I preface this post with this… I could care less about mileage. Not that I have money to burn, mind you, but simply because I own a 7200lb., 6.8L, 10 cylinder truck. I knew what I was getting into. I think if I only got 10MPG I still wouldn’t complain simply because other (read: older, v8, lighter) trucks I’ve owned couldn’t get what I get now. There are a lot of negative posts out there about MPG, probably more than anything else. Didn’t you (those who posted them) know what you were getting in to?
I, however, am always looking to improve my rides. The fact that I want to improve my fuel economy is simply there because I enjoy the challenge and hopefully will talk with some interesting folks out there whilst I do it. This post isn’t complaining about mileage but simply a solicitation for PROVEN modifications.
I own a pre-owned 2000 XLT V10 Excursion with the “Comfort & Convenience Group” package. I have 37,500 miles on it. I run Mobil 1 5w/30 and change it every 5K. I currently have the steel wheels with the “styled” wheel cover. These are going by the wayside in a couple days, as I bought some OE polished aluminum wheels off E-bay. (Reduced unsprung weight actually was the objective here.) (Alright! Alright! The steels ones are ugly, too.) Everything else is stock.
My mileage is fairly consistent @ 14MPG average a tank. Putting around town will send me onto the 10’s & 11's, highway @ 65-70 puts in into the 15-16 range, and back roads (the majority of my driving) will net me 17+ if I can keep her below 2000RPM. These are respectable numbers and have indeed gotten better with age and the switch to synthetic. (TIP: My local Wal-mart will do a synthetic oil change for $27.00! It’s a steal really, because I can’t buy the oil and filter for less than that.) Tire pressure is 45 front and 55 rear, ALWAYS. I drive somewhere in between sedate and aggressive. Bottom line is I keep up and sometimes pass traffic. Massachusetts traffic is fast.
Now let’s get to my reason for this post. I’m looking for ways to increase efficiency from my drive train. I figure that 15-20% of the original 310hp is lost to pumping and friction. (Correct me if I'm wrong, please.)So, I want to gain mileage and rear wheel HP & TRQ by reducing that number. So I’m open to suggestions. Keep in mind as you reply that others will read this, so let’s try to keep all of our wallets in mind. An improvement that doesn’t yield payback during the useful life of the truck isn’t really an improvement, is it?
Let me throw out a couple of ideas to get your mind going.
What do you think about-?


1. Aftermarket air filter and insulating the intake to keep the charge cool.
(see performanceunlimited/projectmpg/results.html)
2. Aftermarket cat-back exhaust.
3. Electric fans to replace clutch fan.
4. Synthetic transmission fluid for the 4R100.
5. Rear axle fluid change to name brand synthetic (Ford uses a synthetic in it already.)
6. Anyone use any other additives to reduce under hood and operating temps? (Again see above web site to make sense of this question.)

Thanks in advance!

 

SAE 5w-20 Now Available
Ford Motor Co. has recently begun to use SAE 5w-20 at its factory fill replacing SAE 5w-30. Some of the benefits of doing so are outlined in the following. >Fuel economy improvement >Reduction in carbon dioxide emissions >Reduced fuel usage of 21 million gallons/year >Synthetic like performance SAE 5w-20 is available at Chamberlain Oil Co. in the SHELL FORMULA and MOTORCRAFT brands.

 

Monsta,

This is a worthy endeavor; especially since I just got back from a trip across the state getting 13MPG. Not a BAD number, but not as good as I have been getting.

Keeping the air charge cool would seem, on this motor, to be a counter-productive measure. I have noticed, and had one other v10 owner confirm, that cold weather decreases his mileage.

The new oil recommendation is interesting.

Your obedient servant,

JACIII

2000 V10 Excursion Limited 4x4 Green/Tan 4.30 gears

 

monsta-
Don't forget to change the transfer case & front differential fluids too. Also, keep the rig clean & polished.

jaciii-
I'd bet that it isn't the "cold weather" itself, but the re-formulated gasoline that gets sold in the Winter months that is causing the decrease in MPG.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 26-Dec-01 AT 09:48 AM (EST)]Hey guys,

This was first post ever! I kinda wish I could have deleted it. I had just read an article about how this magazine (4-wheeler) took an old 460 powered dually CC from like 6mpg to 12mpg or somethin' like that. Check it out if you want [linkerformanceunlimited.com/projectmpg/results.html|project MPG]
You'll then see why I asked about a cooling the intake (The test, I believe, was in Sunny South Cal.) amongst other things that I don't really think about anymore. With the exception of the fan. I know the V10 has a clutch fan and doesn't eat up HP like fans of old but I am still wondering how much it does and if an electric fan(s) be worth it.
I think the V10 is worlds ahead of the 460, so many of the mods in this article won't make as big a difference. The over/under drive is interesting tho'. Anyway, I get respectable mileage and think I would rather focus my energy on improving the ride and handling and puttin in somethin' that will keep the kids quiet on those looooooooooong trips. (and the short ones, come to think of it....
)

Thanks for the replies tho'

 

I saw that it was "old", but thought that I'd remind you to change the transfer case fluid- since you're changing the tranny fluid soon. Use the same Mobil 1 fluid in both & you'll be set. BTW, the transfer case only takes a couple of quarts so it's not that expensive.

 

Cool, will do!!

 

Monsta; don't want to sound too silly here but the only real way to improve gas mileage(meaningful)that I know about is to change the rear axle ratio. I presume that is also possible on 4 X 4's. If you don't tow loads (or tow very often) that V-10 ought to be able to swing a 2.80:1, you probably have a 3.73:1 or so that came with the truck.

I have a feeling your local Ford dealer has one or two optional rear axle ratio's he can put in. You won't be able to win any drag races but the gas mileages should go up. Obviously, check with Ford to see if I'm correct.

 

Actually trainwreck, I've already found a company that makes a different fan clutch that will disable the fan when not needed. A "posted" Hp gain is 40hp. I imagine a slight MPG improvement could be had. I will be posting info about that in the V10 forum. Plus, I have considered and Over/Under aux. transmission from Gear Vendor (i believe) that will give me option of 8 different ratios (once again, I believe, I gotta recheck). Regearing is certainly an option, although I don't believe a higher (lower numerically) gear ratio is available from Ford for my X. Plus it would limit me a bit too much as I am also going to be towing a 36", 8000# trailer this summer. The gear Vendor unit should fit the bill quite nicely if I choose to pursue it.
Thanks for the reply!!