Thread: this dosn't seem right

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My '94 Ford Tempo w/ 2.3 4cyl/ automatic runs great, shifts fine and it has 4 correctly inflated brand new tires, fronts are winterforce snow tires... yet it seemed like it was drinking a little to much gas, so I did a few fill ups and did the math. 21.82 MPG is all it is getting, what could cause this? reviews claim at least 30 MPG for this car. I'd be happy w/ 25 but my brother had a 2.9 V6 ranger 4x4 that got 20 MPG in 4X4, and 24 in 2wd..

Originally Posted by Matt167

My '94 Ford Tempo w/ 2.3 4cyl/ automatic runs great, shifts fine and it has 4 correctly inflated brand new tires, fronts are winterforce snow tires... yet it seemed like it was drinking a little to much gas, so I did a few fill ups and did the math. 21.82 MPG is all it is getting, what could cause this? reviews claim at least 30 MPG for this car. I'd be happy w/ 25 but my brother had a 2.9 V6 ranger 4x4 that got 20 MPG in 4X4, and 24 in 2wd..

Have you done a comp. test??

Has the cat been changed in it's life time? Wouldn't hurt to check it along with the comp check like Erik said. A few other little things can cause it too. Start simple and go from there.

According to this you are exactly on the money.........

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm

I havn't done anything to it yet, I'll do a comp test and check the plugs.. car only has 108,000 miles on it.. if its got low compression, I'll just run with it cause the car isn't worth it. I paid $500 for it with hopes it would last the winter.. it seems to have all the power it needs so I doubt it is the cat cause I know what happens to performance when they clog.. but it is a factory ford exhaust system, I can get it to operating temp and check the cat with my non contact pyrometer. ( 5-10* hotter on exit side of cat means cat is operating )...

It only cost's $29 per week to fill it up, so it's not that bad to drive, just if I can improve the MPG for less cost than 1 fill up, I would.

Originally Posted by youther

According to this you are exactly on the money.........

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm

that's city driving tho.. my daily trip is mostly main road that I cruise 55-60 MPH on.. about a 30 min ride each way.. only 8 miles of that is back road

It IS a Ford, ya know!

waaaaaa, try 60 a week !

There you go. You're not cruising at 60 MPH any prolonged period and the city stop and start is takin its toll.

Years ago I had a 63 Volvo 122S- the one that looks like 49 Ford? It had 109CID engine 4 speed or 1.8 liter in Euro-fag size. It had 2 SU carbs and got the same kinda milage you are in about the same type of trip. You got a slushbox to turn and a larger engine.