Ford Escort MPG advice needed

[radioranger]

Weird effect from tire pressure increase, took about .3 to .6 mile less to get to work due to the increased rolling diameter, Lol who woulda thought . have to verify this a few times normal trip approx 58.3 from gas station to job and yesterday 57.8 approx, figures to around 1 % taller gearing .

[laserwizard]

I took the opportunity of great weather (70F and sunny) to polish and to wax my car - exterior is slick as can be now. Bumped up tire pressures a bit to about 44 psi and then set out to visit my sister - 120 mile round trip. Scangauge readings showed 52.2 mpgs for the trip up - includes all time spent BEFORE getting on interstate and all time AFTERWARDS to get to her house. I was so upset - at the end of the interstate I had a reading of 53 mpgs but caught every stop light on red cycle (unusual) and even shutting car off at lights I lost .8 mpgs off that trip.

On the way back I had better luck with lights but the trip back never produces as good a mileage reading as the way too - ended up with 50.5 mpgs which is the best I've ever had going this way.

This is also the first time I've ever had 50/50 mileage (50 mpgs both way) in this car.

It was kinda funny - being Memorial Day weekend, the interstate was well covered by State Police - it seemed they were positioned every 2-5 miles and they were busy - you'd think people would learn. I did my 55 mph and had not a worry in the world.

Saving gas doesn't cost a lot of money - I've spent under $6 to just make the front end more smooth without altering the profile. I do coast down all hills and where possible I will sacrifice some speed going up hill to keep some mpgs - my goal is to get .1 increase in trip mpgs after each hill and those add up - sometimes I can get .3-.5 and that really helps.

[radioranger]

thinking about geting the ultra gauge. is this a good option ? , seems pretty cheap .

[mcrews]

I have only used the scangaugeII so I cant answer, up any gauge will will. Kinda like playing a video game as you drive
The trick is the instant feedback.

[user removed]

Originally Posted by laserwizard

I took the opportunity of great weather (70F and sunny) to polish and to wax my car - exterior is slick as can be now. Bumped up tire pressures a bit to about 44 psi and then set out to visit my sister - 120 mile round trip. Scangauge readings showed 52.2 mpgs for the trip up - includes all time spent BEFORE getting on interstate and all time AFTERWARDS to get to her house. I was so upset - at the end of the interstate I had a reading of 53 mpgs but caught every stop light on red cycle (unusual) and even shutting car off at lights I lost .8 mpgs off that trip.

On the way back I had better luck with lights but the trip back never produces as good a mileage reading as the way too - ended up with 50.5 mpgs which is the best I've ever had going this way.

This is also the first time I've ever had 50/50 mileage (50 mpgs both way) in this car.

It was kinda funny - being Memorial Day weekend, the interstate was well covered by State Police - it seemed they were positioned every 2-5 miles and they were busy - you'd think people would learn. I did my 55 mph and had not a worry in the world.

Saving gas doesn't cost a lot of money - I've spent under $6 to just make the front end more smooth without altering the profile. I do coast down all hills and where possible I will sacrifice some speed going up hill to keep some mpgs - my goal is to get .1 increase in trip mpgs after each hill and those add up - sometimes I can get .3-.5 and that really helps.

Same state (Va), same technique, same vehicle manufacturer, 2011 Fiesta.
Took a ride down to the outer banks last Sunday to visit with the kids and grandkids. Reset factory MPG gauge before I started the engine. About 280 miles total, with 16 miles north once we got to Corolla.

53 MPG indicated. When I refilled the actual mileage was 50.06 429 miles on 8.57 gallons of Wall mart Regular at $3.199 per gallon, about 6.3 cents a mile in direct fuel costs. The Kuhmo Solus tires the Fiesta came with seem to do very well and I have made no mods, but I do keep it in my garage and waxed to the point where my towel slides off the front end and the car hardly gets dirty in the rain.

When I refilled the estimated range was 636 miles.

regards
Mech

[radioranger]

I only went up to 40 psi on the tires from 34 , a bit afraid to go more than that but I guess some guys are on here, I also have spoke custom wheels about an inch wider than stock that came with the car so probably could really benefit from disc wheel covers and thinking about a tiny lip on the rear deck lid also, saw one on a caddy today . forget the model , when I bought the yokohama tires they cost me about 3 mpg over the old rock hard tires on there but much safer of course , right now seem to get 40 mpg at any speed i go up to my max cruise speed of 63 or so . I think the throttle restriction and lower speeds cancel each other out with the throttle more wide open and the air drag of high speeds , same thing the ranger does 25 mpg no matter what, although I did discovred but forgot to use the fact that when the rangers muffler started opening up I got up to 30 on the highway, a look at the replacements mufflers small internal tube showed me why, I think for highway driven cars a larger muffler is well worth it. so may go that route,

[laserwizard]

Another update - nearly 1k on the new tires and the start of the serious attention to inexpensive mods to increase fuel economy.

Before this period, with 6k traveled, the car was averaging about 41.9 mpgs. Now it is averaging 45.9 mpgs doing the same type of travel.

This car (1997 Escort) continues to impress me with its fuel economy. Most significant impact on fuel economy was the tire pressure of 42 mpgs and closing off those side ducts where some models have fog lights. Those two changes really have impacted the coast down length of travel. Sealing off the edges of the hood with Dollar Tree foam with peel off sticky side has not caused any overheating issues (trapping heat under the hood) which was my one fear. Made several trips with temps at 90 degrees or higher as a test.

Last four trips back and forth from my home to Virginia Beach and back have averaged over 50 mpgs and that includes the non-interstate travel to get to the interstate and off the interstate to my folk's house. Head wind performance is a steady 47 mpgs instead of 45 mpgs as before.

I hope this gives others confidence to do inexpensive modifications to their vehicles to save money. There is no need to buy a hybrid when you can drive smartly with a conventional product and easily beat EPA ratings by 10 to 15 mpgs without having to tailgate tractor trailers or to impede traffic flow. I make it a point to respect all drivers and to drive in the slow lane at the posted speed limit (though I will not exceed 60 mph in the 65 mph zone). By learning your local traffic lights and anticipating when red will turn green (if you know how the other lanes are flowing you'll know where you are on the cycle), you can really coast and save money - or if you arrive early in the red light, you can turn off the engine to save gas (something I do regularly). I also have a great memory knowing benchmark mpg figures on certain regularly traveled routes to know if I am driving well or if I need to improve.

Fuel economy driving is very relaxing to me and it is indeed like a game. I actually love driving more now than when I was a lead foot. Any idiot can get to a place by speeding. The joy is driving efficiently and arriving at the same time the lead foot did.

[radioranger]

Great results, I think the mountainous area where I live affects me quite a bit, i closed off the brake cooling ducts, Like you did but did not fair them in, I am averaging around 40+ or - a bit, I think my oversize wider wheels that came with the car are affecting me a lot right now very open spoke design and stick out past the front bumper cover a good inch, have seen how Honda's have bumper covers that go past the front edge of the wheel , may try to remove the mount screws and bend them out a bit and construct a sheet metal bracket to hold them. thinking about removing the right door mirror and partial rear wheel skirts as well. and should really try to make some disc wheel covers, . as i drive 130 miles round trip to work it will help . I try to average around 58 mph thanks for the advice, also am running soft yokohama tires right now with about 5000 miles on them at 40 psi. may bump it to 42 .

[radioranger]

I was also thinking of spacing the whole hood up a good inch and making a fairing piece to match to fender, not sure if I will but raising the panel may help. also a rear spoiler ala the ford scorpio is on my maybe list.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by radioranger

...I think my oversize wider wheels that came with the car are affecting me a lot right now...

Hi. Have you taken into account how oversized wheels/tires will affect your odometer and speed? Depending on how much bigger a 5-10% undercount in the distance your odometer records could result. That would make your fuel economy SEEM lower. You are probably traveling further on your fuel than the odometer indicates. Speedometer would be similarly off, unless the factory designed for a speedometer overcount.