Well, this past week I am in the states visiting family before I head back to Europe. I've had a great, great, great time with my new 2002 7.3 Excursion 4 x 4 Limited (I have to put this in since I am not a member yet and I can't have a sig). It did come with a 4 inch turbo back exhaust.

Upgrades: I added new windshield wipers (24 front. 18 rear). What was Ford thinking with the originals? The Ex came with it's original tires (58k) so I put on brand new General Grabber HTS Load range: E . Consumer research had them as the best tires for what I wanted and they were cheaper than Michelin by a land slide. Very quite tire.

As far as mileage goes, I have driven over 800 miles and have done 2 fill ups to find out where I am on mileage. The first one was 30% highway, 70% around town and I averaged 14.5 on the first fill up. The next fill up was 90% highway, 10% around town and I averaged 18.8 mpg. I added Diesel Kleen at every tank (gray bottle I think). This was all hand calculated, not going off the lie-o-meter.

My family loves the room. It's not hard to get around in. I'm ready for a DP-tuner, intake, and get all of my towing equipment bought to tow my mustang. I'd like to get 22mpg on the highway with no load. I think it's possible.

 

The best mileage I've gotten to date is about 20.5 on the highway averaging 65 mph. I don't know if 22 is possible. If you find a way to do it let me in on the secret. Maybe if you slow down to about 55 on a very flat stretch of highway with the wind at your back 22 may be possible. Good luck.

 

Anything is possible.

Take the mud flaps off, already got great highway tires, going to call DP-tuner and get a programmer with the economy tune. I couldn't care less about horsepower with an economy tune so maybe they can tweek it for that much better fuel mileage... who knows. Even if I stayed at 19mpg, that is awesome nevertheless for a 8k lbs vehicle plus 5 passengers (900 lbs total) and luggage (100 lbs).

 

I just put on a MBRP exhaust system and the tuner!!! My fuel mileage went up while on the economy and had to try the 140hp...WOW. it felt like I was in a rocket and could not stop smiling. You will be very happy once you get a tuner

 

Definately true. I used to own a 4x4 Xterra with the 3.3V6 and it got worse fuel mileage than my 7.3 4x4 Excursion, go figure! The 20.5mpg figure was also on the Bully Dog tuner on the lowest HP setting which is still a lot higher than stock. Mpg goes right out the window on the highest setting but definately a lot of fun.