Improving gas mileage on 2000 ford explorer

Hi all -- vehicle is a 2000 Ford Explorer Sport, 95,000 miles, 2WD,
5-speed manual with the 4.0L OHV V6 engine.

I haven't measured my fuel economy yet as I have just purchased this
vehicle but are there any ways that will improve its mileage? I know the
air filter, plugs, tires, etc all need to be in good order...anybody
have any tricks they found that worked?

Thanks all
- J

Masospaghetti wrote:
> Hi all -- vehicle is a 2000 Ford Explorer Sport, 95,000 miles, 2WD,
> 5-speed manual with the 4.0L OHV V6 engine.
>
> I haven't measured my fuel economy yet as I have just purchased this
> vehicle but are there any ways that will improve its mileage? I know the
> air filter, plugs, tires, etc all need to be in good order...anybody
> have any tricks they found that worked?

None that will save more money than they cost, with the possible
exception of a large, exceptionally ugly homemade spoiler under the
front bumper that almost touches the ground (and would need to be made
of rubber to prevent damage from bumps). But if you need new tires,
look into ones with the least rolling resistance, as Consumer Reports
(11/04 for SUV tires) found they could improve fuel economy 2 MPG @ 65
MPG compared to tires with the most resistance. Avoid trick filters,
plugs, plug wires, or gadgets, as they do nothing or even worsen
economy.

Masospaghetti wrote:
> Hi all -- vehicle is a 2000 Ford Explorer Sport, 95,000 miles, 2WD,
> 5-speed manual with the 4.0L OHV V6 engine.
>
> I haven't measured my fuel economy yet as I have just purchased this
> vehicle but are there any ways that will improve its mileage? I know the
> air filter, plugs, tires, etc all need to be in good order...anybody
> have any tricks they found that worked?
>
> Thanks all
> - J

Standard stuff will be mentioned here, but I'll add:

When you get tires, put on the *narrowest* ones you will feel *safe* in
using.
Narrower tires will give better mileage because thay have a smaller
contact patch, and you need to inflate them to a higher pressure.
Handling issues may result. Not likely, but maybe.

Find the engines *sweet-spot* for best mileage- what cruising speed in
top gear that will give you the best mileage. If you do highway
driving, this may indeed be at a higher speed than you may anticipate
(depends on how its geared).

Run the engine in the highest gear you can without lugging the engine.
I don't run mine below 1500 rpm unless the load is very small.

If it has cruise control, use it whenever possible.
Some cruise-control usage examples:
When going from a 35 zone to a 45 zone, use the accelerate button to
speed up.
When going from a 45 zone to a 35 zone, use the decel button, but don't
just hold it- tap it lightly so you coast down more slowly.

If it doesn't have cruise control, add it.

I'm not driving to max out my mileage, but with a 10-mile suburban/35
mile highway commute I'm getting about 20mpg when I keep it down to 70
mph on the highway.
The newer 4.0 probably will not get a lot better mileage (from what I
hear over at
www.therangerstation.com. (they handle exploders, I mean explorers over
there too).

Dave

Masospaghetti > wrote:
>Hi all -- vehicle is a 2000 Ford Explorer Sport, 95,000 miles, 2WD,
>5-speed manual with the 4.0L OHV V6 engine.
>
>I haven't measured my fuel economy yet as I have just purchased this
>vehicle but are there any ways that will improve its mileage? I know the
>air filter, plugs, tires, etc all need to be in good order...anybody
>have any tricks they found that worked?

I hate to sound snide about this, but... if you care about mileage, why
did you buy an Explorer?
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Scott Dorsey wrote:
> Masospaghetti > wrote:
>> Hi all -- vehicle is a 2000 Ford Explorer Sport, 95,000 miles, 2WD,
>> 5-speed manual with the 4.0L OHV V6 engine.
>>
>> I haven't measured my fuel economy yet as I have just purchased this
>> vehicle but are there any ways that will improve its mileage? I know the
>> air filter, plugs, tires, etc all need to be in good order...anybody
>> have any tricks they found that worked?
>
> I hate to sound snide about this, but... if you care about mileage, why
> did you buy an Explorer?
> --scott
>

I knew this would come up...I didn't buy the Explorer for gas mileage, I
need to tow a trailer with two motorcycles. However, it would be _nice_
to get relatively decent mileage too.

As far as SUVs go the Explorer was one of the better ones in terms of
fuel economy - the EPA on mine is 18/23.

wrote:
> Masospaghetti wrote:
>> Hi all -- vehicle is a 2000 Ford Explorer Sport, 95,000 miles, 2WD,
>> 5-speed manual with the 4.0L OHV V6 engine.
>>
>> I haven't measured my fuel economy yet as I have just purchased this
>> vehicle but are there any ways that will improve its mileage? I know the
>> air filter, plugs, tires, etc all need to be in good order...anybody
>> have any tricks they found that worked?
>
> None that will save more money than they cost, with the possible
> exception of a large, exceptionally ugly homemade spoiler under the
> front bumper that almost touches the ground (and would need to be made
> of rubber to prevent damage from bumps). But if you need new tires,
> look into ones with the least rolling resistance, as Consumer Reports
> (11/04 for SUV tires) found they could improve fuel economy 2 MPG @ 65
> MPG compared to tires with the most resistance. Avoid trick filters,
> plugs, plug wires, or gadgets, as they do nothing or even worsen
> economy.
>

Thanks all for the replies.

I've come to believe that those "gas saver" devices do not work as well.
Unfortunately I bought the rig with brand new tires on it already.

Would a less restrictive air filter (like an AEM cone filter) improve
fuel economy at all?

Masospaghetti wrote:
> wrote:
>> Masospaghetti wrote:
>>> Hi all -- vehicle is a 2000 Ford Explorer Sport, 95,000 miles, 2WD,
>>> 5-speed manual with the 4.0L OHV V6 engine.
>>>
>>> I haven't measured my fuel economy yet as I have just purchased this
>>> vehicle but are there any ways that will improve its mileage? I know the
>>> air filter, plugs, tires, etc all need to be in good order...anybody
>>> have any tricks they found that worked?

drive 55 instead of 75.

Seriously, there's not a whole lot of free or cheap ways to give large
gains in fuel economy, especially in a truck/suv configuration, and
especially when you're towing.

About the only two I can think of are aerodynamics - like someone said -
big front air dam and front end alignment - make sure you're not way
toed in or out and dragging the tires across the pavement. Easy on the gas.

Ray

Masospaghetti > wrote:
>
>I've come to believe that those "gas saver" devices do not work as well.

No, for the most part the various gadgets are fraudulent.

>Would a less restrictive air filter (like an AEM cone filter) improve
>fuel economy at all?

No, that allows you to get more air (and therefore more air/fuel mix)
into the engine. That might give you more power at full throttle, but
it won't improve economy at all.

For the most part, the computer system is handling the mixture on modern
cars, so there isn't really anything to optimize there.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Masospaghetti wrote:
> Hi all -- vehicle is a 2000 Ford Explorer Sport, 95,000 miles, 2WD,
> 5-speed manual with the 4.0L OHV V6 engine.
>
> I haven't measured my fuel economy yet as I have just purchased this
> vehicle but are there any ways that will improve its mileage? I know the
> air filter, plugs, tires, etc all need to be in good order...anybody
> have any tricks they found that worked?
>
> Thanks all
> - J

Assuming the car is tuned up and running properly, the biggest
improvement to milage you will get will be to watch your driving
habits. Drive at a reasonable speed, hold speed constant as much as
possible, use engine braking whereever possible, shift to keep rpms
down, etc. Next on the list is keep the tires inflated on the high side
and to check the pressue regularly.

There are no magic bullets to improve gas milage. Special air filters,
spiffy induction systems, gas additives, etc., are nothing more than
the modern day equivalent of snake oil.

John S. > wrote:
>
>Assuming the car is tuned up and running properly, the biggest
>improvement to milage you will get will be to watch your driving
>habits. Drive at a reasonable speed, hold speed constant as much as
>possible, use engine braking whereever possible, shift to keep rpms
>down, etc. Next on the list is keep the tires inflated on the high side
>and to check the pressue regularly.
>
>There are no magic bullets to improve gas milage. Special air filters,
>spiffy induction systems, gas additives, etc., are nothing more than
>the modern day equivalent of snake oil.

One thing you CAN do is to reduce the weight of the vehicle. It's a little
extreme to pull all the seats and interior out to reduce the weight the
way race car folks do, but by the same token I know some people who carry
cinder blocks and bags of cement around in their truck in the unlikely event
they'll need them someday. Take that stuff out!
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."