[subtleshift]

this weekend (saturday) i changed my fuel filter...hoping to get better gas mileage...

well it seems like im getting worse mileage[V]

my tank was 7/8 of the way full...(half way between 3/4 and full)

i drove approximatly 30-35 miles and now its a hair below the 3/4 mark

to me this seems like a lot of gas, but maybe i just never noticed it before...check mods below to see that stuff...

anyways what could be wrong? bad fuel filter...did i mess something else up???

could i have installed it wrong...im pretty sure its in the same direction as the one i took out, so i was thinking if i didnt push the lines all the way down or past a certain point on the nozzle or something...

anyone please...shouldnt changing the fuel filter make my mileage better!

 

[RhodySVT]

Check for leaks, if it's not leaking, relax, you're probably being a bit paranoid. Ford fuel gauges tend to be a bit whacked out anyway. Until you run through a full tank, it's hard to determine what your true MPG is.

 

[subtleshift]

trying not to sound too stupid here, but by leaks do you mean like dripping, or could it be seeping with out me noticing?

I really hope i'm being paranoid!!!

 

[RhodySVT]

Well most likely, you'd notice a strong fuel smell if not a puddle under the car, if there were a leak.

 

[Stooge]

it would be most noticable after you drive and car gets nice and heated up and then cools, if there were an external leak it would be greatly noticable as the car cools....

Andrew

 

[damnfastsvt02]

I'm betting its either a leak, something might have gotten stuck in the fuel lines, or the computer hasnt adjusted for the increased fuel flow. I'm deffinately not a pro so dont quote me on any of this lol. Try some fuel system cleaner and see what happens?

 

[1turbofocus]

The fuel filter has NOTHING to do with MPG or does the computer even know the filter is there or how well it flows

See what you end up with in miles to tank of fuel to see if there is even anything to worry about

Tom

 

[Power Surge]

Your fuel consumption seems fine to me. I drive 60 miles round trip to work and that uses a 1/4 tank of gas. One way is 30 miles, which is an 1/8 of a tank, which is what you used for the same mileage.

 

[JRODSVT]

i also think you are fine. If you had filled your tank all the way up then you would have noticed it would take it forever to get to 3/4 of a tank.

just because the guage read 7/8 does not mean you are at 7/8 of a tank. All gas guages are usually innaccurate.

if I am all highway and I start with a fulll tank it takes around 60 miles before the guage points directly at the 1/1 mark.

 

[OrangeSVTguy]

If you ask me you are being kinda paranoid and over reactive. You should have waited to drive a full tank and compare those numbers to you prior to changing the fuel filter. Fill it up and drive till you get the low-fuel light and note the milage. Which for me is usually around 11 gallons consumed so I devide my miles driven by 11 to get a rough estimate of my MPG. Not to mention, I think they are switching to thier "Winter Blend" already because I already noticed my MPGs go down but that also has to do with my dying clutch too LOL.

 

[WUGcatsvt]

The fuel filter has NOTHING to do with MPG or does the computer even know the filter is there or how well it flows

See what you end up with in miles to tank of fuel to see if there is even anything to worry about

Tom

Thank you Tom....
I didnt think the Fuel Filter had anything to do with MPG... I didnt see how.. I just replaced mine and noticed no difference.. BTW,, I have a Question for you... Im getting the crappiest MPG ever.. I get about 210 and then the Light comes on... I live in the most humid place on earth (it seems) and I have Mikes intake set up, your tune and my plugs are gapped .06 (if that makes a difference).. My Filter is not clogged either.. Do you have any suggestions.. I know it the winter my light doesnt come on till 250ish..
Thanks and sorry for the Tread Jack.. Maybe it will help.

 

[subtleshift]

well i looked under my car after driving it today, and their are definatly no leeks, its really clean their and totally dry!

maybe im just paranoid or over analizing it, but it still seems low, at 1/2 tank ill fill her up and do the test!

btw...ditto to the above thread^^^

it seems like i had crappy mileage before this too, its just worse now!

 

[1turbofocus]

Thank you Tom....
I didnt think the Fuel Filter had anything to do with MPG... I didnt see how.. I just replaced mine and noticed no difference.. BTW,, I have a Question for you... Im getting the crappiest MPG ever.. I get about 210 and then the Light comes on... I live in the most humid place on earth (it seems) and I have Mikes intake set up, your tune and my plugs are gapped .06 (if that makes a difference).. My Filter is not clogged either.. Do you have any suggestions.. I know it the winter my light doesnt come on till 250ish..
Thanks and sorry for the Tread Jack.. Maybe it will help.

I would start by checking your STFT1 and o2 voltage (scan tool) to see if your o2 is working

Tom

 

[subtleshift]

what is stft1?

and how do i check that, and how do i check o2...

btw i thought o2 sensors were turned off, or is that just the rear?

and by check you mean like view live data right? if not then what...will check as soon as you say!

 

[subtleshift]

well, i went and filled up my tank so i could calculate mileage, and i filled up my tires too!

i have a digital tire pressure gauge, and before i inflated them, they were down into the 24-25 range...

so i pumped um up to 31.5 front and 29.5 rear...

hopefully that will help...

(also on a side note, i had just recently put a fuel cleaner in the tank, 2 tank fulls in a row...does this additive reduce mileage on the first tank possibly?)

 

[WUGcatsvt]

I would start by checking your STFT1 and o2 voltage (scan tool) to see if your o2 is working

Tom

Thanks Tom.. Ill do that This weekend... you know I just thought of something... On the way up to Focus Fest and a GumpCrew meet me Engine Light come on.. and I hooked the Preditor up and there was no code.. I bet it was my O2 sencer..