94k Miles and HORRIBLE MPG's.
#1
94k Miles and HORRIBLE MPG's.
I have just turned 94,000 miles on my 2004 XLT 4x4 and my gas mileage sucks!
When it was new I was able to get about 400 miles on a tank of gas. Granted that was before they started adding ethanol to the gas.
Now I'm BARELY getting 300 miles per tank.
Next month I'm planning on a 3000+ mile trip with my truck pulling an enclosed sled trailer.
What can I do to increase MPG's?
I am going to talk to two local stealerships this week about a tune up:
1. Plug Change
2. O2 sensors
3. MAF
4. Fluids
What else should I be looking at for a tune up/mpg increase before a 3 thousand mile journey?!
Thanks!!
When it was new I was able to get about 400 miles on a tank of gas. Granted that was before they started adding ethanol to the gas.
Now I'm BARELY getting 300 miles per tank.
Next month I'm planning on a 3000+ mile trip with my truck pulling an enclosed sled trailer.
What can I do to increase MPG's?
I am going to talk to two local stealerships this week about a tune up:
1. Plug Change
2. O2 sensors
3. MAF
4. Fluids
What else should I be looking at for a tune up/mpg increase before a 3 thousand mile journey?!
Thanks!!
#5
#6
Clean your MAF sensor, easy and cheap to do (there is a writeup on here and it takes about 4 min to complete) $5 for MAF cleaner at local auto parts store
Clean your throttle body $70 or so at dealership, $5 at home and a couple hours
Check your PSI in your tires= free
Clean your air filter= $4 for a air filter cleaner kit if you have a K & N drop in or the like
Change your fuel filter $80 at dealership, $4 for fuel line tool and $12 for filter at dealership
Clean your throttle body $70 or so at dealership, $5 at home and a couple hours
Check your PSI in your tires= free
Clean your air filter= $4 for a air filter cleaner kit if you have a K & N drop in or the like
Change your fuel filter $80 at dealership, $4 for fuel line tool and $12 for filter at dealership
Last edited by 05BlackFX4; 04-05-2011 at 03:03 PM.
#7
Putting higher octane fuel than what your truck requires will not help MPG, may even hurt it more. But using a quality gas like from top tier supplier is always a good idea. 04-08 Trucks do not have dist. caps or wires. At that mileage a plug change may be in order if not already done.
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#8
#10
Thanks for all the replies guys.
I've been to lazy to figure out the actual mileage, I normally just reset the trip odometer.
I run 35's in the summer; so I expect to crap mileage, but for winter I'm running stock 265's BFG A/T's that I've aired up a little.
My local Stealer-ship I went to wanted $400 plus parts and $85 per each plug broken. I tried to bargain with them saying that I would pay for half of the broken plugs if they picked up the rest. "No deal" the service manager said. He did acknowledge that it was a poor design by Ford. But he would not agree to eat some of the cost of broken plugs. He said that they did not have good luck removing plugs and have broken almost all that they tried. Then they wanted $130 for a coolant flush. I politely declined and walked out.
I drove another 20 minutes down the road to the next dealership. The service manager actually laughed when I told him what the other guy told me. He is going to charge me $130 plus parts and labor for plugs. $45 for the first two broken plugs then he'll eat the rest. $89 for a coolant flush, (I forget the transfer cases fluid charge), Fuel filter, changing wires for plugs if needed, tire rotation and something else. To top it off, they gave me a 2011 Fusion as a loner car at no additional charge! Total quote is $413 if I remember correctly.
Yesterday I was only "shopping" for quotes, but I decided to leave my truck at the second dealer since he was more reasonable. Future maintenance will now be handled by this dealer.
I've been to lazy to figure out the actual mileage, I normally just reset the trip odometer.
I run 35's in the summer; so I expect to crap mileage, but for winter I'm running stock 265's BFG A/T's that I've aired up a little.
My local Stealer-ship I went to wanted $400 plus parts and $85 per each plug broken. I tried to bargain with them saying that I would pay for half of the broken plugs if they picked up the rest. "No deal" the service manager said. He did acknowledge that it was a poor design by Ford. But he would not agree to eat some of the cost of broken plugs. He said that they did not have good luck removing plugs and have broken almost all that they tried. Then they wanted $130 for a coolant flush. I politely declined and walked out.
I drove another 20 minutes down the road to the next dealership. The service manager actually laughed when I told him what the other guy told me. He is going to charge me $130 plus parts and labor for plugs. $45 for the first two broken plugs then he'll eat the rest. $89 for a coolant flush, (I forget the transfer cases fluid charge), Fuel filter, changing wires for plugs if needed, tire rotation and something else. To top it off, they gave me a 2011 Fusion as a loner car at no additional charge! Total quote is $413 if I remember correctly.
Yesterday I was only "shopping" for quotes, but I decided to leave my truck at the second dealer since he was more reasonable. Future maintenance will now be handled by this dealer.
#11
#12
You are looking at that the wrong way. E85 is up to 85% ethanol - not another 5%. E85 requires different injectors, fuel trims, pcm paramters and has a different stoichiometric than gasoline.
#13
Woow!! IFyou are getting all of that work done for $400, I would not hesitate. I do all of my own work, but that is so cheap Iwould let them do the work. I know guys that spent more than that for the plugs (must have gone to the 1st dealer).
I understand the plug issue is a Ford design problem, but the dealer (any dealer) is a franchisee, and has not fault with the design. For them to eat the cost of the plug repairs is really not fair - they did not screw up the plug design. Ford is the culprit, and they should be the ones to eat the cost. I am surprised that the legal system has not forced Ford to do the labor for free...they have tsb's about the plug issue, and have even designed removal tools to compensate for the poor design. Why does the customer have to pay for the mess up? Why should the individual dealer have to pay?
Many dealers do eat the cost (I go to one here) as a gesture to keep customers happy and hope they will return. But, it is truly not their responsibility.
Anyway, go for the gold....the 2nd dealer is a gem!
I understand the plug issue is a Ford design problem, but the dealer (any dealer) is a franchisee, and has not fault with the design. For them to eat the cost of the plug repairs is really not fair - they did not screw up the plug design. Ford is the culprit, and they should be the ones to eat the cost. I am surprised that the legal system has not forced Ford to do the labor for free...they have tsb's about the plug issue, and have even designed removal tools to compensate for the poor design. Why does the customer have to pay for the mess up? Why should the individual dealer have to pay?
Many dealers do eat the cost (I go to one here) as a gesture to keep customers happy and hope they will return. But, it is truly not their responsibility.
Anyway, go for the gold....the 2nd dealer is a gem!
#14
Thanks for all the replies guys.
I've been to lazy to figure out the actual mileage, I normally just reset the trip odometer.
I run 35's in the summer; so I expect to crap mileage, but for winter I'm running stock 265's BFG A/T's that I've aired up a little.
My local Stealer-ship I went to wanted $400 plus parts and $85 per each plug broken. I tried to bargain with them saying that I would pay for half of the broken plugs if they picked up the rest. "No deal" the service manager said. He did acknowledge that it was a poor design by Ford. But he would not agree to eat some of the cost of broken plugs. He said that they did not have good luck removing plugs and have broken almost all that they tried. Then they wanted $130 for a coolant flush. I politely declined and walked out.
I drove another 20 minutes down the road to the next dealership. The service manager actually laughed when I told him what the other guy told me. He is going to charge me $130 plus parts and labor for plugs. $45 for the first two broken plugs then he'll eat the rest. $89 for a coolant flush, (I forget the transfer cases fluid charge), Fuel filter, changing wires for plugs if needed, tire rotation and something else. To top it off, they gave me a 2011 Fusion as a loner car at no additional charge! Total quote is $413 if I remember correctly.
Yesterday I was only "shopping" for quotes, but I decided to leave my truck at the second dealer since he was more reasonable. Future maintenance will now be handled by this dealer.
I've been to lazy to figure out the actual mileage, I normally just reset the trip odometer.
I run 35's in the summer; so I expect to crap mileage, but for winter I'm running stock 265's BFG A/T's that I've aired up a little.
My local Stealer-ship I went to wanted $400 plus parts and $85 per each plug broken. I tried to bargain with them saying that I would pay for half of the broken plugs if they picked up the rest. "No deal" the service manager said. He did acknowledge that it was a poor design by Ford. But he would not agree to eat some of the cost of broken plugs. He said that they did not have good luck removing plugs and have broken almost all that they tried. Then they wanted $130 for a coolant flush. I politely declined and walked out.
I drove another 20 minutes down the road to the next dealership. The service manager actually laughed when I told him what the other guy told me. He is going to charge me $130 plus parts and labor for plugs. $45 for the first two broken plugs then he'll eat the rest. $89 for a coolant flush, (I forget the transfer cases fluid charge), Fuel filter, changing wires for plugs if needed, tire rotation and something else. To top it off, they gave me a 2011 Fusion as a loner car at no additional charge! Total quote is $413 if I remember correctly.
Yesterday I was only "shopping" for quotes, but I decided to leave my truck at the second dealer since he was more reasonable. Future maintenance will now be handled by this dealer.
#15
Work was done at:
Eric von Schledorn Ford
W4873 County Road RR
Random Lake, WI, 53075
Total Damages: One broken plug and total $439.
Work Included:
1. Plug Change
2. Wires Replaced.
3. Replace Fuel Filter.
4. Engine Coolant Flush.
5. Change Transfer Cases Oil.
6. Tire Rotation.
And free rental car (2010 Fusion).
Expensive, but not as expensive as what it could have been I guess.
Eric von Schledorn Ford
W4873 County Road RR
Random Lake, WI, 53075
Total Damages: One broken plug and total $439.
Work Included:
1. Plug Change
2. Wires Replaced.
3. Replace Fuel Filter.
4. Engine Coolant Flush.
5. Change Transfer Cases Oil.
6. Tire Rotation.
And free rental car (2010 Fusion).
Expensive, but not as expensive as what it could have been I guess.
Last edited by carlschmarl2; 04-09-2011 at 10:04 AM.