Got A Focus, New To EcoModding

[mcrews]

I was really addicted to my scangauge when I took trips....loved the instant feedback with multiple numbers.

[user removed]

Not sure about the CD and frontal area question but I drive a 2011 Fiesta and you can see my MPG average for that car under my handle (old mechanic) in this post. You can also look at myfuellog for the last 27 k miles. I coast in neutral quite a bit but mycar wastotalled and rebuilt before I bought it so there is no warranty to worry about and you probably should not coast in neutral because it may giveFord an excuse to deny a warranty claim.

Anticipation of forced stops is paramount to better mileage. Timing traffic lights and avoiding gridlock type traffic stiuations will help a lot.
Conservation of momentum is critical. People blow past me all the time when they just have to slam on their brakesat the next red light, while I pass them with out slowing down since I know when the light will change. I can go through 42 lights in 40 miles and only have to stop for anaverage of 6 of 42 lights. Stopping a then accelerating again destroys your mileage very quickly.
I try to keep my upshift points below 3k RPM and also try to avoid delaying upshifts if possible.

regards
Mech

[spacemanspif]

Cd and frontal area numbers are in the wiki link in the aerodynamics sticky. Unfortunately though there are no cd numbers for foci. I was looking the other day as I prepare to make a page for a 07 focus I just bought. You'll have to search the internet but I think I found all the info you are looking for on cars.com. It's burried in the specifications section I think.

Welcome aboard. Many here are car people with fast cars on the side. I like to think of MPG as another version of performance. So I have one car that I try to get every HP out of each drop of gas and the other car I try to get every mile from each drop.

[sqidd]

Well, I have some preliminary results. Not terribly scientific but here it goes.

I’m using the OEM mileage meter.

I’ve been running the A/C the entire time.

It’s the first tank of fuel in the car so it is not even close to broken in.

I’m on the cruise control pretty much all the time (anything over 35mph).

Mixed driving. Pretty much 50/50 spilt.

When I’m on the freeway I am not poking along. I cruise at 75mph.

And here is the best part…….I didn’t check the tire pressure until just now when I got back. It was at 34psi hot. I just bumped it up to 50psi which is the “max”.

38.2mpg average.

EPA combined is 31.

So as of right now I’m about 23% to the good. I’ll take that!

I took a look at the grill today. I figured out how to do a super sano stock looking block off out of Sintra that will bolt right on/off. I’ll have to do that in the next couple of weeks and see what that does for me.

I haven’t even looked under the car yet. I’m sure there are some goodies under there that are easy pickings.

And the tire pressure should help out quite a bit.

Now it’s time to get a scan gauge. I think 40+mpg is in my near future!

[mcrews]

your killin me!

[JBarr]

Welcome! I am far from an expert, but I think driving style is the easiest mod (and the only one I have employed so far). You can still drive the speed limit, put allow the speed to reduce on hills and go easy on the acceleration. There is no need to get to 75 mph immediately when entering the highway. A gauge will help you figure out what is killing your mileage and what boosts it. That will probably be my next mod.