13 MPG/???

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2002 taurus I speak of....A year ago when I bought it I recall 16-19 MPG city driving 99%, now I NEVER get over 13 MPG and the car runs fine, not a miss or shimmey or nothing. It still has as much HP and everything is in working order. There also NO computer codes, everything is clear and normal.

I'd like to at least get it back to that min 18 MPG if possible... any ideas fellas?

Reply to
Pedro Sanchez IV
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Check your tire pressure. Brakes dragging?

Reply to
Mach1

All is correct and working.

gasol>Check your tire pressure. Brakes dragging?

Reply to
Pedro Sanchez IV

If all was correct and working then you would be getting the original MPG instead of 13 MPG.

How many miles on the odometer? Last time you had routine maintenance performed.. ? Ever have the spark plugs changed ? What type tires, how many miles on them? Does the parking brake work? Does it fully release? Have your driving habits changed, more or less people driving the car? Do you park in a garage or outdoors? Could some one be sucking gas out of the tank at night? Are your MPG calcs based on an onboard computer or pen, paper and calculator? Can you compare the computer results to manual calculations? Do you always go to the same gas station(s)? If you change stations do your MPG calcs change? Ever have the transmission serviced ? Do you have a tach? are the RPM's higher than expected at typical driving speeds? Have you lost any lower body ground effects air dams, either due to a road/parking lot hazard or a mechanic not putting everything back together properly? Have you had any MAJOR repair work done on the car or a significant fender bender? Are the gears and computer still the proper match for the engine? Did you change tire sizes? Car running hot lately? Catalytic converter or mufflers plugged? Engine computers ever so slowly tweak adjust for wear, to a point, so everything feels great until you exceed program limits. Any aftermarket bolt ons? cold air intake kits? power chips? high airflow air filters? Ever clean the MAF (if it has one)? any junk in front of the radiator blocking airflow? Just some places to start..

Reply to
Steve Stone

I forgot a couple of things..

Do you carry alot of unneeded weight in the car? Is your timing belt due for replacement? Do you drive with the windows open or closed?

Reply to
Steve Stone

Maybe. I noticed that in the past few months I got significantly better gas mileage on a couple tanks and my driving is all pretty much the same. In fact, on my mustang GT I got the best city gas mileage I've ever gotten. I can't help but wonder if the disruption in the oil industry oil supplies due to pricing changes have actually changed the blend of stuff that's in gasoline.

Reply to
Ashton Crusher

I bought an old Mercedes 380SEL and when I did the math it was getting 11 to

13 MPG. I replaced fuel lines, tuned it up and did everything. The funny thing was I could drive from San Diego to Phoenix and still have a 1/4 tank left. I was watching the odometer one day and noticed it would sometimes not kick up the next number wheel. So that monster with a V8 engine was getting 20 to 24 MPG so I am sure you have something very wrong with your Taurus.
Reply to
Kent_Diego

2 things I see visibly demonstrated since I bought a new vehicle with a fuel consumption display: 1) going in a direction of increasing elevation uses significantly more gas than going an average downhill (duh!) 2)even a slight wind behind greatly increases apparent fuel economy, while even a slight headwind measurably decreases it.

Are you considering these factors in your estimates?

Reply to
Happy Trails

Ashton Crusher wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

There is always different blends for the 4 seasons. I have noticed the last 2 years the winter blends have delivered much poorer milage than in the past regardless of the viecle. KB

Reply to
Kevin

It's not just the blend. The engine gives MUCH better economy when warm. Breathing cold air into a cold engine makes for poor efficiency. Turning a cold tranny and differential also makes for poor economy - and cold stiff tires likely don't do a whole lot of good either - particularly when running through slop and snow on the roads.

Reply to
clare

I noticed the same thing with my car. The mileage decreases were larger than one would expect.

Jeff

Reply to
Jeff

I would think cold tires would get higher fuel economy - less flexing of the tires. However, in cold weather, I get about 10% less fuel economy.

Jeff

Reply to
Jeff

Both increases and decreases are larger than expected, and only because we have not had this instantaneous mileage info in the past. It sure makes you want to modify your driving patterns, and in hilly country pick it up a bit on the downhill (low-cost acceleration) and geatly drop off the speed uphill, if this kind of yoyo pattern is possible in your terrain.

Reply to
Happy Trails

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