[orkinmann]

91' LX, 1.9l, Automatic, 214,000 miles.

SEMI-NEWB ALERT

I put 1/3 can seafoam in the tank three weeks ago. Last week I changed the fuel filter, then ran 1/3 a can seafoam through the brake booster vacuum line, drown the car out, let it sit for 5-10 min, started it up and took it on a five mile jaunt down the highway. Ran 1/4 can of seafoam through the PCV vacuum line and drown it out again. Waited 5-10 min, then took the return trip. After two or three days (50-100 miles), changed out the O2 sensor (Bosch), plugs (Motocraft copper core set at ~.050 gap(did the job at work, didn't bring my gapper, and the clossest thing I could find was 18 gauge stainless steel sheet metal which is .050)), and wires (xact). this should have boosted my gas mileage! I'm still getting roughly 25-26 mpg with 85% highway driving. This is means no change! What should I look at/do to get better gas mileage? I would like the fabled 50mpg highway, but I'll settle... I'de like to get at least 35 hopefully...

Please help a broke sheet metal apprentice afford to drive more!

Thank you!
-Mikey

 

[white-lightning]

Did you reset the computer after installing the new O2 sensor?

 

[FordMan59]

Check for vacuum leaks, especially the PCV elbow. Would also be a good idea to have the codes checked to see if the ECU has any stored.

 

[orkinmann]

no, I didn't reset the computer... didn't think about it, i'll do that and check for codes. do that, refill the tank, and let you know how it goes from there.

thank you
-Mikey

 

[Jeffescortlx]

Clean your MAF.

 

[gnx547]

What do you use to clean the MAF?

 

[FordEscorter]

What do you use to clean the MAF?

Maf Cleaner! :lol: had to throw that in!

take it out, DO NOT prod around there, there are delicate sensor wires.

Look around inside, there should be a circle of metal, that is where the wires are at. Take some carb cleaner and dquirt in there, that will make it look like new.

here is a pic, that circle houses the sensor wires, nothing else has to be cleaned.

Im not so sure the maf would cut down on mpg that much.

This may be a dumb qustion for you, but DID YOU change your air filter?

Also dump some injector cleaner in the tank before your fill up.

Also try filling up at a diffrent gas station, there may have been a little contamination.

Also how many miles ya got on er? that would tell me alot if its 200,000+ you may be lookin at an overhaul

 

[dave8338]

Is your automatic locking into overdrive? How many rpms does it turn at 60? What size rims/tires are you running? Air filter is a biggie on these things! Cat getting plugged?

35 MPG is what I get to and from work w/5-speed (5 miles one way) so your hopes of 35mpg is VERY realistic. :lol:

 

[orkinmann]

214,000 miles, i forgot the mention the pcv valve, breather and air filter all replaced too. 13" tires. there is really next to no carbon build up in the maf, not on the sensors, or the walls

 

[dave8338]

Something funky going on. :x 25mpg in an Escort is hard to achieve.

My next suggestion would be to run a compression test. Look for 135-160 psi across the board. I would also suggest taking those 13" rims and using them as boat anchors.

From everything that you've done to the car, you've just about covered all the bases. Did you check on the codes yet? May be a plugged converter or as I mentioned earlier...the OD may not be kicking in. Short of that or a possible ECU (though not likely) I'm not sure what else to suggest. Have you noticed any driveability issues with it? Lack of power? Rough running? Anything...

 

[Genisis]

Best Ive ever gotten with my 91 LX is 27mpg. Ive replace almost everything but the body and the engine block. Runs like a new car, but cant get any more than 27mpg no matter what I do.

 

[pell]

Wow 27 mpg doesn't seem to good at all. Is it an auto? My 95 wagon which I drive pretty hard does a solid 32 mpg which is an auto.

 

[madmatt2024]

I think the ECU may have something to do with it, the newer ones seem to be programed better. One member had to run Premium gas in his 92 wagon so it wouldn't ping. He swapped to a 94 ECU and the problem went away A friend of mine managed to get almost 40 MPG out of her 93 auto wagon with 13" wheels! She was in shock when I calculated the mileage for her, I can't even get that in my 97 5 speed wagon.

These engines seem to be really picky about the sparkplug gap. Regap yours to .054, it does make a difference.

When you clean the MAF don't use carb cleaner, it leaves a film when it dries. Use electrical or MAF cleaner, they don't leave film.

 

[zzyzzx]

Are those MotorCraft plugs that you used double platinum or not? I doubt that would make a difference at this point, but it may eventually. The only Escorts that get 50MPG are diesels., and maybe that guy wuth the scan gauge. I have a 1995LX with an ATX and anywhere from 31.5MPG - 34.5MPG is normal, and that's with the TX ATX. I suspect the TJ ATX transmissions get better mileage. Maybe you should stop driving with a lead foot.

 

[orkinmann]

thanks... friday I'll re-gap, return the carb cleaner/get MAF cleaner, and look in to a J/Y ECU from a '94. Oh, and seafoam/change the oil. gimmie a week to run a new tank o' gas thru it, and I'll let you know the results.

-Thanx!

P.S. I've been trying to back off the accelerator... unfortunately, I don't wake up very easily in the morn, so that commute into work (13 mi.) is about the only time I'm hard on her

 

[madmatt2024]

I would look into the ECU from a 93 without EGR. The 94 has EGR and the ECU won't be happy if it isn't there.

 

[zzyzzx]

My next suggestion would be to run a compression test. Look for 135-160 psi across the board.

...the OD may not be kicking in.

At this point, those would be my next two thoughts as well. At 213K miles I would almost have to expect low compression.