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  #1  
Old 02-02-2012, 04:37 PM
longshot53 longshot53 is offline
some people never learn..
 
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Default MPG mystery

a little back story for all those interested...

I received my ranger for my last birthday from my girlfriend's parents. While in pretty good overall condition, it was due for quite a bit of maintenance at almost 140k miles. I drove it about a month as-is before anything was done. This is late October, early November mind you...

since then, the following has been done:

1: Plugs and Wires
- my father and I pulled some horribly worn Bosch platinums out and replaced with Motocraft Platinums, the wires were replaced with a set of NAPA Belden premium set. Before the change I had horrible spark knock at almost all throttle positions and struggled to maintain anything above 50mph.

2: Tires
- the set was very worn and mismatched. The truck had what I call a, "Death Wobble" at 60mph. Tires are Cooper Cobra radials 35psi and are pretty great.

3: Air Filter
- Fram was replaced with STP

4: Oil Change

5: Timing Belt and Water Pump
- with 140k on the originals, I had them changed for peace of mind.


The end result is a reliable truck that is reasonably comfortable and will go anywhere in NW Ohio.


THE QUESTION!!!!!!!
Before all of this I was averaging somewhere 28-29MPG and hit 30 on one fill-up. After all the upgrades I get 20MPG and the last fill up I got 18...

where's the gas going? I haven't changed my driving style (which is quite conservative), no change in route (city/highway), the truck doesn't leak gas?!?!?!

The only real change I can see is the weather, but that bad? I have the heater on floor 99% of the time, does that run the A/C compressor?

Help please...
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  #2  
Old 02-02-2012, 05:06 PM
MAC21XL MAC21XL is offline
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Default Re: MPG mystery

could be your gauge? how many miles can you get out of a tank when it hits the E?

or it could be winter gas or if you have weight in the back
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  #3  
Old 02-02-2012, 05:07 PM
djfllmn djfllmn is offline
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Default Re: MPG mystery

im gonna say winter gas also...my mileage drops with it too
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  #4  
Old 02-02-2012, 05:08 PM
longshot53 longshot53 is offline
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Default Re: MPG mystery

I typically get 250 - 260 miles out a "full" tank which is around 13 gal on fillups. I completely forgot about the weight. I have 300lbs of tubesand in the bed, you think that's alot though?
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  #5  
Old 02-02-2012, 05:09 PM
djfllmn djfllmn is offline
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Default Re: MPG mystery

yea that will affect your mileage for sure
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  #6  
Old 02-02-2012, 05:12 PM
longshot53 longshot53 is offline
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Default Re: MPG mystery

Performance doesn't seem affected, which contrary to others I find quite good
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  #7  
Old 02-02-2012, 05:14 PM
MAC21XL MAC21XL is offline
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Default Re: MPG mystery

Quote:
Originally Posted by longshot53 View Post
Performance doesn't seem affected, which contrary to others I find quite good
my mileage drops down to around 20 mpgs as well. its typical as i have a 250 lb canopy and the winter gas affects it a little bit and i get the same mileage out of a tank as you do. i wouldnt really worry about it too much.
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  #8  
Old 02-02-2012, 05:15 PM
djfllmn djfllmn is offline
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Default Re: MPG mystery

hell id kill to get the mileage you guys get lol...i get 13 city and 18-19 on the highway...20 if im lucky
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  #9  
Old 02-02-2012, 05:18 PM
zx6rPAT zx6rPAT is offline
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Default

i was getting ~50 miles every quarter tank

but after i did an oil change it dropped to 35-40

now it just went back to 50 again after 500 miles of driving

weird engines
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  #10  
Old 02-02-2012, 05:18 PM
austinranger85 austinranger85 is offline
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Default Re: MPG mystery

Your AC does come on with the defrost. I unplug mine every winter. It comes on to get rid of the moisture in the cab but I am not going to sacrifice MPG for it.
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  #11  
Old 02-02-2012, 05:30 PM
MAC21XL MAC21XL is offline
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Default Re: MPG mystery

Quote:
Originally Posted by lookitsaustin View Post
Your AC does come on with the defrost. I unplug mine every winter. It comes on to get rid of the moisture in the cab but I am not going to sacrifice MPG for it.
in my time having my truck my AC pump being on periodically doesnt really have an affect on my mileage at all. When i need to defrost, i just defrost until the truck gets nice and warm on the inside then switch to floor panel
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  #12  
Old 02-02-2012, 05:50 PM
94mtx 94mtx is offline
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Default Re: MPG mystery

Do the coil pack mod...



Also, you should always calculate your mileage by (miles driven) / (gallons added), and you always have to top it all the way off to get an accurate reading.


It shouldn't have dropped THAT MUCH. IMO.


My mileage actually decreased when winter gas hit, then I gained back 4mpg doing the coil pack mod.. I get 20-24mpg on winter gas now, depending how I drive.
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  #13  
Old 02-02-2012, 06:30 PM
longshot53 longshot53 is offline
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Default Re: MPG mystery

Quote:
Originally Posted by 94mtx View Post
Do the coil pack mod...



Also, you should always calculate your mileage by (miles driven) / (gallons added), and you always have to top it all the way off to get an accurate reading.


It shouldn't have dropped THAT MUCH. IMO.


My mileage actually decreased when winter gas hit, then I gained back 4mpg doing the coil pack mod.. I get 20-24mpg on winter gas now, depending how I drive.
hmm...coilpack mod huh, I read about that. might look into it further.
thats where both coils fire on the power stroke right?


I always set my trip and calculate my MPG that way.

----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by MAC21XL View Post
in my time having my truck my AC pump being on periodically doesnt really have an affect on my mileage at all. When i need to defrost, i just defrost until the truck gets nice and warm on the inside then switch to floor panel
I do the same thing.

----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by lookitsaustin View Post
Your AC does come on with the defrost. I unplug mine every winter. It comes on to get rid of the moisture in the cab but I am not going to sacrifice MPG for it.
does it come on in the floor position? I read that it did somewhere just to keep the air dry

----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by zx6rPAT View Post
i was getting ~50 miles every quarter tank

but after i did an oil change it dropped to 35-40

now it just went back to 50 again after 500 miles of driving

weird engines
thats strange...

----------


Quote:
Originally Posted by djfllmn View Post
hell id kill to get the mileage you guys get lol...i get 13 city and 18-19 on the highway...20 if im lucky
might as well have a 5.4 F150

----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by MAC21XL View Post
my mileage drops down to around 20 mpgs as well. its typical as i have a 250 lb canopy and the winter gas affects it a little bit and i get the same mileage out of a tank as you do. i wouldnt really worry about it too much.
thank you for your input. it makes me feel a little better
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2.5L 4 Cylinder
4 Speed Auto
138,000 mi And Counting
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  #14  
Old 02-02-2012, 06:46 PM
MAC21XL MAC21XL is offline
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Default Re: MPG mystery

Quote:
Originally Posted by longshot53 View Post

thank you for your input. it makes me feel a little better
no problem! the AC pump does not come on when its turned to the floor position.
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  #15  
Old 02-02-2012, 07:02 PM
94mtx 94mtx is offline
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Default Re: MPG mystery

Quote:
Originally Posted by zx6rPAT View Post
i was getting ~50 miles every quarter tank

but after i did an oil change it dropped to 35-40

now it just went back to 50 again after 500 miles of driving

weird engines

You know, I actually experienced something very similar..

On my last fill-up before I just got an oil change, (was at the 3k mile mark), I got 24mpg going 75-85 highway most of the tank... Usually it's been like a max of 21 with that kind of driving...

I thought it strange myself, but had been contemplating this over the past few weeks, that my mileage has been getting slightly better as the oil breaks in.

----------

My guess is the oil thins out over time and causes slightly less resistance as time goes on.
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2.3L Headgasket/TIMING/Water Pump replacement guide
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