What tuner would you recommend for improved fuel economy - 2013 Expedition

[Johnathan M]

Hi, I have a 2013 Expedition King Ranch EL. Just purchased it in May of 2021. I use it as my work vehicle (remodeling - kitchens & bathrooms), so I usually have quite a few tools in it at all times. However, occasionally I use it to haul my family on long trips such as from PA to FL for vacation. I would love to improve my fuel mileage. I live in a rural area, so not usually doing city driving, however central PA is all hills. On the highway (long trips), I usually only get 15-17 mpg, and locally I would say I get around 12-14. This is checking it manually, not going off of what the dash tells me. I usually put around 25K per year on my work vehicle, so even improving my mpg by 1 would make a definite difference in savings every year - especially with gas prices nowdays.

I am planning to do the Gotts mod to the air intake, but don't really want to do anything to the exhaust system until I need to (if/when it rusts out). I am considering a tune, but there are so many different options out there, I don't really know where to start. I don't mind increased performance (in fact I would love it), but my primary reason for a tune would be improved fuel mileage. Does anyone with a 2013 or similar year have a tuner that has improved fuel mileage, and if so, what numbers have you seen? I apologize if there are threads on this for my year/gen Expy, but either I don't know how to search properly, or they aren't out there. I did see some old threads (not specifically for my year), but many years have passed and I was hoping for updated information. And there are newer threads on 4th gen, but I would like info related to my vehicle.

If anyone has info relevant to my question, I would love to hear it. Also if you have other inexpensive ideas to improve fuel mileage, I would love to hear them as well. I'm ok with paying for a tune, because I drive enough miles that it would probably pay for itself in the first year or so. I just would like to hear if it actually improves mpg and if so, how much. Thanks!

By the way, everything is stock on the Expedition (as far as I know). I did put wheel adapters/spacers on to set my wheels out a bit more, but they are stock rims/tires.

 

[Hamfisted]

Clean and wax the Expy, and make sure the tires are properly inflated. Good tune up and clean throttle body. The Expy has the aerodynamics of a large refrigerator. Keep it under 70 mph. There's just not a lot of gas mileage to be squeezed out of her.

 

[Vdubnick]

gotts mod isnt going to do anything to mpg, may give you more throttle sound, but that is it. better MPG will be had at lower RPM, intake mods are only beneficial at high rpm.

not sure of any fuel saving tune other than watch your foot. if a tune could get a few extra MPG, ford would have done it from the factory to get EPA off their backs. best fuel economy will come from proper maintenance and efficient driving habits.

 

[Johnathan M]

gotts mod isnt going to do anything to mpg, may give you more throttle sound, but that is it. better MPG will be had at lower RPM, intake mods are only beneficial at high rpm.

not sure of any fuel saving tune other than watch your foot. if a tune could get a few extra MPG, ford would have done it from the factory to get EPA off their backs. best fuel economy will come from proper maintenance and efficient driving habits.

So would the gotts mod help when towing, since it will be pulling harder, especially on hills on the freeway?

 

[Vdubnick]

So would the gotts mod help when towing, since it will be pulling harder, especially on hills on the freeway?

no, keeping a clean OE air filter will tho. unless you are actually increasing air flow past the designed amount (e.g. forced induction upgrade) the factory system works great as intended.

 

[mr_dave]

5 Star has a fuel economy tune, but I haven't noticed much of a difference with it enabled. It changes throttle response and shift points so I think the idea is saving some fuel through a more conservative driving style.

 

[JExpedition07]

Nothing lol, it’s a 6,000 pound rolling brick with no aerodynamics. I’d say save the headache and live with it. Down low and around town driving it doesn’t matter what you have. It takes energy to move alot of weight from a stop, no overcoming that unless you feather the gas pedal over a mile to get to 40. I’m not trying to be negative but there is a lot of snake oil out there. These vehicles aren’t geared for fuel economy.

 

[Johnathan M]

I guess I had read on the forum about people using tuners and improving their fuel mileage a bit. Like I said, it wouldn’t take much to pay for itself. I just didn’t know where to start. I’ve also seen others talk about getting close to 20 mpg on the highway with their Expeditions, but maybe those were newer Expeditions.

 

[mr_dave]

Here are many real world results: https://www.fuelly.com/car/ford/expedition

There's no way it's going to get anywhere close to 20mpg on the highway unless you're going 45mph.

 

[Vdubnick]

I guess I had read on the forum about people using tuners and improving their fuel mileage a bit. Like I said, it wouldn’t take much to pay for itself. I just didn’t know where to start. I’ve also seen others talk about getting close to 20 mpg on the highway with their Expeditions, but maybe those were newer Expeditions.

newer ones will get close to 20, but i believe they weigh about 700lb less and probably have active air dams on the front.

 

[Vincent Vega]

@Johnathan M I'm just repeating what has been said, but to get best MPG on these: 1) tire pressure (35-40 psi), and 2) chill out and slow down, some people floor it every green light, only to screech to a halt at the red light 200 yards away. I have driven like a jerk, and like a grandma, and it made 2-3 mpg difference, which is alot. I have read many posts on here regarding tuners and most (I can't say all) of them say they don't help mpg, with marginal power improvements. If you end up getting the tuner, let us know if it helps.

 

[twodollars]

In our 2013 4wd, with one of the seats x cargo carrier on top we can get 18 moving about 65 mph. Any faster an were down to 16 and lower. Mileage in the city is not worth calculating, it's pretty lousy.

 

[Johnathan M]

newer ones will get close to 20, but i believe they weigh about 700lb less and probably have active air dams on the front.

LOL!! I read your reply wrong the first time and thought you said they weigh 7,000 lbs less! I was like, what? They weigh nothing?

 

[Johnathan M]

I don't feel like I drive with a heavy foot, (definitely less heavy than my wife ), but I did try being intentional today about how quick I pulled out from a stop, and how early i let off the gas coming up to a stop. I also am being intentional about not letting it idle after starting it up or when arriving somewhere (in the winter, I've had a tendency to let it idle a lot). It is making quite a bit of a difference already!

Don't get me wrong. I love my Expedition! It's awesome!! I just figured I'd see what others had to say about ways to improve mpg. Thanks for all your comments!!

 

[RockyPatel71]

My Expy is fairly new 2021 bought in late october 21. What was said about keeping your foot out of it is true. I can get closer to 17 if i can keep it under 70mph. getting closer to 60 gets even better. i was trying to improve my numbers by changing the way i drive but decided that a couple of MPGs was not worth the wait time and aggrevation. I live in the city and drive more highway than city miles and my MPG is still aweful. i am going in for service soon and will see what the dealer can do about making it better

 

[Hamfisted]

You mean all the plastics and smaller engines, 10 speed trannies, aren't doubling the fuel mileage like they promised ? WTH !!






.

 

[oldpaddy]

I recommend getting it raised, bigger tires and fully tricked out. It'll have the same fuel efficiency, but it'll look so cool you won't care.

 

[Timo2824]

It's a half ton truck, it's going to get fuel mileage of a box going down the highway. If you want better fuel mileage, buy an economy sized car. I hear crazy numbers that some claim, but every full sized vehicle I've driven is between 14-18 unloaded, dropping to 9-13 loaded. On a 300 mile highway trip last weekend I averaged 17.5mpg in my 17 with the 3.73 ratio differential. Now this engine has enough power it would probably be okay with a 3.08, but I didn't buy it for fuel economy.

 

[Gregg Eshelman]

Got my 2007 EL for it's ability to haul a lot of stuff, and with the automatic 4x4. Also because I got a really good deal on it because it was a bare bones model that a dealer who specializes in trucks with all the trimmings bought. They figured it'd be a quick flip for some good profit but it sat on their lot for over three months. Turned out that their reputation for dealing in the $$$$$$$$$ trucks didn't have any bargain hunters trolling their lot. So they let it go cheap. Fine with me! No sunroof, no power running boards to fail, none of that other unnecessary electronic stuff to fail. Best MPG it gets is 17.

Would be nice if Ford had the full time real AWD available on the Expedition like it was with the V8 Mountaineer and Explorer. The auto 4x4 on the Expedition is literally clunky compared to that. Lose traction in the back and it clunks and lurches a little when the front drive is engaged. The AWD system is completely "invisible" due to its center differential and the smooth engagement of the viscous coupling, and nothing electronic about it.

If I had the money to burn I'd try getting a 2WD 3rd gen, swap the front drive from a 4x4 into it, then make the Mountaineer transfer case fit to give it that smooth AWD.

 

[mr_dave]

Would be nice if Ford had the full time real AWD available on the Expedition like it was with the V8 Mountaineer and Explorer. The auto 4x4 on the Expedition is literally clunky compared to that. Lose traction in the back and it clunks and lurches a little when the front drive is engaged. The AWD system is completely "invisible" due to its center differential and the smooth engagement of the viscous coupling, and nothing electronic about it.

Interesting. I've noticed the front getting power while slipping in 4A but I would by no means call it clunky. In fact, I'm rather impressed with how well it works all things considered.