Gas mileage

[99SHOtime]

Over the past few months or so i have been keeping track of how many miles i get per tank. I push the restart button on the odometer right when im done filling up my tank to record my mileage. And over the past few months i have been getting roughly 180-190 miles to the tank!?!?

I do, do around 80% city driving but should it still be that low?

 

[1998v8sho]

The V8 SHO MPG in the city is not that great. You should be averaging 18-22 MPG tops. Highway MPGs are much better, I have seen 26-28MPG on mine with a cruising speed of 65-70MPH.
Your numbers do seem a little low.
Have a heavy right foot?
Make sure your fuel injectors are clean, clean air filter, good fuel filter, clean intake runners.
Did you ever take the intake apart and have the Upper and Lower Intake manifolds cleaned?
Just some areas to look at.

 

[1998v8sho]

Couple of more things.....
spark plugs and ignition coils....how old are they?

 

[SHOZ123]

What's the air pressure in the tires vs the max pressure spec on them?

 

[99SHOtime]

Thanks for the comments. I will check up on some of those things and for my tires i keep them just a couple under the max pressure.

 

[danmn1313]

I get about 19 MPG in mine mixed country/city with a heavy right foot.

Look into what V8Sho said

 

[93rev2sev]

"Miles per tank" is completely useless information.

 

[stephen newberg]

"Miles per tank" is completely useless information.

That is true, since between variance from pumps and how much extra can be fit in after the click off, there is huge margin. Your best bet is figuring mpg by using the same station and if possible the same pump and always filling only to the mechanical click off and stopping immediately.

pax, smn

 

[93rev2sev]

Not to mention that in order to decide that your tank is "empty", you're relying on a notoriously inaccurate fuel gauge.

 

[stephen newberg]

I would not rely on the placement of the needle either, but that is no different than for any other American car I have ever owned. For some reason the US makers just do not bother with good gas gauges.

pax, smn

 

[SHOZ123]

Ford it seems always is generous with the last 1/8 tank. Some cars I've had when it says empty it is. New cars should have a very accurate PCM input as far as the fuel level. My Genesis Coupe has a percentage fuel input to the PCM. It will **** boost when the tank is very low.

FWIW I think the low fuel light comes on with about a gallon and a half. May be an industry standard.

 

[stephen newberg]

I have often wondered, Paul, if the intent of the gauge was to be logarithmic but they just did not get it quite right. It certainly seems to read wider as it gets lower in the tank. This used to be a common thing in European vehicles, as it matters more what the gauge says as you get to have less gas left, but I have never been able to get out of anyone associated with Ford if it was intentional, though that is the effect.

I think you might be right about the low fuel light, by the way.

pax, smn

 

[SHOZ123]

I use to get less miles per quarter as the tank dropped. You can drive quite a while before it drops to the full mark, unless you consider it a 1/5 tank hash instead of a 1/4 tank.

 

[stephen newberg]

Yes, that is the entire point of a log gauge. When it is full, who cares about an exact reading, so it is set up to not move much, but as it gets lower, you get a faster drop on the needle as you have less actual gas in the tank, allowing you to judge more closely how much is left.

Its a good system, but it does require the user to think about it a touch more than a straight, supposedly linear, gauge. At one time it was common in European sports oriented cars, but I suspect I am showing my age here.

pax, smn

 

[dlanes]

In the winter you get worst gas mileage. I am getting about 13-15mpg right now, but last fall I got about 26mpg on the highway and averaged about 16-18 around town.