Excursion MPG vs. Small SUV's MPG

[Maverick4x4]

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If you know of another diesel 4x4 8 passenger vehicle with 44 gallon tank let me know.

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Jeep was teasing us with the Rescue concept. Cummins, 1 ton axles, 8 passenger. Dunno on the tank size. Pretty killer rig. I got pretty excited.

Instead, they offered the gutless 8-passenger Commander, based on the Grand Cherokee, with the same wheelbase and drivetrain. Thanks for nothin'.

[FamilyRide]

MPG comparisons usually shock the crap out of people. They have it in their head that because it's big, it's a "gas hog" and so many people refer to it. It blows away anything that's even close in comparison down to many compact SUV's.

Speaking of H1 and H2, I saw an H3 the other day. I laughed at the poor little thing. I thought it was a new Jeep Liberty and when I realized it was an H3, I felt sorry fo the new buyer knowing that the Liberty probably has more room, now that I saw the H3. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[EXCAV8TER]

LOL THATS FUUUUNNNYYYY!!!!

I bought my EX because I know that i could do a few mods and get 20+ MPG on the highway...that and 4 yes FOUR girls between 6 mos and 9 years is reason enough to have them as far behind my head as possible...the overhead DVD mod is next....! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
Tom [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

oh and the priceless look on peoples faces when my 9000 lb beast occasionally launches from a redlight! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

[85CJ7_Stroker]

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The increased resale value of the diesel more than compensated for the additional cost. That cinched it for me.

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When I thought about the PSD when I bought my 02, I was planning on the V-10 but then while doing a little prudent research I discovered payback was at 70K then. And looking a crew cab resale values I discovered that "Double your money back" was a fairly sure bet. With the high miles I drive I got about three and half times my money back on the 02 psd.

Bottom line is if I had bought the V-10 I might still be driving it because of the low resale, by contrast the PSD had the lowest depreciation per mile I have had in over 20 years! I figure the 02 cost me at least $0.12 per mile less to drive per mile than the 92 E-150 it replaced and I drove it for 192K and still sold it for 5K. $0.12 times 30 to 35K per year is big money to me, in other words I got my PSD cost back more than once a year!

Buying another PSD X was not even a question after the number were known. I still think a V6 explorer may have cost as much or more per mile to drive and is only 1/2 the vehicle.

BTW the 02 had 110 K on it sold in the upper mid 20s three days after the 7 day ebay listing. I must admit it had extra value to the guy who bought it as it was set up just as he needed and was planning to do, We both made out very well [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Bruce

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When I bought my 02 4x4 PSD X Limited with 175K miles (highway robbery on my part for what I paid), the loan value on it was $27K+, whereas the loan value on the V10 of the same vehicle was only $19K+. That said all I needed to know, and that's BEFORE you try to compare the fuel economies of the two.

A month ago, I towed my jeep, assorted gear/equipment, and two friends 6hrs each way and averaged 12ish mpg. Without resetting the computer, my average is already showing 16+ mpg. I'll reset it again on the next fill-up, but I was getting 18 around town before the big trip. I can't wait to take a big trip without the trailer and Jeep to see what I get on the interstates.

[zucatti]

Before I bought my Excursion, I had an Explorer (4.6 with AWD). It's unbelievable to me, but the Excursion gets the same highway mileage (around 19 mpg).

[Maverick4x4]

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The reason I wanted it though was the diesel power...the mpg was just the way to make it happen in my family's budget.

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I'm replying to my own post because I'm still getting shcrappy mileage...I got 15.8 mpg on my 80 mile test drive, driving part of the same route that I knew I would be driving it (local mtn freeway pass on the way to our mtn property)...and part of that trip was a 90+mph romp up to the 7000' summit, to see if it would.

This is my second tank of 11 mpg. First tank I babied it, driving mellow and all, with 3 trips to the mtn property (45 miles of freeway, 5 of dirt, each way). This tank started out with some romps in the mtns, and will end up with 2 trips total to the property and some other freeway time.

The only change between the test drive tank and the 2 subsequent tanks was swapping aggressive Coopers (285) for the road tread Michelins (265), with both tires showing a need for an alignment. The V-codes came halfway through the 1st tankful. But a 41% drop in economy from 1" taller, more aggressive tires??? (even adjusting for the taller tire, it still sucks) Help me out here.

Right now I'm blaming it on the treads. (I can feel each lug hit the road, literally) I'm looking at other treads, and will swap on a buddy's set of mild 35s this week to see if it's any better. I'm also running some Cetane booster I got from Autozone to see if it helps. One good thing, the actual mileage was 0.5mpg higher than the computer said.

Has anyone had this drastic of change in mpg due to tires?

Thanks,
Brett (keeping the computer on "miles until empty" so the family acct doesn't see "10.8 avg mpg")

I'd be happy with mid 13's. I hoped for 15's. 11's sucks.

[DR.billZ]

80+ will suck fuel BIG TIME especially uphill. I watched my overhead display yesterday after changing to the hotter thermostat. MPG will drop from 24mpg at 55mph to 17mpg at 70mph.
Stop and go will really kill your mpg also.
Tips for better mpg:
1) Get the tire presuure up (65-70)
2) Use as little throttle as possible to get the last shift in at 40 mph. Try to stay between 40 and 55(depends on where you drive of course).
3)Coast to a stop or red light. Try to anticipate a red light turning back to green, while trying to keep the vehicle MOVING.
4) When coasting if you lightly tap the brake and hold it in very slighlty you will see the rpms drop dramatically.
5)resist the temptation to smoke other vehicles [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[JohnBoyII]

Mav,
the wife is on a new car kick and in love with a few small sUV's...

My Ex - even with all the idling I do to keep the Texus heat out - is getting around 16 or 17 in town and approaches 20 or so on the highway - even the kamikazee way I drive [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

for instance:
the Lincoln Aviator she is in love with (and will probably get) is rated at 13 and 18 !!!
and I've NEVER seen a car get the epa ratings [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
other than my diesels and a Honda cvcc 20 years ago [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

the Toyata Sequoia (still "small" compared to Ex [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]) rated at about 13 and 19
and 4 runner SIX cylinder rated at 18 and 22 ????
I think I recall all those numbers correctly....
but at any rte - the EPA and our right foot determine the most impact on our fuel mpg !

[Maverick4x4]

[ QUOTE ]
80+ will suck fuel BIG TIME especially uphill. I watched my overhead display yesterday after changing to the hotter thermostat. MPG will drop from 24mpg at 55mph to 17mpg at 70mph.
Stop and go will really kill your mpg also.
Tips for better mpg:
1) Get the tire presuure up (65-70)
2) Use as little throttle as possible to get the last shift in at 40 mph. Try to stay between 40 and 55(depends on where you drive of course).
3)Coast to a stop or red light. Try to anticipate a red light turning back to green, while trying to keep the vehicle MOVING.
4) When coasting if you lightly tap the brake and hold it in very slighlty you will see the rpms drop dramatically.
5)resist the temptation to smoke other vehicles [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Thanks, but I'm using ALL of those tips and still getting 11 mpg, whereas on my long test drive, including the romp at 90mph UP to Parley's Summit on I-80, I got 15.8 mpg.

What I'm asking is if it is reasonable that tires can make that much reduction in mpg? The Michelin E's weren't even at 80psi, they were closer to 50psi. I know that my short trips (which are unavoidable, I have to work) are going to bring it down, but my freeway mileage is barely 12 now, and this is the slowest and mellowest I've driven in the last 21 years. I'm doin' 70-75 in the places where I used to cruise at 80-85 all the time.

[DR.billZ]

Going from 50 psi to 65 will change the whole vehicle. It will get better mileage and handle tons better. It will get rid of a lot of wallowing.

[Maverick4x4]

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Going from 50 psi to 65 will change the whole vehicle. It will get better mileage and handle tons better. It will get rid of a lot of wallowing.

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[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Ok, one more time:

Before:
50 psi michelin E rated 265/75r16 tires
hammer down, 90mph part of the way up to summit
otherwise normal (to me) driving
15.8 mpg

Now:
65 psi Cooper Discoverer D rated 285/75r16 tires
gentle driving, cruise set at 72 mph, timing lights, coasting, damn near using a sail for motive force rather than press on the #&$#@ throttle.
11ish mpg (even adjusted for the 3.7% bigger tires)

Please note: I'm trying to get back to 15 mpg. I'm now at 11 mpg. I'm driving using all the tips. IS IT THE G#*&$@#$M TIRES????? OR SOMETHING ELSE?????

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]
(please note that I'm smiling while writing this, cuz I have nothing better to do than ask questions while I'm waiting to swap tires and find out for myself) [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Thanks,
Brett (gettin' back to work)

[DR.billZ]

I think it's the big tires. That is a lot of tire to move.
WE have the Cooper HT in the stock size. Pretty good tire!

[larry0071]

I run the same exact tire. Try this if you can....set the cruise with the RPM's at 1800...this is about 60 MPH. Dont go any faster than that. It will cost you time, but not fuel. I can coax 17-18.5 out of mine at this RPM with the 6-gun turned off. If I go 70 MPH the MPG drops to about 13.5-14 and if I go faster than that I stop computing MPG because it appearantly does not matter to me at that point :] Speed kills, as you go near to and above 2K RPM your turbo starts making boost at cruise and when boost comes the computer starts throwing fuel on it. This very same thing happens on factory supercharged trucks...like my old Nisan Frontier S/C. If I kept it under the boost (3400 RPM's) it got 16 MPG, if I set the cruise in the boost (Above 3400 RPM's) it would get 9-11 MPG. This was a 3.3L V-6 with an Eaton Model M-62 charger from the factory. Boost kills MPG, but it sure is nice when you need the power. Generally I accept that with my hurried nature....MPG is something I should not calculate...I usually set her on 80 and fly low and fast. Can you say 11-12 MPG...lol. I did once set it on 55 and drove a half of a tank from N.C. to upper Virginia and got 19.? MPG...but its not worth my stress to drive that slow...im a pass-er, not a pass-ee.

[Maverick4x4]

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I run the same exact tire. Try this if you can....set the cruise with the RPM's at 1800...this is about 60 MPH. Dont go any faster than that. It will cost you time, but not fuel. I can coax 17-18.5 out of mine at this RPM with the 6-gun turned off. If I go 70 MPH the MPG drops to about 13.5-14 and if I go faster than that I stop computing MPG because it appearantly does not matter to me at that point :] Speed kills, as you go near to and above 2K RPM your turbo starts making boost at cruise and when boost comes the computer starts throwing fuel on it. This very same thing happens on factory supercharged trucks...like my old Nisan Frontier S/C. If I kept it under the boost (3400 RPM's) it got 16 MPG, if I set the cruise in the boost (Above 3400 RPM's) it would get 9-11 MPG. This was a 3.3L V-6 with an Eaton Model M-62 charger from the factory. Boost kills MPG, but it sure is nice when you need the power. Generally I accept that with my hurried nature....MPG is something I should not calculate...I usually set her on 80 and fly low and fast. Can you say 11-12 MPG...lol. I did once set it on 55 and drove a half of a tank from N.C. to upper Virginia and got 19.? MPG...but its not worth my stress to drive that slow...im a pass-er, not a pass-ee.

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I can certainly do those things...and I am, but that is completely beside the point. It's not making much of a difference.

One more time: I drove like a bat out of hell on my 80 mile test drive. 70-90 mph, up a LONG grade and back, around the belt, in traffic, on stop and go surface streets, etc and got almost 16mpg.

Now I'm following all the tips and getting 11 mpg, with only a 1" taller tire but a different tread...

All I'm asking is if anyone has had such a drastic drop in mpg by just going to a more agressive tread.

I'm about to spend several hundred dollars on different tires. (current tires are sold) Just putting the Michelins back on would cost $80. I'm not made of money. I bought this thing BECAUSE of the mileage and performance. I drove it on my LONG test drive the way that I drive, and I got high 15's. I had done lots of research on it. I figured (wrong?) that I'd drop the mileage to 13-14 by putting 285's and Vcodes on it. It dropped to 11, which is unacceptable.

Buddies that run 315 bfg/at/ko's are getting nearly the same as stock, and that's got me wondering *** is up with mine.

I'll have the answer myself in a few days, by swapping tires with a buddy, I was just curious if anyone here had seen such a drastic mpg reduction from tire design alone.

Brett (also a passer rather than a passee...and I've been passed more in the last 2 weeks than in the previous 21 years)

Edit: The tires are Durango Radial XTR (a Cooper spin off)

[DR.billZ]

I all that has changed is the the tire, then I'd be thinking it was the tire.