at the same time due to how the coil is setup. It sends a positive voltage out #1 , through the engine block and back out #5 . This means that the spark is traveling in opposite directions in #1 and #5 causing different wear patterns.

If you check your plugs every so often, swap sides with them and you'll negate any wear on a single-platinum plug. Single-platinums are rated to 60,000 to 100,000. Is any of us really going to go that long without pulling the plugs? Swap them at 30,000 and replace at 60,000? I'm all for the double-platinums but they're significantly more expensive and harder to find. $25 for a 6-pack of single platinum Motorcraft sounds good to me.

Even before my mods I would get a miss with them..but yes I HAVE to run NGK now, i run step colder(Tr6) and straight copper in my na motor and two steps colder copper race plugs(br7a) from the lighting in my sc motor..ngk is stock for the FI motors as far as I know...yes they dont last long but any performance motor I've built runs NGK, they are cheap and replacing plugs gives you qn insight on what the motor is doing

Just my opinion on autolite. .same with FRAM!!

 

[jd4242]

Might have something to do with all your mods? NGK is great, don't get me wrong. But, I've spent a LOT of time researching plugs and the majority of people run, and are happy with, Autolite or Motorcraft.


As for Roadrunner, he's talking about the coil pack's waste spark system. Basically pairs of plugs are grouped together (1 & 5, 2 & 6, 3 & 4) and are both fired at the same time due to how the coil is setup. It sends a positive voltage out #1 , through the engine block and back out #5 . This means that the spark is traveling in opposite directions in #1 and #5 causing different wear patterns.

If you check your plugs every so often, swap sides with them and you'll negate any wear on a single-platinum plug. Single-platinums are rated to 60,000 to 100,000. Is any of us really going to go that long without pulling the plugs? Swap them at 30,000 and replace at 60,000? I'm all for the double-platinums but they're significantly more expensive and harder to find. $25 for a 6-pack of single platinum Motorcraft sounds good to me.

Even before my mods I would get a miss with them..but yes I HAVE to run NGK now, i run step colder(Tr6) and straight copper in my na motor and two steps colder copper race plugs(br7a) from the lighting in my sc motor..ngk is stock for the FI motors as far as I know...yes they dont last long but any performance motor I've built runs NGK, they are cheap and replacing plugs gives you an insight on what the motor is doing

Just my opinion on autolite. .same with FRAM!!

 

[natenkiki2004]

Fair enough I have very little experience with Autolite aside from the 6 plugs in my Explorer currently. Coming from a small engine background, I usually shoot for an NGK plug when I need a new one.

How come you're running a cooler plug?

 

[jd4242]

Fair enough I have very little experience with Autolite aside from the 6 plugs in my Explorer currently. Coming from a small engine background, I usually shoot for an NGK plug when I need a new one.

How come you're running a cooler plug?

My NA motor is a higher compression motor (10.8:1), also have to run 93+ octane. ..for the supercharger motor that should be pretty obvious. .

 

[natenkiki2004]

Indeed I was just curious, maybe a cooler plug would help some people with pinging on crappy gas instead of the old octane shorting bar trick. I always run premium ethanol-free in mine but, well, you got me looking at plugs now.

 

[jd4242]

Indeed I was just curious, maybe a cooler plug would help some people with pinging on crappy gas instead of the old octane shorting bar trick. I always run premium ethanol-free in mine but, well, you got me looking at plugs now.

It can help..or my trick is to run a bunch of cleaner, octane booster and 90+ gas and just let it bounce of the rev limiter a couple times in second or first gear...obviously only if you motor is in good running condition besides a spark knock. .motors that are baby and dont see higher rpms are more subject to carbon build up, causing spark knock