Terrible mpg's = new interest in old ideas.

[mhmitszach]

Finally got the a/c delete done. Had problems with a squealing belt. Replaced a pulley to make it fit better.

My mileage just probably won't match up to last summers. I've decided I have to actually drive my car in towns and cities. It's just really hard to get good mileage through that. I'm probably not too far off from last year. Once this weather breaks and it's actually hot out, I should see a gain in fuel economy.

[Tygen1]

I knew the ZX2 was a very capable mpg car. I went on a trip to Illinois and back to NJ this week. My best was 54.08mpg Almost pure highway on the leg I got this number with and in very hilly/mountainous terrian in western Pa.

[mhmitszach]

Originally Posted by Tygen1

I knew the ZX2 was a very capable mpg car. I went on a trip to Illinois and back to NJ this week. My best was 54.08mpg Almost pure highway on the leg I got this number with and in very hilly/mountainous terrian in western Pa.

You win.

I'm going to try really hard this next tank to break 40.

I really need to update fuel logs. I've been averaging 36.

[Tygen1]

With your aero mods, you ought to be able to beat that number with pure highway miles. It not often that we can drive 427 miles straight, on one road, in good conditions, so I took advantage of the situation to see what the car can really do. I may never have this oppertunity again, if I do, I want to be prepared with some real aero mods to help the coasting aspect. I can only imagine how much the mpg would have improved if I could EOC $400 dollars for a complete mtx conversion is starting to sound more reasonable Although I'd rather buy a totaled out mtx and part it out to help pay for the parts I would keep....
One other thing, this trip is seriously altered how I look at the road, I am seeing oppertunities to coast that I never knew existed. It's like I've been given new eyes! Hopefully it will translate into better commute mpg...

[Christ]

You're probably better off getting the parts from a junker.. you can find them all over, and it doesn't need to be of the same Gen as yours. (The stuff fits, just not perfectly. Sometimes, there's a bolt hole missing, etc.)

Check FEOA.org, you'll find all the swap info there for Zetec and non-Zetec conversions, etc.

It'll also give you information about gear ratios which you wouldn't normally be able to use, if you were only going to swap from your own generation.

[Tygen1]

FEOA is a great site, however TeamZX2 is better for more specific info....There are quite a few options for this car. It is possible to get a fifth gear for the MTX that will put you around 1700 rpm at 55mph That would be a prequesite for any mtx swap for mpg.

[Christ]

What I was suggesting is that you could use transmissions from a 2.3 or a 3.0 as well, they'll bolt up, but they don't quite line up all the holes correctly, but they work.

Maybe a 3.0/3.2 has some lower gears than the 1.9/2.0 does? Maybe even the 1.6 or the diesel 1st gen tranny fits?

[mhmitszach]

Updated my fuel logs.

Obviously I'm not getting good gas mileage.

There is something wrong with my car. Once it's going it's fine, but it's got a really rough idle all the sudden. The car shakes really really hard when I'm driving and then idle.

I've ran seafoam through the gas tank and the vacuum lines. Air filter is fine. Plugs are only like 20k miles or less. Oil is only 3k miles. New timing belt.

Mechanic said I can just add seafoam into crankcase and not worry about changing it, but I don't really know how I feel about that...

I'm thinking I need to change the fuel filter, but I doubt that's related to a rough idle.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by mhmitszach

Updated my fuel logs.

Obviously I'm not getting good gas mileage.

There is something wrong with my car. Once it's going it's fine, but it's got a really rough idle all the sudden. The car shakes really really hard when I'm driving and then idle.

I've ran seafoam through the gas tank and the vacuum lines. Air filter is fine. Plugs are only like 20k miles or less. Oil is only 3k miles. New timing belt.

Mechanic said I can just add seafoam into crankcase and not worry about changing it, but I don't really know how I feel about that...

I'm thinking I need to change the fuel filter, but I doubt that's related to a rough idle.

you can, but it won't help a rough idle...

it will eventually burn out of your oil, and you'll have to add more oil.

[Tygen1]

Got any codes???

I hope you put in Motorcraft Plugs, Autolite is acceptable, but the Zetec realllllly likes the Motorcraft plugs. Bosch will just cause it to misfire/shake.

If both of the above are good, then don't worry about adding chemicals to make your car run right, just get the basics right, and start working on specifics from there. Pull your MAF and clean it with non residue contact cleaner (read up on it, don't just clean it without understanding how to), pull the TB and scrub it with a tooth brush and brake clean, pull the PVC valve and check it for proper opperation and clean it if it is good, thank Ford the ZX2 does not have an egr system, check your wires/coil pack for arcing, corrosion, damage, etc..., air filter, vacuum leaks.... I could go on and on. Use your scan gauge to monitor your sensors to see if any of them are acting funny, like a slow O2 sensor, coolant temp or air temp sensor that is off, etc.... You'll find it, you just have to be persistant and understand that the difficult job of finding these problems is what will make you a better ZX2 mechanic, then your mechanic will ever be.

BTW, Scangauge II is on it's way to my house JCWhitney, $127 with 20% off coupon and free shipping