Topic: What's happening to fuel efficiency?!

[Roadrunner]

Ardentib
This is the info I took from a research site:

2003 ZX5 Focus,
13 gal fuel tank
130 hp I-4 engine.....this yours?
(American gal) ....25 mpg city/32 mpg hwy

Unless I made a mistake (could have), you're getting 28 mpg.
Convert to metric....  ?L/100 kms  

(Message edited by roadrunner on February 26, 2005)

(Message edited by roadrunner on February 26, 2005)

[tpl]

convert to metric or back.... divide one measurement into 282 to get the other

[maritime_storm]

Cosmo I find it unlikely that the engine is worn out on his car, 185,000kms of mostly highway driving on modern car isn't really that high mileage unless it was badly abused maintenace wise which this gentleman claims he has done it at the recommended intervals. It's more likely to be tune-up issue.

[bf7890]

Cosmo - Thanks for the tips. I went to see my Toronto mechanic last week while in town. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was late for my inspection and had to settle for a simple oil change. About the oxygen sensors, I was told that changing them will most likely improve mileage but at this point in time (185,000km), it might not be the primary culprit. My mechanic has suggested coming back for a full tune-up the next time I'm back in town. About the getting "tired", could you help me understand this? I agree with Maritime_storm that I do not abuse my engine but since I've done a lot of highway driving at fairly high speeds (120-130km/hr) for up to 6 hours at a time, could this be accelerating the wear & tear on the engine?

[maritime_storm]

No, highway driving is the easiest work your car can do.

[ardentib]

Gas Mileage,
What does one driving a 2003 ZX5 getting about 60% of what it should get and I'm hammering it.
Casual driving. Ford Motor conpany says if no lights flashing on the dash there is nothing we can do.

Does anyone have any suggestions ? This vechicle has only 10,000 kms and a 7 year premium warranty

[ardentib]

Gas Mileage,  
What does one driving a 2003 ZX5 do when getting about 60% of what it should get for gas mileage and I'm NOT hammering it.  
Casual driving. Ford Motor conpany says if no lights flashing on the dash there is nothing we can do.  

Does anyone have any suggestions ? This vechicle has only 10,000 kms and a 7 year premium warranty

[maritime_storm]

Give it another 5 - 10K for the engine to fully break in, then mileage again. Low friction rings in the newer cars take a long time to fully seat.

[articsteve]

Ardentib; which tranny and what mileage do you think it should be getting?

Winter is not great to gauge mileage because if your doing short stop and go trips the car will be running rich alot of the time.

IMO, your motor is broken in.  Theoretically, from this time forward it should be all down hill from here.

You will get nowhere with FORD if like the say " No lights flashing on the dash".

[ardentib]

ZX5 has aoto and 2.0 Zetec engine.
I think and expect I should be getting close to 35 on hwg and 30 in town. I drive moderately in my 55 year young days.
I do  not have a remote control stat and the roads have been bare here in PEI. So, I am not expecting miricles in July.  

Maybe I need to put in high test and drive the crap out of it for 5000 kms and then check again.