Fusion I4 mileage

[rkannan]

Hello,

 

I had driven 2006 Fusion I4 in April 2006 and was impressed with the 32-34 MPG I was getting on highways. We got a 2008 Fusion I4 SEL and I am getting only 27-29 MPG. The fuel economy figures are based on mileage between fillups and not the onboard computer estimates. I am kinda disappointed. What kind of fuel economy are you guys getting on the I4 engine.

 

Thanks

[bbf2530]

Hello,

 

I had driven 2006 Fusion I4 in April 2006 and was impressed with the 32-34 MPG I was getting on highways. We got a 2008 Fusion I4 SEL and I am getting only 27-29 MPG. The fuel economy figures are based on mileage between fillups and not the onboard computer estimates. I am kinda disappointed. What kind of fuel economy are you guys getting on the I4 engine.

 

Thanks

 

Hi rkannan. :D This question has been asked and answered numerous times, but what the heck, let's do it again. I have taken the liberty of copying and pasting a reply from one of the many other MPG question threads. The copy and paste begins now:

 

Anyway, here are just some of the reasons for your "low" MPG's at this time of year.

 

Please read the following list carefully, as there is at least two factors that you can do something about (#5 & #8):

 

Here are just some of the many (simplified) reasons your car will get lower MPG's in very cold weather:

1 - In many regions of the US, the gas formula is switched over by law to an "Oxygenated" mixture in the winter months, to meet EPA Air Pollution standards. This mixture is inherently less fuel efficient. Your car uses more fuel.

2 - An automobile engine has a specific temperature range where it is most fuel and power efficient. Get too far out of that ideal temperature range, either high or low, and fuel efficiency suffers. So essentially, extremely warm or extremely cold temperatures (summer and winter in most regions) adversely effect fuel consumption and engine efficiency. Once you are out of that ideal range, your car use more fuel.

3 - A car will take longer to warm up in cold weather, therefore running richer for longer. Your car uses more fuel.

4 - Cold air is denser than warm air, so an engine needs more fuel to run properly (just to drive normally). Therefore, the Engine Management System must run a richer mixture, to avoid running lean. Your car uses more fuel

5 - If you run your front windshield defroster, or have the Automatic Temperature Control HVAC system set to "Auto", your cars A/C compressor is running to dehumidify the warm air. It is the same as running your A/C in the summer. Your car uses more fuel.

6 - It takes more energy to get a car moving and keep it moving in wet, icy and snowy conditions, than it does in dry conditions. Think of driving in snow as almost the equivalent of driving in sand. Your tires, and therefore your engine, need to overcome more force against them. Your car uses more fuel.

7 - If you read your Owners Manual, or search this site for information, you will see that the 3.5 Liter engine in the Edge will take at least 5,000 miles to be fully broken in. Until that time, you guessed it, your car uses more fuel.

8 - Since you purchased your Edge, have you checked the tire pressure with a good quality tire pressure gauge? Do you own a good quality pressure gauge? You certainly should. Low tire pressure will adversely affect fuel mileage. Tires will lose about 1.5psi for every 10*F drop in ambient temperature. For example, if you last checked your tires in November, when the temperature was 70*, and now it is 20*, your tires will now be at least 7.5psi low. Plus it is dangerous to drive with under-inflated tires. Check them, and fill them to the recommended pressure listed on the door sticker of your Edge (or preferably 2-3psi higher).

 

These are just a few quick, simple reasons. I am sure someone else will jump in with more. And not that it makes us feel any better, but our friends and neighbors are not immune. Their cars are getting lower mpg's also. If they say they are not getting lower mpg's, they are either oblivious or telling a little white lie. You can't beat the laws of physics and chemistry.

 

Good luck! :beerchug:

[brutedawg20]

I have a 2008 fusion I4 5 speed manual w/ sport appearance pack. Got it in October and have consistently gotten 28 mpg. hit 29.0 1 time. I have a commute to work right now of just over 50 miles 1 way. I have 2 choices city to highway or city to back roads. I travel the backway most of the time which is a nice 55 to 60 mph most of the way. I get better gas mileage this way when I jump on the highway at 70-80 mph my mpg go down to the 27s.

 

this is on the computer. Ill figure it out with my receipts the next few times to see how accurate it is.

 

I wonder what it will be in the summer.

[akirby]

I wonder what it will be in the summer.

 

Hot!

[brutedawg20]

Hot!

lol

 

So on my last tank of gas i reset the computer when i filled up. I got 29.6 mpg on the computer and 29.05 when I figured it would when i filled up today.

seems pretty consistent at around 29 for my car.

[Mutnat]

Wow you guys sure are getting some amazing milage figures! I'm nearing the tail end of a 3-year lease on a 2005 Focus ST with the same 2.3L I4 engine as the Fusion (though slightly detuned to I believe a rated 151 or 156hp at the crank?), 5-speed, and I get around 10 to 12 Litre per 100 kilometres (L/100km), which converted euqals about 19.6 to 23.5 miles per US gallon. Same engine, smaller lighter car (I believe--I haven't looked at the curb weight ratings), less actual power output, 5-speed, and I get worse milage than y'all! I drive a mix of about 65% city and 35% highway (though none of the highway stuff is extended trips, just short urban sections of 5-20 mins at a time tops).

[brutedawg20]

So lease a fusion I4 with the sport package when your lease on your focus ends!!!! youll love it.

[Mutnat]

So lease a fusion I4 with the sport package when your lease on your focus ends!!!! youll love it.

 

Funny you should mention that... I have a factory order in for that exact vehicle! Vapor Silver, I4 SEL, auto (I'm sick of shifting...), sync, nav, moon & tune, SAP, reverse assist, errr I think that's about it. I'm hoping for an early-to-mid March build date, would get it here just in time for lease termination. It's hard to get allocations for SAP in Canada (trust me), but my dealer (who is a buddy also) is working very hard for me.

 

The last few days I've been contemplating splurging by upgrading it to the V6 (it's not yet too late to modify the order at this point), but given that the BC government just introduced a new carbon tax today, I'm thinking I'll stick with the 4-banger. It's probably for the best anyway, when you add up the difference in lease payments over 3 years, plus the extra gas, plus maybe higher insurance premiums (haven't checked--just presuming), ... it all adds up, sadly!

 

That said, I've driven my buddy's demo which is basically that exact same I4 I have on order but in black and including ambient lighting (meh), and it's seemed fine anyway. Though that extra sixty-one ponies would sure be nice... plus the extra gear (6 speed auto is standard), the dual exhaust, traction control, none of which you can get on the I4.... ugggh!! Such a tough decision.

[brutedawg20]

yes it is a hard decision. I've never really been too big on 4 bangers. I wanted the V6, but due to the amount I drive daily right now it wasnt a good option for gas mileage. Plus I missed driving a stick and wanted a manual. I dont regret getting the 4 cyl. The extra hp would be nice thought. I just bought some nice chrome tips for my exhaust to increase the appearance a bit. waiting to install them when its not -20 outside. The other "extras" would be nice also. The goodyears on the 18" rims are definitely not good in the snow. The I4s are good cars tho. IMO

[Mutnat]

yes it is a hard decision. I've never really been too big on 4 bangers. I wanted the V6, but due to the amount I drive daily right now it wasnt a good option for gas mileage. Plus I missed driving a stick and wanted a manual. I dont regret getting the 4 cyl. The extra hp would be nice thought. I just bought some nice chrome tips for my exhaust to increase the appearance a bit. waiting to install them when its not -20 outside. The other "extras" would be nice also. The goodyears on the 18" rims are definitely not good in the snow. The I4s are good cars tho. IMO

 

OH good to know about the snowy conditions! Fortunately in Vancouver we don't get a lot of snow, but we always get some. This winter has actually been snowier than most. Funny, my buddy with an 08 I4 SEL with SAP with those same tires said he basically had no problems in our snow this winter. He saw lots of people getting stuck or calling in sick to work because they couldn't make it in (yes, go ahead and laugh at us those of you who get real winters!) but he never had a problem.

 

What tips did you get? It's so annoying that Ford includes chrome tips on the V6 when you get SAP but not on the I4. Grrrrr! The package is the same price, why do we not get the same? LOL. OH well. Someone on another forum posted some pics featuring ROLXtreme bolt on tips model 581106, and they look really nice! Just curious what you got.

[brutedawg20]

I got these tips.

http://www.fordfusionforum.com/index.php?showtopic=640

shown on the blue fusion. I got em off ebay. they are superior brand SS

I hope to get them installed this weekend its supposed to warm up a little.

As for the tires. I just have to drive "smart" I haven't gotten stuck or anything with them. we have had a couple really bad days here in Michigan this year. its a trooper in the snow if your careful.

I'm also coming from a 4X4 f150 i had for 4 years too. had to get back into the car scenario.

[Mutnat]

I got these tips.

http://www.fordfusionforum.com/index.php?showtopic=640

shown on the blue fusion. I got em off ebay. they are superior brand SS

I hope to get them installed this weekend its supposed to warm up a little.

As for the tires. I just have to drive "smart" I haven't gotten stuck or anything with them. we have had a couple really bad days here in Michigan this year. its a trooper in the snow if your careful.

I'm also coming from a 4X4 f150 i had for 4 years too. had to get back into the car scenario.

 

Thanks for the info on the tips and winter driving.

 

PS I decided to stick with the I4. It will be sufficient for my needs and better economy-wise. There doesn't seem to be any downturn in gas prices coming anytime soon--it's just going to continue to get worse and worse.

[brutedawg20]

very true on the gas prices. Enjoy your Fusion!

[elrey]

very true on the gas prices. Enjoy your Fusion!

I'm looking into buying a Fusion. Not sure if I should get the 4 cyl auto or V6. A few people told me they thought the 4cyl was a little underpowered! I'll be driving with my wife and two kids (ages 2 and 7 months) so I'll have two car seats in it for a while. Also I wanted to see if anyone knows how much of a difference in gas mileage there is between the 4cyl auto and V6. Thanks, any info is appreciated!