Why is my MPG so "poor"?

[silverflash]

i own a 2021 XL FX4 stock EXCEPT i put on cooper discoverer at-4s tires. same exact size as stock. They do weigh 5lbs more per tire than stock. I have 6500 miles. It seems on a long road trip of 200 miles, the best i can get is 23 mpg. This is going 55-70mph and most of those miles 67 mph. Very little stop and go. I do not use the auto start/stop feature. This same route i'd get 21mpg with my xterra with oversized tires and a tune. it was rated 16/21 mpg. I would see 23mpg with it back with stock tires. My patriot, rated at 22/25mpg saw consistent 26.4 on the same trip. And it had heavier tires- by 2 lbs a tire.

i keep seeing people saying on fakevook that they see 29mpg on highway, fx4. Lots of 27mpgs...... Does the 5lbs per tire really eat up 4mpg?

my oil level does rise- fuel in oil- but it's halfway between the high hash and top dot when cold, right below top dot when hot. I can't see that causing my poor mpgs....

i intentionally went with the coopers for their better winter driving characteristics as i go thru mountains alot. and they seem more rugged as far as sidewalls go.

i would expect though to see that 24 or 25mpg when i nurse it on the flat roads...... thoughts?

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[aeroshots]

My thoughts won't help I'm afraid. But, first take those high mpg reports and subtract an exaggeration factor and you won't feel so bad. Second, I'm right in there with your results except having factory tires and 24ish mpg in similar conditions as you described. Third, sounds like you hit the high spots in regards to possible effects on mpg. Probably already considered running tire pressures on the high side for better mpg?

 

[slowmachine]

It's easy to get bogged-down with MPG concerns. For MPG data to be even minimally useful, you need to eliminate as many variables as possible from the calculations. In absolute terms, I ignore the numbers generated by the Ranger itself and displayed on the dash. In relative terms, I am interested in that number if it changes abruptly. It's best to do hand calculations, based on odometer miles (another imprecise number) and gallons pumped (another imprecise number) over several thousand miles.

5 pounds of tire weight will make a noticeable difference, but mostly in city driving, where you are accelerating frequently. Steady-speed highway cruising should show minimal differences, because you are not repeatedly overcoming the inertia of a heavier tire.

I have the Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S in the stock 265/65R17 size, inflated to 29-30 PSI cold, and consistently see 26-ish MPG reported by the dash display with 93 octane Top Tier fuel. My driving is in a rural area, mostly 35-55 MPH, so I spend lots of time with the cruise control on and relatively-low aerodynamic drag. I have done months-long tests comparing 87 octane to 93 octane for MPG purposes, and am convinced that there is a small MPG benefit from 93 octane fuel. It is not enough to compensate for the increased cost (87 octane is still less expensive per mile driven) but does make a difference in MPG.

 

[AzScorpion]

i own a 2021 XL FX4 stock EXCEPT i put on cooper discoverer at-4s tires. same exact size as stock. They do weigh 5lbs more per tire than stock. I have 6500 miles. It seems on a long road trip of 200 miles, the best i can get is 23 mpg. This is going 55-70mph and most of those miles 67 mph. Very little stop and go. I do not use the auto start/stop feature. This same route i'd get 21mpg with my xterra with oversized tires and a tune. it was rated 16/21 mpg. I would see 23mpg with it back with stock tires. My patriot, rated at 22/25mpg saw consistent 26.4 on the same trip. And it had heavier tires- by 2 lbs a tire.

i keep seeing people saying on fakevook that they see 29mpg on highway, fx4. Lots of 27mpgs...... Does the 5lbs per tire really eat up 4mpg?

my oil level does rise- fuel in oil- but it's halfway between the high hash and top dot when cold, right below top dot when hot. I can't see that causing my poor mpgs....

i intentionally went with the coopers for their better winter driving characteristics as i go thru mountains alot. and they seem more rugged as far as sidewalls go.

i would expect though to see that 24 or 25mpg when i nurse it on the flat roads...... thoughts?

I went UP one size (more weight than yours) and get right around what you're getting so you're in the right ballpark. MPG is tricky because everyone drives different. Some take off hard and some ease into the gas and some race to a red light where others coast to it. Terrain and inclines also alter it a lot too.

On the highway I normally drive 70-75 and average 21 mpg but if I slow down (impossible out here) and drive 65 it gets way better mileage as that seems to be the sweet spot for these motors.

 

[Grumpaw]

There are so many variables to your mpg as opposed to someone or everyone's mpg that it would take pages to go thru them all.
The mpg advertised by Ford was averaged under ideal conditions, by professional drivers, and not by every day users who like to get on it once in awhile, playing in sport or haul mode, ect ect.
Tire type, psi in those tires, type of fuel you use, temp, wind, road surface, all have a bearing on your mpg. Someone states their getting 27-29 mpg...maybe for a short period, but over a long term, I would take with a grain of salt. If I tried and put my mind to it, I could probably get that, but in the long run what am I goint to save ...$3-$4 on a 18 gallon $65 fill up ? Just not worth it to me.
Your driving a vehicle shaped like square Leggo's that weighs 4400 lbs. You could probably get more mpg by changing your driving habits, upping tire pressure, only driving on smooth roads, coasting up to a stop sign or red light, and more.
23 mpg...I would be happy with that...I run premium 91 and 93 octane, and I like to "drive" my Ranger. Only time I ever see my mpg is when I fill up and scroll to reset my mileage, and its usually in the 18-20 mpg..

 

[IdahoRanger]

Drive it like you stole it...the mpg's will be lower but the smiles will be wider.

 

[Hickesy]

i own a 2021 XL FX4 stock EXCEPT i put on cooper discoverer at-4s tires. same exact size as stock. They do weigh 5lbs more per tire than stock. I have 6500 miles. It seems on a long road trip of 200 miles, the best i can get is 23 mpg. This is going 55-70mph and most of those miles 67 mph. Very little stop and go. I do not use the auto start/stop feature. This same route i'd get 21mpg with my xterra with oversized tires and a tune. it was rated 16/21 mpg. I would see 23mpg with it back with stock tires. My patriot, rated at 22/25mpg saw consistent 26.4 on the same trip. And it had heavier tires- by 2 lbs a tire.

i keep seeing people saying on fakevook that they see 29mpg on highway, fx4. Lots of 27mpgs...... Does the 5lbs per tire really eat up 4mpg?

my oil level does rise- fuel in oil- but it's halfway between the high hash and top dot when cold, right below top dot when hot. I can't see that causing my poor mpgs....

i intentionally went with the coopers for their better winter driving characteristics as i go thru mountains alot. and they seem more rugged as far as sidewalls go.

i would expect though to see that 24 or 25mpg when i nurse it on the flat roads...... thoughts?

I've never had above 22 and it's all stock so I'd just keep on truckin' ?

 

[Blue Streak]

I have a 2019 XL STX FX4 bone stock, except for hauling around extra weight such as tow chain, bottle jack, jumper cables & other odds & ends, I get anywhere from 21 to 24. Sweet spot seems to be be about 68 mph in tow mode almost always, sport on occasion, drive usually never . Have not been able to be on a nice long highway trip lately but I do get a nice mix of driving in. Happy with mine. My 92 F250 4x4 got 10mpg all the time.

 

[rcairflr]

On a 480 mile trip with speed limit of 65 MPH I get about 23-23.5 MPG.
I don't for one second believe anyone who says 29 MPG with a 4x4. They must go downhill with a tail wind and call it their average MPG.

Also, have you compared your indicated versus calculated?

 

[HDA]

On cruise control I average about 25mpg on the highway, bone stock non-fx4 4x4.
23mpg is not bad, considering the heavier tires and the off road package. Tacoma's get 18mpg if that makes you feel better.

My advice? Don't stress about the mpg's amigo. Just enjoy your ride.

 

[silverflash]

i calculate it by hand every time. it's always lower than what the dash reads. that's where my 23.3 came from on the last trip.

so the last trip-
about 220 miles- let's say- as i didn't come straight home. rather i visited an offroad trail to some property i own. that trail is gravel in 2wd till about the 3/4 mark, it's gradual hills till the last 1/4 mile or 1/2 mile. there, it's 4hi and slow-4 mph. good hills. i then came down in 4lo, that 1st 1/2 mile, then back to 2wd and came home. I got 23.3 on that tank. So perhaps i would have seen 24 if not for that BUT 20-30 miles of the trip back is all down hill. out of the mountains to more flat lands. i'd expect to be getting 99mpg instantaneous during that 20-30 miles and that would bring my average up BUT i do use sport mode to engine brake alot coming down. still, i can't see it hurting mpgs using engine braking down hill.

seems like i need to try going to the beach. that trip is all flat and 55mph for 170 miles. if i get 25 or 26 there. i'd be happy.

don't get me wrong, i am happy with 23 BUT just am curious how people get 27+. LOL.

oh and the truck is basically empty with just me in it or my better, 130lbs, half.

and i have owned a taco and that got about 19-20 on same trip, wasn't as fun, was more uncomfortable and was the trd offroad.

 

[AzScorpion]

You can download the Fuelly app. It keeps track of all your fill ups and calculates your mpg for you and stores everything in the app. You can also store your service records there too.

 

[OFC Ranger]

First world problems. lol

Best I can get is 16.4 combined.

 

[rcairflr]

don't get me wrong, i am happy with 23 BUT just am curious how people get 27+. LOL.

and i have owned a taco and that got about 19-20 on same trip, wasn't as fun, was more uncomfortable and was the trd offroad.

Start by NOT believing anyone who says they are getting an average of 27+ MPG with 4x4.
Your average is right in line with what I am getting.
I did a trip up to North Dakota this summer, much of the trip is 75-80 MPH speed limit. I averaged 19.5 MPG for the trip. Wind and speed kills the average MPG.

BTW, are you aware you can calibrate your Mileage indicator? If it is off your calculated, you can do a calibration on it.

 

[db_tanker]

If I drive like a grandparent I can get over 24. If I drive like the folks normally drive around me, with 87 octane, in Houston, I get what I get...about 22.9-23.3.

I throw my trailer with ATV on the hitch, I get down to about 21.5.

No complaints from me.

D

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