Ford: 1999 Ford Taurus Weird Milage...

1999 Ford Taurus Weird Milage...

Group: alt.autos.ford Date: Thu, Sep 18, 2003, 11:30am (EDT-1) From:
com (V)
My '99 Taurus, shows great gas milage when I am over the oil change by
about 1500 miles (ie 4500 miles since my last one) Is there a reason for
this? V6 24 Valve My last tank went 285 miles for mainly "in town
driving" Work is approx. 18 miles away, I either drive on the interstate
or on a 2 lane road thru 2 towns to get there, usually pretty split up.
I normally get approx. 230-240 miles per tank. This has been the 2nd
time I have noticed this when being "over" on getting an oil change.
Any Ideas on this?
Chris
===============================

Could be a lot of reasons. Are you sure about the amount of fuel you add
at fill up? Do you reset the odometer to zero at fill up? The tank holds
16 gallons, how far down do you go before filling up?

I've got the same exact model as you and I normally do an oil change
every 4500 miles. I've noticed no difference in mpg between zero oil
miles and 4500 oil miles.

My normal mpg runs about 21-22mpg with full time a/c & slightly heavy
foot.

Eric

"Eric Toline" <net> wrote in message
newsublic.lawson.webtv.net... 

I usually fill up with 11-12 gallons of gas. The last quarter gallon goes
down quite quickely and then "bounces around" quite a bit. So I usually fill
up then. I always reset the odometer, I keep a book of how much gas I put
in, the mileage, the total mileage what type of gas, how much per gallon,
and total amount. Good records for when I go to sell the car. From the
sounds of it, I still have 3-4 gallons of gas left in my car when I am
filling up. How many miles per tank do you get?

With a V6 / 24 Valve engine, its eay to have a "heavy foot" =)


Chris

Re: 1999 Ford Taurus Weird Milage...

Group: alt.autos.ford Date: Fri, Sep 19, 2003, 5:11pm (EDT-1) From:
com



I usually fill up with 11-12 gallons of gas. The last quarter gallon
goes down quite quickely and then "bounces around" quite a bit. So I
usually fill up then. I always reset the odometer, I keep a book of how
much gas I put in, the mileage, the total mileage what type of gas, how
much per gallon, and total amount. Good records for when I go to sell
the car.<<<<<<

My records are no where near that detailed. In fact I don't keep any
about fuel consumption.


From the sounds of it, I still have 3-4 gallons of gas left in my car
when I am filling up. How many miles per tank do you get? <<<<<<<<<<<<

I normally fill up when I'm at about 1/4 tank, like you it takes 10-12
gallons. The odo usually reads about 220-250 miles. BTW I use 89
octane.

Regardless of what people will say, there is a performance difference
between 87 & the higher octanes at least in my car. 93 octane turns it
into a fire breathing dragon but with 93 =octane at $1.90 a gallon I can
get by with 89.

BTW Mine was one of the last 99's made with dual exhausts & 200hp.


With a V6 / 24 Valve engine, its easy to have a "heavy foot"
=)<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

You betcha kimosabe

Eric


Chris

 
 

You should always refer to your owner's manual on what octane fuel to use in
your car. I own a 2002 Ford Taurus SEL. It has a 24 valve V6 Duratec engine.
My car holds up to 18 gallons of gas and it has an average of 22 to 24
highway mpg. I change oil every 5,000 miles and the owner's manual for my
car says to always use octane 87 fuel which is regular fuel. I get about
350 - 400 miles a tank on my car. With a 24 valve V6, it's easy to be a lead
foot, but you have to be careful. That's normal.

It seem normal for older model Tauruses to go 200 - 250 miles a tank
when it has an average of 22 highway mpg. I used to have a '94 Taurus and I
get that much fuel milage and it seemed normal using octane 87 fuel. Newer
Tauruses from YK2 to present gives you a little more fuel milage than the
older ones.

~CyberWolf

"CyberWolf" <com> wrote in message
news:8S6bb.47022$news.atl.earthlink.net... 
in 
engine. 
lead 

I have an 03 Mustang GT (4.6L V8). I got 23mpg in mixed driving. Others have
reported getting 28mpg on the highway. Considering my mixed mpg, 28 on the
highway seems very reachable. What I'm getting at is why are you only
getting around 23mpg on the highway? My 4.0L ranger would only average
17mpg. The 4.0L engine was always a gas hog. Perhaps Ford's other V6s are
too.
John

Re: 1999 Ford Taurus Weird Milage...

Group: alt.autos.ford Date: Sun, Sep 21, 2003, 1:44am (EDT+4) From:
net (jriegle)
"CyberWolf" <com> wrote in message

,<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<snip>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

What I'm getting at is why are you only getting around 23mpg on the
highway? My 4.0L ranger would only average 17mpg. The 4.0L engine was
always a gas hog. Perhaps Ford's other V6s are too. John<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Running the AC year round probably dosn't help my mileage either. That's
the price you pay for living in S. Florida.

Eric

 

Eric,

My original point to your earlier message about using octane 89 fuel in
your Taurus is that you should NEVER put higher octane fuel in your car
which is designed for octane 87. Putting higher octane fuel in your car
designed for octane 87 DOESN'T make your car perform better or go faster.
Premium fuel is for turbo charged engines only. Your '99 Taurus has about
the same engine as my '02 Taurus and they are desgined to use octane 87
fuel. Using higher octane fuel than what your manual recommends can damage
your engine. If you own a vehicle with an engine designed for premium or
mid-grade fuel. NEVER put octane 87 fuel in engines designed for higher
octane. It will cause the engine to knock and can damage it.

~CyberWolf

Re: 1999 Ford Taurus Weird Milage...

Group: alt.autos.ford Date: Sun, Sep 21, 2003, 10:20pm (EDT+4) From:
com (CyberWolf)
Running the AC year round probably dosn't help my mileage either. That's
the price you pay for living in S. Florida.
Eric,
********My original point to your earlier message about
using octane 89 fuel in your Taurus is that you should NEVER put higher
octane fuel in your car which is designed for octane 87. Putting higher
octane fuel in your car designed for octane 87 DOESN'T make your car
perform better or go faster. Premium fuel is for turbo charged engines
only. Your '99 Taurus has about the same engine as my '02 Taurus and
they are desgined to use octane 87 fuel. Using higher octane fuel than
what your manual recommends can damage your engine. If you own a vehicle
with an engine designed for premium or mid-grade fuel. NEVER put octane
87 fuel in engines designed for higher octane. It will cause the engine
to knock and can damage it.
********~CyberWolf
================================

After almost 5 yrs of using 89 or higher octane my engine is fine. I've
tried 87 from time to time and the car is sluggish and requires more
pedal pressure to achieve the same speed. In addition passing
performance suffers with 87 as compared to 89 or higher.

I'm willing to risk what might happen with 89+ octane to get the
performance I want. OTOH try a tank of 93 and see if you don't notice a
real difference. Should be interesting.

Eric