Tune up needed?

[skoobydoobiedew]

So I checked my MPG today... 12 mpg... with gas here are $2.79 that's just not gonna cut it for me. I have a oversized intake with a k&n filter and a better flowing exhaust... but it still is getting crappy gas milage. Should I take it to a shop and have them tune it up maybe? I know I have a lifted first gen. but I know people on here get better than 12 mixed in town/hi-way. I want to keep my explorer so bad... but it's hard on my pockets right now... any thoughts?

P.S. I did the seafoam treatment last week : ( still no results

 

[IAmTodd]

Do plugs, wires, fuel filter and see where you stand.

 

[sn0border88]

ditto to that, check around here for simple things you can do, remove roof rack, ect. Checkout aldives thread and also what size tires you have and what gear ratio, depended on that and your lift 12 mpg might be about right.

 

[IAmTodd]

Might pay off to get a less agressive tire. I gained a considerable amount when I went from my winter tires(AT equivalent) to street tires.

And get rid of you roof basket. Thats killing you!!

 

[Papa]

Check your air filter. I had one of those guys with a yard blower kick a bunch of dirt and dust in my direction and it mucked up my new air filter. I was able to knock a bunch of sand out of it but it is not the same.

 

[belizegial]

well, gas here in Belize is now US$5.28 per gallon.

In the end we might get rig of the vehicle and ride bicycle.

 

[1IronMike]

I saw something earlier today that got me thinking, do you have manual or auto hubs? Auto hubs can fail causing your front end to engage, incrasing fuel consumption. Just a thought.

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

Well I just replaced the plugs last week too... I might try the fuel filter. I guess the roof rack will have to go... : ( About the auto hubs that I have- I can understand that.. but replacing them would be a few hundred bucks and that would buy a lot of gas... I might try cleaning my filter again. I have m/t's right now.. but I'm going a/t for sure when I get new ones... but there again it's not really smart for me to replace perfectly good tires with new ones that cost mucho money. So that will have to wait. So no one thinks a shop could do anything???

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

Thanks again for all the help!!!

 

[sn0border88]

a shop could certainly do a few things most likely, but you would be much better off trying things on your own. About the hubs, look around. Members usually sell sets for a decent price, under a hundred. i know that there is one guy selling 3 manual hubs for 100 bucks, a good price.

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

So you think the hubs would really make that big of a difference? I guess it would be nice to have manual hubs anyways...

 

['97 V8]

you said you seafoamed the truck. Now i know seafoam burns really hot and can foul plugs. Did you replace plugs after or before the seafoam?

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

Yes, the plugs were replaced two days after the seafoam.

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

Well I've been thinking.. I'd like to get better gas milage, as I've said, but I think I can get a few more horses under my right foot at the same time correct? (If I don't drive it like I stole it that is).
I was looking at summit racing and they have tons of aftermarket parts like:

bigger throttle body
high-flow thermostats
hypertech and jet modules
high performance spark plug wires
bigger maf housings
high-flow cats
electric fans
o2 sensors

Those are things that I wouldn't mind doing. Things like headers and cams would be nice but are above my comfort level right now. So... out of the parts I listed... are there any you would recommend? Are there any that I missed? (Keeping in mind I already an aftermarket air filter, air intake tube, and exhaust. I just ran into a few extra bucks and I'd like to get better milage and some more horsepower if I could. Thanks for all your help!!!

btw: 150 posts!!! : ) -well I was excited anyways ; )

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

Any thoughts on new mods??? Thanks!

 

[btimby]

Any thoughts on new mods??? Thanks!

you could turbocharge it...that would require some serious welding and fabrication under the hood tho..

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

Well, as I said, I'd like to do the simple things first, like I listed. I've welded and fabricated lots of things including my bumper and roof rack. The thing is, you can't just slap on a turbo. Many other parts would need to be changed too.

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

any thoughts?

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

Update: I changed the fuel filter today and added a new set of OEM spark plug wires. I also cleaned my air filter and checked all the fluids. The bad news is... I can't tell a difference in performance. It still runs like a dog.

Would anyone recommend any of these?

bigger throttle body
high-flow thermostat
bama chip
bigger maf housing
high-flow cat
electric fan
new o2 sensors

Thanks!