2004 V8 Explorer gets LOUSY mileage

My 06 Explorer Ltd 4.6L 4x4 got tankful avgs of 17 mpg across 5 years of ownership. It would get in the low teens for city only driving but on a warm day on straight road it could get up to 24 mpg at 65mph with cruise control. Mines was the first year of the 3 valve engine, drive by wire system with the computer controlled 6 spd transmission. I had a 98 Explorer XLT 5.0 AWD and it was waaayyyy worst with the 4 spd trans and all wheel drive.

hertfordnc wrote:
My wife just bough a 2004 fully loaded Explorer with 4wd and the 4.6 V8. On the first couple tanks, driving on mostly flat two-lane roads she got 14MPG

Our loaded expediton with the 5.6 gets better mileage, likewise, my 98 F250 with the same 4.6 and a cronic misfire got better mileage.

The truck has 140,000 miles and runs great. It could be more zippy, I'm expecting it to launch about the same as the heavier but more powerful Expedition.

THanks

I have the first year of the redesign. '02 Explorer V8 4x4 and 3.73 gears. EPA fuel economy sticker shows 14 city, 19 highway if I remember correctly. Does hers have the HD tow package? If so, it also has 3.73 gears instead of the 3.55's.

Mine is reasonably zippy, and I average 15.0 MPG. 80% in town driving, and a bit of trailer towing mixed in. I've done as well as 22 on 100% highway, but I don't enjoy driving 52 MPH behind a 18 wheeler to get it.

On the plus side it handles my 5K camper really well, and has held up pulling that weight more than 10K miles over the last 6 years. It's been a great truck (bought it new as a demo with about 8K miles) and is by far the longest I've owned any vehicle.

I had a 2002 V/8 4x4 Limited fully loaded with tow package (so it runs heavy). It ran +-.5 MPG from about 18.2 MPG consistently for 150,000 miles. An oil change and hwy trip to Las Vegas could get 22 and above.

This could explain some of the MPG discrepancy. MPG estimates and testing methods were overhauled by the EPA around 2007 - 2009. A majority of vehicles lost fuel mpg ratings (even back to back years of vehicles with the same exact engine). There was a lot of correction for the hybrids and most of the vehicles had lowered fuel economy with a more realistic modelling of typical driving duty cycles. So pre 2007 or so are usually unrealistic figures to go by. Post 2009 every car was under the newer EPA mpg rating system.

mtofell1 wrote:

hertfordnc wrote:
My research consisted of looking up MPG on fuel.gov and seeing htat it peaked at 19.

I can't remember the dates but isn't that back in the days when the manufacturers could really fudge the truth? I know right around then there were some changes and all the MPGs dropped once they had to be truthful.

fwiw, that mpgs sounds about right for that vehicle in real world driving. I doubt you're going to find much of a smoking gun and all of the sudden get 4-5 mpgs better.

Worn out front suspension parts can play havoc on MPG's.. other than that... drive slower.. even then its not going to win any MPG contests.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

hertfordnc wrote:
My research consisted of looking up MPG on fuel.gov and seeing htat it peaked at 19.

I can't remember the dates but isn't that back in the days when the manufacturers could really fudge the truth? I know right around then there were some changes and all the MPGs dropped once they had to be truthful.

fwiw, that mpgs sounds about right for that vehicle in real world driving. I doubt you're going to find much of a smoking gun and all of the sudden get 4-5 mpgs better.

That motor while reliable was never known for fuel efficiency. Plus, the Explorer has all the aerodynamics of a refrigerator.

Fast Mopar wrote:
That's pretty good mileage for a 2004 V8 Explorer. The 2001 and older V8 Explorers get even worse.

Yep; we had a '99 5.0 with AWD that around town got 11, normal highway driving 15-16, and if you held it to no more than 62 maybe 17 with a tailwind.

The '04 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Crew Cab with a gas 6.0 and 4.10 gears that replaced it got the same mileage!

That's pretty good mileage for a 2004 V8 Explorer. The 2001 and older V8 Explorers get even worse.

Sounds right. I have a 2000 Town Car with the 4.6 and I consistently get 19 in mixed driving.

You will not find a more reliable motor. But fuel efficiencies is not a hallmark of a modular motor

Thanks!

Jeremiah