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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 13
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 13 |
I haven't been getting great mileage from my 1999 Mercury Mystique. I get 24 mpg no matter how I drive. It gets 24 mpg on the highway and in the city. I'm slowly getting the regular maintainence done right now. I've changed the fuel filter, going to change the thermostat and get the ATX flushed. I read that the oxygen sensor is good for 160 000 kms. The car is at 158 600 kms so should I change it? As it looks original. I tried to look at the sparkplugs but I'm not sure how to remove the spark plug wires. My Haynes manual doesn't help in that detail. I tried to remove one but didn't pull really hard as I didn't want to damage it. Any suggestions?
1999 Mercury Mystique LS Sport
2.0L Zetec
ATX
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,143
Addicted CEG\'er
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Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,143 |
Replace...
Spark Plugs
Plug Wires
Air Filter
Fuel Filter
Oil change
Seems like you have gotten the majority of the regular maitence done. I think your economy is decent. My tour is getting about 23 City right now because of the colder weather. I never got an NOTICEABLE gains on the freeway until you spent about half of a tank on the free way. Next time you spend about 100 miles on the freeway from a full tank, stop and fill it back up and do the math (I assume you know how too), it should be between 31 and 34 MPG. I get abotu 32 MPG on the freeway. I can never see any gains on occasional trips on the freeway.
98 Corolla LE 1.8L DOHC 1ZZFE
TEIN H.Tech Springs
Tokico HP series Struts
Short ram air intake
Tsudo Axel Back Exhaust
... if a jelly fish stung me.. would you pee on the wound?
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 17,248
CEG road warrior
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CEG road warrior
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 17,248 |
Originally posted by AliasJerk:
Replace...
Spark Plugs
Plug Wires
Air Filter
Oil change
That is it right there. 
Hector
2003 Rally Red Mitsubishi Evolution VIII
257HP/259TQ
2005 Lapis Blue Mazda 6s
RET: 00 Cabernet Red Ford Contour Zetec ATX SUPERCHARGED
160HP/141TQ
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 14
New CEG\'er
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New CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 14 |
I have gotten as high as 35 mpg on my 99 mistique on mostly highway, it is a bit lower in winter with headlights, wipers and defroster on, around 27city this time of year. mine is a manual tranny, but many things can factor in.
besides maintenence, check tire pressure weekly, also driving habits like jack rabbit starts can have a negative effect, also in case of a manual gear box, run it in the highest gear you can for the driving conditions. for the most part, gas mileage is in direct porportion to the weight of the right foot.
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 17,248
CEG road warrior
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CEG road warrior
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 17,248 |
I got about 35 mpg driving down to the Dragon with the supercharger installed and no tuning.
Hector
2003 Rally Red Mitsubishi Evolution VIII
257HP/259TQ
2005 Lapis Blue Mazda 6s
RET: 00 Cabernet Red Ford Contour Zetec ATX SUPERCHARGED
160HP/141TQ
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,143
Addicted CEG\'er
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Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,143 |
Originally posted by LocoGSR:
I got about 35 mpg driving down to the Dragon with the supercharger installed and no tuning.
you and your damn (EX)VCT engine Hector. I kind of want to get a 98+ zetec tour...
98 Corolla LE 1.8L DOHC 1ZZFE
TEIN H.Tech Springs
Tokico HP series Struts
Short ram air intake
Tsudo Axel Back Exhaust
... if a jelly fish stung me.. would you pee on the wound?
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 13
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 13 |
I've found out why is was so hard to get the sparkplug wires off, it looks like they are the original sparkplugs! So I'm getting new spark plugs today.
1999 Mercury Mystique LS Sport
2.0L Zetec
ATX
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,687
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,687 |
Ehhh... VCT ain't that great. Just one more string of things to go out. Besides, my silvertop is faster than the one I raced at the track. 
Speaking of which...I got my Zetec to do an 18.4 at the track last Friday. Yep, 3 tenths faster than my last trip down the strips.
'97 SILVERTOP PWNS!  
o, and I get craptacular in-city mpg. Like 20-something on a good day. highway is like 29. My car guzzles too much gas 
Last edited by MadMerc97; 11/02/05 09:24 PM.
J.T.
2002 Chevrolet Silverado 294ci V8. Custom CAI, headers on the way...
1997 Mercury Mystique Zetec ATX
Deceased February 2006
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,143
Addicted CEG\'er
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Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,143 |
Zetecs are strange... I will know someone that gets close to 30MPG in the city, and then someone like me who gets 24 to 25, which is what the car origionally was advertised to get. Either way, yeah that silvertop Zetec is an awesome engine. I knew a guy on here who had a 95 Zetec Tour with a stick. Took it to the track and DEAD STOCK ran a 15.7... Friggan amaizing for a little zetec.
98 Corolla LE 1.8L DOHC 1ZZFE
TEIN H.Tech Springs
Tokico HP series Struts
Short ram air intake
Tsudo Axel Back Exhaust
... if a jelly fish stung me.. would you pee on the wound?
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 54
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 54 |
Originally posted by AliasJerk:
I will know someone that gets close to 30MPG in the city, and then someone like me who gets 24 to 25, which is what the car origionally was advertised to get.
For me there was always a HUGE difference between city and highway mileage. On long road trips I'd get like 32 mpg at over 80 mph... which is far better than my new Mazda 3 is getting. Makes me wonder what the heck I bought a compact for. In the city I couldn't even get 20 unless I drove grandma-style!
. . . Two zetec Contours, two blown head gaskets... for some reason I have a Japanese car now.
anybody in California want a Diehard Gold 100 month battery? inquire by PM.
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