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Topic: 9 mpg in city (Read 1479 times) previous topic - next topic

9 mpg in city

yea i posted this in another topic a few days ago, but now ill make this a priority.

i can easily attain 30+ mpg on the highway no problem, but in the city its a consistant 9-10.  i dont drive hard on her, and last year i replaced all gaskets/hoses/plugs/wires/filter.  i use 93 octane (as i heard anything less the MSD wont run correctly) and my trans was rebuilt 2 years ago.  the engine temp indicator stays perfectly over the N (whatever the heck that temp is  :dunno:  ).  could it be my exhaust?  im runnin 2 1/4 h-pipe to flowmaster 40's, then 2in from lers back, and have the cats removed.  and performance seems adequate. 

any help would be appreciated.

Re: 9 mpg in city

Reply #1
Your exhaust is not all out nuts so I would think this is not the cause of your problem.  Heck I had a 2.25 system with glasspacks on my old 3.8 and she didn't suffer with city gas mileage.  Your good highway mileage would indicate your car has a good tune up and is running properly.  Is there a possibility that your car is holding on to first gear too long? Maybe not even using second at all?
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

Re: 9 mpg in city

Reply #2
i do have that cable that adjustst your shifting points set a little higher than usual, maybe about an 1/8th of an inch.  cuz in the "stock" position, when i have her WOT, sumntimes shes shifts to early.  so i set that cable a little tighter so she shifts at around 15-18 mph into second gear while cruising, and shifts into 3rd gear around 35-40.

those are just what i think i remember the shifts points are. i havent driven the car sence june :(

doest mean i cant work on it tho  :)

Re: 9 mpg in city

Reply #3
The fuel economy in these thing sucks especially if its stock, i mean if its pushing more HP you expect it to be thirsty. right
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ASE certified parts specialist.
1988 Mercury Cougar Blue Max edition. SOLD
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Re: 9 mpg in city

Reply #4
look for a vaspooge leak. I had one , but I never bothered with it because the car would idle perfectally. As a matter of fact, my auto teacher said that he never saw a ford(chebby guy, cool as hell though) run so smooth. I got about 7 mpg in the city and about 25 highway. I have been known to punch it when people try to pass me though. After my car died,  I decided to tackle the vaspooge leak. It ended up being the line to the map sensor :brick:. also, I had jet black exaust, and the car always smelled like gas after I floored it.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
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1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
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