I have a 2005 Ford Explorer V6. This car is a gas wasting machine.My brother has the same car and waste 50% less gas then me. My car has 22" rims on it and thats the only difference between our cars. Is having bigger rims? And what else can be factors in me wasting more gas?
2007-03-12 08:17:54 · 13 answers · asked by El Cangri 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Try to get it tuned up (replace the spark plugs and cables), or maybe replace the air filter. Check your tire pressure also. The best way to save gas though, is to drive carefully. Do not accelerate too fast, coast as long as you can to stop lights and sighs, dont drive too fast. I kinda tested this out with my wife (who drives like an idiot) on our new car. On one tank of gas, she got 247 miles. When I drove it, I got 293 miles on a tank of gas, just because I drive differently.
2007-03-12 08:29:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your car was V8 there would be no real differance but the 22" wheels is probably a major factor on the V6.. this is because in order to reach speeds the engine has to work harder to get you there. Here are a couple ways to make your gas miliage increase: 1. decrease Heavy Footing!! 2. Preform a tune-up (plugs,wires,rotor cap) 3. get a cold air intake system and K&N air filter (should help lots) 4. research has shown that you get more MPG on a full tank because of the pressure in the tank caused my the fumes Keep above a 1/2 tank typically if your doing alot of driving
I think the major factor of the gas guzzling would be the big rims. They look cool but performance suffers. If you are planning to do alot of traveling.. slap the stock wheels back on =) Best of luck to you
2007-03-12 15:30:55 · answer #2 · answered by Get Money 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many factors. Your rims do effect your gas milage because they are larger and heavier so they take more energy to spin.
actually... did you have the speedo re-calibrated after you put the 22's on there? I'll bet that you didn't. Those 22's are significantly bigger than the stock wheels... In which case you are probably doing better than you think. If you did not have the speedo recalibrated you are probably going faster than the spedomter is indicating and you are covering more distance than the odometer is telling you. Because of that when you compute your MPG it's going to look alot worse than it really is. You are also probably speeding everywhere and you don't even know it.
To test this, get on the highway and look for one of those measured miles. Go exactly 60 mph and time how long it takes you to go the mile. If it takes 60 seconds exactly you are fine. If it takes shorter you will need to have the speedo calibrated.
Aside from that, your driving style can greatly effect your fuel milage. If you accelerate hard and drive fast you will waste 20-30% more fuel.
Then there are always other mechanial things that can go wrong but these are not common.
2007-03-12 15:26:28 · answer #3 · answered by Louis G 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure the rims don't help. Let's see, what can waste gas? Low tire pressure, engine needing tune-up, driving habits like jack rabbit starts, start and stop driving, using more accessory's and putting more of a strain on the engine, and increasing the rolling resistance of your tires, which is what the 22's are probably doing.
2007-03-12 15:23:40 · answer #4 · answered by Fordman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The single biggest issue for a car wasting gas is that your wheels won't be inflated to the right amount of pressure. So check it and top it up if necessary. They lose air slowly through the rubber. If possible you can get them filled with a type of gas that doesn't leak out, just check around.
2007-03-12 15:26:31 · answer #5 · answered by Luis 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some quick tips:
check your tire pressure, if you have too much or too little pressure gas is wasted in moving the car.
check any extra unneccessary weight in your trunk that doesn't need to be there.
change your engine oil and add a lubricant, ask your mechanic for what your car needs.
Try to avoid routes with a lot of stop signs, these waste gas because you accelerate then stop.
Good Luck.
2007-03-12 15:27:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Windows down, quick take offs and stops, running the engine while standing, letting the car warm up, low tire pressure, dirty fuel filter, dirty air filter, infrequent oil changes, alignment off, not planning the most efficient route, driving when you could walk or ride a bike, buying a car that does not get good gas mileage in the first place, V6 engines instead of 4 cylinder, automatic shifting instead of manual, driving with your tailgate DOWN (it gets better when its up)
2007-03-12 15:31:33 · answer #7 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not keeping your car tuned up will lessen your gas mileage. Also, you need to change the air filter when it shows that it is dirty. Taking off from a stop like you're running a race will decrease your gas mileage too. V6's just use more gas.
2007-03-12 15:24:13 · answer #8 · answered by Cupcake 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jack rabbit starts, slamming on the brakes instead of coasting to the stop signs, having on bigger than called for tires, running with improper air pressure, speeding...
2007-03-12 15:23:31 · answer #9 · answered by oklatom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, if the rims are significantly heavier, then it will be a small factor....main thing you want to look at is that your fuel management system is up to par and also everything else should be up to maintenance
2007-03-12 15:21:44 · answer #10 · answered by Oh My 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋