33.6 mpg on a '97 Ford Taurus

[joey]

Just a simple cheer for those of us running big old sedans. On my last tank, I got 33.6 mpg over 10 gallons on my Taurus. This may not seem like much to talk about, especially with some folks here getting amazing numbers in the 60s or higher on smaller vehicles, but for a V6, 3L 4-door automatic with over 4000 lb of curb weight (I think), it's not too bad.

In comparison, I think the first tank I got with the car this past winter gave me about 14.3 mpg for all city driving.

For this tank (the 33 tank), it was almost all highway driving, and the mods were purely driver-related. After reading about the lowest-rpm-in-highest-gear advice several times here, I tried it out and kept between about 45 and 55, depending on the highway's traffic and max speed. I don't have instrumentation yet, so I'm just tracking tanks. It's amazing what a difference conscientious driving can make, though.

So thanks, Ecomodder. I enjoy reading threads on this forum, which inspired me to finally get an account so I could post now and then. There are a couple of other Taurus drivers here, and it's nice to know that hypermiling can pay off on any vehicle if you put the time into it.

[doviatt]

Nice job! Track your results here so we can all see you maintain and improve. Most will be skeptical posting only one tank.
Keep up the efforts and the positive attitude.

[joey]

Thanks doviatt! I'm already tracking results at Fuelly, so I'm hesitant to start entering results twice at both sites, but I'll consider it. My last tank got me 20.9, and the tank before that got me 16.6. Part of what makes figuring out how much of the improvements are due to driving style is that I don't maintain the same ratio of city/highway driving on each tank. Most tanks are completely in city, while a couple may involve repeated trips out of town. As I log more data, though, a clearer picture should emerge.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi & welcome to EM,

What are your tire pressures? Have you had the alignment checked lately (do you need to)? What generation Taurus do you have?

Edit: Is this what your car looks like?

If so, then you might see a (small) benefit from an upper grill block? Otherwise, that is one of the most aerodynamic (looking) front ends that Ford has ever made.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ta...2.80.931999.29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...dels#1996-1997

I Googled the weight of the 1997 model, and it comes up with 3,327 pounds, BTW.

[Nevyn]

While my car isn't as heavy as yours, it's in about the same condition economy-wise. My Lumina is ~3200 pounds, 3.1 L, automatic. I've slowly been working it up towards the 30 mark. My problem is a LOT of town-puttering, as well as hills to and from work to climb. It gets very little highway time.

Good luck with the next tank!

[joey]

Hi Neil,

Thanks for the welcome. I don't know the pressures, but I'd estimate they're about 35 PSI in each tire. I last filled them a month or so ago, and tried to take a measurement with the gauge, but the gauge kept blowing out. I might be holding it to the tire nozzles for too long. It could definitely use a realignment, as the car gradually pulls to the right if you don't correct it now and then. However, since it's such a cheap car (cost me $2000), I can live with that. It's a 3rd generation (the flying saucer-shaped ones).

Hi Nevyn,

I rechecked online, and I think I entered the wrong Taurus model weight; mine should be ~3323 pounds, not 4300. Anyway, it looks like you've made a lot of progress on your Lumina too. Yes, in town driving seems to kill mileage, especially on automatics, since the car is continually downshifting to less efficient gears at stops. Like you, mine has rarely seen the highway (although recent work has given me out of town assignments to finish).

Thanks, and good luck with your next tank too.

[Nevyn]

I don't know much at the moment about the tranny in the Taurus. I've dealt with the ones that they mate to the Triton V8's (my mom has a 2000 E-150 Van) and the older mid-80's E4OD EEC IV controlled ones (85-89 Town Cars and the like). I had a 97 Escort, but that was a 5-speed; not helpful for figuring out things on an automatic. I'll ask a lady I work with - she has a 2000 Mercury Sable.

[MetroMPG]

Congrats, joey.

Keep your eye out on eBay for a used ScanGauge (or get yourself an MPGuino). If you're having fun with your successes now just going tank to tank, you'll have a blast with a game gauge.

[wagonman76]

My father in law used to have a Taurus of that generation. He said he would get 38 mpg on the highway. Not sure what engine or final drive he had, but he had stock dual exhaust and he thinks that was the reason for his good mpg (but he knows more about his Fairlane than anything 1980 or newer.

Later on he bought a newer generation Taurus. He said he only gets low-mid 20s with it and says it is because of no dual exhaust . Anyway I drove it once for about 10 miles, and it certainly is not geared for mpg. It has a lot of low end torque, but after 35 mph the rpms just keep going up.

[Brillig]

Excellent achievement, and all driver skill.