FordExcursions.com Forums
sensei
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• Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA |
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• Registered on 9/9/2008 |
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• 7 posts |
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 Posted:9/9/2008 19:29 |
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I've done some reading, even here, and I see thoughts about improved MPG but I'd rather get some info from people who have actually upgraded their Excursion and gotten better mileage. I currently drive a '93 Sonoma with 240,000 miles and a 2.5L 4cyl and I'm lucky to get 18mpg. I'm tired of driving a small vehicle with such crappy mileage even after a full tune-up and maintenance by a mechanic; the truck never got great mileage and the power is anemic at best.
A friend of mine has a V8 F250 and he also lives close to his work and he only fills up every two weeks. I live 4 miles from work (public transportation is a no-go and riding a bike here in South Florida is not a great idea considering the heat/weather and neighboorhood I have to drive through) and I can live with the current gas mileage that I have...IF it were in a larger vehicle. If the Excursion can dance with 16MPG, its a realistic option for me because I can find them for less than $5000 in decent shape down here.
I don't need to tow anything and I'm not a contractor needing a work rig. I just want more power and more space if the mileage is comparable.
Does anyone have any real world proven results?
Is there a club in South Florida for Excursion owners?
Should I look at a diesel instead of gas (I'm going to post a different question for diesel in that forum as well)? |
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monsta
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• The Big Island, HI, USA |
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• Registered on 1/5/2002 |
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• 1,056 posts |
• 2 Vehicles
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Posted:9/10/2008 03:07 |
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Here's the deal. You're not going to get or mod enough to get a solid average 16mpg in a V10.
You may be able to average that in a diesel but I seriously doubt you can find a PSD Excursion for $5K. And even if you did 4 miles to work everyday will kill your diesel in a hurry.
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sensei
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• Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA |
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• Registered on 9/9/2008 |
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• 7 posts |
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Posted:9/10/2008 22:18 |
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Is this because you have a modded V10 and haven't had any results? Not being confrontational. I'm just seeking clarification. I'd chose a 2WD because I have no need for a 4x4.
I've read other posts on here now of others getting 16MPG. Are they being over generaous in their estimations? I've looked for Excusrion tuning and I have not found much so far. I've also looked for South Florida Excusrion clubs and so far founf nothing. I prefer to meet enthusiasts in person. |
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monsta
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• The Big Island, HI, USA |
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• Registered on 1/5/2002 |
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• 1,056 posts |
• 2 Vehicles
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Posted:9/11/2008 01:06 |
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I've owned two V10 Excursions. I've modded both of them in search of improved efficiency. What I determined was that the V10 is already pretty efficient. I used to be worried about it but now I just don't care. When it's hungry, I feed it. 
I can easily get 16+ on the highway (even though I don't have highways here, per se.) But that's HIGHWAY, steady-state cruising MPG. Not AVERAGE MPG.
I've learned that mostly;
Exhausts simply made more noise but helped a tad with pumping losses at high RPM. (Where mileage sucks)
Intakes are worthless as the stock intake allows more air to flow than the engine can ingest at 5500RPM and Wide Open Throttle. Plus, I've measured my intake temps to be the same as ambient temps. Some may "improve" sound or feel but won't post any MPG gains. there just isn't any pumping loss in the stock intake.
I've used tuners that helped improve transmission shifts and maybe efficiency but they were never specifically tuned for mileage. You'd have to run really lean and it's not really worth it to me.
I've used almost every brand of oil but always come back to Motorcraft because none have given me any discernible increase in MPG.
NONE of my mods have ever gotten me to AVERAGE 16 mpg on either V10 Excursion I've owned
My current 05 is a 2WD and I average 14 even WITH mods. (Although recently, my 285's mounted on 20's, my new 4.30 gears and giant 2008 tow mirrors have eaten a bit of that away.)
You want to increase MPG on a V10 Excursion? Inflate your tires 15lbs over stock and drive like my Grandma.
If you are seriously considering an Excursion for your 4 mile commute [i] (Hey! It's your money![/i]  )then don't expect more than 12-13 provided you live on the same road as your work and will not have to stop and go for the 4 miles.
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sensei
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• Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA |
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• Registered on 9/9/2008 |
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• 7 posts |
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Posted:9/11/2008 20:17 |
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What about the sparkplugs and wires and a chip? Am I overlloking any other possible mod?
16MPG would actually be good for me as "highway miles" to me would be the 8 miles south to West Palm or up to Jupiter. I'd go to Miami more if I had a more reliable vehicle, but not all of the time. RIght now, I'm getting 18MPG in a small pickup and I can live with the mileage, but not the mileage in a small 4cyl truck. This is just not acceptable to me.
I'm tired of a small truck with no appreciable mileage and the Excursion (a friend has an F250 and I liked riding in it and he has a similiar commute to me and doesn't have gas mileage worries even on the rare trips he goes for a long haul) offers more room and power for less than $5000. Its not for everyone and its not that I NEED an Excursion. Its just that for my needs, I'd like to have one and get the most performance out of it.
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monsta
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• The Big Island, HI, USA |
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• Registered on 1/5/2002 |
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• 1,056 posts |
• 2 Vehicles
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Posted:9/12/2008 14:38 |
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Sparkplugs/wires. The best plug is the stock plug and Excursions don't have sparkplug wires. they have what is a called a Coil On Plug (COP). Each sparkplug gets its own coil that sits right on top of the plug. It's the most efficient method out there currently.
Listen, if you can get an Excursion for $5K then just do it. You'll be ahead of the game (Blue Book) and that savings will buy a lot of gas.
However, from a financial standpoint. Unless you can get an Excursion for $5K, then use that 5K to buy a cheap Honda (et al) for your commute. It'll return 25mpg+ and you can keep your little pickup for when you need to haul things.
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sensei
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• Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA |
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• Registered on 9/9/2008 |
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• 7 posts |
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Posted:9/12/2008 22:12 |
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So no need for Splitfiire or any other "performance" plug?
I never even thought about an Excursion until my wife and I went car shopping last week and we found a 2001 V10 for $4990 in West Palm Beach. I thought the price was fluke or the truck a POS, but then I searched for other Excursions from Jupiter down to Ft. Lauderdale and finding gasoline Excursions for under $5000 is not difficult at all. Finding PSD for that has not yet happend and the ones I find are under $10,000 though.
This is why I started to seriously think about actually gettin an Excursion. They are a hated vehicle and for most people, one is simply not practical. Some cowarkers drive up from near Boca Raton and down from Martin County. If that were me, there is no way in hell I'd think about an Excursion, but for my needs and its cost, it may be a viable alternative. I see that you're on Hawai'i, but do you know of a Florida Excursion Club? I've looked but I'm a Ford noob and maybe I've overlooked something. |
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Bigjakes12
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• Phoenix, AZ, USA |
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• Registered on 4/19/2005 |
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• 29 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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 Posted:10/13/2008 17:29 |
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Don't mean to get picky here, but if you drive 8 miles a day, an EX shouldn't hurt your pocket book that much. Ok you get 18 with your little car now & let's say 12 from the ex. We are talking about 2.5 gallons a week. I'll pay another $8-10 a week to be comfortable & safe.
Once you go EX, you'll never go back!  |
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SunlineFan
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• Northville, MI, USA |
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• Registered on 9/22/2008 |
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• 5 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:10/15/2008 11:33 |
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Yesterday afternoon I filled up, and from doing so much highway driving recently (almost the whole tank was), when I started it up, my "miles to empty" read 629. That means I got about 14.3 mpg.
Last night, after driving about 72 miles, I averaged 15.1 (according to the computer), and had I kept it under 70, it would have probably stayed in the lower 16's or high 15's.
The truck is a '02 Limited V10, 4x4, with the 3.73 rear. It was just myself and some luggage, and the rear seat was out. Outside temp was about 50.
On edit, I forgot to mention the only engine mod is a K&N drop in air filter.
Jon
P.S. Over the past year I've done quite a bit of city driving with it (5 or so mile commutes), and mileage in the dead of winter was about 9 (did drop into the high 8's for a short time), but this past summer it got up to the 12 range. Even though the Ex has the downside of poorer mileage, the large tank does have advantages of being able to go for long stretches without filling up. |
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ciera
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• Greenvile, SC, USA |
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• Registered on 12/23/2008 |
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• 1 post |
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Posted:12/23/2008 17:20 |
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We've got a 03 with the V10 and 4x4. We average 13 around town and 16-17 fully loaded on trips.
Since there isn't much to do about the weight of the truck for MPG the biggest changes you can make would focus on reducing drag. You don't need more power (unless you have the V8 and need to tow).
1. Change to highway tires, shedding the typical M&S types for a total highway tread, that will reduce rolling friction going down the highway. M&S's are stickier on highway and unless you plan on doing mudding or driving on the sand down there in Florida there's no need for them.
2. Trucks, and especially the Excursion sit up in the air, so when you're going down the highway they act like a brick in the air. You could actually lower the truck a few inches all around and see an improvement in MPG. The preffered method is to use aftermarket parts to keep your geometry in line. This should be easier in the 2WD versions than 4x4. I would opt to lower the front 1-2" more than the rear, creating a better airflow over the truck.
For those who strictly use their Excursion for Highway/non-towing I would suggest #2 plus a gear and tire change to optimize RPMs at normal cruising speeds.
I haven't ever been able to figure out why the Big 3 haven't made lowered trucks as a new class of vehicle. Redesign the frontend aerodynampics too. You still get the advantage of mass for safety, but increase mileage by a pretty good bit. I would guess an average increase of 25% to MPG over the stock stance we have today. |
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