Excessive engine vibration and very poor milage

[dingoqing]

My 2005 ford focus wagon SES has a excessive engine vibration at rpm around 1000. Every time the rpm reach around 1000, the engine shake excessively and the steer wheel shakes,the left rear mirror and almost every thing in the driver side shake and become very noisy. At other rpm (900 or lower, 1200 or higher), the shaking reduced very much(but slight vibration still exists) I have changed driver side engine mount(DEA), it doesn't help at all. Plugs have been changed one month ago, dielectric grease has added on springs in coil boots for better conduction.

Another annoy thing is it has very poor mileage(15 mpg in town 22 mpg one highway). The calculation should have no problem. I add full tank of gas, after several days and refill the tank again, then calculate mpg based on odometer and amount of gas. MAF sensor has been cleaned, following the suggestion of some kind guys here. But it still not help. Some one suggest it may be the clogged muffler, can I do it myself. I really don't believe dealer who always do nothing but ask me to pay money for "find the problem".

Any ideas what should I do? Thanks.

[Sponsor]

[SkyPilot]

engine vibrations are usually the passenger mount, not the drivers, I would replace the other 2 mounts. then report back.

Typically a tune up is recommended for poor fuel economy, What kind of plugs did you buy? Autolite or Motorcraft plugs generally work best, anything else not so much, I had a set of Bosch plugs that ran like crap and decreased my fuel economy just as an fyi.

Check your plugs, replace the fuel filter, run some fuel injector cleaner thru your system, you might want to look into a sea foam treatment, some guys swear by it. An exhaust leak is possible for decreased economy. As for cleaning out the muffler. Mufflers dont get clogged, however catalytic converters do. a sea foam treatment will help clean some of the crap out of it. Check for a proper alignment, and make sure your tires are at proper inflation. Thats all I can think of now, im sure someone else will have more.

[bigkeeser]

I had the same problem with the excessive vibration in my 07 Focus. Things were getting pretty bad like you mention. I ended up changing both the driver and passenger side mounts. All problems went away. I used OEM parts at the dealer.

I remember reading somewhere that the passenger side mount is usually the faulty part. I went ahead and changed both anyways.

[dingoqing]

Unfortunately, I have used Bosch Platinum Plugs. The mileage before I change the plug is still very poor. How to do the tune up?
Fuel injector are also used (I have forgotten the brand, but a 9 bucks thing from walmart). Fuel filter not changed since someone told me I only need to change it after 100k( now it has 78k), but I will do it later as you suggested.

I haven't change the passenger side mount mainly due to the shake is on driver side. The passenger side is much better. I have seen some poster that suggesting only using OEM mount rather than other after market mount which is just rubber and cannot absorb the vibration very well. How ever the OEM mount (passenger side) is indeed expensive ($150?).

About sea foam treatment, what is it and how to do it? I'm sorry for my ignorant.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by SkyPilot

engine vibrations are usually the passenger mount, not the drivers, I would replace the other 2 mounts. then report back.

Typically a tune up is recommended for poor fuel economy, What kind of plugs did you buy? Autolite or Motorcraft plugs generally work best, anything else not so much, I had a set of Bosch plugs that ran like crap and decreased my fuel economy just as an fyi.

Check your plugs, replace the fuel filter, run some fuel injector cleaner thru your system, you might want to look into a sea foam treatment, some guys swear by it. An exhaust leak is possible for decreased economy. As for cleaning out the muffler. Mufflers dont get clogged, however catalytic converters do. a sea foam treatment will help clean some of the crap out of it. Check for a proper alignment, and make sure your tires are at proper inflation. Thats all I can think of now, im sure someone else will have more.

[dingoqing]

What the price is the OEM parts you have used? Thanks

[SkyPilot]

OEM is best for the passenger mount, you can find them online for around $100. For the fuel filter ford says 100K many of us around here do it every 30k or so.

Do a search on sea foam, Its a bit of a universal cleaner, some swear by it, some says it does nothing, you will have to form your own opinion on that, you can find it at any auto parts store or even walmart.

[bigkeeser]

Both of the engine mounts I bought were $150 total, at a Ford dealership. I was able to talk the parts guy down $20. I found the same part on ebay being sold for $20 less. This was 3 months ago.

I did a quick search for the part on ebay and I see the passenger mount for $84 and it includes shipping. I would double check that part number with the dealer. I think there are few variations of this part out there.

I wouldn't buy anything other than OEM for this. I hear the cheapo aftermarket parts fail within a short time and you end up replacing them all over again.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-OEM-MOTO...82c0c1&vxp=mtr

[dingoqing]

OK, Thanks. I will start from the fuel filter.

Now, I'm still wondering should I concentrate on the engine first for its excessively vibration. Because if there is some problem one engine, even if I used new mount to "absorb" the vibration, the problem on engine is still there. Actually, I have put my hand one the bracket of the passenger side mount to feel the vibration, it seems it still can absorb the vibration very well.

Originally Posted by SkyPilot

OEM is best for the passenger mount, you can find them online for around $100. For the fuel filter ford says 100K many of us around here do it every 30k or so.

Do a search on sea foam, Its a bit of a universal cleaner, some swear by it, some says it does nothing, you will have to form your own opinion on that, you can find it at any auto parts store or even walmart.

[Milton]

Originally Posted by bigkeeser

Both of the engine mounts I bought were $150 total, at a Ford dealership. I was able to talk the parts guy down $20. I found the same part on ebay being sold for $20 less. This was 3 months ago.

I did a quick search for the part on ebay and I see the passenger mount for $84 and it includes shipping. I would double check that part number with the dealer. I think there are few variations of this part out there.

I wouldn't buy anything other than OEM for this. I hear the cheapo aftermarket parts fail within a short time and you end up replacing them all over again.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-OEM-MOTO...82c0c1&vxp=mtr

For my 2007, VillageAndy at Village Ford sold me all three mounts for $166. Send him a pm with your vin.

[SBK86]

Is there a way to inspect the motor mount to determine if its bad? Will the rubber feel different or be cracked?