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Gas mileage not where I want it to be

K

KerryKool

Hard-core CEG'er
Joined
Sep 29, 2004
Messages
2,005
Location
Tampa, FL
My last tank I got 24mpg city driving with an occasional WOT to hear the engine roar. Thats nice but when I read someone getting 36mpg on the same engine, I think it may be time for a tune up of sorts.

What should I look into doing to increase my mpg's? My sparkplugs just were replaced a few months ago, so mark that off the list. The oil is due for a replacement. And what about the O2 sensor? I believe it is an original part on my 13yo car, would replacing it be a good idea? Reducing weight the car carries is another way to increase mpg's, but theres not much to remove in my car other than a 50lb sub unit and amp. I know granny driving helps mpgs, but I don't really want to do that.

I figure other people would be intersted in this too with rising gas prices and all.

Thanks guys. -KJ
 
I doubt anyone really truly gets 36 mpg on these. I got mine just for the fuel mileage and drive like a lil' ol' lady and I get 27-28mpg. I re-did the plugs, fixed the CEL O2 sensor, new plug wires, synthetic oil, good air pressure in the tires.... and I think that 27-28 is about as good as it gets.
 
With a 5-spd maybe, but not around town... Even with a stick you'd be in the mid to high 20's in all city driving. 24 does seem a bit low but if that's truly all city driving it's not bad.

On a mix of Around town/Highway i've been getting 32-34mpg with my 5-spd/4-cyl mystique...
 
not bad

not bad

My wife gets about 26 in town and 32 on the road, she drives pretty conservatively in town but continually pushes the grace limit (5mph over the limit) on the road. At 80 mph the best we have gotten was 32 mpg. 4 cyl and auto 99
 
How many miles are on your car? I have a 95 with 74,000 miles, and my O2 sensor is still original, and I am pulling 38-40 MPGs (see Reebs' thread in Gen. Disc.), although I am "Granny driving"... I do not dare change anything on the car, hahaha :laugh:

Oh yea, I do have an MTX though... It seems a lot of people with the ATX around here have trouble breaking 30MPG...
 
02 sensor is a possibility but if it's not throwing any codes I don't think i'd bother. Try simple maintenance things, fuel filter, air filter, cleaning the MAF/IAT. That should help a little bit.

I'm somewhat surprised at what the 4cyl/atx combo gets for mileage. I know even around town with my Mystique I usually still managed 24mpg and I didn't drive the car with a light foot. That was a v6/atx. Maybe my foot isn't as heavy as I thought it was.
 
Yeah I keep hearing all these better gas mileage claims, and I'm still averaging around 25mpg. Sometimes I'll get as good as 28, sometimes as bad as 22. I'm going to try cleaning my MAF/IAT again to see if it makes a difference...:shrug:
 
zorrex said:
Yeah I keep hearing all these better gas mileage claims, and I'm still averaging around 25mpg. Sometimes I'll get as good as 28, sometimes as bad as 22. I'm going to try cleaning my MAF/IAT again to see if it makes a difference...:shrug:
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think thats where I am still. I changed teh plugs, wires, O2 sensor and fuel filter. I did hit 34 mpg once but that was 100% highway ... been 100k since the timing belt was changed ... wonder if that would make a difference ....
 
Well I filled up today and did the numbers and made just over 26 mpg. :shrug: I did nothing that would have affected my mpg's. I did fill up a bit earlier than I did last time, just over the 1/4 tank mark.

I may replace the O2 sensor as preventative maintence, so its off my mind. I had some car troubles about 5 months ago, at the time I replaced the fuel filter,air filter, fuel pump, IAC and MAF along with the spark plugs and wires.

I'm going to replace the oil probably this weekend, but what about this seafoam stuff I hear about?
 
are you talking about using seafoam to clean the intake manifold? if so, dont bother, the Zetec intake manifold doesnt gunk up nearly as bad as the Duratec. I would replace the O2 sensor, as even if the PCM isnt throwing a code for it, it could still be switching slow and not reading 100% accurate which would lower your MPGs.
 
Sounds good. So I'll replace the oil and the O2 sensor this weekend. I'll give results in about 2 weeks see if mpg's stay around 26 or go up.
 
Scorpion8 said:
I doubt anyone really truly gets 36 mpg on these. I got mine just for the fuel mileage and drive like a lil' ol' lady and I get 27-28mpg. I re-did the plugs, fixed the CEL O2 sensor, new plug wires, synthetic oil, good air pressure in the tires.... and I think that 27-28 is about as good as it gets.
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That would be me, on the highway almost the entire time. 60MPH FTW!!!:laugh:

It's possible. You just need to fully exercise all of your resources. My family has found that if you put in a tank of mid-grade or higher every once in a while, it does the engine alot of good, and improves mileage
 
I always fill with mid-grade anyway. I'll be grabing some fuel injector cleaner since its been awhile I ran some through the system.
 
I usually just ran a tank of Shell Premium once a month in the Zetec before i went turbo. 241K miles and it ran strong the day i pulled it out. I still have that engine sitting on the stand, haven't even pulled it apart yet, lol. I bet i could put cams and fluids in it, put it in a car and it would start right up and run great.
 
KerryKool said:
I always fill with mid-grade anyway. I'll be grabing some fuel injector cleaner since its been awhile I ran some through the system.
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Why fill with midgrade? Midgrade burns slower and if the PCM isn't tuned for it you will lose mileage running it. The only reason to run midgrade would be if the engine is pinging or knocking then you would need to run a higher octane. But, if you're pinging on 87, you have an issue that should be looked in to.
 
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