Explorer 4.0's Owner From Pa

[TeamExploder]

thanks for the welcome's folks!

[GasSavers_Red]

Does the 92 have manual hubs or a part time t-case? Any chances of swapping to one?

[Danronian]

Originally Posted by TeamExploder

thanks for the welcome's folks!

I asked him tonight and he said it avgs around 19-20 if he goes on the highway, and around 16 on back roads... Doesn't sound too good to me. I told him to add a little psi to the tires for some better mpg, so maybe that will help him a little.

[TeamExploder]

Red: My 92 does have manual hubs and a part time t-case, its push button so you can have it in 2wd when you want or 4X4 hi or low, or you can have your 2low if your hubs are unlocked. And what were you meaning by swappying to one?


Danronian: It is somewhat good to have the tires inflated more, but gotta remember the whole Firestone explorer cases, impropper inflation in tires on these trucks can blow out because of the weight and being top heavy also plays a factor. I keep around 35PSI in both my explorers

[GasSavers_Red]

Originally Posted by TeamExploder

Red: My 92 does have manual hubs and a part time t-case, its push button so you can have it in 2wd when you want or 4X4 hi or low, or you can have your 2low if your hubs are unlocked. And what were you meaning by swappying to one?

Yep, that what I meant. I want manual hubs.....

[Danronian]

Originally Posted by TeamExploder

Red: My 92 does have manual hubs and a part time t-case, its push button so you can have it in 2wd when you want or 4X4 hi or low, or you can have your 2low if your hubs are unlocked. And what were you meaning by swappying to one?


Danronian: It is somewhat good to have the tires inflated more, but gotta remember the whole Firestone explorer cases, impropper inflation in tires on these trucks can blow out because of the weight and being top heavy also plays a factor. I keep around 35PSI in both my explorers

I think he put around 38 in his...

Yeah, they are top-heavy, but not as bad as my mom's Tracker. They are some of the easiest to flip SUVs out there.

But yeah, I think that firestone issue was with underinflation and the tires overheating because of it...but I don't really remember. I think he said the doorjamb said something like 26 psi, but with that in there, they tires looked nearly flat.

[css28]

Red,
The older Explorers generally had a conventional transfer case (electrically shifted by pushbutton) and "automatic" hubs. The hubs would only engage when 4X4 mode was engaged and would release when next you reversed direction in 4X2 mode. Manual hubs were available, as was a lever-shifted transfer case but were very rare. Manual hubs are very commonly and easily retrofitted in place of the automatic hubs, but offer no improvement in terms of 4X2 drag/fuel economy. They're more durable.

Original Poster: Your dad's mileage sounds pretty typical. Our '94 Explorer with 5-spd manual never got more than 22 mpg on the highway; more commonly ~20-21. Our '99 Mountaineer is 5-spd automatic with the OHC V6 and gets about the same. We found that the ride got very harsh above 31 psi.

[TeamExploder]

Thats true....lever shift transfer case were usually more available in the XL models, but rare in them too, the"automatic" hubs were junk in the 91-94 explorers, can't really depend on them. Our 96 has the "auto" hubs but I think they're more of a all-time lock-in. I don't know much bout this newer explorer just yet since its my first, but the fiance drives is going to drive this one in the winter so I wont switch them to manual hubs just because it will be more convenient for her.

[GasSavers_Red]

Originally Posted by css28

Manual hubs are very commonly and easily retrofitted in place of the automatic hubs, but offer no improvement in terms of 4X2 drag/fuel economy. They're more durable.

Ahh well it was a hope.

The "auto" hubs sounds like the vacuum disconnect setup in the YJs(88-95) Wranglers. Sometimes the shaft would disconnect more often then not it would just get stuck in its current mode.