'01 Focus project
 

My fuel economy story….in progress

2001 Ford Focus SE, 2L SOHC, auto 4 door sedan, 110k miles.

I have a 550 mile weekly commute. My goal is 1 fill up a week.
The manual says I have a 13.2 gal fuel capacity. Leaving .2 gal for reserve…this means I would need 42.31 MPG to get to work and back on one tank…let’s set my goal at 43.

Prior to hypermiling and ecomodding I was consistently at 28-30 MPG.

So I am looking to gain roughly 14 MPG.

I am already a slight underdog wit an automatic trans…..or am I? I looked up the gear ratios and 4 gear in the auto is actually taller than the manual trans for this model vehicle. That coupled with the fact it has a converter lock-up (ECU controlled) in 3rd and 4th gear.

Anyway….years ago I experimented with acetone as a fuel additive with no favorable results (I should add no detrimental results either). As many of us the cost of fuel is really hurting our budget. So I decided to try some things.

After reading up on some things I started down the HHO booster path and have currently shelved that modification for many much easier mods that I have became recently aware of.

Ecomodder.com has become a frequent reading spot for me.

Today…I am getting 34 MPG with the following modifications/technics.

45psi in my tires
Grill/airdam inlets blocked off
Acetone as fuel additive (2oz per 10 gal)
EFIE adding 100mV to my O2 circuit
Moderate hypermiling:
EOC (very little)
Paying attention

As I write this I guess I expected more from the current steps I have taken. Maybe my Focus is not the best base to have started with but that’s what have and am stuck with until I wear it out.

Future planned modifications:

Slowing down
Alternator “kill” switch (and charge at home)
Extended Air dam
Solid disc hub caps
Converter lock-up switch
Vacuum gauge
HHO booster (as a last resort)
Manual trans swap.

Any suggestions to help me reach my goal would be great.

I am very mechanical and technical so from mild to wild is fine with me...oh and low budget items are best for me...lol.

Great site...

Thanks,

Hankinator