FNG in TN, Blue Flame Fiesta
 

After 135,000 miles in an F-150 in 7 years I decided to trade it in on a Fiesta hatchback. Considering my drive back and forth to work is 800+ miles a week, more than doubling my MPG has put a huge :D on my face. I also ride two wheels at 20,000 miles a year but the Fiesta get better MPG than one of my bikes and just a little less than the other bike.

Even on 2-lane TN back roads, to and from work I am averaging 41mpg with the Fiesta. The s'miles per gallon is almost as high as my Buell 1125rt. I'm still looking for more mpg from the Fiesta so any help is greatly appreciated.

Time2run
Neil S.

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/r...a/44a2c836.jpg

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/r...gHiRez-1-1.jpg

Hella good looking car ;). Give yourself 15 more minutes for your commute, and drive 10 mph slower.

That's a pretty extreme commute. Considering most of it is probably at a good speed, have you thought of doing any aeromods?

These modern engines are more efficient and the cars more streamline but as SentraSE-R says
Give yourself 15 more minutes for your commute, and drive 10 mph slower. and posibly wear a slipper on your right foot

Welcome! :)

65+ Vehicle modifications for better fuel economy - EcoModder.com

That will take you to the list of mods that are discussed around here. I'd say a good place to start is with a ScanGauge, UltraGauge, or MPGuino. That would help you zero in on your vehicles most efficient speed in a particular gear, as well as help you iron things out as you change your driving habits.

JMac
http://ecomodder.com/forum/fe-graphs/sig4777a.png

Beautiful looking ride! I'm glad Ford finally brought the Fiesta back to the US. Enjoy the savings and the challenge of getting better mpg.

If I slowed down 10mph I would save a lot of gas! I would be pushed along by the traffic. The 70 miles is 2 lane TN back roads with 3 stopsigns and 2 stop lights and little or no traffic.

I wanted the SFE kit but at purchase time they did not exist. The Powershift transmission gets better MPG than the manual. This transmission is actually a 6spd manual transmission with dual clutches controlled by a computer. You don't have the loss' associated with a conventional automatic transmission.

I have an average MPG gauge on the dash and thought about an UltraGauge for more instrumentation. I do some hypermilling when I can since the terrain is hilly. Next will be incremental increases in air pressure to see if that makes a difference.

Thanks for the tips.

Neil S.

Hi TomO :)
I would love to help you resurect you civic but alass its a bit far to travel, you'll get there in the end just keep at it
all the best
Brewin :):)

You can mimic some of the SFE mods yourself.

Consider a partial grille block for the times of the year you can get away with it. Fixed, manual or automatic shutters depending on how far you want to get into it.

As has been suggested, I'd definitely focus (no pun intended :)) on the aero mods, since overcoming aero drag is where most of your fuel is going.

Nice looking car - I've yet to ride in one yet.

Welcome to the forum - and thanks again for the support!

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/r...0cfd7f72-1.jpg

As you can see the upper grill is pretty well blocked. The lower grill is almost 1/2 blocked. I have been trying to find picts of the SFE parts or even a Fiesta with the SFE package so I could compare. I think my grills are close to the SFE one's.

You will have to drive one of the 11' models they are WAAAAY fun! The Powershift 6 speed manual auto is surprising. It is a traditional manual transmission design but with two cluthes that are controlled by a computer. One clutch controls 1-3-5 and the other 2-4-6. It's always in gear so i coast by slipping into neutral and letting gravity SUCK!

Gotta Roll
Neil S.

That blue color is awesome!

It looks a lot like the blue on my Focus.

Technically its not quite a traditional manual gearbox, as it has twin gear shafts rather than one multi segment shaft, and 1,3,5 are on one shaft, and 2,4,6 on the other, like the DSG gearbox in the VW's.

You're correct it's not "traditional" but actually more like an m/c tranny. It is incredible how smooth it shifts. Down shift at speed is waaaaaay smoooth. Keep your right foot steady, drop it into low and the only indication it has down shifted is the rpm's go
Up. Great for slick conditions where you need engine braking.

Does the Focus in blue have the metal flake like the Fiesta? It really POPS in the sun.

Later
Neil S.

very nice color and car

how fast are you driving? and what are your rpm's at 45,50,55,60,65 mph? a few tips pump your tires up,drive slow,accelerate slowly,purchase a k & n air filter,use only synthetic motor oil and try to find gas without ethanol, i just broke my highway mpg record in a 2006 chevy malibu automatic 53.45mpg driving 210 miles at 43mph!

I've yet to see a scientific study that shows K&N improves fuel economy.

It's noteworthy that the manufacturer itself does not advertise them as fuel saving devices - because they know the government would be all over them for misleading advertising. (Customer testimonials don't count.)

All the rest of your tips are good though.