2003 Ford Explorer Gas Tank Size & Fuel Capacity
Fuel tank capacity
22.5gal · 85 L
The 2003 Ford Explorer has a fuel tank capacity of 22.5 gallons (85 liters) on every trim.
A full tank is good for roughly 405–428 highway miles or 293–315 miles around town, going by the EPA ratings.
22.5 gal · Bigger than 68% of 2003 models we list.
Listed separately: 2003 Ford Explorer Sport (16.8 gal), 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac (22.4 gal).
- By trim
- Gas cap & parts
- Fuel essentials
- Miles per tank
- Fill-up cost
- Other years
- Fuel recalls
- Pump & gauge parts
- FAQ
2003 Ford Explorer fuel tank capacity by trim
What changes the tank sizeTap an option to filter the table
- Powertrain
- no difference
- Drive
- no difference
- Engine
- no difference
All 34 trims
MPG and range are city / highway.
| Trim | Engine | Drive | Tank | Fuel | MPG city / hwy | Range city / hwy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eddie Bauer 4WD 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · 4WD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | 4WD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| Eddie Bauer 4WD 4dr SUV 4.6L 8cyl 5A · 4WD · Regular MPG 13 / 18Range 293 / 405 mi | 4.6L 8cyl 5A | 4WD | 22.5 gal85 L | Regular | 13 / 18 | 293 / 405 mi |
| Eddie Bauer AWD 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · AWD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | AWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| Eddie Bauer AWD 4dr SUV 4.6L 8cyl 5A · AWD · Regular MPG 13 / 18Range 293 / 405 mi | 4.6L 8cyl 5A | AWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Regular | 13 / 18 | 293 / 405 mi |
| Eddie Bauer Rwd 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · RWD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | RWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| Eddie Bauer Rwd 4dr SUV 4.6L 8cyl 5A · RWD · Regular MPG 13 / 18Range 293 / 405 mi | 4.6L 8cyl 5A | RWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Regular | 13 / 18 | 293 / 405 mi |
| Limited 4WD 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · 4WD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | 4WD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| Limited 4WD 4dr SUV 4.6L 8cyl 5A · 4WD · Regular MPG 13 / 18Range 293 / 405 mi | 4.6L 8cyl 5A | 4WD | 22.5 gal85 L | Regular | 13 / 18 | 293 / 405 mi |
| Limited AWD 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · AWD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | AWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| Limited AWD 4dr SUV 4.6L 8cyl 5A · AWD · Regular MPG 13 / 18Range 293 / 405 mi | 4.6L 8cyl 5A | AWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Regular | 13 / 18 | 293 / 405 mi |
| Limited Rwd 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · RWD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | RWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| Limited Rwd 4dr SUV 4.6L 8cyl 5A · RWD · Regular MPG 13 / 18Range 293 / 405 mi | 4.6L 8cyl 5A | RWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Regular | 13 / 18 | 293 / 405 mi |
| NBX 4WD 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · 4WD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | 4WD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| NBX 4WD 4dr SUV 4.6L 8cyl 5A · 4WD · Regular MPG 13 / 18Range 293 / 405 mi | 4.6L 8cyl 5A | 4WD | 22.5 gal85 L | Regular | 13 / 18 | 293 / 405 mi |
| NBX Rwd 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · RWD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | RWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| NBX Rwd 4dr SUV 4.6L 8cyl 5A · RWD · Regular MPG 13 / 18Range 293 / 405 mi | 4.6L 8cyl 5A | RWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Regular | 13 / 18 | 293 / 405 mi |
| XLS 4WD 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · 4WD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | 4WD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| XLS AWD 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · AWD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | AWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| XLS Rwd 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · RWD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | RWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| XLS Sport 4WD 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · 4WD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | 4WD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| XLS Sport AWD 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · AWD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | AWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| XLS Sport Rwd 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · RWD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | RWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| XLT 4WD 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · 4WD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | 4WD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| XLT 4WD 4dr SUV 4.6L 8cyl 5A · 4WD · Regular MPG 13 / 18Range 293 / 405 mi | 4.6L 8cyl 5A | 4WD | 22.5 gal85 L | Regular | 13 / 18 | 293 / 405 mi |
| XLT AWD 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · AWD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | AWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| XLT AWD 4dr SUV 4.6L 8cyl 5A · AWD · Regular MPG 13 / 18Range 293 / 405 mi | 4.6L 8cyl 5A | AWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Regular | 13 / 18 | 293 / 405 mi |
| XLT Rwd 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · RWD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | RWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| XLT Rwd 4dr SUV 4.6L 8cyl 5A · RWD · Regular MPG 13 / 18Range 293 / 405 mi | 4.6L 8cyl 5A | RWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Regular | 13 / 18 | 293 / 405 mi |
| XLT Sport 4WD 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · 4WD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | 4WD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| XLT Sport 4WD 4dr SUV 4.6L 8cyl 5A · 4WD · Regular MPG 13 / 18Range 293 / 405 mi | 4.6L 8cyl 5A | 4WD | 22.5 gal85 L | Regular | 13 / 18 | 293 / 405 mi |
| XLT Sport AWD 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · AWD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | AWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| XLT Sport AWD 4dr SUV 4.6L 8cyl 5A · AWD · Regular MPG 13 / 18Range 293 / 405 mi | 4.6L 8cyl 5A | AWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Regular | 13 / 18 | 293 / 405 mi |
| XLT Sport Rwd 4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · RWD · Flex-fuel (gas or E85) MPG 14 / 19Range 315 / 428 mi | 4.0L 6cyl 5A Flex-fuel | RWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Flex-fuelgas or E85 | 14 / 19 | 315 / 428 mi |
| XLT Sport Rwd 4dr SUV 4.6L 8cyl 5A · RWD · Regular MPG 13 / 18Range 293 / 405 mi | 4.6L 8cyl 5A | RWD | 22.5 gal85 L | Regular | 13 / 18 | 293 / 405 mi |
| No trim matches all of these filters. | ||||||
Tank figures are the manufacturer's rated capacity, sorted smallest tank first. Range is tank size times EPA city or highway MPG.
How far a 2003 Ford Explorer goes on a tank
Gallons left and the distance they cover at each mark on the fuel gauge, at EPA city and highway mileage. At the combined rating of 16 MPG, a full 22.5-gallon tank covers about 360 miles.
| Gauge | Gallons | Highway miles | City miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full | 22.5 | 428 | 315 |
| 3/4 | 16.9 | 321 | 236 |
| 1/2 | 11.3 | 214 | 158 |
| 1/4 | 5.6 | 107 | 79 |
| 1/8 | 2.8 | 53 | 39 |
Over 15,000 miles a year (the EPA's yearly estimate) this configuration uses about 938 gallons, roughly 42 full tanks.
In real driving: owners who log fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 16.7 MPG in the Explorer (30 drivers), about 376 miles on a full 22.5-gallon tank.
Fuel gauges aren't perfectly linear and the low-fuel light comes on with a few gallons still in the tank, so plan your stop before the last eighth.
- EPA combined
- 15–16 MPG
- Tailpipe CO2
- 555–592 g/mi
- Source
- EPA ratings
What it costs to fill up a 2003 Ford Explorer
$96.07 to fill the 22.5-gallon tank from empty with regular, at this week's US average of $4.27 a gallon.
| Tank | Fuel | US avg / gal | From empty | From 1/4 tank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22.5 gal | Regular | $4.27 | $96.07 | $72.06 |
| 22.5 gal | E85 (flex-fuel trims) | $3.31 | $74.47 | $55.86 |
By region, 22.5-gallon tank
| Region | Regular / gal | Fill from empty |
|---|---|---|
| East Coast | $4.02 | $90.45 |
| Midwest | $4.27 | $96.07 |
| Gulf CoastLowest | $3.70 | $83.25 |
| Rocky Mountain | $4.46 | $100.35 |
| West Coast | $5.42 | $121.95 |
| CaliforniaHighest | $5.89 | $132.53 |
Prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration retail averages for the week of October 26, 2026. This week's prices by state and city.
Your own price
- 22.5-gallon tank$96.07
- A year of driving (15,000 mi)$4,003
Starts at the US average for regular; type in what your station charges. For other tank sizes, use the fill-up calculator.
Explorer tank size in other years
The 2003 Explorer uses the same 22.5 gal tank as the 2002 model.
| Model year | Tank | Longest highway range |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 Explorer | 22.5 gal | 450 mi |
| 2007 Explorer | 22.5 gal | 450 mi |
| 2006 Explorer | 22.5 gal | 428 mi |
| 2005 Explorer | 22.5 gal | 428 mi |
| 2004 Explorer | 22.5 gal | 450 mi |
| 2003 Explorer | 22.5 gal | 428 mi |
| 2002 Explorer | 22.5 gal | 450 mi |
| 2001 Explorer | 21.0 gal | 420 mi |
| 2000 Explorer | 17.5–21.0 gal | 441 mi |
| 1999 Explorer | 17.5–21.0 gal | 441 mi |
| 1998 Explorer | 17.5–21.0 gal | 420 mi |
- 2027
- 2026
- 2025
- 2024
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011
- 2010
- 2009
- 2008
- 2007
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
- 2002
- 2001
- 2000
- 1999
- 1998
- 1997
- 1996
- 1995
- 1994
- 1993
- 1992
- 1991
2003 Ford Explorer fuel system recalls
None of the 2 recalls NHTSA lists for the 2003 Ford Explorer involve the fuel system.
2003 Ford Explorer fuel pump and gauge parts
NHTSA lists no fuel-system recall for the 2003 Ford Explorer, so a failed pump or gauge is a normal repair. These are the part numbers the makers list for it.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the fuel tank capacity of the 2003 Ford Explorer?
The 2003 Ford Explorer holds 22.5 gallons (85 liters) on every trim we list.
How many gallons and liters does the 2003 Ford Explorer gas tank hold?
The 2003 Ford Explorer tank holds 85 liters, or 22.5 gallons in US gallons.
Does the 2003 Ford Explorer tank change with the powertrain?
No. Flex-fuel (E85) and Gas versions of the 2003 Ford Explorer use the same 22.5 gal tank.
Does 4WD change the 2003 Ford Explorer gas tank?
No. 4WD and RWD and AWD versions of the 2003 Ford Explorer use the same 22.5 gal tank.
How far can a 2003 Ford Explorer go on a full tank?
About 405–428 miles on the highway and 293–315 miles in town, going from full to empty at its EPA ratings. Expect less in practice, since nobody runs the tank dry.
How many miles can a 2003 Ford Explorer go on a quarter tank?
About 107 highway miles or 79 in town from the 22.5-gallon tank, which has roughly 5.6 gallons left at the quarter mark. Gauges aren't exact, so treat that as a guide.
How many miles does a 2003 Ford Explorer really get on a tank?
Drivers who log their fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 16.7 MPG in the 2003 Ford Explorer (30 drivers), which works out to about 376 miles on a full 22.5-gallon tank.
What gas does the 2003 Ford Explorer take?
Flex-fuel (unleaded/E85), or Regular unleaded, depending on the engine. The label inside the fuel door confirms it for your car.
How much does it cost to fill up a 2003 Ford Explorer?
At the US average of $4.27 a gallon for regular (EIA, week of October 26, 2026), filling the 22.5-gallon tank from empty costs $96.07. It ranges from $83.25 in the Gulf Coast to $132.53 in California.
How much does a full tank of gas weigh in a 2003 Ford Explorer?
About 140 pounds for the 22.5-gallon tank. Gasoline weighs roughly 6.2 pounds a gallon.
Has the 2003 Ford Explorer had a fuel pump or fuel system recall?
No. None of the 2 recalls NHTSA lists for the 2003 Ford Explorer involve the fuel system.
Sources
- Tank sizes: manufacturer-rated capacities from US-market specifications, checked against independent references. Updated October 2026.
- MPG and range: EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov). Range is tank size times EPA MPG.
- Fuel prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, week of October 26, 2026 (this week's prices).
- Recalls: NHTSA recall database (Ford fuel system recalls).
- Real-world MPG: driver-reported fill-ups shared at fueleconomy.gov (My MPG).
Does your owner's manual say something different? Let us know and we'll fix it. More on how we check the numbers.