why is MPG so bad for these?

[Magnetico]

Helllo, I'm shopping around for a small SUV with a V8 and found a really nice, well taken care of rwd 98 Expolorer and I've been thinking about it. However, when I went to fueleconomy.gov, I couldn't believe the MPG is so bad on these. It's actually worse than my father's '05 Dodge Ram 2500 Heavy Duty.

Has anyone seen any improvements in MPG with aftermarket intakes, exhaust, torque converter, steeper rear gears, etc.?

 

[briwayjones]

How much does the site say for mpg? I'm guessing it's probably lower than what most people get out of there V8s here. On the highway you could typically probably get between 18 and 20mpg from an Explorer. And yes tons of us have seen better mpg with those mods and more. If you want to talk about getting better mileage than this is the place to start.

 

[gluvsave35]

i get 9 around town!!!

but im not complaining cus i love my x!

 

[james t]

What is "bad" for a 4500lb gas powered SUV? I had a 96 5liter and got 14-17 in town and an honest 21 on trips.

 

[X~FACTOR]

i get 9 around town!!!

but im not complaining cus i love my x!

You're leaking gas somewhere dude!

 

[RockyMtnHigh]

My 98 XLT with the 4L SOHV gets way better fuel mileage than my 02 Mustang GT 4.6. I am impressed that such a big vehicle does so well. It would never keep up with my Mustang...except in the snow. But that's why I have an X, and love it.

 

[JDraper]

My 98 XLT with the 4L SOHV gets way better fuel mileage than my 02 Mustang GT 4.6. I am impressed that such a big vehicle does so well. It would never keep up with my Mustang...except in the snow. But that's why I have an X, and love it.

Is your 'stang stock? If so I'm a little surprised that your X gets better mileage. My '04 Mach 4.6 (32V) gets about 21 around town and up to 27 on the highway, and that's with over 300 ponies at the rear wheels. Best I EVER got with any Explorer I owned was in my '01 XLS (4.0 SOHC) and that was just over 20 on the highway. My Gen 1 Sports have averaged between 12 and 20.

 

[RockyMtnHigh]

Is your 'stang stock? If so I'm a little surprised that your X gets better mileage. My '04 Mach 4.6 (32V) gets about 21 around town and up to 27 on the highway, and that's with over 300 ponies at the rear wheels. Best I EVER got with any Explorer I owned was in my '01 XLS (4.0 SOHC) and that was just over 20 on the highway. My Gen 1 Sports have averaged between 12 and 20.

Dyno'd 324HP/336 Ft Lbs. A slight upgrade over stock

 

[JDraper]

Dyno'd 324HP/336 Ft Lbs. A slight upgrade over stock

Nitrous or FI or both?

 

[Four0Sport]

I get an average of 16 mpg in my 97 AWD V8 with the only mod being MSD coil packs, which is great for this vehicle. Where else can you get V8 power and torque in a midsize suv/truck with decent fuel economy and a good ride?

 

[RockyMtnHigh]

Nitrous or FI or both?

I stay off the bottle. In some places I drive the police can confiscate your car just for having one.

Mine's a vert so the weight might make a difference in the mileage. I've never paid too much attention to mileage - my X is (Pacific) green, that's as close as I get.

In my opinion, once you cross the 250HP line in a car, fuel mileage is no longer a concern. If it is, your driving the wrong car.

 

[JDraper]

I need to dyno mine again. I was 302/327 corrected on a Land-Sea dyno, but that was before my Bassani Catted X went in. I think I'm running a hair rich right now, and an extra 1/2" of low restriction exhaust may have bumped the power up a little. I'm still N/A with no plans on being bottle fed or fi.

 

[RockyMtnHigh]

I need to dyno mine again. I was 302/327 corrected on a Land-Sea dyno, but that was before my Bassani Catted X went in. I think I'm running a hair rich right now, and an extra 1/2" of low restriction exhaust may have bumped the power up a little. I'm still N/A with no plans on being bottle fed or fi.

Mine is not really a hotrod, more of a cruiser. I just don't want the Vettes having all the fun

Other than mech mods it looks, and is, as stock as the day it rolled off.

I have a special place in my heart for the "shaker". For a brief period I owned a 1970 Mach I with the 351 Clever with a shaker. I sold it to buy a 1984 SVO 2.3...how I miss that Mach I.

sorry to the OP for taking over your thread to talk about 'stangs.

 

[5litersplorer]

Yah I kinda don't get it either.....my 2000 5.0L AWD Ex, gets the same mileage as the 2000 4.0OHC 5 speeder my dad just sold. Considering the AWD is exactly that, it should be more miserable on fuel than the V-6 truck with part time 4X4 and more efficient OHC.
The 5.0L Rocks for power too. I'm actually pretty happy with mine, it uses about half the fuel that the '87 Bronco 5.0L it replaced, and it's really not that much smaller of a truck.
My fun buggy is exactly that though and gets fantastic gas milage....it's a bone stock '90 XR-7 S/C. Tonnes of power on tap, and is fantastic on fuel. About 50-60 bucks to fill it (premium) and with my normal driving habits I get 575km to a tank.
When I wanna have lots of fun on a little amount of fuel, I ride my V-max

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

Helllo, I'm shopping around for a small SUV with a V8 and found a really nice, well taken care of rwd 98 Expolorer and I've been thinking about it.

I looked at the fuel economy site, and I think it says 12 in city and 17 on highway? My Father had a 98 Eddie Bauer V8, and I LOVED IT! Had plenty of power, and rode really nice. The message center that was installed usually read about 20 miles a gallon in city, and about 25 (had it up to 26 on a trip comign DOWN the mountains), but we drove conservatively and used mid-grade gasoline.

It's all in how you drive.

 

[Magnetico]

I looked at the fuel economy site, and I think it says 12 in city and 17 on highway? My Father had a 98 Eddie Bauer V8, and I LOVED IT! Had plenty of power, and rode really nice. The message center that was installed usually read about 20 miles a gallon in city, and about 25 (had it up to 26 on a trip comign DOWN the mountains), but we drove conservatively and used mid-grade gasoline.

It's all in how you drive.

The one I'm looking at is a 98 "Limited Edition". Is this supposedly better than the Eddie Bauer? Sorry, I'm still new on all the different trims.

 

[Cobraguy]

Just freshened the engine and I'm now 16 to 16.5 mpg around town. Never taken it on a trip. We drive like idiots here around town too. Most surface streets are 45 mph speed limits...which means 55 mph stop and go traffic. Of course, you can jump on one of the many freeways where you can go 10 mph in the traffic...

 

[2kExploder5.0]

I looked at the fuel economy site, and I think it says 12 in city and 17 on highway? My Father had a 98 Eddie Bauer V8, and I LOVED IT! Had plenty of power, and rode really nice. The message center that was installed usually read about 20 miles a gallon in city, and about 25 (had it up to 26 on a trip comign DOWN the mountains), but we drove conservatively and used mid-grade gasoline.

It's all in how you drive.

From the factory: 14mpg city/20mpg highway 89 octane

In warm weather, I get about 18 city and 20-21 highway. A cai would help a bit as well as some "opened" up exhaust. My 2 cents.

 

[TOMANDPAT]

I just switched from Quik Trip gas, where I was getting about 14mpg combined to Conoco Phillips, and I'm up to about 16.7 on my 98 EB 4.0 SOHC. I'm gonna try a few more tanksful to make sure it's not a fluke

 

[yellowford]

I'm normally around 12mpg most of the time, even when I take trips it goes up to maybe 16mpg if I'm lucky but I don't drive very conservitively at all.