Hypermiling an Iconic Gas Guzzler: Help!

[instarx]

Originally Posted by trikkonceptz

And last but not least if your tank is larger than 15 gallon consider running with 1/2 a tank or less if possible for weight reduction there too ...that however messes with your mileage tracking, so pick your poison.

As a compromise don't fill up the tank when it is half full - run it to E. That allows you to spend half your time with a half-empty tank and still allows you to track MPG at fill-ups.

Also, tires make a huge difference. My truck lost 15% mileage when I switched from highway tires to M&S. Consider two sets of tires - highway tread for summer and use winter tires only in the winter.

[Backtobasics]

I vote for a couple "performance" type upgrades, to give a little more torque. Air Intake, Exhaust, Headers, as previously mentioned. Let the thing Breathe. I believe a throttle body spacer is available for this too. This should give a little more torque, so less throttle is needed to get moving. Keep the 4.10 to help umph off the line.

Be cautious of the fuel level getting to E. The moden cars use the fuel for cooling, so 1/4 and less poses the higher risk of fuel pump over heating and wear. All your MPG go right out the window when replacing electric, high pressure in tank pumps, which equal hundreds of dollars, plus labor, if applicable.

[johnmyster]

Explorer rear axles are a dime a dozen (8.8 ford rears with disc brakes even) at junkyards. Plenty of them come with 3.73 or taller.

Swap the rear and see if it does any better. Then decide if you need 4wd bad enough to swap the front.

Ditch the roof rack and running boards.

If all else fails, get a truck like mine. You can get great mileage with your payload in the back, rather than needing to get a trailer all the time. Then when you really need a trailer, get it. For you, anytime you need to haul, you have to get the trailer. Sure I'm slow, but it only matters a few minutes on a long trip.

And yes, my truck has 4.10s.