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Comments
Mine has inched up a bit ... a smidge under 22 on the last tank full ... we'll see if this is just a blip or if the car really is just breaking in like the dealer claims.
I agree with your "over inflated tires and no jack rabbit starts" assessment.
IMO, cruising speed on a highway is a major factor which affects gas mileage.
BTW, my CR-V EX 03 highway gas mileage is 28m/Gal+.
Steve, Host
This would be a greatest selling gimmick ever and
would cut maintenance cost of cars (Cleaning of filter might be made professionally in the car shops during service ).
But ... by SOME REASONS they are not jumping on this "band wagon".
Maybe the reason is ... that K&N filter is not as good as advertised?
-juice
I'm getting 12.5 mpg! I contacted Ford on 1/1/05 and cc'd the letter to the dealer (who had already been notified of the problem, and had told us the car had to be broken in for 10k miles...)
The car's been to the dealer twice and hooked up to the computer as I drove around town. The poor mileage has been confirmed, and the dealer hasn't gotten back to me yet as to what they can do regarding this. I'm appalled by the poor mileage and the absolute lack of responsibility taken by both Ford and the dealer. They basically shrug their shoulders and admit (!) that you don't always get the advertised mileage (18/22). I'm hoping to resolve this matter soon, and am very frustrated. I will never buy Ford again!
Does anyone have any suggestion as to how to get Ford to stand behind their product and advertised mileage?
THANKS!
12.5 mpg is way low! (My CR-V got 28m/G+ : mostly highway - long drives).
What is a typical distance you drive on the daily basis? Is it town or highway?
Interesting how your dealer would monitor your fuel consumption?
Please keep us posted how your dealer will handle your problem.
I drive about 15-25 miles a day around town. Fairly short trips: taking my son to preschool, going to work, running errands, etc.
The dealer can hook up a computer to the car to confirm that the mileage on my car's computer coincides with his computer's numbers. We've taken the car in twice and twice it was confirmed that our car's computer is tracking the mileage correctly. I'm still waiting on an email I sent the dealer two days ago, and am just about to call the customer service rep to get some sort of answer/time frame on what type of action they'll take.
-juice
I have an 04 Yukon Denali with the 6.0 liter engine that weighs almost 3 tons and I get better mpg than that. I'm averaging 13.5 in the city and maybe 15 on long freeway trips.
My mileage was night that different when I first got the truck. What break in period???
1. Top of your tank and log odometer reading ( or put to "0" trip-odometer - if so equipped).
2. Note how many miles were driven at next gas fill (top of your tank again)
3. Divide Miles driven/Gallons refilled.
I assume that your odometer is producing correct readings. BTW - you might check your odometer too - say, by using another car - but it is not likely: ( speed, odometer, trip computer and mileage computer are all using the same data anyway).
My CR-V is not equipped with mileage computer.
But my another car Volvo have a trip and mileage computer. Several times I checked computer mileage and compared it with "independent mileage check" and there WAS a discrepancy (computer gave smaller numbers).
For example, computer gave 21-22 m/G while "independent mileage check" gave 25-27 m/gal.
I did that check several times (at the same gas station) and took an average result ( Estimated accuracy 5%).
I am more disposed to trust "independent check"
(averaged by several tests) rather than computer.
In other words, if you had a 250 mile trip and used 10 Gallons for it, your gas mileage would be 25 m/Gal no matter what your computer say. :-) right?
Does anyone have any suggestion as to how to get Ford to stand behind their product and advertised"
The fine print on the EPA mileage says that they are listed for comparison purposes, and that acutal mileage may vary. So Ford isn't under any legal obligation to give higher MPG, or take the car back, etc. The computer check merely verified that there was no problem with the trip computer on the Escape.
Is your Escape a 4WD model? They get less mileage. Also, a vehicle needs to warm up to get the best mileage; short trips will kill MPG even on the Toyota Prius.
BTW, I own a 2003 CR-V EX AT. I get about 21 in town, 26+ on the Interstate (75 MPH), and about 23 mixed. In town mileage is hard on the CR-V as well. It takes a lot of gas to get 3300 lbs moving from a standing start...
Not that this will help but when CR’s did their Fuel Economy by category spread last year, city FE was actually atrocious in just about everything tested so a very low mile commute/trip around town could very easily take an Escape down to the 10 - 12 mpg range year round With the cold temperatures as of late, I am surprised you are receiving even that! These FE numbers were achieved in very controlled testing by CR’s staffers and it was done in warmer temps than you are probably experiencing right now.
http://autos.yahoo.com/consumerreports/article/fuel_efficient_car- s_category.html
Ford Escape XLT (V6)
CR Overall: 17 mpg
City: 12 mpg
Highway: 24 mpg
150 Mile Trip: 21 mpg
Until you get it out on the highway and drive at 55 - 60 mph without stomping on it because you are pissed off, you can blame the world. After a 100 mile drive, tell us what you are receiving. In the real world, most are receiving far less then EPA estimates and in the city in particular. Just take a look at the entire list of automobiles as linked to see real world actuals. Driving 15 - 25 miles a day doesn’t really describe your driving cycle by all accounts. What is your average trip distance and time between? You can go back and forth to day care 2X’s a day over 8 hours and knock out 15 - 20 miles in stop and go city traffic. With that, 10 - 12 mpg would seem to be about right given what CR’s is estimating an average driver would receive in a std. city test cycle in warmer temps.
Now after you get that 100 mile trip out of the way and you find that you received 25 mpg, then I believe I can help your around town FE tremendously. With what you have posted so far, I am not sure if it’s you or the truck? If I were a gambling man, I would say its you but I would be guessing
03 Ford Ranger P/U: http://www.greenhybrid.com/compare/mileage/details.php?cid=380
I also forgot to ask if you are driving the I4 or the V6?
Good Luck
Wayne R. Gerdes
just want to thanks you...
the other day, I was trying out your hypermiler suggestions....and was just cruising along...and past a speed trap with 2 cops sitting in wait...normally I go about 50+ in that 40 mph zone...but I was only going about 35...so no ticket !!! Another plus with hypermiling is less tickets....
:-)
You can send me the proceeds not spent on the ticket in small unmarked bills ;-)
Good Luck and I hope your FE has indeed gone through the roof!
Wayne R. Gerdes
i was hoping to brag about my latest tank of gas in the focus, but got caught in a traffic jam(2 miles in half an hour). my best gas saving technique would have been to check the traffic cameras on one of the tv web sites before leaving work.
maybe highender will send you some kk's.
ksuwildcat001, "K&N Air Filters, bolt-on power?" #733, 28 Jul 2004 6:14 pm
Both my previous 2003 and now 2004 Expedition show the actual miles traveled some 2.0 to 2.5% low versus the mile markers on various interstates. Tire wear will of course lower the above some, but still 2.5% off when tires are new is a lot. Seemed to be 2.0 to 2.5% off for both the trip and the regular total miles reading on the above Expeditions. However, the MPH shown seems right on due to time of 60 seconds to travel an interstate mile at steady 60 MPH. (this one if difficult to test due to traffic, curves, lane changes) Have not asked dealer about any calibration. Need a good GPS to test further.
I'm assuming due to general USA surveying and civil engineering standards that the interstate mile markers I'm relying on are very accurately placed. I used a 10 mile flat straight stretch of interstate for testing the odometers several times in several Southern states. Sometimes an exit is right in the way of a certain mile marker's normal placement, but the next one is usually in its proper location. I never start or end my 10 miles right by an exit.
My 2.5%+ adjusted mpg for 2004 Expedition, 4wd has been a very steady 15.2 in winter and 16.2 in summer in mostly suburban driving, limited stop and go. Around 12-14 mpg light load bassboat towing on interstate. Easy 18 mpg non-towing on Tennessee interstates even with moderate load of people and gear. 18.5 to 19 in SC and Florida due to flat terrain.
What are the mpg numbers for 2005 Exp with 5.4L 3V? 2wd? 4wd?
how goes it..? I 've been using some of the hi milers techniques....gained some increase in mileage...though still go pedal to the metal once in a while...
this dozen Krispy 'Kreme is on me... enjoy !!
the small unmarked non- sequential bills are in a suitcase under the old sequoia tree near the Yosemite Park , bridaveil falls. Also, have a dozen Krispy Kremes on me.....enjoy !!!! :-)
Thought this might be useful info for new CRV owners ...
The break in period and/or cold weather sensitivity are real issues for the CRV.
I bought a 2005 CRV LX 2WD in December. I was worried because I was barely getting 20MPG from mostly highway driving at first. In mixed highway/city it actually dropped below 20MPG.
However, the weather here in Michigan has warmed up (40 daytime / 25 at night, versus 10-15 daytime, 0 to -5 at night in December)AND the car now has about 2500 miles on it.
I'm now getting about 22.5 city and right around 26 on the highway (and that's hauling a few hundred pounds of cargo).
I'm guessing I'll get close to the 23/29 EPA when the weather becomes nice in the spring.
I am dissapointed too. I called the dealer and he offered to check the mileage, but I think I'm waisting my time. Also, if you are judging your mileage by the computer readout, it may be misleading. That number is the average which accounts for being in stopped traffic. A more accurate value would be a trip through a town at about say 35 mph and few lites.
The only irritating thing about my wife's Escape is that the ignition key jams occasionally, as if the key is the wrong one. Do you have the same problem?
I have the same vehicle (a 2000) w/4.6, K & N filter but no low-restriction exhaust. I'm curious- how much did the exhaust and especially the electric fan increase your mileage (I get 14 mixed summer/12 mixed winter)? How much did the fan kit cost; do you think it was worth it? I have 40K and am considering a switch to sythentic oil as well- do you feel that helped mileage much? I'm ready to try more improvements as I also tow and the mileage is bad.
The electric fans were about $300 for the kit (I think) and I installed them myself. I like them since they are temp. driven and are completely off any time I'm going over about 30mph since the airflow over the radiatior at the speed is adequate for cooling. They do turn on anytime the AC is running. I don't think they will ever pay for themselves, but I like having 10lbs less spinning weight on the motor.
I would say go synthetic if you do your own oil. Buy it on sale and get for $4 a quart. There is not really and down side to synthetic oil (unless you have a leaky engine).
Tank 1 - 25.6 mpg 70% highway
Tank 2 - 26.7. mpg All highway but over 7000 vertical feet up to Donner Summit (Tahoe) and load and down, ordinary driving style, mostly 70 up and down the hill.
Very happy with this start.
Here are the stats:
99 Pathfinder, 2WD, 3.3 L engine, automatic
60K miles
If all highway, my best was 21 MPG
Combination city + some highway = 17.5 MPG
But I drive conservatively - Why blast away from a stop light when the next one will surely stop you
Keeping the tires properly inflated (I use 30 to 32 pounds) helps gas mileage alot.
I would like to hear what other 1999 Pathfinders
are getting.
Thanks, John
11,250.1 miles
540.9 gallons of gas
20.8 miles per gallon
Tires inflated to 32 PSI; probably a 30% higway and 70% city (actually, suburban) driving.
As a comparision, here are the numbers for our '04 Sienna LE, bought in Nov. of 2003.
13,532.6 miles
634.9 gallons
21.3 miles per gallon
We use the Sienna for commuting and so we have more highway miles in there, but it's also a five-person carpool, and a 6-cyl. engine.
Best recorded mileage for both vehicles - a trip to Tennessee my wife took in the CR-V and a trip to and around New England we took in the Sienna - is the same: 25.9 mpg.
EPA tests are done on a dyno and do not account for a boxy SUV shape.
-juice
1997 3/4 ton suburban, 454, 410 gears, 12 mpg forward, backward, sideways...looking for best ways to improve my mileage w/ least cash. Already thinking K & N and chipping it - Any success stories out there?????
Thx, Dave.
-juice
What is that, 8 liters???? That has a 4 barrel carb, right? It is designed for performance and towing, and I doubt that anything will help.
getting a diesel will help .... Banks Engineering has many modification kits for trucks.
I have a 1999 5.7 liter V8 suburban....fitted with a Whipple supercharger and K&N filter..and new electronic fuel injection module....I still get 12 - 14 mpg local....but can get up to 17 mpg on freeways...
these engines were designed for heavy hauling .... and thus use more gas...they also weigh more...
Steve, Host
My 01 Pathfinder gets about 16 in town and 17.5 on the hwy @ 75mph.
use some of the tactics of the hypermilers....
... a few weeks ago one poster here shared with me his tactics...and they do really improve mpg
to about 15.8 mpg when going about 90 mph...but just for short bursts when no other cars in sight.