New to me 2013 Ford Focus SE

[user removed]

Actually if the Focus is like my 2011 Fiesta, then it's not really neutral. Coasting in neutral, you can feel the transmission downshifting as you slow down below 45 MPH. The clutch just stays disengaged until you move the shifter back to drive.

You can also calculate the idle fuel consumption by coasting down below 25 MPH and resetting the fuel mileage computation until it drops below 99 MPG. Divide the speed by 99 to get your idle consumption.

Example. If the mileage drops below 99 (max reading) at 20 MPH, then your idle consumption is 20/99, round it off to .2 GPH.

regards
mech

[Goldenstate]

Congratulations on the new ride. I notice that your new Ford Focus does not have rear tire spats. My 2014 Fusion SE does not have rear tire spats but has them in front only. My next move to improve mileage on the Fusion is to measure the front spats and carefully make up a set of spats for the rear tires to the same dimensions. In looking at other cars of the same basic size, I will decide just how far ahead of the rear tires to place the custom made spats. Already have some aluminum angle stock that should work well and be strong and light.

I am curious as to what size the front spats are on your 2013 Focus?

Perhaps we can both learn from this new adventure in modding.

Goldenstate

[jmedia]

Originally Posted by jedi_sol

oooh i wonder if you can retrofit the active grill shutters from the other ford models

Oooo now that is intriguing, I like.

Originally Posted by Goldenstate

Congratulations on the new ride. I notice that your new Ford Focus does not have rear tire spats. My 2014 Fusion SE does not have rear tire spats but has them in front only. My next move to improve mileage on the Fusion is to measure the front spats and carefully make up a set of spats for the rear tires to the same dimensions. In looking at other cars of the same basic size, I will decide just how far ahead of the rear tires to place the custom made spats. Already have some aluminum angle stock that should work well and be strong and light.

I am curious as to what size the front spats are on your 2013 Focus?

Perhaps we can both learn from this new adventure in modding.

Goldenstate

I will have to measure them and get back to you! I'd love to put some spats on, I wish a manufacturer made some.

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

Actually if the Focus is like my 2011 Fiesta, then it's not really neutral. Coasting in neutral, you can feel the transmission downshifting as you slow down below 45 MPH. The clutch just stays disengaged until you move the shifter back to drive.

You can also calculate the idle fuel consumption by coasting down below 25 MPH and resetting the fuel mileage computation until it drops below 99 MPG. Divide the speed by 99 to get your idle consumption.

Example. If the mileage drops below 99 (max reading) at 20 MPH, then your idle consumption is 20/99, round it off to .2 GPH.

regards
mech

Ya I figured that since it is a DCT, dropping it in neutral would be just like pushing the clutch in and continuing to shift. The cars gotta be ready to go as as soon as you drop it back in gear. I think I am going to avoid consistent shifting in to neutral unless for a large benefit (coasting down the grapevine). In my mind, it puts a lot more stress on the brakes too, slowing down with the car not in gear.


Thanks everyone for the replys!

[user removed]

Dont use the brakes unless you have no other option. Leave it in gear to slow down, if you MUST slow down. Otherwise coast at every opportunity. That's what I did and my average MPG was over 46 in a car rated for 38 highway. If I was driving your car I would be disappointed to not go over 40 MPG, under the same conditions. Without stop and go I hit 50 + regularly, in yours, 45 sould be expected.

For a grille block use pieces of pipe insulation, something like 92 cents for a 4 foot section at Home Depot.

I kept the grille block pieces in my spare tire well and found I onlyneeded to remove 1 of 3 in the summer to avoid excess fan operation.

regards
mech

[jmedia]

So I did my first 95% freeway road trip and drove normally while just paying a bit more attention to my speed, I averaged 37mpg On the flat road of 101 while going 65 I was getting 43mpg! But that ended once I hit the hills, still very happy with 37mpg

Here is a pic of the front tire spat:

[Goldenstate]

The photo of the front tire spat looks much like the one on my 2014 Ford Fusion complete with the vertical slit several inches inboard from the outside edge of the spat.

Measured the front tire spat on my Fusion and found it was 7 inches wide from outside edge to the vertical slit where it then curves back. The vertical height was 2 inches.

Measured the rear tire spat of a Honda Accord hybrid and found it to be 1.5 inches tall and 5 inches wide. It is about the same height above the ground as the Fusion. I have noticed that the more distance above the ground, the taller the rear tire spat is on most vehicles. This makes sense with the ground effect of the lower cars.

I have decided on a rear tire spat of 1.5 inches tall and 7 inches wide with some aero curves for retro fit on my Fusion. Will probably use the aluminum angle stock in the surplus metal rack in the garage. Have considered a trip to a scrap yard to re-purpose a set of tire spats from a imported car as a secondary option if the aluminum adventure does not work out.

Next task is to examine the underside of the rear of the Fusion to see what I have to work with in regards to attachment of the custom design tire spats.

[Goldenstate]

jmedia,

Took a peek under the back of the Fusion this afternoon. I had my custom designed rear tire spat in hand to see how it would fit. The tire spat itself was a winner as far as shape in the wind stream. Unfortunately the designers at Ford did not plan well for a place to attach my handiwork and a bracket will need to be designed and manufactured before the spat will have a place to be secured.

Looks like some card board will be the next step in creating the sheet metal bracket I will need. Will try to make up a nice aero style bracket that may enhance the area in front of the tire where the spat will attach. I never get it easy. At least there are three different holes in the underside of the body parts where I can begin my efforts and not have to drill holes.