Posts: 274
Joined: 4/1/2007 From: Tracy, CA Status: offline
Lately I have been using up a lot of gas, so I decided to caculate my mpg..... It came out to 11.56 mpg.. The math is correct. What could this be? I just had the spark plugs changed not even 3,000 miles ago. When I had the plugs changed the wires were check and were all in good condition. The car seems to run fine except it has a ticking noise when cold... I thought it was the exhaust manifold and it still sounds like I have one.. But I here a ticking noise from what I think is the EGR valve.... or pump! What could be causing this bad mpg? Should I take it to FORD and have them put it in the Dyno?
I don't know, but I've noticed my truck getting worse mpg too...which is saying something cuz i only got about 18 Highway to begin with...So i'd like to hear some suggestions too, maybe something will work for me, as i'd like to figure this out. Thanks, and sorry if this is kinda stealing the thread...
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"If speed wasn't important, it wouldn't be called the Human Race"
2000 Mustang V6- 17x8 Anthracite Bullitt rims, more to come...
Are you sure the math is correct, I believe our tanks are 15.7 gallons.
Also say if you get 250 miles to your tank...and your light comes on, you still got another good 2-3gallons in the tank so divide 250 by 12 instead and she what you get.
Posts: 274
Joined: 4/1/2007 From: Tracy, CA Status: offline
This is how I did the math..... First I filled up at the station so that I was at a full tank of gas..... Then when I got in I reset the trip so that It would calibrate how many miles I drove.......... I drove 74 miles.... My gas guage said that I was around 1/2 tank so I went to the station again to fill up.... I used 6.4 gallons of gas and went 74 miles..... 74/6.4= 11.65...... The first time I did it I went on the highway quite a bit and my mpg averaged like 14mpg.
I know how you feel. When I first bought mine back in december, I was getting like 12mpg. Partially due to the cold, but still, thats pathettic. What I did was:
new air filter new fuel filter new plugs seafoam oil change raise tire pressures up to 42psi (everywhere puts them at 35, but I get better performance, a better ride, and better mileage at 42psi) probably another thing or two that I'm forgetting, but thats all I can think of ATM.
and now I'm getting about 17mpg. I could probably get 18-19 if I tried really hard, but I can't keep my foot out of it. In these cars, probably due to the massive displacement, once you put your foot down, just kiss your mileage good bye. I dunno whether yours is a stick or not, but with a stick, you can do a whole lot to up your mileage. Also, having only a half tank of fuel can help your mileage as well. Thats small weight reduction. Not a lot, but every bit helps. My car is a bit quicker with about 1/3 tank than it is with a full tank.
try that stuff, and if that doesn't work, then maybe you've got some clogged injectors or something, who knows.
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Black 98 Mustang V6 5MT
Throttle Cable Tightened Lowered Wiper Arms Intake Silencer Removed Bumper Cutouts Removed Smoked Headlights and Corners K&N Air Filter Black Front Pony
Next fill up: Pump the gas until the pump quits automatically, reset the trip, drive more than 74 miles, try to go to the same pump, refill until it quits automatically. Take miles driven and divide by gallon just pumped. The reason to stop when the pump quits automatically, is because in theory it will cut off at the same spot everytime. Filling the tank up all the way, or what you think is all the way is inaccurate.
Above posts cover the maintaince issues, and remember drivng style, and driving environment all factor into the MPG. Driving hard: hard acceleration, high speed on the freeway etc. will add up to bad milage. I am assuming there is no codes or Check Engine lights, that should warn you of any O2 senor or EGR problem, but it would not hurt to remove the EGR and see if it needs to be cleaned out, but should not be affecting your mpg.
Bad/Sticky injectors? Run some chevron supreme fuel because it has tecron in it, or just buy a can from walmart and run your car hard on premium fuel to clean ur injectors
Posts: 274
Joined: 4/1/2007 From: Tracy, CA Status: offline
I run premium only in my car.... And have had the whole fuel system cleaned with some kind of cleaning solution from Sears.. I want to try the seam foam but unsure how to do it... Im also going to change the fuel filter..... Anyone know if there are any stickys on these?
The fuel filter on my car is located between the gas tank and rear axle.
If you run 93 octane all the time in a car that does not need it , you will end up with buildup. Get some fuel system cleaner, as suggested, and run on 87 fuel, granted it does not ping. I would run a bottle per tank the next two fill ups. Run the tank low, put in the STP, Gumout, Chevron, or whatever cleaner you get, then pump your gas on top of it. Repeat the process.
This is how I did the math..... First I filled up at the station so that I was at a full tank of gas..... Then when I got in I reset the trip so that It would calibrate how many miles I drove.......... I drove 74 miles.... My gas guage said that I was around 1/2 tank so I went to the station again to fill up.... I used 6.4 gallons of gas and went 74 miles..... 74/6.4= 11.65...... The first time I did it I went on the highway quite a bit and my mpg averaged like 14mpg.
This may be your problem right here. I thought I was getting as sh!tty milegae as you think you are getting. You cannot go by the mustang guages, they are very innacurate during the driving period before your fuel tank is empty. The needle for mine will stay on 'F' full for around 50 miles and then the next morning when I start to drive it, it starts to decrease down to 3/4 tank like I was deccelerating.
Try waiting the whole tank before calculating it and see what you get. just a suggestion and it may be it.
I run premium only in my car.... And have had the whole fuel system cleaned with some kind of cleaning solution from Sears.. I want to try the seam foam but unsure how to do it... Im also going to change the fuel filter..... Anyone know if there are any stickys on these?
The fuel filter is around the gas tank. Not exactly sure where on these cars, but you can't miss it. It should be about 5 inches long and 2 inches in diameter. There 2 lines connecting to it, one on each side. I haven't changed a fuel filter on a Mustang, or any Ford, but on GM cars you need two wrenches (a 20mm and a 16mm) to loosen the first line. Be careful, a little fuel will spill out (watch your eyes, that SUCKS). Then the other line should just be a clip that snaps off and on. You just take the old one off and put the new one in. This can do wonders for gas mileage.
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ORIGINAL: code3GT
I have never heard of a non-brand name car....would that be like a Fred's Fun Wagon?
You should only need a flatblade screwdriver. Lossen the worn clamp around the filter and pop the alligator clips on the end off with the screwdriver.
Your MPG will improve with better(easy) driving and the maintenice items listed above, I know I already talked about it, but you method is inaccurate which could be half the reason the original figure was so low. What kind of roads/traffic are you driving in?
This is how I did the math..... First I filled up at the station so that I was at a full tank of gas..... Then when I got in I reset the trip so that It would calibrate how many miles I drove.......... I drove 74 miles.... My gas guage said that I was around 1/2 tank so I went to the station again to fill up.... I used 6.4 gallons of gas and went 74 miles..... 74/6.4= 11.65...... The first time I did it I went on the highway quite a bit and my mpg averaged like 14mpg.
This may be your problem right here. I thought I was getting as sh!tty milegae as you think you are getting. You cannot go by the mustang guages, they are very innacurate during the driving period before your fuel tank is empty. The needle for mine will stay on 'F' full for around 50 miles and then the next morning when I start to drive it, it starts to decrease down to 3/4 tank like I was deccelerating.
Try waiting the whole tank before calculating it and see what you get. just a suggestion and it may be it.
actually he is doing it the right way, one of the very few people who do it right. i drove 74 miles, accoding to his odometer and put in 6.4 gallons according to the gas pump. so there is no guessing involved at all. its an almost exact estimate for real gas milage. driving till the light comes on and adding 2 gallons is not accurate at all.
edit: oh yea and as for changing your fuel filter, you need a special tool. you can buy the tool at a auto parts store. just tell them you need the tool to change ur fuel filter. some filters like fram fuel filters come w/ 2 of the tools. thats the way i would do it. go to walmart and buy a fram and use the tools it comes with. they are plastic and you can throw em away when ur done.
< Message edited by amrcnidyot -- 7/29/2007 7:19:08 PM >
How hard are you driving it? I know I was getting around 12mpg driving hard as hell, flooring it all the time and all that. Then I tried to drive like a grandma as much as I could, but I gave up for a few gallons. I ended up getting like 15.7mpg.
The method is inaccurate. I do not want to beat the subject to death, but if you drove 74 miles and then put in 6.4 gallons in, how do you know you filled it up to same spot the as you did the first time?You need a consisent stopping point (Hence the auto pump cut off.) The reason I said pump until the gas pump quits by its self, the first time, because it should stop close to the same spot each time. If its not consistent then your gallons used is just a number, non conclusive. Ex. He drives 74 miles and then pump in 6.4 gallons, put in reality burned 4.8 the first time. His "MPG" goes up to 15.4. Please re-read the first part of post #7. Total tank volume, gas gauges and gas lights are unessacry.
< Message edited by 94Blk5.0 -- 7/29/2007 9:03:37 PM >
Posts: 274
Joined: 4/1/2007 From: Tracy, CA Status: offline
I did exactly what 94Blk5.0 said... When I pumped the gas each time I let the pump cut it off! Thats the way I always pump gas... Other then the variables how much gas Im pumping, the mehtod of caculating this is correct. And because I used the (auto cutoff switch) it shouldnt be that large of a variable. This is the only way I know how to calculate mpg accurately! Im just cruisin and driving the speed limit while trying to figure out mpg's. So driving it hard is out of the question... Im in the process again trying to do the calculation,this time Im going to let it go more then half a tank and see what the resulst are.
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What could cause this? - 
