Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance GAS MILAGE

There is absolutely nothing mechanical wrong with the engine! There is no one on this planet that maintanes there car as well as I do. My fuel system is clean, my air filter is clean as well. This car has done this since the day I bought it with 0 miles on it! It's really strange as my turbocharged car and my supercharged car get much better gas mileage than my SVT. The only car I have to compare the gas mileage to is my Mustang GT, however I can understand its gas mileage 302 engine and 650 Holley carb. The gas mileage and power compaired to the GT is pitifull at best.

Bruce I thought there would be bigger difference between highway mileage verses city mileage. However it make no difference in mileage with my car, if it would even come close to the power of my Mustang GT that has a 302 engine and a Holley 650 carb. I wouldnt complain. However as I said earlier my SVT is a turd compaired to the GT, but gets the same gas mileage!

NOW that were talking about the exhaust side of this ,..how about i get out my jack stands tomorrow and air guns and gut the "cat" will i gain or lose on this ?

When I first bought my tour it got about 13-16 mpg and I *****ed and *****ed at the dealer and finally I changed the plugs and wires and up to 20 mpg to 22 mpg around town I went. I don't know about highway driveing though I rarely check the mileage just fill her up about every week and a half!

I found that the duratech likes to rev for getting mileage. I have found that if I drive my car and maintain revs under 2500 rpm during acceleration and use 5th gear while cruising I'll get around 16-18 mpg around town, but if I go easy on the gas and run the revs up to just under IMRC (about 3500 - 4000) I can average 20 - 22 around town.

Last summer I took a 4 hour drive to new hampshire and I was averaging about 75 mph on the highway. I averaged 29 mpg.

just got back from Pittsbutgh, PA. Went 402 miles on 13.47 gallons of gas. Freaky thing is, I "only" got 28 MPG going there, cruise on, going speed limit. Coming back, I was, uhh, in a hurry, and did not drive for best mileage. 29.9 MPG. This engine does like higher RPMs.

I have been over 30 MPG over the road before. Just surprised me that I can get 30 "Pushin' It"

you got 30 miles MPG doing what speed ? i want to do at least 80 all the way to boston ! weill i still get around 30 ?

hey, there must be something wrong with your car since it is getting that bad of gas milage. My 99svt gets 18-23mgs driving around town, 5 minute runs. On the highway I get around 33mpg, and that is with a clogged up stock paper filter with 37k miles on it. If you just bought the car, I would definately take it back to whoever you bought it from. SOmething is not right. Could be the computer. Are you sure you are calculating your mpg correctly?

Uhhh, wasn't "racing" , but was sustained 75-85 (just keeping up with the big rigs).
This includes all the hills between Carisle PA and Pittsburgh. Fairly hilly through there.

FWIW I use a Passport 5000 and a CB. However, didn't pass a single speed trap, which was not true going there in the beginning of the week. The truckers are always concerned about "Bears" and the CB is a bigger help than the detector, especially since Jersey is using laser on I78.

Of course, YMMV (Your mileage may vary). I have been happy with my mileage. My average mileage has been the same with the Contour as with my previous Escort. Also, since I use the car for business trips (1000 miles this week), I track all my expenditures and mileage at fill-ups. This is the only way to be sure. I always fill-up all the way, so there are no partial fills to throw off the numbers. I get 24-25 MPG mixed driving and as low as 19 when it is VERY cold and I warm it up a little longer. When I drive it like a rental, and it is not winter, I have seen about 21 MPG average. Presently have 33K miles, no maintenance other than oil changes and a K&N drop in panel filter.

Driving about 800 miles from Livonia, MI to Oxford, MS I have gotten at best 32MPG, but I average about 29-30. I do 70-80, but try to keep it at 75. City driving, since I don't do much of it, I can't really tell you what I get :p