Ford Escape
This topic is a continuation of Topic 2184....
Ford Escape. Please continue these discussions
here. Thanks!
Front Porch Philosopher
SUV, Pickups, & Aftermarket and Accessories Host
Ford Escape. Please continue these discussions
here. Thanks!
Front Porch Philosopher
SUV, Pickups, & Aftermarket and Accessories Host
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Thanks
Michael
But if they aren't right I guess we could back out.
or you are computing the miles per gallon wrong. I, also, strongly suggest a trip back to your dealership.
In response to the question about octane grade used, I'm using 87 because I don't believe it needs any better. Besides, higher octane fuel burns finer and should give you better performance but less mileage so I don't think that's it.
Anyways, I gave Ford Assistance Center a call and they told me that I had a recall issue, the fuel line. My dealer told me all had been taken care of but perhaps that was before that particular recall was issued. Does anybody know if that would affect the MPG?
Again, I must get LESS than 10MPG (Just drove 15 city, 10 highway for a total of 25 miles and it looks like 3 gallons are gone.
By, there's a lot wrong with that statement. I would guesss the reason that you "...don't believe it needs any better..." is becasue you don't want to pony up the extra 3¢ - 5¢ a gallon and not some great engineering deduction.
I will give you my experience.
My '99 Passat Turbo REQUIRES a minimum of 91 octane gas. With a lesser octane, there is a measurable (dynoed) decrease in MPG and Horsepower. The engine is DESIGNED and CALIBRATED to use that fuel best.
You should ALWAYS use the gas octane that is recommended in YOUR owner's manual because modern engines are calibrated to run on a specific octane. If it is true that you don't NEED to use a HIGHER grade then the manufacturer recommends (and it is true!) then it is also true that using a LESSER grade has a negative effect on your MPG and HP.
So if the manual says use 89 or 91 and you have decided to use 87 because "...I don't believe it needs any better..." then you deserve your crappy mileage. Sorry for the bluntness.
{sidenote}
It always amazes me how someone can spend more then $20k on a new car then carry on about how much gas costs. The difference per gallon from 87 to 91 octane is about 10¢... in a 16 gallon tank that means an extra $1.60 per fill up. Small price to pay IMO for a cleaner running, more fuel efficiant, better performing vehicle.
No flame meant, just my opinion. :-)
Still waiting for Escape xlt 4x2 ordered 9/5.
By the way, I really hope you weren't insinuating that even using a crappier grade of gas (which I'm not according to specs) could account for such a huge disparity in MPG cause that would truly be ignorant.
I apoligize for ASSuming :-) you were just being cheap, but I thought the Escape asked for 89 octane, most cars do nowadays. I was mistaken, sorry, but no one is perfect.
I was also NOT suggesting that using the wrong octane accounted for your ultra-low mileage. I was just trying to add something more to the 5 "answers" above mine that all told you to go to the dealer... those posts didn't answer your question anymore then mine did btw.
Take a breath, we're all on the same team here. :-)
No worries on our conversation.
So, good luck and happy hunting.
So, help! I'm hopelessly perplexed.
Thanks!
The moral of the story is follow the manual. If you do you will have nothing to worry about.
Octane is a rating of gasolines resistance to combustion, that is, it’s resistance to self igniting in response to the heat and compression in the engine. Combustion should progress out from the point of ignition at the spark plug. However, if the octane is insufficient, combustion can begin at other areas, creating a second flame front. This is “pre-ignition”, and the engine makes pinging or knocking sounds as the two flame fronts collide. This is damaging, and modern engines use their electronic management systems to retard the spark timing, as required to stop the knocking. Octane, is critical to the power that can be had from an engine, because higher octane permits higher compression ratios with proper ignition timing. And higher compression ratios with proper ignition timing makes the engine more efficient. Efficiency is the key. The high octane gasoline does not have any greater energy content than the low octane gas. High octane is created with additives.
One reason a car will run better on a higher than recommended octane is that the original fuel is not up to its advertised rating. It can be a good idea to shop around for a better 87.
I run 93 octane as well, since 91 is very hard to find here in VT too. I average over 30 mpg per tank full (about 400 miles) and have nothing but smooth, torquey power from idle to redline.
I have never driven an Escape, so I can't comment for sure, but I would be very supprised and impressed if the Escape can outhandle a Passat under "normal" conditions.* Physics is physics. You simply cannot compare the winter handling of a FWD car with a AWD car/suv, and I don't think that an Escape fan should be mocking any other car for a recall. ;-)
* This is no slam on the Escape, we are talking about apples and oranges here. I LIKE the Escape a LOT. :-)
Order submitted, (or given, or at) to factory 10-20.
Out of the other units he has ordered, mine was the only one with this statement, apparently on some type of reoprt dealers receive. Any help from those in the know what this means?
I signed my order for my new Escape XLT on Wednesday.
Here is the configuration.
Escape XLT
Front wheel drive
v6/auto
Moonroof
16" wheel/tires
Privacy glass
Purchase price: $20,500
No added fees! period.
When I told the dealer I was not going to give him an extra $85 dollars for him to fill out paperwork, he just knocked another $85 off the purchase price. : )
So, I ended up paying $281 under invoice.
I used Edmunds pricing guides and suggestoins and just worked the fax lines here in town to get the best deal I could, then, i didn't dink around trying to get another $50 chipped off.
The key here was being informed and patient.
So, good luck.
The dealer:
Bo Beuckman Ford, St. Louis.
Salesman: Ed Cabanas
They have three full-time sales people that do nothing but Internet sales!
Don't waste time wih www.greenlight.com or those places. You can do better directly with the dealer. I would have paid $500 more with greenlight!
A higher than specified octane fuel will do you no good and in fact could degrade performance. I have used 87 octane in my '97 Taurus LX, equipped with the Duratec engine, since new. It runs very well and gets 19 to 20 MPG in city driving and 24 to 26 MPG on the highway using 87 octane fuel. I have tried 89 octane fuel several times and find no difference in fuel economy or performance.
Mid-grade, 89 octane fuel, is the highest octane rating achieved by the refining process, 91 octane fuels have additives to increase the rating. These additives could be harmful to your engine, if it is not designed to accept them.
Modern engines use high compression ratios to burn fuel more efficiently so the car will get more miles per gallon. Unfortunately, the higher compression requires higher-octane fuel to burn smoothly so the added cost of the fuel and the less fuel needed per mile tend to cancel out. Our government favors the higher efficiency engine because it conserves oil and reduces pollution.
Thanx for your earlier comments.
Ford Motor Company issued a recall on the Ford Escape which is focused around a fuel line leakage (recall 00S27). The affected models were produced from October 1999 though September 1, 2000.
The recall is due to a fuel line connector whose o-rings located at the outlet end of the fuel filter may have been damaged during assembly. A Ford assembly plant employee has contacted BlueOvalNews.com warning of a possible design flaw of the fuel line. The problem arises when a new fuel filter is installed. Upon installation, the o-rings can become easily distorted or slip without being visually noticed where upon a slow fuel leak can occur. A Ford document states the leak can cause "fuel odor or, in some cases, fuel leakage."
If there is wetness or fuel leakage at the fuel filter connector, the fuel supply line must be replaced."
http://www.autonews.com/cgi-bin/gx.cgi/AppLogic+autonews.nab.DisPdnModel?maker=Ford+Motor+Co.&level=1