MPG accuracy

[joshsquiresmi]

I've done some research on the site and it seems for a 93 ATX about 26-28mpg is average if the vehicle is kept up. I know I need to do a full front and upper 60k.....I'm getting like 16-17mpg. Sucks big time. Doing the front 60k this weekend, and hoping to get the upper 60k done in a month or so. I hope this fixes my mpg problems because 17mpg gets expensive quick!

Anyone have any other ideas as to why the crappy gas mileage? It's a 93 ATX with 151,000 miles. Just bought it like 2 months ago, so I have to do all the 60k work to it.

 

[eLindemann]

If you drive full-time on highway you'll see those higher numbers. I have a 95 ATX and I rarely see above 20 mpg unless I take a long trip, as in one where I go through a tank of fuel.
Frequent oil changes and keeping up with maintenance will help, but I highly doubt you'll see 26-28 mpg.
Point is, the SHO isn't a commute machine.

 

[Vnuk1]

Most of the time I average 23 mpg with mine just in normal driving..

 

[frosho]

If you have E10 (10% ethanol) in MI like we do here in the Northeast, that'll hurt your mileage too.

I wish I could get real gas around here.

 

[Vnuk1]

I wish I could get real gas around here.

I've got some real gas right now! Searches for gas mask Emoticon...

 

[AREA 91]

I've done some research on the site and it seems for a 93 ATX about 26-28mpg is average if the vehicle is kept up. I know I need to do a full front and upper 60k.....I'm getting like 16-17mpg. Sucks big time. Doing the front 60k this weekend, and hoping to get the upper 60k done in a month or so. I hope this fixes my mpg problems because 17mpg gets expensive quick!

Anyone have any other ideas as to why the crappy gas mileage? It's a 93 ATX with 151,000 miles. Just bought it like 2 months ago, so I have to do all the 60k work to it.

Mantainance is a great start.
How old are the O2 sensors?
Clean the MAF lately?
When you remove the intake, spend some time cleaning out the carbon/oil build up.
Are your cats plugged up or do the "rattle"?

Another biggie for mileage on the SHO's is to make sure that you don't have a rear brake caliper dragging. I have seen this several times.

 

[sho'noffmtx]

Ive never been able to get more than 23mpg w/ my atx on the highway. its usually upper teens to 20. they just dont get as good as the manuals do.

 

[SHOtime2511]

The ATX kills mileage.

 

[sperold]

You will get better mileage by having the motor run in the middle of the heat gauge, instead of down at the bottom. That usually requires a new thermostat.
The other big thing is the O2 sensors, buy the Motorcraft sensors so you are sure that is what gets put in. They don't trip a light unless they are over 25% out of range. The O2 sensors are one of the few things that I go with the brand name from Ford.... because they are the only ones that I have been able to get to work properly.
Your tires are going to have to be nice and hard if you are going to get 28 mpg!

 

[kumba]

In my '95 ATX with 91K I see about 16-17 mpg around the city assuming I keep my foot out of it. If I drive like I stole it I can easily get 13mpg or so. The only problem is it's a lot of work to drive that dumb. I'd rather just let the ricers and yuppies do it.

Highway cruising gets me around 20-something. Cant really tell because I have yet to burn a full tank over the road. Plus a nice constant 3K humm at 80 mph kind of makes me want to sleep.

In winter cruising without AC (heat or cool) gains 1-2 mpg. Since running the heater still uses the AC compressor to "dry" the air you don't get a whole ton of benefits from it. We have 10% ethanol here. It definitely hurts MPG. My old F150 I noticed about a 1-2 mpg drop between "old" gas and "new" ethanol-flavored gas.

All my results were using 93-octane in case it's asked. I also have 225/60r16 tires on the car, so that is probably effecting me somewhat, although slightly. I believe the math works out to a 2-3% over-drive between them and the stock size. Definitely easier to find and the ABS doesn't mind. I do have the rear-drivers side caliper dragging some but I haven't popped the wheel yet to see if it's just crusty hardware or the pinched line they are known for. I do know it eventually quits making contact but takes 20 or so seconds to do so.

 

[joshsquiresmi]

I'm hoping that after I do this maintanence I get at least 22mpg... I drive on the highway every day......usually more highway miles then city....

 

[bad_4dr_sho]

on my 95 ATX, with 135,000 miles and after my 60k, I can get 26-28mpg. I drive 90 miles a day, all highway.I set the cruise control to 80. And its pretty consistent. My 3rd gen I get 15-17mpg on the same drive

 

[AREA 91]

I'm an MTX guy, but I have gotten between 7.5 MPG on the race track and 30 MPG on the open road.
:laugh_ti:

 

[Vnuk1]

I'm an MTX guy, but I have gotten between 7.5 MPG on the race track and 30 MPG on the open road.
:laugh_ti:

Move over Spiderman! You're my new hero!

 

[SHObill]

Josh, a frt 60K will do nothing for MPG. Its only done when a part fails, usually the WP.
An basic upper 60K really won't do anything for MPG's also. Its only done, again, when a part fails & usually its VC gaskets.
But changing plugs & wires will help, if they are bad.
Also a good thermostat & O2's & clean(good)MAF & throttle body & good TPS will help. Also I have found a good clean GROUND SYSTEM helps in driveability!

 

[AREA 91]

On a more serious note, after the mantainance is taken care of, the single biggest factor in MPG is YOUR RIGHT FOOT!!!

I drive the same roads every day to and from work.
I get gas at the same station all the time (Citgo 93).
I can very an easy 3 mpg just by controlling my right foot.

 

[rubydist]

My red 94 would almost always get 27 on long trips w/ the cruise at around 80. I haven't had enough chance to drive it lately to see if its still like that. Around town is pretty close to 20, but that goes up and down significantly depending on the weight of my right foot....

 

[Shoshone]

91 MTX, 78K miles. 29 MPG measured at 70 MPH on flat surface cruise. 26 MPG mixed driving, 1/3 town, 2/3 freeway. I don't drive it too much around town, so I never measured city stop and go, I don't imagine it's too good.

 

[rktmn]

I can get 26 mpg on the highway doing 85-90 mph, and 16 mpg around town.

Jose

 

[kumba]

I'm hoping that after I do this maintanence I get at least 22mpg... I drive on the highway every day......usually more highway miles then city....

I am pretty sure mine does that if not better on highway drives with cruise control. Hard to tell as I've yet to drive any length of time in it where I could accurately measure it. The "closest" measurement I have is round trip from Tampa to Gainesville (about 275 miles). Had around 3/4 a tank when I left, and around 1/4 a tank when I got back. But I was also driving around gainesville some and tampa some, so it's hard to say how much of that was actual highway MPG vs city.

But just like everyone said, I can cut those numbers in half depending on how I drive.