08 SEL 39,000 miles with horrible mileage????

[Fairdale8669]

I just purchased a 08 SEL three days ago. 39,000 miles, One owner, never even wrecked. With high tire pressure (Not factory tires but factory spec in size) and my display NEVER gets about 16MPG and seems to be very accurate to fuel consumption. Runs excellent with zero problems but the mileage is just embarassing. With zero mods and completely factory it's absolutely horrible. I understand a code not being pulled from being out of perameter but getting 15MPG on the highway pussy footing it is ridiculous and should pull a code. No minor maintainace should cause this dramatic of a decline. Do these mileage monitors reflect that far off from actual mileage??? I run 89 octane. I am absolutely in love with the car but something has to be wrong. Please help!!

[FusionDiffusion]

What engine do you have (2.3L or 3.0L)? This is in the wrong section.

 

Put your tires at factory pressure ±2 PSI. Go on the highway and drive a steady 60 mph on a flat road. Take your foot of the gas (coast) and time how long it takes to slow down to 30 mph. It should take about 10 seconds IMO. If it's much shorter than that, then you might have a dragging brake or a bad alignment. Does the car track straight when you let go of the wheel? After that, get the car rolling and floor it until it reaches highway speed. It should shift several times. Car should accelerate and shift smoothly. If car bucks or feels like it has no power then you have an engine problem. Otherwise it could be a multitude of other causes.

Edited July 28, 2012 by FusionDiffusion

[Fairdale8669]

Sorry for wrong section man. Just set up the accont. Its a 3.0 V6 211hp. 6 speed auto. Performs great. Excellent power (for what it is) and no pulling under braking or letting off the wheel at highway speeds. My 94 S10 with 177,0 00 miles throttle body injected (well taken care of) 4.3 gets as good of fuel economy. I figured if it was a sticking caliper I would feel it like suggested. Are the electronic monitors wrong on occasion???

[Fairdale8669]

Just got back from what you suggested lol. The car drives like a dream and doesn't suggest sticking calipers, low pressure, or trans issues. With TCS off it actually far out performs what I would expect. All six gears (which take serious monitoring to even notice shifts compared to what I'm used to) are silky smooth. Great power and no bog what so ever. Drives like a brand new car. The on dash MPG NEVER goes above 16.3 MPG even at dead steady 65MPH for over 6 or more minutes without AC on. I'm boggled. It is a one owner, never even had a reported wreck with 39k. The car is pretty much new factory for the most part. I understand giving it hell would put me around that MPG but not grannying it. Either the electronic monitor is WAY off or something is mechanically way off that isnt pulling a code. May drive my old ass S10 to work tom lol.

[Fairdale8669]

This is the exact vehicle: http://www.usedcars.com/vehicledetail.aspx?zip=40218&make=Ford&model=Fusion&vehicleId=13796494&radius=50&v=1

[FusionDiffusion]

Just curious, did you reset the average MPG reading before your tests (push the reset button)? It's not an instantaneous display. The reading would be the average since the last time someone reset it, so it might appear low if the car was driven in the city. If you drove on the highway it would slowly creep up as the averaging window expands.

 

The electronic MPG display is not terribly accurate. Sometimes it's off by 20% or more. But if it still shows 16.3 after resetting it when you're going a steady 60 mph, then there is some kind of problem. The first thing you would do is document the actual MPG by recording actual miles driven and gallons of fuel used to confirm it's not an electronics problem.

[bbf2530]

HI Fairdale and welcome to the Ford Fusion Forums. :D Just to add to the excellent advice FusionDiffusion offered - Our engine is designed to run on 87 octane fuel and the ECM is not programmed to adjust for higher octane fuels. So you are spending more money and receving no benefit by using 89 or higher octane. In fact, as specifically mentioned in our Owners Manuals, using a higher octane than 87 can lead to engine problems, (increased engine deposits etc.),

 

Additionally, as FD mentioned, if you have not already done so, reset the MPG display, as it is not an "instantaneous" display, It is averaging since the last time was reset. This means it could be averaging since the car was driven off the lot if both you and the previous owner have never reset it. So with 39,000 miles, it would take a lot of driving to change what the displayed average is.

 

There is a lot of good information addressing this subject and many other features of your car in the Owners Manual, In case you did not recieve it when you purchased, you can download the PDF version here - http://www.flmowner....ge&ord=91325628 Just fill in the "Look up Your Vehicle" dropdown boxes. You can also register for the Ford Owners website there to receive useful benefits and information.

 

Keep us updated and good luck. :beerchug:

Edited July 28, 2012 by bbf2530

[drolds1]

Good advice from all. The old-fashioned paper, pencil and arithmetic method will give you an accurate MPG figure. You're not going to get an accurate figure for highway mileage using the method you described. As FusionDiffusion has said, it's not an instantaneous reading. The system averages fuel economy over the last 500 miles driven. Driving for 6 minutes on the highway will have minimal to no effect. In order to get a stabilized highway MPG you must engage the cruise control, press the RESET button and drive at least 5 miles.

 

As bbf2530 suggests, reading the owner's guide will help familiarize you with your car's many features and functions. This is from the OG;

 

 

1. Drive the vehicle at least 5 miles (8 km) with the speed control

system engaged to display a stabilized average.

2. Record the highway fuel economy for future reference.

It is important to press the RESET control (press and hold RESET for 2

seconds in order to reset the function) after setting the speed control to

get accurate highway fuel economy readings.

 

If your reading doesn't change significantly after this procedure then you have a problem. Remember, the longer you drive at a constant speed, the higher the reading will go. It will drop if you increase speed or climb even the slightest grade.

[Fairdale8669]

Thank you guys so much for all of your suggestions! I have been working like crazy and didnt get a chance to reset but I am excited to do so today! It has been gradually on the rise since I purchased it. It is at 17MPG on the way home last night on the highway. Im still in love with the car and its features. I will reset today and let everyone know the results. THANK YOU FOR TELLING ME ABOUT THE PROPER FUEL TO RUN!! I wasnt aware of this and would feel like a complete jack ass if I payed the price down the road for running more expensive gas.

[FusionDiffusion]

Just a note about fuel—87 octane is actually the minimum required octane rating. You can safely run higher octane without worrying about negative effects. The only time you have to worry about high octane fuel is if you're having trouble getting the car to start in cold conditions. Modern cars like yours have knock sensors that will adjust the timing to take advantage of the higher octane fuel. Deposits would be more related to the brand and formulation of the gas rather than the octane. When the EPA does fuel economy ratings, they actually use 93 octane gas. Personally, I use 91 octane because it's the only gas available here without ethanol. The increased fuel economy makes up for the increase in price.

 

So if all your gas has ethanol in it, I would stick with 87 octane, but if you have a non-ethanol option go with that.

[bbf2530]

Just a note about fuel—87 octane is actually the minimum required octane rating. You can safely run higher octane without worrying about negative effects. The only time you have to worry about high octane fuel is if you're having trouble getting the car to start in cold conditions. Modern cars like yours have knock sensors that will adjust the timing to take advantage of the higher octane fuel. Deposits would be more related to the brand and formulation of the gas rather than the octane. When the EPA does fuel economy ratings, they actually use 93 octane gas. Personally, I use 91 octane because it's the only gas available here without ethanol. The increased fuel economy makes up for the increase in price.

 

So if all your gas has ethanol in it, I would stick with 87 octane, but if you have a non-ethanol option go with that.

 

Hi FD. :D Just as an FYI. In the Owners Manuals for the 2006-2009 model year Fusion, Milan and MKZ, Ford specifically warns against using fuels with an octane rating above 87 as it can lead to poor engine performance and other issues, since the ECM is not programmed to adjust for the higher octane fuels combustion characteristics. Beginning with the 2010 model year (if I recall correctly), the ECM in or cars can adjust slightly for octanes higher than 87. However, that was not the case for 2006-2009. This information came directly from a Ford engineer.

 

And just so others do not get confused - in your case, the improved fuel economy comes from the lack of ethanol, not the increased octane. All the higher octane rating essentially does is increase the fuels ability to resist detonation. So ideally, an 87 octane fuel with no ethanol would give the best fuel economy at the lowest price.

 

Hope this information helps.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

Edited July 29, 2012 by bbf2530

[Fairdale8669]

Well after about 200 miles after the reset my average mpg is at 17. This car has only been driven with one person in it at a time as well. Either the guage is way off or some other issue is going on. I guess actually counting the miles is the next step. They might as well put V8's in them lol.

[awdpath]

Well after about 200 miles after the reset my average mpg is at 17. This car has only been driven with one person in it at a time as well. Either the guage is way off or some other issue is going on. I guess actually counting the miles is the next step. They might as well put V8's in them lol.

 

Does not mean/tell us much.

 

For example , I reset the mileage and the average speed readings then drove my warmed up 2007 AWD Fusion SE (still on all original factory equipements minus the plastic ring in the shifter, lol ) on a relatively flat expressway for about 30 miles at an average speed of 65 mph in windless condition. The mileage ....

 

 

31 US MPG

[Fairdale8669]

Even on a 20 minute drive with cruise set to 65 and resetting It never went above 24mpg. It's a certified pre-owned and has zero issues. Tires max psi is 51 and I have them set at 42. The car is brand new and factory in all aspects.

[bbf2530]

Even on a 20 minute drive with cruise set to 65 and resetting It never went above 24mpg. It's a certified pre-owned and has zero issues. Tires max psi is 51 and I have them set at 42. The car is brand new and factory in all aspects.

 

Hi Fairdale. :D While this is not part of your MPG issue, your tires are overinflated. You use the Manufacturers recommended pressure listed on the plate located on teh drivers side door sill/jamb. The max pressure listed on the tire sidewall is inconsequential when determining a proper pressure. You can go a ffew psi higher than the Manufacturers recommendation (about 34 psi for our cars) if you wish, but 42 is overinflated.

 

Good luck. :beerchug: