danford1 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I searched for this but didn't find what I was looking for so I started a new thread.I have an 08 with sport package and 3.0L engine, 6 sp auto.I'm looking for gas mileage improvement mods. I'm not looking for more power mods like most people, I want better mileage, both in town and highway. I currently get about 27 on the highway. That needs to go way up.I recently went through financial set backs and need better mileage for long trips I have to take.I already tried more air in the tires and a new air filter and 0W-30 synthetic oil.Are there mods to the airbox?Are there mods to the engine sensors to make it run leaner?Are there mods to the ECU to make it shift at a lower rpm at part throttle?Are there mods to give it more ignition advanceETC etc etc.Please list all the things people have tried over the years.ThanksDanford1 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 There isn't enough room to list all the things people have tried. The only real mod you can do to get better highway mpg is SLOW DOWN. Or trade it for a 4 cylinder or a hybrid. Anything else would just be money down the drain with no real benefit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FusionDiffusion Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Not much you can do that won't cost more money than it saves. Wash your car so it feels smooth to the touch. Dirt can reduce aerodynamics slightly. Get an alignment even if it feels fine. Bad alignment means gas goes into heating and wearing tires. If the car has more than 100,000 miles, replace the O2 sensors. Otherwise slow down, and learn to draft behind trucks. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyross Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 I already tried more air in the tires and a new air filter and 0W-30 synthetic oil. Going to 0W-30 is actually going to make it worse. At least on my 2011, the recommendation is 5W-20. Your synthetic is thinner when cold (0W vs 5W), but thicker once warmed up (30 vs 20). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wjcollier07 Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 (edited) I'm definitely in the same boat. Both of my 3.0 fusions get dismal fuel economy. I drive the '11 on 70% highway and I still average 20 mpg. I've been driving the '07 to work (70% highway) for the past week and it's been getting about 21 mpg or so...not amazing. Both have gotten new spark plugs, both have up to date perfect maintenance, fluids, air pressure, Michelins, perfect alignment, 0W20 oil etc etc. Edited July 6, 2014 by wjcollier07 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danford1 Posted July 7, 2014 Author Share Posted July 7, 2014 Thanks for the replies. I'll start searching the net for tricks. I know I can save gas if i get the chip tweaked to have the trans shift at a lower rpm while at part throttle. Perhaps the timing can be tweaked up also. I'll search for tweakers. I had a 4.6L T-Bird I had tweaked before. It made a noticeable difference in mileage. They can do it so the changes only come into play at less than 10% throttle so anything past that is back to factory settings. You only gain mileage when your foot barely pushes the gas. I already tried driving the Fusion that way and it just winds out and ignores the barely pushed gas pedal. The Fusion winds out to 2500 before shifting, no need to wind out when Slowwwly accelerating. Having the shifts happen at 1500 rpm will help. Now I just need to find a tweaker :-) Danford1 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Current computer tuning is drastically different than your 4.6L T-bird. They already tweak the PCM for maximum mpg so I doubt you'll find any extra. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miacsin Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 (edited) I solved this one! Replacing an upstream Oxygen (O2) Sensor restored my fuel economy. 3.0L 2007 SEL AWD, so far replaced front upstream sensor. Nothing appeared wrong with any sensors (no codes) but yet my fuel economy went from 9 mpg city and 18 highway back to factory normal (about 18 city, upper 20s highway). I am waiting on another sensor from the dealer to replace the rear upstream sensor. I have searched the forums and google for this fuel economy problem for the last two+ years and every 'expert' almost unanimously says not to replace the O2 (Oxygen) sensors unless there is a code. I finally decided to buck the opinions to replace them and it worked. Background: Car when new had excellent fuel economy, but around 50,000 (K) miles fuel economy went down, and became worse over time. Strangely enough, using cruise control restored most of economy (about 10mpg+) even when comparative pedal input was steady on flat road. The car now has over 80,000 miles with new O2 Sensor and fuel economy restored to new. I'm definitely in the same boat. Both of my 3.0 fusions get dismal fuel economy. I drive the '11 on 70% highway and I still average 20 mpg. I've been driving the '07 to work (70% highway) for the past week and it's been getting about 21 mpg or so...not amazing. Both have gotten new spark plugs, both have up to date perfect maintenance, fluids, air pressure, Michelins, perfect alignment, 0W20 oil etc etc. Edited July 18, 2014 by miacsin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSfushin604 Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 I solved this one! Replacing an upstream Oxygen (O2) Sensor restored my fuel economy. 3.0L 2007 SEL AWD, so far replaced front upstream sensor. Nothing appeared wrong with any sensors (no codes) but yet my fuel economy went from 9 mpg city and 18 highway back to factory normal (about 18 city, upper 20s highway). I am waiting on another sensor from the dealer to replace the rear upstream sensor. I have searched the forums and google for this fuel economy problem for the last two+ years and every 'expert' almost unanimously says not to replace the O2 (Oxygen) sensors unless there is a code. I finally decided to buck the opinions to replace them and it worked. Background: Car when new had excellent fuel economy, but around 50,000 (K) miles fuel economy went down, and became worse over time. Strangely enough, using cruise control restored most of economy (about 10mpg+) even when comparative pedal input was steady on flat road. The car now has over 80,000 miles with new O2 Sensor and fuel economy restored to new. Hi, did your MPG stay up after replacing the sensors. Just got a 2010 Fusion a few weeks ago that I really love, but 15-16mpg city CANNOT be my new normal! I'm thinking about doing the O2 sensors as well and perhaps even a tune so it shifts quicker? Any thoughts on that? Thanks. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeDeJayne Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 Just got a 2008 Fusion SEL with V6 and I'm so far getting 19 MPG. Not impressed since most of my driving is highway. Perhaps it will improve once the weather cools down and AC doesn't need to be on constantly. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWWPerfA_ZN0W Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 How many miles on it and have the spark plugs/pcv valve/air filter etc been serviced recently? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drolds1 Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 (edited) Is the 19 mpg from the message center or did you calculate your actual mileage with the traditional "low-tech" pencil and paper method? If you're going off the message center, then it's including data from before you got the car, which is a rolling average. To get an accurate mpg avg. for your driving, you'll have to drive about 500 miles after resetting the system. The instantaneous mileage setting is just a bar graph and is pretty useless. If you've done an actual hand calculation, 19mpg in highway driving is poor. The 3.0 isn't a MPG champ but it should do better than that. PS-in addition to the suggestions above, make sure your TP is set to factory specs or a little above. Edited September 19, 2016 by drolds1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElectricFan69 Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 (edited) Not much you can do that won't cost more money than it saves. Wash your car so it feels smooth to the touch. Dirt can reduce aerodynamics slightly. Get an alignment even if it feels fine. Bad alignment means gas goes into heating and wearing tires. If the car has more than 100,000 miles, replace the O2 sensors. Otherwise slow down, and learn to draft behind trucks. The 'clean car gets better mileage' was deemed 'busted', but 'concept plausible', which means the difference, if any, is in the 'noise' area. One item that Ford is investing in and does seem to make a noticeable difference is the under-body panels, particularly if the factory-issued ones are missing or flappy from missing screws/push fasteners. Or you could go "Mythbusters golf ball look" which actually was effective at reducing aero drag.. Edited September 20, 2016 by ElectricFan69 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danford1 Posted June 12, 2023 Author Share Posted June 12, 2023 On 9/19/2016 at 12:54 PM, drolds1 said: Is the 19 mpg from the message center or did you calculate your actual mileage with the traditional "low-tech" pencil and paper method? If you're going off the message center, then it's including data from before you got the car, which is a rolling average. To get an accurate mpg avg. for your driving, you'll have to drive about 500 miles after resetting the system. The instantaneous mileage setting is just a bar graph and is pretty useless. If you've done an actual hand calculation, 19mpg in highway driving is poor. The 3.0 isn't a MPG champ but it should do better than that. PS-in addition to the suggestions above, make sure your TP is set to factory specs or a little above. I'm sorry, I have to ask... what is a TP? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratepress Posted June 12, 2023 Share Posted June 12, 2023 I'm thinking it's tire pressure. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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