100,000+ Mileage Foci, Post here..

[Phreez]

Originally Posted by bay_wolf

25mpg is about average for the Wagon so your numbers aren't off too bad. There's a bit more weight with the Wagon. Temperature needle doesn't seem right. Mine sits right in the middle all the time and never moves.

Thank you for your reply.
Re; Mileage, ya I was afraid of that. It has gotten marginally better since doing some mainenance on it. I think it sat for quite a while before I got in it.

Re; Temp.... ya I was afraid of that also. I bought a new thermostat, I'll change that out and see if it makes a difference.

Again, thank you

[bay_wolf]

No problem. I will say that on the highway I can get insane mpg on my Wagon if I drive it correctly but city is where it sucks gas. I get about lows 20's in the city and I've gotten in the mid 30's on the highway (38 is the highest I've ever recorded).

[Phreez]

Originally Posted by bay_wolf

No problem. I will say that on the highway I can get insane mpg on my Wagon if I drive it correctly but city is where it sucks gas. I get about lows 20's in the city and I've gotten in the mid 30's on the highway (38 is the highest I've ever recorded).

Yes, I'm noticing that. Seems sometimes I can almost see the needle moving when in the city. Need to figure out this one's quirks. I had the last one 7 years, I knew every creak and moan in that car. Knew every little quirk it had, right down to knowing if she was going to behave when it was humid or not (She hated the rain).

A little more time I guess .

[unirok]

2001 Ford Focus SE Wagon 215562 miles

[B3NN3TT]

Originally Posted by Phreez

On the sedan I was normally getting anywhere from 600 kms to 650 kms per tank highway.
On the wagon I am only getting approx 450 kms to 500 kms per tank highway.

Is this normal?

Another issue is the automatic transaxle. The torque-converter arrangement is a fuel sucker unless it's locked out on a freeway cruise. In this car, a manual will always out-MPG an automatic.

[Phreez]

Originally Posted by B3NN3TT

Another issue is the automatic transaxle. The torque-converter arrangement is a fuel sucker unless it's locked out on a freeway cruise. In this car, a manual will always out-MPG an automatic.

"Locked out"?? This would explain Bay_Wolf's indication of much better fuel economy on the highway?
What about that Overdrive button? I've never had an automatic. Is that useful in any way?

[B3NN3TT]

Originally Posted by Phreez

"Locked out"?? This would explain Bay_Wolf's indication of much better fuel economy on the highway?
What about that Overdrive button? I've never had an automatic. Is that useful in any way?

Overdrive should be ON almost always, unless you have a good reason to disable it.

Low-speed areas or mountainous driving can sometimes benefit from disabling overdrive - it will keep the trans from hunting back and forth between the top two gears. But on steady highway driving, overdrive should always be on.

[fockus83]

115000 miles running like a champ

[Phreez]

Originally Posted by B3NN3TT

Overdrive should be ON almost always, unless you have a good reason to disable it.

Low-speed areas or mountainous driving can sometimes benefit from disabling overdrive - it will keep the trans from hunting back and forth between the top two gears. But on steady highway driving, overdrive should always be on.

Thank you very much for your help

[veronaqueen]

2007 ZX4 SES
just hit 106,000 (bought it last summer with 80K)
Sway bar link needs to be replaced, just had a tranny flush and serpentine belt/pulley replacement, and my radiator is slightly crooked, although I tried to move it around and it's clearly not loose at all.