The 40MPG Crown Victoria Challenge

[jason1973tl]

Hi guys I know I'm reviving a year old thread but had to chime in. I just bought an 03 Crown Vic LX with the 2.73 rear gears, and just from the start with no mods or hyper mileing, I average 22 mpg.

I do know of a guy on youtube who has retrofitted a 5 speed manual tranny into his Crown Vic.

I also noticed that this car has an extremely loooong rear end. It is just asking for a kamback. I don't think it will go full on boat tail, but with the rear on this car, it could be very close. Like within a foot or so top to bottom. As was stated earlier, the front is bad aerodynamically. Lots of big, gaping holes.

Something else to consider is Netgain Motors. They mainly sell parts for conversions to all electric, but also sell the EMIS system. EMIS - Engine Motor Interface System
It is made for cars and trucks with automatic transmissions built after 1996. It replaces your stock driveshaft with a driveshaft that has an electric motor built into it. It uses a 48 or 72 volt system and connects to the cars computer to strategically apply power as needed for better fuel economy.

[oil pan 4]

We got a 2000 lincon town car with low miles and kind of low fuel economy.
Good dig up, I read it all.

[raylit20]

I own an 03 Lincoln Town Car, and being an engineering student I couldn't help but do a bit of aero minded observing on Ford's updated design. In 02 for the 03 model year, Ford redesigned the entire chassis of these cars and made significant improvements across the board, aero included.

If you take a look under the car you will see an air dam, tire spats front and rear, sealed gaps, and an internal antenna, among other things. Ford switched to a factory E-Fan as well. No, these boats really aren't that bad aerodynamically anymore.

Ford also went heavy on the use of aluminum and composites in trying to reduce vehicle curb weight. The hood, trunk, and front crossmember are aluminum, as are all four calipers and the associated brake dust plates.
The throttle and emergency brake pedals are both a plastic composite.

Anecdotally speaking here, I have managed 25 city around town with a full out hypermiler run, and was pulling a city average of 20 over most of the summer. I drive very little on the highway, though when I did take an occasional trip I was in the ~24-26MPG range, which is about what the car was rated for by the EPA. The only effective highway driving style for better FE I have found was driving slower. DWL and P&G didn't help at all.

Just my 2 cents on the car. It really is an incredible platform from an engineering standpoint.

[aerohead]

Is 40 mpg your highway mpg target,or for mixed driving?
Do you already have an mpg baseline for the car that we could be thinking about.
If I can get 36.5 mpg at a constant 65 mph in a 4,320-lb,midsized pickup truck,then with less frontal area,and less weight,I think the Crown Vic might see 40.But only on the highway.And not at 70 or 75 mph.
Modern Ford automatic transmissions are as mechanically efficient (92%) as a manual trans when in lockup.If you're turning in the neighborhood of 2,500 rpm or less at 65 mph,your present gearing is probably okay.
You'd be looking at rear-end body work which would mimic as close as you could,the 1985 Ford Probe-V concept car.

[trooper Tdiesel]

i think hes got the 2.73 diff with the lock up 25% O\D

that puts it in the 1,600/1,800 rpm range at 65 mph...

the only other diffs crowns got that i know of are 3.27 and 3.55 in cop car models.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by trooper Tdiesel

i think hes got the 2.73 diff with the lock up 25% O\D

that puts it in the 1,600/1,800 rpm range at 65 mph...

the only other diffs crowns got that i know of are 3.27 and 3.55 in cop car models.

Thanks trooper! I guess that Ford has already done what Ricardo Engineers/Consultants has been advocating for decades now,with their 'gear-slow' approach.
1,600-1,800 rpm would be 'loafing'.Low friction.Gobs of torque? Kick-down for passing or hill climbing,otherwise just float along.
Do we know if Ford already uses all synthetics for trans and differential?
It would mean a little at the pump.

[jason1973tl]

I'm not sure about the trans or rear diff, but the engine calls for 5w20 motor oil. Thinnest I've seen in any car I've had.

About the lockup....Is there any way to get the car to lock up at an even lower rpm?

[Galane]

I don't use synthetic oil and ATF unless that's what's been used in a vehicle since it was new.

Why? LEAKS! Every time I've put synthetic in a vehicle that's had "dino juice" for lube for a long time, the synthetic leaks and the leaks don't quit when switching back.

[GRU]

it'll be tough to get 40mpg highway with that car...my civic is right around 40-44mpg at 60 mph depending on the weather

[trooper Tdiesel]

im talking about the E4OD trans, not its later sibling the 4R100 that you likly have with the single or dubble over head cam 4.6L V-8 in front of it.
only two ways i know of to lock up the converter more is to over ride the worm up mode, and/or install a after market controller of some sort..that would force it in to lock faster/firmer shifting.


untell the engine and or trans gets to a serten temp 160F on are 89 and 94 one ton ford diesels, the lock up mode is not working.


the only other thing that comes to mind is a after market programmer.
are 94 has one on it, its meant to ferm up the shifts to help lower fuid temps.
the 1st to 2nd shift is rather violent compared to any OE set up...its a WAM YOUR IN 2ND RIGHT NOW!!
2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th are rather firm, but not violent.

and limit the amount of shifting, where a stock trans will shift to the next gear more or less as soon as you let off the go peddel it will hold that gear for a few sec incase your still going up a grade with a load.
it also ingages the lock up mode in 2nd more often, in the 89 you have to go WOT and then the lock up will ingage in 2nd
where the 94 will treat lock in 2nd all most as if its an extra gear when your under a hard hill pull.

also under stand i seldom let the trans pick what gear to use, im in manual control at all most all times.


one REAL funky thing ive learned with the E4OD is the 4 way flashers will pop it out of lock up, but for the moment the lights are out its trying to lock back up, over and over and over and.........
thus putting a lot of heat in the converter as its doing this.
we killed one trans from this do to it happening when pulling a large load, thus the want for the 4 ways on....
but i dont see this being a issue with a car,your not planning on towing 15K any day soon and i think when they went to the 4R100 they fixed it.