[bbf2530]

Quoted from the MKZ Owner's Manual:​

ESSENTIALS OF GOOD FUEL ECONOMY
"Measuring techniques"
"Your best source of information about actual fuel economy is you, the
driver. You must gather information as accurately and consistently as
possible. Fuel expense, frequency of fill-ups or fuel gauge readings are
NOT accurate as a measure of fuel economy. We do not recommend
taking fuel economy measurements during the first 1,000 miles (1,600
km) of driving (engine break-in period). You will get a more accurate
measurement after 2,000 miles-3,000 miles (3,000 km–5,000 km)."​

Hi everyone. I figured I would post this as a new topic, so all those concerned about their fuel mileage could see it. The above quote is taken from my MKZ Owner's Manual, page 242. I know many of you are concerned about your AWD fuel mileage, and have been told various and sometimes conflicting info. As you can see, Ford states that your fuel mileage should increase as time and break-in period transpires (up to as much as the first 3,000 miles) :shock:. Of course, I realize that it will still be a concern until you reach that point, but hopefully some of you will be able to sleep a little easier at night.
Remember, your Owner's Manual is your friend!
Happy New Year!

 

[Bob Jusnes]

Right, all of Fords engines take some break in time, expecially the tight tolerance "high performance ones" The 4.0 SOHC in the rangers and explorers didnt even REALLY wake up until about 15-20k miles.

 

[otaku]

Definetly helpful, gonna take some time to break in then, maybe a road trip I've read through my owners manual a few times now definetly recommended

 

[urnews]

BBF2530,

Many thanks for that post. The same wording is contained on Page 250 of my 2007 Fusion owner's manual. Nice propaganda. Maybe FoMoCo figures new car owners are really interested in the mileage when they first get the vehicle but won't be all that curious at 3,000 miles.

In my case, they are dead wrong. I have always checked my mileage religiously and regularly using the gallons used divided into the miles traveled. I've done this for every car I've owned, new and used. Lots of cars since 1958.

Yes, I will rest a tiny bit easier tonight and try very hard to begin the New Year with a positive attitude, about the mileage and other more important things, like world peace. Ha ha. However, there is a very good reason to be concerned about the mileage.

Assuming 10,000 miles per year, the net difference between 13 mpg (our average for the first 500 miles since Dec. 4) and the EPA-estimated 19 mpg for in-town driving is $539.24 extra at the current area price of $2.22 per gallon. More miles driven and/or higher (likely) gasoline prices and the difference is even more costly.

I, for one, have better things to do with $539 than dump it into a gas tank. I don't want more zoom (get up and go) or more twist (torque), I want better mileage and I intend to insist on it. I just won't get really cranky about it until the 3,000-mile mark.

I will, however, take the offer of a computer tune at 1,500 miles just to see if the technicians can improve things any at all.

Again, thanks for your post. It made me feel a little better. Yeah, I have read the manual but I am going to read it again, cover to cover, to see if there is anything else that I missed.

Boz

 

[urnews]

[quote author=Bob Jusnes link=topic=65755.msg1126913#msg1126913 date=1167566113]
Right, all of Fords engines take some break in time, expecially the tight tolerance "high performance ones" The 4.0 SOHC in the rangers and explorers didnt even REALLY wake up until about 15-20k miles.
[/quote]
Bob,

Has it been your experience that 2,000 to 3,000 miles is about right for the 3.0-liter Ford V6 to break in? According to the Ford dealer's salesman, the six-speed automatic tranny also "learns" the driver's habits. Does that sound logical to you? Can the transmission be programmed to reach its higher gears sooner? Wouldn't that improve mileage?

My tinkering days have long since passed but I refuse to accept 13 mpg in-town for any 2007 automobile, even an AWD one. Boz

 

[Bob Jusnes]

Boz, i dont have too much experience with the duratecs, but I do believe that it will fully break in later in its life, around 3000 miles at least.

As far as the transmission, there is some "give" in the baseline tuning that will tune itself to your driving habits. We actually cant directly modify the transmission parameters on the 6 speed, so its more a learned thing for the trans.

13 mpg is still pretty low, have you reset the PCM by disconnecting the battery yet? I would do that and allow it to relearn again. That and some more miles on the engine should loosen it up and net you some better mileage. Also, check the air in your tires just in case, make sure they are properly inflated.

 

[otaku]

Keep in mind the EPA mileage estimates are and always have been inaccurate, they are supposed to be improving them for the coming year so we'll see what they say about fusions this time around.

 

[Total ConFUSION]

[quote author=urnews link=topic=65755.msg1127707#msg1127707 date=1167614588]
I don't want more zoom (get up and go) or more twist (torque), I want better mileage and I intend to insist on it.
[/quote]
Then why did you get the V6? I have an I4 auto that has plenty of power and gets 22-23 mpg city all day long. 31 mpg on a trip to Florida last week.

 

[urnews]

[quote author=Total ConFUSION link=topic=65755.msg1127928#msg1127928 date=1167658614]
[quote author=urnews link=topic=65755.msg1127707#msg1127707 date=1167614588]
I don't want more zoom (get up and go) or more twist (torque), I want better mileage and I intend to insist on it.
[/quote]
Then why did you get the V6? I have an I4 auto that has plenty of power and gets 22-23 mpg city all day long. 31 mpg on a trip to Florida last week.
[/quote]
ConFUSION,

Thanks for your reply. My thinking was that the four-banger wouldn't have enough power (we have a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder automatic Focus station wagon) for the mid-size Fusion with six-speed automatic.

We also wanted a 2007 and the SEL. The dealer, Sherwood Ford Lincoln Mercury in Salisbury, MD, had a very limited selection of Fusions, maybe eight or so. So we ended up with an Oxford white, SEL AWD (MSRP 27,105). The EPA figure for in-town driving for this vehicle is 19 mpg which I could live with. I cannot, and will not, settle for 13 mpg however.

With gas at $2.22 per gallon locally, there is a $539.24 difference between 13 and 19 mpg over the course of 10,000 miles of driving. The EPA highway driving figure for the SEL V6 AWD is 26 mpg. We don't travel all that much, but do have a 350-mile trip coming up in February so we will see if the AWD will deliver that much. At this stage of the game, I doubt it.

But yes, you are right. In retrospect, I believe we would have been more satisfied with a 2.3L 4 cylinder and five-speed manual. I should have waited, done more research, and ordered a car rather than take what was on the lot. I won't make that costly mistake again if there is another time.

I envy your gas mileage. The difference between 22 mpg (yours) and 13 mpg (mine), by the way, on 10,000 miles of driving is $1009.09 per year. Not exactly chump change. Boz

 

[urnews]

[quote author=Bob Jusnes link=topic=65755.msg1127722#msg1127722 date=1167615765]
Boz, i dont have too much experience with the duratecs, but I do believe that it will fully break in later in its life, around 3000 miles at least.

As far as the transmission, there is some "give" in the baseline tuning that will tune itself to your driving habits. We actually cant directly modify the transmission parameters on the 6 speed, so its more a learned thing for the trans.

13 mpg is still pretty low, have you reset the PCM by disconnecting the battery yet? I would do that and allow it to relearn again. That and some more miles on the engine should loosen it up and net you some better mileage. Also, check the air in your tires just in case, make sure they are properly inflated.
[/quote]
Bob,

Dumb question, but I only have to disconnect the ground and leave it off for about 10 minutes to reset the PCM, correct?

My tire pressure is correct, 33 psi for the P225/50R-17s.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Boz

 

[JFUSION]

I get amazing fuel economy on my 06 Fusion sel v6 , and it happened right from day one. When I bought my 06 in August I was disappointed to find out that an awd model was coming out for 07, but looking at it now I can see that there will be a price to pay for the awd feature and it will come at the expense of fuel economy. Anyway you look at it the awd system will sap fuel economy and power.

I'd recommend running tire pressures at 35psi if possible, anything you can do to reduce resistance will help. On my 06 4wd v6 Escape I've been able to increase fuel economy by changing the spark plugs to NGK IX Iridiums, they seem to run better than the stock plugs. Combined with higher tire pressures it has made a decent difference.

 

[urnews]

[quote author=JFUSION link=topic=65755.msg1128407#msg1128407 date=1167692029]
I get amazing fuel economy on my 06 Fusion sel v6 , and it happened right from day one. When I bought my 06 in August I was disappointed to find out that an awd model was coming out for 07, but looking at it now I can see that there will be a price to pay for the awd feature and it will come at the expense of fuel economy. Anyway you look at it the awd system will sap fuel economy and power.

I'd recommend running tire pressures at 35psi if possible, anything you can do to reduce resistance will help. On my 06 4wd v6 Escape I've been able to increase fuel economy by changing the spark plugs to NGK IX Iridiums, they seem to run better than the stock plugs. Combined with higher tire pressures it has made a decent difference.
[/quote]
JFusion (and all),
I have sent a nice (gentle) e-mail to my dealer's service manager requesting her advice. We'll see where this goes from here. The wife and I are very conservative drivers and the terrain is as flat as a fritter. Boz

 

[thereisnospoon]

Yeah, mine is at almost 16K and it's just FINALLY starting to break into the 20's with city driving.

About time since I dealt with 16MPG when it was new.

BTW - I have the 3.0 V6

 

[thereisnospoon]

URNEWS - that's correct but you don't reset EVERYTHING on the car by doing that. I'm not even too sure if that works or not. The dealer told me that a true reset of a Fusion could only be done via computer. If that's right, then this is a BIG change from my F150.

 

[urnews]

[quote author=thereisnospoon link=topic=65755.msg1147869#msg1147869 date=1168709867]
Yeah, mine is at almost 16K and it's just FINALLY starting to break into the 20's with city driving.

About time since I dealt with 16MPG when it was new.

BTW - I have the 3.0 V6
[/quote]
NoSpoon,
Thanks for your encouraging response.

I guess we are just have to be patient and let the engine and transmission break in. Your post was, however, a small ray of hope. Our 13 mpg city has got to be out of the norm, even for a V6 AWD 6-speed automatic. The service manager was very pleasant, friendly, when I talked with her Jan. 11. Her advice was to bring it in at 1,500 miles for a computer check-up. That's only 700 miles, about a month, from now.

In the meantime, the Fusion will, I suspect, continue veering to the right every time we approach a gas station. LOL. I think our Fusion must have set a record for lowest gas mileage city on the two forums I belong to. Nobody seems to have done worse. Heck, even your initial 16 would be an acceptable starting point.

As I have said, we are both conservative, gentle drivers; our terrain is flat, the climate is mild (60 degrees F on Jan. 13); the tire pressure is correct at 33 psi, but soon to be increased to 36 psi as soon as I buy a new tire gauge just for the Fusion, and I usually fill up at the same gas station. In short, there just doesn't seem to be any driver/owner issues, just a Fusion that so far likes its gasoline too much.

With the exception of people who get terrific mileage, those with the 2.3-liter, I4 and 5-speed manual trannys, I don't think most people even pay attention to mileage. I am one of the people who do, for a very good reason: The difference between our 13 mpg city and the EPA's estimated 19 mpg city is $539.24 a year extra expense based on 10,000 miles driven with gas at $2.22 per gallon. I've got better things to do with that extra $539 than pour it into the Fusion's gas tank.

If I remember correctly -- always questionable -- the difference between the V6 FWD and the V6 AWD is 1 mpg, 20 (which you are now getting) and 19 (which I hope to get). Boz, encouraged a little bit in Salisbury (Smallsberry), Maryland.