My new '88 Escort

[Ford Man]

Well I got my gas log started yesterday on Lil Red. It's my latest '88 Escort purchase. It has 78K original miles with a 1.9L 3 speed automatic. First tank came in at 34.597 MPG and that was without the A/C working, but I fixed it yesterday so I guess we'll see what that does to mileage. This one has an automatic instead of a 4 or 5 speed which isn't going to help mileage either. The old EPA estimate is 24 city, 30 highway, and 27 combined so it's doing much better than even the old EPA rating. New EPA rating is 21 city, 28 highway and 24 combined. First tank came in at 128.1% of old EPA rating and 144.1% of new EPA rating. So far the only mod is LRR tires at 60 PSI. Next mod will probably be a warm air intake, because that made a huge difference in my other '88 Escort. I think this tank may have gotten either very near 35 MPG or even better if I hadn't have had to let it sit and idle for 15-20 minutes while charging the A/C. Haven't even started using the A/C yet and it's already costing me.

Some of you who drive automatics give me some advice on things to do that have helped your mileage. I haven't driven an automatic much at all in the past 16 years so all suggestions would be appreciated.

[elhigh]

Shift into neutral if you have to idle at a stop. That takes some load off the engine and even if you're carbureted, the idle-up control will ease off the gas for you.

[joey]

Good start! For city driving, figure out where your shift points are, and try to get into at least 3rd gear whenever you can (on my Taurus, it's around 30 mph). For highway driving, try to keep as close to the speed where your highest gear engages as possible/practical (on my Taurus, that's around 43 mph). Overall, your best mileage will come from the lowest rpms in your highest gear.

[wagonman76]

I agree, neutral at stops. My mpg ticks down about half as fast that way.

Learn the shift points, and many times you can coax it into high gear sooner by varying the throttle. Make sure your TV cable is in proper adjustment. Also if you have a lockup torque converter (you probably do), learn when it engages and do what you can to make sure it stays locked as much as possible, many times you can use throttle to coax it to lock sooner just like a shift.

[guudasitgets]

don't forget to check the thing out, My car I noticed the brakes were dragging in the front, one caliper slide pin was hung up, costed me 5 mpg