New to me 1998 XLT

[gfh77665]

Hello all, I am new to this forum, and looking to learn about my "new to me" 98 XLT. It was my MIL's car, who, well, drove it like an old lady for years. She puttered around maybe once a week, so, the truck has low mileage at 115K.

Its a base model with the 4.6. The oil has been changed very regularly (maybe too much?) and the Trans has been flushed 2X, but little else has been done. Otherwise we just fixed when things broke.

So, I am going to use it as a commuter car soon. What hwy mpg can I really expect cruising at 70 mph on flat interstate roads? What about the spark plug issue? Should I worry? Can the 4.6 performance be improved inexpensively? Any thing else I should be aware about? Thank you all...

 

[1997SCEBFEX]

Welcome aboard.

I'd say ensure you use over-drive as much as poss. I also try not to use A/C in the city when by myself with a lot of stop/go/lights etc. but when @ constant speed over time as this tends to diminish the already lack-luster gas mileage.

Regular maintenance items surely a plus, and since you're just over 100K, sometimes it's the little things that can manifest into shear problems IMHO.

Tire pressure & rotation can make a difference over time, as well as suspension too.

Suggest: (not in any particular order).
* Air cleaner - a cold air intake will help some contingent on your discretionary $.
* EGR valve.
* Idle Air Controller.
* I'd sample the plugs for sure to see what condition they're in. Even the professed 100K plugs won't necessarily last that long.
* Fuel Filter & run some quality cleaning agent through your next fill-up. I'd also compute your oveall mpg by miles driven divided by gas added @ fillup as the "lie-o-meter" has some "disparity."
* Serpentine belt inspect/replace.
* Battery quality/age?
* Grease that notorious & squeaky pitman arm and other grease fittings if you're getting underneath.
* Shocks.
* Rear diff fluid (don't forget friction modifier if you have an L.S. rear).
* Front/rear wiper blades.
* PCV valve and lines as they tend to fall apart due to heat/age.
* DPFE & evaporative system green line.
* Freon & compressor check.

Sure others will chime in.

PanHandler.

 

[SWAGGA]

Hello all, I am new to this forum, and looking to learn about my "new to me" 98 XLT. It was my MIL's car, who, well, drove it like an old lady for years. She puttered around maybe once a week, so, the truck has low mileage at 115K.

Its a base model with the 4.6. The oil has been changed very regularly (maybe too much?) and the Trans has been flushed 2X, but little else has been done. Otherwise we just fixed when things broke.

So, I am going to use it as a commuter car soon. What hwy mpg can I really expect cruising at 70 mph on flat interstate roads? What about the spark plug issue? Should I worry? Can the 4.6 performance be improved inexpensively? Any thing else I should be aware about? Thank you all...

I would guess ~15mpg highway stock 4.6... driving style will make the biggest difference. As far as performance, you can do an open air intake, or google "gotts mod" if you want to save some money. Then open air intake and other mods start at ~$200 and go up. In my personal opinion tuning is the best mod you can do if you don't want to go mod crazy and spend as little money as possible, I'd do the gotts mod and get it tuned.

Gas mileage:
-As mentioned, driving style will determine your gas mileage more than any mod.
-Ensure tires are filled with air, some choose to over-inflate 5-10psi. This causes wear in the center of the tire, it's personal preference.
-Synthetic fluids. Pay the extra money for synthetics. If the transmission hasn't been flushed/fluid changed, replace the filter and switch to synthetic.

You can't change oil too much.

 

[GAINMOB]

welcome to the site

 

[1997SCEBFEX]

forgot to add using cruise control all the time too.

 

[gfh77665]

Thank you all. Its been in storage, with 2X Stabil in the gas, and its started and ran up to temp 20min. every other month. When I bring it out, I am going to run out all the old gas and put double dose of Regane in the tank. Does the 3rd seat remove? If so I'll take it out, air all the tires to the max, and give it some spirited highway runs to "wake it up".

After all is done, I hope to get close to the hwy mileage of 18 its rated at, using cruise and driving gently. Maybe thats not possible, though...

 

[1997SCEBFEX]

third row seat should remove by lifting the long handle from the center/behind and rolling it out if its cradle.

PanHandler.