GASOLINE MILEAGE WHILE TOWING

If anyone is still interested in this "thread's" issue, here's some notes from a recent trip to and return from the coast. Approx. 920 mi. total.

Driving conditions - long up-hill climbs out of the Prescott area (roughly 5,000 ft. elev) to just west of Seligman on I-40, then down-hill to 490 ft. above sea level at the Colorado River crossing, then long up-hill climb (the infamous "Needles grade)" to 3,500 ft. across the Mojave, then "down the hill" into the Los Angeles area, elev. approx 800 ft.

Return home (near Prescott, Arizona) the same route (Calif 14 to Palmdale, Calif 18 to Victorville - I-15 to Barstow, then I-40 to Arizona 89). )this last stretch involves climbing from near sea level, to just a hair under 6,000 ft near Seligman, AZ)

Speeds - held 60-65 mph except for grades, when speed went down to as low as 50 mph

about 15 mph head-wind going west - approx same coming east

2005 V-10 FWD "Limited" with 3.73's (found I had to "lock out" the overdrive except on VERY flat sections)

trailer - approx 3,000 lbs "box" trailer, with approx 6,000 lb. Packard V-12 limo & tools.

Prescott area to about Kingman, AZ 140 mi, used 16.1 gals, = 8.7 mpg

Kingman to Barstow Calif. 210 miles 24.8 gals. = 8.47 mpg

Barstow, Calif. to San Fernando Valley (Pacoima) 120 mi 9.9 gals. = 12.1 mpg (this was the "down-hill" stretch out of the high desert !)

on return trip, fueled again just east of Ariz border 287.8 mi. 30.7 gal = 9.35 mpg

Of interest, as I noted in a earlier "post", the on board fuel computer-indicated OVER-ALL average was DEAD ON ! Climbing grades, computer showed as little as 3.7 mpg, and as much as 22 mpg for those portions of the trip on long descending grades.

 

I know what you mean. When I drive mine, I am really gentle with it. I get around 12 mpg. On the rare occasion that the wife borrows it, I get back in to see that the mpg averager computer thingie that was reading about 12 when she left is now reading about 10. I have to admit, though, that I occasionally get more aggresive with it because it is so fun.

 

As far as unloaded driving economy is concerned, I'll throw in this data point. When I bought mine, I drove my Nissan Frontier SC from home to Batavia NY and got about 14 mpg overall for the trip. From experience, I knew that my highest highway numbers would be about 17. I traded the Frontier for the X in Batavia. I drove the X home going east on I-90 from Batavia. This road is essentially flat. While driving with the cruise control set at 71 and toting nothing but a full tank of gas and an enormous smile, I reset the computer thingie and it said that I was getting 16.1 mpg. It stayed that way until I took the exit and went another 40 miles at about 60 mph on some very hilly roads. When I got home, my thingie said about 13 mpg overall for the trip. For a very small loss of fuel economy I went from driving a sardine can to driving what felt like my living room down the road. I'LL TAKE IT!

 

Same experience driving my v-10 2wd from Tx to Nashville at 70mph alone with a/c on low. I got 16.6mpg by my math and 16.8mpg on the monitor. My 99 Expedition with a 5.4 barely does any better. (It is for sale if anyones interested). Regency conversion with quads, video and all the goodies.
Both great vehicles but love the Excursion!!!

 

"Gallon's per mile" seems close to accurate!

I have a 2000 X stock and pull a 29' Springdale. Dry weight of TT is 5500# but loaded it's probably closer to 8000. TT is used only during summer months (May - Sept) the rest of the X's miles are all in town. Currently the X has 116,000 and averages 8.5 with light foot. Pulling the TT yields about 6.5 with wind and 7.5 calm or grades. Plenty of power and a really enjoyable vehicle. Pulling TT at 2500 rpm and 70 mph. On the highway without the TT I get 11 to 12 mpg if I keep the speed under 70 but above 70 around 10. Not good by any stretch of the imagination. The only saving grace is I'm not making $650 mo. truck payments - it's paid for!

 

The best thing to me is when my V-8 owning frineds with suvs and trucks ask what mileage I get. They usually start with some kind of joke, like ...guess you stop for gas every day two or three times? Yuk Yuk.
Then their surprise when I tell em I get better ileage than they do. My 110,000 mile V10? The truth hurts.Still getting 13 in town and 17+ highway. I just had to learn to keep a lighter foot.

 

I still can't believe that my Ex V10 4x4 gets the same or close MPG in town as your 2wd trucks do.
You get your big gains on the freeway. Mine just increases by 1-2 MPG.
I could do better if I kept a lighter foot on the accelerator.
I guess my moniker tells all.................Move over.
Make up your gains (in time & space) when I stop for a 40 gallon rest stop. sometime in the next( 450 mi. ).
Rich.

 

Here is a related question, the previous owner was not sure if he had replaced the spark plugs in his 90K service. I have 110,000 on it now, and the truck runs great.
Think I should change them anyway or wait until I can tell that i need new ones.
Its one job i will pay to get done by the dealer because of the problems many have had with changed out plugs.

 

It's always best to follow the mfg service guidelines - that being said - I changed mine at 90K and it didn't make any difference in the performance or milage.

However, I want to get 250K out of my v-10 so changing them makes sense from a mechanical point of view. The less hard the engine has to work.

I changed my own and it took as long to get the tools out and put them away as to change the plugs. Each plug has its own coil - pull the coil off and take the plug out. The one's I got from autozone were already pregapped in a sleeve so I didn't even have to gap them.

Cheers,
Paul

 

I would try to find out where he had the work done and check with them.

 

I recently took a 400 mile (one-way) trip with the 30' TT in tow. I was in a hurry to get ro my destination so I averaged 70-75 mph. On arrival, trip computer said 7.8 mpg. On the way back, I made every effort to keep 'er at 60 mph (I was in no hurry to get back to work!) Trip computer said 10.3 mpg. Wind during each leg was negligible.

Regular maintenance, tire pressure, & keepin' your foot out of the gas is the most effective way to save mpg - IMHO.

Virg

2000 X, 2wd, V10, 115K

 

Paul- you make it sound like any other spark plug change out. I heard all the stories of spitting plugs after a change, so figured I would need a dealer to do it. It costs 325 around here just to do the plugs. They tell me that you have to pull off the rear fuel rail.
I have done this on many cars and trucks in the past, but not yet on the Exc.

 

not knowing what to expect with fuel and expecting the worst, i am pleasantly suprised to average 14 MPG on my 00 V10 4x4... i hear about being light footed, and started out that way, but found the best way was to get it going and into high gear sooner then just be smooth with the throttle... all my mileage so far is around town type and that average is over 3000 miles, on paper.

haven't towed with it yet but am looking foreward to it and see how it does... got 9.5 to 10.5 on the old 350. i am hoping this one shouldn't have to work as hard and may be able to equal my old mileage... i know that is whishful thinking, but i think it can be done...

 

Its a pleasant surprise that the mileage is what it is. Towing my trailer on a long trip, we were happy with the mileage compared to the motorhome, we used to have. We doubled that figure. (It was a 454)

 

I just changed out mine a few hundred miles ago and no blow outs yet. My X is a 2003 with 135K on it. They were not that hard to change the 2 in the rear on the passenger side were a little frustrating but got it done. I also changed my fuel filter which is very easy but alot of people don't think about it. I to cleaned my mass air flow sensor which indicated above was about 4 dallors and I think the fuel filter was about 5 bucks. Of course after I did all that, that is when I figured out my problem was the O2 sensors.