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Real world mpg
- Thread starter l1tech
- Start date
As someone who came from a Durango SRT to the Explorer ST, 15 is optimistic.
11-13 is usually what I saw with a heavy foot, 10-12 in Michigan winters. I did average 20 once on a long trip with mostly 55 mph roads. If you're doing 70-80, it's more like 17-18.
I do miss the off-idle/low RPM throttle response, but definitely not the weekly gas fill-up cost.
11-13 is usually what I saw with a heavy foot, 10-12 in Michigan winters. I did average 20 once on a long trip with mostly 55 mph roads. If you're doing 70-80, it's more like 17-18.
I do miss the off-idle/low RPM throttle response, but definitely not the weekly gas fill-up cost.
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- Location
- Huron Charter Township, MI, USA
- Vehicle
- 2020 Ford Explorer ST
We just did a trip to cape cod. I was surprised with the gas mileage after reading some of the posts here saying they weren't getting over 20 mpg's. This was the total round trip, including stopping and idling to feed our new born... Shell 93 the entire trip... roughly 70-80 on the highway and cruising around the cape. I'll take it for the performance of the ST.
Do you non tuned guys continue to run 93 even for road trips? Was wondering if it’s worthy of any benefits to continue with 93 for just driving 10 hrs on the highway. Up until a month again, I always just ran 87. Was happy and didn’t feel the need to bump to 93. Especially with gas prices. But I switched in an Effort to help with carbon build up and a slight bit more responsiveness.
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I just run it for peace of mind and Shell’s additives. Granted I only ever ran the 87 after the dealer filled it up after pick up but in all reality and I’m just speaking for myself here, the dollar difference at the end of the fill up isn’t going to break the bank. Fill up with what you want! No harm or foul, I get your point though, if you’re going to burn it cruising on the highway why not save a buck or two.
Especially on road trips! The highway is where you need power. Torque is not a player at 75mph, but power to push the air aside is a definite factor. We just finished a 2,600 mile road trip and averaged 24.4 mpg (best:26.2) running 75-80.
I put 87 in it today, which mixed with the remaining 93 probably gives me 89 or 90. I think that since the torque is almost the same regardless of octane, maybe my cost-per-mile will come down as it's fed 87, since for the next few months, it'll be commuting only. Torque will be needed but power, not so much.
The highway cost-per-mile on my Escape was noticeably better on premium over unleaded, actually being cheaper to drive using 93 over 89. I suspect if it made its road-trip on 87, the difference would have been even greater.
I put 87 in it today, which mixed with the remaining 93 probably gives me 89 or 90. I think that since the torque is almost the same regardless of octane, maybe my cost-per-mile will come down as it's fed 87, since for the next few months, it'll be commuting only. Torque will be needed but power, not so much.
The highway cost-per-mile on my Escape was noticeably better on premium over unleaded, actually being cheaper to drive using 93 over 89. I suspect if it made its road-trip on 87, the difference would have been even greater.
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Stock ST for the moment and if I leave it in Eco Mode around town, it gets ~20 MPG on 87 octane with 10% ethanol. Highway driving between KC and StL in Eco Mode at ~80 to 85 mph will net ~24 MPG on the same fuel. There is a slight bump up in MPG when moving up to 91 or higher octane fuel but not enough to warrant using it for normal driving. If I’m driving for fun and smashing the right pedal, then it’s the good stuff, Sport Mode and the MPG suffers accordingly.
