Gas Milage major decrease
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Louisville, KY
Gas Milage major decrease
Hey, Really hoping someone can help me here. My 98 Explorer 4.0 SOHC has been getting very bad gas milage lately. I recently moved from Pittsburgh PA to Louisville KY and that is when I noticed the gas milage sucking. I change all fluids a little bit before the recomended periods (except the tranny fluid, which never gets changed). I use fuel injector cleaner, and use that sea foam every 3 months to clean out the carbon buildup in the engine. Anyone have any more advice. I am a college student and believe me I do not have the money to keep buying gas. Any help is much appreciated!
Thanks to all!!!
Thanks to all!!!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,123
Likes: 2
From: Fort Smith
When was the last tune-up? Spark plugs, wires, air filter, etc - all these can lead to bad fuel mileage. Any check engine lights? If you haven't done a tune-up lately - that would be the place to start.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: Greece New York
I've heard that after some mileage (heard as low as 40,000 miles) the timing chains on all the Ford overhead cam motors start to stretch and can cause retarded valve timing. This is what I heard from the mechanics I work with but haven't seen it myself yet. I don't like to go on theory of other people without seeing it, but this is what I heard.
-Phil
-Phil
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 253
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From: Marietta, GA
Check your tire pressure too. When I picked my '99 up, it had been sitting on the lot at the dealer for 2 months & the tire pressure had dropped to 20lbs all the way around. I was getting 9mpg city & 12 mpg hwy, until I filled the tires up.
New User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
All the above is great info, 1 more thing to think about, I run into this problem more with my Harley more so then my cars and trucks but in some places they use a diffrent mix of gas. I know in my area we have a winter mix and a summer mix and my milage go's down in the winter, even before the tempatures really change. I may just be the gas thats available in your area. Just something else to think about.
Harry
Harry
