MPG down the drain
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From: Wisconsin
MPG down the drain
On my '92 (5.0 engine), over the past 4 months, my gas milage has gone from bad to worse. I know the Bronco is a brick and they don't get that great of gas milage, but I think struggling to get 8 mpg is pushing it. Four months ago I was getting 11mpg and every month after that it has dropped to the now 8mpg I'm getting. When the milage started to slip, I did all the tune up items, cap, rotor, plugs, air filter, o2 sensor, etc and the milage went up a little, but then it started to drop off again. I can't figure out why the milage is getting so bad. I do have the the #8 cylinder lean out problem and a little blow by and I'm looking at a rebuild this summer. So would the lean out problem cause my bad milage? Any ideas why the milage is so bad and getting worse? Thanks in advance.
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From: Wisconsin
It is really cold, but I don't let it warm up much, not much more than a minute. Thats what my dad said, but its been really cold here for 2 months now and it hasn't made a difference, the milage keeps dropping. I think it's an engine problem, because when going to pick up my sister about a half and hour ago, my Bronco konked out twice will driving it in the parking lot. After that, the engine decided to hold the idle at over 2,000 rpm and the idle was so high, that the truck would start to accelerate, not slow down, when I was under 20 mph. So, I am beinging to think I have more problems here than I thought. Let me know if you guys know whats going on here.
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From: MA
I know that my 96 has consistenly lost 1.5-2 mpg since winter started. She's in perfect shape, so the only thing I can figure is the cold weather. Anyone know definitively if cold weather kills mileage?
Rich
Rich
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: New Jersey
There are two factors involved here.
1st. In the cold weather engines tend to idle high for a longer period of time in order to reach the proper opperating tempurature.
2nd. A lot of areas now have additives automatically in the gasoline, at leat they do here in NJ, and it is a known fact that this additive does reduce gas milage.
I hope that this info helps.
1st. In the cold weather engines tend to idle high for a longer period of time in order to reach the proper opperating tempurature.
2nd. A lot of areas now have additives automatically in the gasoline, at leat they do here in NJ, and it is a known fact that this additive does reduce gas milage.
I hope that this info helps.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
Originally posted by wheelMA1
I know that my 96 has consistenly lost 1.5-2 mpg since winter started. She's in perfect shape, so the only thing I can figure is the cold weather. Anyone know definitively if cold weather kills mileage?
Rich
I know that my 96 has consistenly lost 1.5-2 mpg since winter started. She's in perfect shape, so the only thing I can figure is the cold weather. Anyone know definitively if cold weather kills mileage?
Rich
-Matt
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From: Wisconsin
Well, hopefully the mileage went down just because of winter, but after this tank of gas, I will see if my milage drops any more. I know mileage drops considerably in winter, but my dad, who was the prevous owner, said he never saw the truck go below 10mpg even in winter, so that why I'm so concerned with the 8mpg I'm getting now.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: covington
Your gas mielage should drop in the winter, especially if you do a lot of short trips. (less than 10 miles) When cold, the engine runs richer, and for a longer period of time enrichened, so you will be using more gas. If you do highway trips, drivng long distances this will be less of a factor. The difference you are talking about is extreme, and you have to remeber that your engine has more wear on it every year that reduces efficiency. It may be close to time for a rebuild.
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From: MA
All of my trips are over twenty miles (home to school, from school to work, from work to home). I sure hope its not rebuild time. The motor only has 80k on it! Ill just chalk it up to crappy gas.
Rich
Rich