Winter Fuel
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Leamington, Ontario
Winter Fuel
I can't wait for this winter blend fuel crap to go away! The stuff's cut my mileage from almost 100KM per 1/4 tank down to about 60-75 per 1/4 tank (3.0L). Is it supposed to cut it by that much or could I have an O2 sensor going? The trucks got 80000KM on it and it's still got original everything.
P.S- How often does ford recommend changing the differential fluid?
P.S- How often does ford recommend changing the differential fluid?
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,851
Likes: 111
From: SW Va
Is your 3.0L a flex fuel vehicle & if so are you using E-85, E-10, ect????
Cold weather, driving conditions, warm up time, vehicle maintenance/tune, type of crankcase lube, tire size, type & air pressure, along with driving habits, brand of gas & it's fuel pack additives & probably some more I omitted, can affect our winter time fuel consumption.
I doubt that your areas winter recipe fuel would cause a 25-40% drop in fuel consumption, maybe around a 10% drop, unless your using E-85, so I'd begin to trouble shoot for another cause.
If you know your vehicle is in good tune, you really need to do a more accurate fuel consumption calculation, each time you fill up, to know how it goes.
Like fill up at the same station & pump, facing the same way & fill at the same pump speed/slow & use the same number of pump cutoff's to determine the full level.
Then divide the distance traveled by the units of fuel pumped in & average this figure over several tanks.
Once you establish a norm, then you should be able to judge how changes in fuel brand & type, temp, driving conditions & habits, will affect your fuel consumption in your area.
Some thoughts for pondering.
Cold weather, driving conditions, warm up time, vehicle maintenance/tune, type of crankcase lube, tire size, type & air pressure, along with driving habits, brand of gas & it's fuel pack additives & probably some more I omitted, can affect our winter time fuel consumption.
I doubt that your areas winter recipe fuel would cause a 25-40% drop in fuel consumption, maybe around a 10% drop, unless your using E-85, so I'd begin to trouble shoot for another cause.
If you know your vehicle is in good tune, you really need to do a more accurate fuel consumption calculation, each time you fill up, to know how it goes.
Like fill up at the same station & pump, facing the same way & fill at the same pump speed/slow & use the same number of pump cutoff's to determine the full level.
Then divide the distance traveled by the units of fuel pumped in & average this figure over several tanks.
Once you establish a norm, then you should be able to judge how changes in fuel brand & type, temp, driving conditions & habits, will affect your fuel consumption in your area.
Some thoughts for pondering.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,873
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From: St. Peter
I dont even calculate my mileage in the winter time anymore. Just from the winter blend gas, the extra gas burned letting my car warm up, the extra gas burned while the car is in open loop, etc. My mileage really drops. Oh well I guess.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,980
Likes: 2
From: central ohio
i dont bother checking milage in winter either. i carry more weight for winter (about 500 pounds) run different tires, engine warm-up time is longer, and if i start it up and let it warm up before i go somewhere all eat a little more fuel. sometimes i dont think it even fully gets to operating temperature before its shut off again. and even though you can warm up the engine and trans the differentials will be cold and resistive to movement until its been driven awhile.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Leamington, Ontario
Yeah, Im pretty sure it's just because of all the factors everybody has mentioned, plus the ethanol content. I know that around here they run 15% ethanol minimum. Still annoying as heck though.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
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The wifes 08 V-6 4x4 mariner is getting 19 mpg on winter blend, that still not bad. She got about 22 local back when it was hot. Like all of our new fords, we allways seem to get better than the window sticker would dectate.
