V10 fuel economy
 

Hi everyone,

A thread started by Computer Cowboy got me thinking about fuel efficiency and how it can be a sign that something isn't running correctly. Unfortunately my X is new enough to me that I don't know how well the numbers I'm getting compare with everyone else.

On a recent trip unloaded up to New Hampshire I averaged around 13.2 MPGs. The entire trip was on the highway with my speed between 65-68 the whole time. Of course my 4.30s don't help matters any.

What do you guys typically get in similar driving situations?

I just returned from eastern Washington over Stevens Pass and averaged 12.8 cruising around 65 with about 25% of the trip in 4WD running thru the mountains in heavy snow conditions. Was pleased with this and consider my X in a good state of tune.

from what I've read that's about average. I recently bought my X and had a 215 mi drive home. About half of the trip was right around 78-79. The mpg came out to 13.45. I'm in the process of calculating the around town mileage and the way the needle moves down I don't think the results are going to be very good. BTW X is 2004, V10, 4X4.

I've done a few tweaks to improve my fuel economy.

1. Chop off CAT and muffler, install straight pipe and Flowmaster Super44
2. Keep MAF sensor clean
3. Replace PCV valve

I did these three things all at the same time this summer and I was able to get 13MPG (hand calc) on a few hundred mile trip, this is with 315/75R16 tires. Previous to these tweaks I couldn't get over 10MPG.

I suspect each one of these tweaks helped, but that the CAT delete helped the most. It has been argued a lot before, to me it makes sense, not making the engine work hard to push exhaust out makes it run better.

on road trips i have seen as high as 14.5 mpg thats just loaded with crap for camping..ect nothing crazy.

what i have found over the last 3 years and 45k miles with all of my V10 4x4 3:73 excursions.

summer time
8-10 mpg city 12-14.5 mpg highway

winter time(running 4x4 all the time and idle time)
6-8 mpg city 10-12.5 mpg highway

I average about 13 as well unhitched. 2WD 4.30 gears.