I'm soooo sorry ...

[Guest]

Listen Folks,

Please don't pucker your backside but I can't seem to find an answer to this question on this site.

Beyond gutting it or cutting it in half, can an Expedition get better than 14 mpg - 18mpg. I know, I know, you don't buy these things with that mindset. I get it. But I'm humbling asking anyway. Free flow airfilter, mufflers, yadda yadda ...

I want one of these things, you know, 3 kids, their friends, luggage and vacations. If I can't tweek it, it's the minny van for this middle ager.

Thanks,

bill

 

[monsta]

Originally posted by sideways
Listen Folks,

Please don't pucker your backside but I can't seem to find an answer to this question on this site.

If you were asking me I would probably push you into a van. I happen to love my mini-van. I does everything for me. It is my "truck", people carrier, cargo carrier etc. etc. It can carry more stuff (not weight) than my Expy and can carrry things that won't fit in my Expy. It gets better mileage, is cheaper to insure and maintain and cheaper to buy. It'll tow 3500 which is less than a loaded cargo trailer weighs. Available AWD will get you through most inclement weather.

That said, I own an Expy because some of the best beaches in the world here on the Big Island are only accessible via 4WD. Plus, my wife didn't want us to be a two mini-van family. With our 4 kids plus gas here being $2.26 a gallon, the mini-van is a more practical vehicle. But we still own the Expy too and enjoy the service it gives us. She drives it most anyway mainly because I like her having the larger crunch zones it has compared to my Grand Caravan.

____________

I improved the overall mileage of my old V10 Excursion by 1mpg through intake and exhaust mods, as well as, keeping my tire pressure a bit higher than listed. I would average 13.2 with 16.5 on the highway @ 70mph a normal occurance.

 

[rwinch]

Simple answer:

No

 

[Guest]

I was so holding on for some combination of stuff that might have added 2 - 4 mpg but alas it looks like the mini van for me. Thanks for the help guys.

bill

 

[Guest]

Hey...

Though I have not done it yet myself, I have heard (read) that the intake and exhaust mods as well as an electric cooling fan can net about a 3 mpg increase. My 4.6 gets nearly 20 on the road and about 16 around town with no mods at all....yet . I don't have a lead foot so that helps some.

Don't give up on the expy. I too own a mini van as well and the family always opts for the expy when given a choice.

Incidentally my odyssey only gets about 25 ish on the road and about 18 to 20 around town.



Cheers,

-Jay

 

[Guest]

Ahhhh HHAA ... I knew it. That might make a difference. So the trick is get the 4.6, keep a light foot and a few mods WILL make a difference. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks Jay ...

 

[rwinch]

Good Luck....

 

[Guest]

Rwinch-san ... me thinks you're not a believer .. smirk ...

 

[smo0othride]

For somebody that has done mods to improve gas mileage, I think it'd be interesting to know after how many miles you break even. If you spend a couple hundred dollars on mods, you could have bought a lot of gas for that. Anybody want to do the math?

 

[Guest]

I told my wife as much. I said, "Honey, listen, think of the room, the convenience, the safety. Plus after I spend 5 grand on a new manifold, exhaust and a blower, we'll get great mileage." Of course we we're both thinking the same thing. We could have spent that on gas over the life of the vehicle. I'm really, really trying to justify the Expedition. Blah blah blah ... If I made 90k a year I really wouldn't be asking this question though ...

I'm thinkin out loud here ...

 

[rwinch]

Well, it seems you've answered your own question.

First, not too many people are happy with the 4.6 in the Exby, so I would not recommend it.

Second, those "mods" will mean you need to use 93 octane gas, not the 87 regular, so after you spend big coin to get the mileage, you are again pay big coin for hi-test gas.

I make good dollars so I don't worry about price of gas, but if you want the only real reason to get the Exby, which is my reason, is if I get in an accident....I WIN. Family safety trumps everything, so if you have kids, a large SUV is, at least to me, the only option.