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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 58
CEG\'er
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OP
CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 58 |
Well, not all the time. If I drive at around 80mph, I get great mileage (about 30mpg). Yesterday on my way back to town on the freeway I had cruise set at about 83mph, and my mileage dropped to the low 20s. Its no big deal, I can just drive 3mph slower, but what would cause such a difference? It was the same road, 30mpg one way, 20mpg the other way. Would the secondaries being open at that rpm, ~3500, drop mileage that much? Something else I'm not thinking of?
1995 SE
Mods- SVT Exhaust.
SVT Intake, E1 SVT Wheels, BAT Euro Suspension, 20% tint sides and rear, 50% tint windshield.
Future Mods- A new third syncro.
It's my boring daily driver that I autocross on the weekends.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,017
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,017 |
wind resistance. at 80 mph, I think it's half of your gas is going into fighting wind resistance (don't quote me on it though). if you were to graph the amount of wind resistance to speed, it would be something similar to an exponential curve, as you go faster, 1 mph makes that much more of a difference. however, the contour doesn't really get 30 mpg as a general rule (at least mine doesn't...used to get 18ish, but this summer it hopped up to 21ish, and is dropping back down...  ) so don't worry too much.
1995 SE
2.5L V6/MTX
187k
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 58
CEG\'er
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OP
CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 58 |
I'm not worried, just curious. Any more ideas?
1995 SE
Mods- SVT Exhaust.
SVT Intake, E1 SVT Wheels, BAT Euro Suspension, 20% tint sides and rear, 50% tint windshield.
Future Mods- A new third syncro.
It's my boring daily driver that I autocross on the weekends.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 463
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 463 |
I usually donā??t answer fuel mileage questions butā?¦
(I assume you have a V6 and a manual)
The V6 cars were only rated at 28-29MPG hwy at 55MPH under ideal conditions. Given the age of your vehicle and mods your actual MPG (at 55) would be a little less. At 80 or 83 MPH it would be a lot less. I would expect about 20-23 MPH at these speeds. How did you record 30 MPG at 80 MPH??? It could be as simple as the pump shut off before the tank was full. This would also explain the drop to 20 MPG on the next tank.
When I drive at speeds over 70 MPH I get about 21 MPG. When I keep it under 70 and go a little easy in stop and go, I get 25 with the AC off 23 with it on. V6 ATX 90k mi well maintained. It has never exceeded 25 MPG.
jeff
have you fixed your ford lately?
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,353
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,353 |
Yup, it's your secondaries opening. On my car they seem to open around 81-82mph. The difference between driving 79 and 83 is huge on my gas mileage.
1999 Blk/Tan CSVT #654 - SOLD
2003 Suzuki SV650s
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 58
CEG\'er
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OP
CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 58 |
Yeah, its an MTX. I'm pretty sure about the 30mpg at 80 (314 miles and 10.4 gallons). I consitantly got 27 mpg in the summer with the AC on with cruise set at 80. I just got a radar detector (not like it matters, I'm in Montana) so I was going to kick it up to about 85, but the engine is running so fast there, I slowed down a little. So this is the first time I've calculated mileage at 83. Maybe it was just somthing at the pump this time? Either way, thanks for the input guys.
1995 SE
Mods- SVT Exhaust.
SVT Intake, E1 SVT Wheels, BAT Euro Suspension, 20% tint sides and rear, 50% tint windshield.
Future Mods- A new third syncro.
It's my boring daily driver that I autocross on the weekends.
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 14
New CEG\'er
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New CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 14 |
I just got my 96 Contour running, bought it w/ a bad engine & did an engine swap. My gas mileage sucks. (21 mpg) I just found the vacuum line to the fuel pressure regulator was off, reconnected it & the MPG looks like it will be better now.
So far i'm dissapointed with the gas mileage on Contours. This thing is reving near 3K rpm in 5th gear @ 65mph which I think is nuts for a v-6. Is this normal? I'd of prefered 5th to be an overdrive gear but I can scoot up a mountain's grade and pass people in 5th on these cars.
Anyways, by zakatak's & path914's post I'd say this car is geared low. When I'm pushing this car over a pass I feel the secondaries kick in around 3500, it is an obvious boost. So much for a commuter car....
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