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1998 Mercury Mountaineer Gas Tank Size & Fuel Capacity

SUV 3 trims listed 1 fuel-system recall ← 1997 1999 →

Fuel tank capacity

21.0gal · 79 L

The 1998 Mercury Mountaineer has a fuel tank capacity of 21.0 gallons (79 liters) on every trim.

A full tank is good for roughly 357–378 highway miles or 252–294 miles around town, going by the EPA ratings.

21.0 gal · Bigger than 73% of 1998 models we list.

Highway range
357–378 mi
City range
252–294 mi
Fuel
Regular unleaded
EPA combined
14–16 MPG
EPA size class
Special Purpose Vehicle

1998 Mercury Mountaineer fuel tank capacity by trim

What changes the tank sizeTap an option to filter the table

Drive
no difference
Engine
no difference

All 3 trims

MPG and range are city / highway.

TrimEngineDrive Tank MPG city / hwy Range city / hwy
4dr SUV 4.0L 6cyl 5A · RWD MPG 14 / 18Range 294 / 378 mi 4.0L 6cyl 5A RWD 21.0 gal79 L 14 / 18 294 / 378 mi
4dr SUV 4WD 4.0L 6cyl 5A · 4WD MPG 14 / 18Range 294 / 378 mi 4.0L 6cyl 5A 4WD 21.0 gal79 L 14 / 18 294 / 378 mi
4dr SUV AWD 5.0L 8cyl 4A · AWD MPG 12 / 17Range 252 / 357 mi 5.0L 8cyl 4A AWD 21.0 gal79 L 12 / 17 252 / 357 mi

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 1998 Mercury Mountaineer 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 21.0-gallon tank covers about 336 miles.

GaugeGallonsHighway milesCity miles
Full21.0378294
3/415.8284221
1/210.5189147
1/45.39574
1/82.64737

Over 15,000 miles a year (the EPA's yearly estimate) this configuration uses about 938 gallons, roughly 45 full tanks.

In real driving: owners who log fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 15.7 MPG in the Mountaineer (5 drivers), about 330 miles on a full 21.0-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
14–16 MPG
Tailpipe CO2
555–635 g/mi
Source
EPA ratings

What it costs to fill up a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer

$89.67 to fill the 21.0-gallon tank from empty with regular, at this week's US average of $4.27 a gallon.

TankFuelUS avg / galFrom emptyFrom 1/4 tank
21.0 galRegular$4.27$89.67$67.25

By region, 21.0-gallon tank

RegionRegular / galFill from empty
East Coast$4.02$84.42
Midwest$4.27$89.67
Gulf CoastLowest$3.70$77.70
Rocky Mountain$4.46$93.66
West Coast$5.42$113.82
CaliforniaHighest$5.89$123.69

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

  • 21.0-gallon tank$89.67
  • 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.

Mountaineer tank size in other years

The 1998 Mountaineer uses the same 21.0 gal tank as the 1997 model.

Model yearTankLongest highway range
2003 Mountaineer 22.5 gal 428 mi
2002 Mountaineer 22.5 gal 428 mi
2001 Mountaineer 21.0 gal 420 mi
2000 Mountaineer 21.0 gal 399 mi
1999 Mountaineer 21.0 gal 399 mi
1998 Mountaineer 21.0 gal 378 mi
1997 Mountaineer 21.0 gal 357 mi
Mercury Mountaineer fuel tank by model year
19971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010
← 1997 Mercury Mountaineer Every Mountaineer year 1999 Mercury Mountaineer →

1998 Mercury Mountaineer vs similar 1998 SUVs

At 21.0 gallons, the Mountaineer's largest tank ranks fifth of the seven 1998 SUVs compared here. The Chevrolet Tahoe carries the most (30.0 gal) and the Oldsmobile Bravada the least (18.0 gal).

1998 modelTankLongest highway range
Chevrolet Tahoe 30.0 gal 480 mi
Dodge Durango 25.0 gal Not rated
Mitsubishi Montero 24.3 gal 437 mi
Isuzu Trooper 22.5 gal 405 mi
Mercury Mountaineer 21.0 gal 378 mi
Ford Explorer 17.5–21.0 gal 420 mi
Oldsmobile Bravada 18.0 gal 342 mi

Other 1998 SUVs of a similar size, one model per brand.

1998 Mercury Mountaineer fuel system recalls

NHTSA lists 1 fuel-system recall for the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer, out of 5 recalls in total. A recall applies only to the vehicles named in it, so check your VIN.

Delivery · Hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsMar 19, 1998 · NHTSA 98V060000 · Ford Motor Company · 320,000 vehicles

Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles equipped with 4.0l single overhead cam engines. The engine fuel lines can be damaged if the vehicle is jump started and the ground cable is attached to the fuel line bracket that is located near the battery. Since the bracket is not grounded, the stainless steel fuel line braid could act as a ground potentially overheating the ptfe inner liner of the fuel line resulting in damage to the fuel line.

Risk and remedy

Risk: The fuel lines can leak, and in the presence of an ignition source, a fire could potentially result.

Remedy: Dealers will install a warning label on the fuel line bracket advising owners not to use it for a jump start ground. Also a revised bolt will be installed in the alternator bracket to provide a convenient jump start ground location.

All Mercury fuel recalls Look up your tank by VIN

Frequently asked questions

What is the fuel tank capacity of the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer?

The 1998 Mercury Mountaineer holds 21.0 gallons (79 liters) on every trim we list.

How many gallons and liters does the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer gas tank hold?

The 1998 Mercury Mountaineer tank holds 79 liters, or 21.0 gallons in US gallons.

Does 4WD change the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer gas tank?

No. RWD and 4WD and AWD versions of the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer use the same 21.0 gal tank.

How far can a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer go on a full tank?

About 357–378 miles on the highway and 252–294 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 1998 Mercury Mountaineer go on a quarter tank?

About 95 highway miles or 74 in town from the 21.0-gallon tank, which has roughly 5.3 gallons left at the quarter mark. Gauges aren't exact, so treat that as a guide.

How many miles does a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer really get on a tank?

Drivers who log their fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 15.7 MPG in the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer (5 drivers), which works out to about 330 miles on a full 21.0-gallon tank.

What gas does the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer take?

Regular unleaded. The label inside the fuel door confirms it for your car.

How much does it cost to fill up a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer?

At the US average of $4.27 a gallon for regular (EIA, week of October 26, 2026), filling the 21.0-gallon tank from empty costs $89.67. It ranges from $77.70 in the Gulf Coast to $123.69 in California.

How much does a full tank of gas weigh in a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer?

About 130 pounds for the 21.0-gallon tank. Gasoline weighs roughly 6.2 pounds a gallon.

Does the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer have a bigger gas tank than the Mitsubishi Montero?

No. The 1998 Mitsubishi Montero holds up to 24.3 gallons; the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer holds up to 21.0.

Has the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer had a fuel pump or fuel system recall?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 fuel-system recall for the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer: 98V060000 (delivery · hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your car is affected.

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 (Mercury 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.

Other 1998 Mercury models

Grand Marquis19.0 gallons Mystique14.5 gallons Sable16.0 gallons Tracer12.8 gallons