Will the excursion benefit from mid grade gas while towing?
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2013
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From: Raleigh
Will the excursion benefit from mid grade gas while towing?
Hey guys....
Will the V-10 excursion benefit from using mid grade 89 octane fuel while doing some light (about 2500 pounds) towing. I was towing a 6x10 enclosed trailer weighing around 2500 pounds and I averaged about 8.5 mpg at 65mph with 4.30 gears. I didn't know if mid grade fuel would help or not. I was hoping to get at least 10 mpg.
Thanks, Jim
Will the V-10 excursion benefit from using mid grade 89 octane fuel while doing some light (about 2500 pounds) towing. I was towing a 6x10 enclosed trailer weighing around 2500 pounds and I averaged about 8.5 mpg at 65mph with 4.30 gears. I didn't know if mid grade fuel would help or not. I was hoping to get at least 10 mpg.
Thanks, Jim
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,888
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From: Ohio
I've tried a couple tanks of premium while towing and never noticed any difference. I think you will notice a difference with a tuner, but mine is stock.
That mileage does sound a bit low, I get 8-9 with a 28' camping trailer and 11.5 with a loaded car hauler.
That mileage does sound a bit low, I get 8-9 with a 28' camping trailer and 11.5 with a loaded car hauler.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 458
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From: The Northwoods, Wisconsin
2WD or 4WD?
Where I am, we have 87 and 89 octane with 10% ethanol. I just run the 91 octane that is 100% gas. If you take 90% of the price of the 91, you get just about the same price as the 87, but its all gas and no alcohol churning around screwing things up in the fuel system.
Where I am, we have 87 and 89 octane with 10% ethanol. I just run the 91 octane that is 100% gas. If you take 90% of the price of the 91, you get just about the same price as the 87, but its all gas and no alcohol churning around screwing things up in the fuel system.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,097
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From: chicago northwest suburbs
A few years ago my X was down to 5mpg when towing. I played around and experimented and found that 93 octane brought me back up to almost 7mpg. I used to get close to 8mpg towing, but with the ethanol in the fuel it killed HP and mileage. at one point I could barely hold 55mph foot on the floor in 3rd gear. with just the tank of 93 power and economy came back. with the tuner set for 89 I am almost back to where I was when I first got the X.
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Media PA
If you are getting any pinging in the engine while towing then a bump up of one octane level should help, or going to pure gas vs 10% corn. A tuner setup for higher octane will give you more timing advance and more power, that should deliver better MPGs at the same driving conditions. The problem is it's hard to maintain the same driving style when there are more horses under the skinny pedal!
I agree that your mileage sounds kinda low for that load, I averaged 9MPG over a 700 mile trip pulling our 31' ToyHauler that was 11'+ tall and weighed 9,500lbs, this with a 4X4 V-10 EX thats lifted 4" with 4.88 gears.
I agree that your mileage sounds kinda low for that load, I averaged 9MPG over a 700 mile trip pulling our 31' ToyHauler that was 11'+ tall and weighed 9,500lbs, this with a 4X4 V-10 EX thats lifted 4" with 4.88 gears.
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2013
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From: Raleigh
Thanks for the replies. We are heading home tomorrow with the trailer. I picked up some octane booster for the 3/4 tank in it already and I'll top it off w/89 octane and see if that helps. One other note....I still have a vaccum issue somewhere so the hubs were locked on the way down. I pulled the vaccum lines and sealed them off. I then pulled the hubs and pressed the center piece back in so they will be unlocked going home. I figure that should be good for .5mpg. Another thought...even though it only has 109,000 miles on it...it has the original spark plugs in it which are now 13 years old. My father in law was of the opinion I shouldn't change them unless it starts running bad. I'm thinking new plugs/boots would help as well. Thanks again guys.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 7,460
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From: Kent Station, WA
Plugs, boots and springs will help. They are reccomended to be changed at 100k. I would also change the fuel filter and PCV if they have never been done. The hubs being locked may have been alot of the issue as well. You can manually unlock and lock them from outside if they are in working order.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,923
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From: Sacramento Area
...yup. Bought my 2000 with 93k on the clock - dealer claimed he had done the 100k service.
Lost a coil last week (actually, 3) and the local dealer found what they feel are the original plugs.
I'm on the first tank since the new coils/plugs, but already the lie-o-meter and the UltraGauge I have are both showing a nearly 1 mpg increase.
Lost a coil last week (actually, 3) and the local dealer found what they feel are the original plugs.
I'm on the first tank since the new coils/plugs, but already the lie-o-meter and the UltraGauge I have are both showing a nearly 1 mpg increase.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,097
Likes: 5
From: chicago northwest suburbs
I did my plugs at 50k miles when I was having the mileage issues. I would still change any 100k mile plug at 70k miles though, just better off. I`ve seen plugs that come out at 100k miles. not worth the chance of a coil failure.
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2013
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From: Raleigh
Jim
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2013
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From: Raleigh
Ok....so we got back home from our trip and I averaged 9-9.1mpg coming back I would probably attribute that to the hubs being unlocked coming back. I did run mid grade in it and on my last top off I used premium to bump up the octane even a bit more. It was all "up to 10% ethanol" gas though. They funny things though...after I dropped my folks off at their place.....I reset the mpg computer and driving home it read 10mpg with as high as 10.8 at one point. My folks are a bit overweight but not huge and they did have a couple hundred pounds of luggage in the Ex and not the trailer. Could 2 adults and their luggage have really made 1-1.5mpg difference in such a big vehicle?
The more I think about it.....even though I dread it....it looks like I'm going o have to look at changing the plugs and boots out on the Ex.
Jim
The more I think about it.....even though I dread it....it looks like I'm going o have to look at changing the plugs and boots out on the Ex.
Jim