180 Miles on a Full Tank Whats Wrong?

[Jaswir]

Ok i have did a full tune up and oil change only thing i havent replaced was the pcv valve... anyone have and ideas what would be giving me horrible gas mileage??? Car runs great, so i don't know what to look for???

 

[slytherin]

Is that all you have for mods? My fuel economy is about that bad but you can see why in my sig.

 

[jrichker]

Dump the codes and see what the computer says is wrong…

Here's the link to dump the computer codes with only a jumper wire or paper clip and the check engine light, or test light or voltmeter. I’ve used it for years, and it works great.

See http://www.troublecodes.net/Ford/
OR
See http://www.dalidesign.com/hbook/eectest.html for more descriptive help
OR
See http://www.mustangworks.com/articles/electronics/eec-iv_codes.html

IF your car is an 86-88 stang, you'll have to use the test lamp or voltmeter method. There is no functional check engine light on the 86-88's except possibly the Cali Mass Air cars.

Codes have different answers if the engine is running from the answers that it has when the engine isn't running. It helps a lot to know if you had the engine running when you ran the test.

Trouble codes are either 2 digit or 3 digit, there are no cars that use both 2 digit codes and 3 digit codes.

For those who are intimidated by all the wires & connections, see http://www.actron.com/product_detail.php?pid=16153 for what a typical hand scanner looks like. Normal retail price is about $30 or so at AutoZone or Walmart.

Or for a nicer scanner see http://www.midwayautosupply.com/detailedproductdescription.asp?3829 – It has a 3 digit LCD display so that you don’t have to count flashes or beeps.. Cost is $33.

 

[Guyfoxbody]

Maybe nothing is wrong! Do you take a lot of short trips? Do you have your foot in it all the time?

I have seen 180 once. And that was driving normal both highway and back roads. Long trip.

I only work two miles from home and i never get good gas mileage!

 

[ALMOSTFINISHED]

I get a bit less than that when I drive city. Highway I coud probly squeeze about 250-270. It has always been that way for me. Have done major tune ups and all. Oh well, I didn't buy a mustang for gas mileage.

nick

 

[Matts89LX5.0]

180 miles on a full tank would be awesome for me......only in my dreams

 

[Fishhawk]

That sounds about normal for in town driving. About the same for me, but I have my foot in it half the time. The one time I ran a full tank on the highway I got 18.5 MPG. Its all about where and how you drive.

 

[UMDSmith]

Hell, my mustang when I go easy gets like 23-25 mpg. It actually does better then my 3L Taurus wagon, and can come close to my gf's 98 z24 cavalier. Both of those are auto's.

 

[tjm73]

First place I would look is at your driving habits. A friend of mine had his last Mustang setup very similar to mine. I had the B303 and 3.73's and he has stock cam with 3.55's. Otherwise they were very similar. He struggled to get 180-190 out of a tank of gas and I consistently got 230-240.

After I road with him a bunch of times I figured out he had some driving habits that were not condusive to gettign decent gas mileage. He was constantly on and off the gas, never smooth or steady. He did a lot of stop and go and if traveling on flat roads he ran it in a gear so he coudl "listen" to the sound coming from his exhaust rather than just put in a gear where the rpm's were low. Plus he always (and this made me crazy) felt he needed to blip the throttle a few times when he pulled up to a bar or in front of the clubs. to announce his presence. Man that's retarded IMO.

One day he was complaining about his mileage and I told him to try it my way for a tank and see what happens. TUrns out he got 225 out of that tank of fuel. Go figure.

 

[Sicarius428]

Damn you guys, I wish i can get 180mpg...
Kevin

 

[91mustangnick]

i get about 240miles in a full tank on highway driving with a few 130mph+ doing it NASCAR style, city i get about 18mpg in city. you should try drafting very usefull when going 70+MPH.

Nick

 

[Jaswir]

180miles is pretty easy on driving, only getting on it a few times.... and all city, i drive like two miles to work etc... i just thought i should adverage more... and maybe something is wrong...

 

[Ourobos]

I'm lucky if I get 160, mostly highway miles too..

 

[Daggar]

My city mpg is 11 or 12. My driving distance to work each day is very short, which accounts for allot of that. I've not had any really long drives since installing the KB so I don't really know what my actual mpg is.

 

[Jkstang78]

180 miles on a full tank would be awesome for me......only in my dreams

I agree with you Matt. I just got that on a tank and my gauge was reading still an 1/8th of a tank left or one line before the E line. I said no way and I only had about 1/2 a gallon left in the tank. Filled it up with 11.5 gallons. SO I know not to trust my Gas gauge any more.

 

[fourmustangs]

if you are only two miles from work then 180 to a tank is normal especially with your mods. you car has no time to warm up. at cold start the computer adds extra fuel. I drive 10 miles to work and i get 210 miles to a tank

 

[exhausted]

I got a new long block three months ago with only CAI, headers and h-pipe and I get 19 mpg. Not too bad for a v8.

 

[ninety15.0]

I also think its all in the driving style, i can get 160 out of a full tank around the city or i can get 225. There are tons of little tricks and techniques to get good gas milage, now if you choose to use them of just have good time....thats a different story

 

[srothfuss]

You could always put on a bigger gas tank! (J/K)

 

[1986LX2002]

my car which is a 86Gt with a 5spd and 2:73's was only getting about 184miles to a tank with me driving it nice. I pulled out the O2 sensors and they looked pretty bad "checked the computer but didnt toss a code" so spent 80 bucks and got new ones, now i'm getting 300 miles to a tank and loving it!