captain chaos
Well-Known Member
Hi all. New guy here.
Bear with me, I have a tendency to get a bit "wordy"
I just recently bought a 2000 Expedition XLT 4x4 to replace my wifes Jeep Cherokee. The Jeep served us well for many years but we purchased a camper and the little Cherokee struggled a bit pulling it around. We kinda wanted something with 3rd row seating as well since our family is growing and we like taking little day trips with family and friends. We decided to sell the Cherokee and get an Expedition. We searched TONS of options but the Expy just kept coming out on top. We found a well kept one, with the options we were looking for (4.6L, 4wd, non EB; the leather doesn't seem to hold up well), for a good price so we bought it.
Anyway, thus far I LOVE driving the Expedition except for one major problem; the gas mileage. We are both VERY conservative drivers but the Expedition just seems to suck down fuel like mad! I've searched around and it seems like our MPG's are a bit low considering our "grandma and grandpa" driving style (rarely over 2000rpm, in 4th w/ the torque converter locked by 40-45mph, long coasting whenever possible, seldom over 60mph). The first week under "nromal" driving (60% in town/ 40% rural) we got 12.5mpg from it ( just for reference, our straight 6 Cherokee would get 17 under the same conditions: I told you we drive easy
). I recently took a little trip with my Dad and brothers to a car show (220mi round trip) and it averaged 15.5 and that was about 90% flat open highway at no more than 63mph (55-60mph speed limits).
My brother's friend would drive his Expy all over the state and average 19mpg from it; what gives?
Here's a few thought I had:
1) mine had a HUGE grill guard on it when I bought it (and for all of the recent driving up until a few days ago). It was the "Texas style" that covered the entire front of the vehicle type. I have since removed it. I'm sure that was costing me 1/2-1mpg on the hwy.
2) I have the infamous "Ford exhaust leak" but it seems to be intermittant. Sometimes it's very noticable (tick.tick.tick.tick.tick) sometimes you can't even hear it. Is it possible that the exhaust leak is causing air to get sucked in and that is making the O2 sensor read a lean condition and thus adding fuel to the engine when it's not needed?
3) The pervious owner was FANATICAL about maintence. I talked with him a LONG time before buying to get a feel for how he takes care of things and his general personality; I believe him when he said he takes care of his stuff. I've also been over this truck with a fine toothed comb and he has kept up on EVERYTHING. That being said, it has 156,000mi and I can't really tell how old the O2 sensors are. There are no codes being thrown or anything (runs like a 1,000,000 bucks) but I know from experiance that doesn't always mean anything (my Focus ran like CRAP when the O2 started acting wonky and it never did throw a code).
Anyways, I know this thing will NEVER be a fuel sipping "green car" but I'd love to be able to get 14-15 under normal driving and 18-20 on the open road. I think those are reasonable goals but they are a far cry from where I am now.
Fortunately, we have a couple of small cars for daily driving that get 35-40mpg (saves me a TON o my 500mi/wk commute) but I LOVE driving the Expedition and would like to be able to drive it, in good concious that my kid's college money isn't going into my gastank, on the weekends and stuff.
Here's some thought I had on bringing that mpg number up:
1) electric fans to replace the mecanical one. I've had good success on previous vehicles in getting mpg's up by doing this, I see no reason why the Expy would'nt respond favorably to getting rid of that HUGE clutch fan.
2) I have a Flowmaster 50series muffler sitting in my garage. Given out "granny" driving style a full exhaust system seems like a bit of a waste but maybe there's some mpg to be had by getting rid of the trashcan muffler Ford put on there???
3) Tires are already aired up to 44psi (max sidewall pressure). They are already a mild "street" type tread so I just don't think there is any more to be had from that area.
4) headers? I see that Summit Racing has a set for $200. Since I have an exhaust leak to take care of anyway why not, right? Anyone have experiance with headers improving their MPG's? It sure couldn't hurt to get rid of those worthless logs Ford put on there I would think.
I appologize for the LONG post. My sincere thanks to anyone who managed to read through the entire thing.
Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.
Bear with me, I have a tendency to get a bit "wordy"
I just recently bought a 2000 Expedition XLT 4x4 to replace my wifes Jeep Cherokee. The Jeep served us well for many years but we purchased a camper and the little Cherokee struggled a bit pulling it around. We kinda wanted something with 3rd row seating as well since our family is growing and we like taking little day trips with family and friends. We decided to sell the Cherokee and get an Expedition. We searched TONS of options but the Expy just kept coming out on top. We found a well kept one, with the options we were looking for (4.6L, 4wd, non EB; the leather doesn't seem to hold up well), for a good price so we bought it.
Anyway, thus far I LOVE driving the Expedition except for one major problem; the gas mileage. We are both VERY conservative drivers but the Expedition just seems to suck down fuel like mad! I've searched around and it seems like our MPG's are a bit low considering our "grandma and grandpa" driving style (rarely over 2000rpm, in 4th w/ the torque converter locked by 40-45mph, long coasting whenever possible, seldom over 60mph). The first week under "nromal" driving (60% in town/ 40% rural) we got 12.5mpg from it ( just for reference, our straight 6 Cherokee would get 17 under the same conditions: I told you we drive easy
). I recently took a little trip with my Dad and brothers to a car show (220mi round trip) and it averaged 15.5 and that was about 90% flat open highway at no more than 63mph (55-60mph speed limits).My brother's friend would drive his Expy all over the state and average 19mpg from it; what gives?
Here's a few thought I had:
1) mine had a HUGE grill guard on it when I bought it (and for all of the recent driving up until a few days ago). It was the "Texas style" that covered the entire front of the vehicle type. I have since removed it. I'm sure that was costing me 1/2-1mpg on the hwy.
2) I have the infamous "Ford exhaust leak" but it seems to be intermittant. Sometimes it's very noticable (tick.tick.tick.tick.tick) sometimes you can't even hear it. Is it possible that the exhaust leak is causing air to get sucked in and that is making the O2 sensor read a lean condition and thus adding fuel to the engine when it's not needed?
3) The pervious owner was FANATICAL about maintence. I talked with him a LONG time before buying to get a feel for how he takes care of things and his general personality; I believe him when he said he takes care of his stuff. I've also been over this truck with a fine toothed comb and he has kept up on EVERYTHING. That being said, it has 156,000mi and I can't really tell how old the O2 sensors are. There are no codes being thrown or anything (runs like a 1,000,000 bucks) but I know from experiance that doesn't always mean anything (my Focus ran like CRAP when the O2 started acting wonky and it never did throw a code).
Anyways, I know this thing will NEVER be a fuel sipping "green car" but I'd love to be able to get 14-15 under normal driving and 18-20 on the open road. I think those are reasonable goals but they are a far cry from where I am now.
Fortunately, we have a couple of small cars for daily driving that get 35-40mpg (saves me a TON o my 500mi/wk commute) but I LOVE driving the Expedition and would like to be able to drive it, in good concious that my kid's college money isn't going into my gastank, on the weekends and stuff.Here's some thought I had on bringing that mpg number up:
1) electric fans to replace the mecanical one. I've had good success on previous vehicles in getting mpg's up by doing this, I see no reason why the Expy would'nt respond favorably to getting rid of that HUGE clutch fan.
2) I have a Flowmaster 50series muffler sitting in my garage. Given out "granny" driving style a full exhaust system seems like a bit of a waste but maybe there's some mpg to be had by getting rid of the trashcan muffler Ford put on there???
3) Tires are already aired up to 44psi (max sidewall pressure). They are already a mild "street" type tread so I just don't think there is any more to be had from that area.
4) headers? I see that Summit Racing has a set for $200. Since I have an exhaust leak to take care of anyway why not, right? Anyone have experiance with headers improving their MPG's? It sure couldn't hurt to get rid of those worthless logs Ford put on there I would think.
I appologize for the LONG post. My sincere thanks to anyone who managed to read through the entire thing.
Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.
