Looking for Better Mileage out of your newer Ford?.....Boilerpro

Boilerpro_5

I just calculated my mileage over the last 1,000 miles and ended up with 16.35 MPG out of my 5.4L. Previouly I was getting a little under 14MPG.
First off do not use standard 5W-30 motor oil, use at least the recommended synthetic Blend Motorcraft Motor oil. I did this first and mileage jumped to 15.5MPG.
I am now running Mobil One and mileage now jumped to 16.35..... I may have seen as high as 17.25MPG. I am continuing to monitor the mileage.
I plan on going to much longer oil change intervals since the synthetic does not break down like standard oil. However, assuming a 5,000 mile oil change, the extra cost of synthetic oil is $25.00 for 6 quarts, and the fuel savings (assuming fuel at 2.80/gal) are $156.00. Not a bad return on the investment..... a 17% increase in mileage. The only other nonstock item on the truck is the K&N air filter....This was put in 6 mos earlier and did not appear to have a significant impact by itself.

I also switched to Motorcraft Synthetic in our VW VR-6 and saw about a 2 MPG improvement. When we purchased the vehicle we got about 29 to 30 MPG highway (EPA rated at 28MPG) before the first oil change and with this type of car it tends to be difficult of keep the speed down. AFter the first oil change using standard oil, mileage dropped to about 25 to 26 and stayed there even after the engine broke in. I suspect the factory VW oil was full synthetic since all thier other engines require this. Next change is going full systhetic and I am pretty sure we'll regain our lost mileage.

Go full synethetic in whatever you're driving and it will probably really help the mileage.

Boilerpro

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joel_19

mobil 1

i have run full synthetic in everything since seeing how well it stood up to my Nissan turbo ZX. We run it on our 4X4's in all the drive line stuff too. The more you can lower pumping losses the better just like hydronics ,fluid is fluid. My Nissan Titan 4dr pickup consistently returns high 16's and it has 18" tires and over 300HP. Not bad for what it is. Still waiting for the 25MPG midsize diesel motor though....

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Guy Woollard

Synthetic

I have been running synthetic since:
A) A family camping trip to Florida in July-Full size Chevy van, 22 ft camping trailer. Less than 1/2 qt lost in over 4K miles in 90 plus heat most of the way.

14 below zero in NH. Isuzu trooper. Engine turned over that AM like it was 70 out. Impressive.

I have also found that a shot of synthetic gear oil in a rear end (my chevy van again) will quiet them down.

How would it be in a circulator (remember the ones that we had to oil?)

mark schofield

k&n air filter

I've read pro and con postings regarding K&N air filters. Because the filter element is oil treated, some believe that the oil will pass thru to the Mass Airflow Sensor and leave a slight residue on the sensing elements which will in turn effect economy. The MAF sensor is usually located downs steam from the air filter housing in the tube/duct going to the throttle body. There are lots of posts in various forums explaining how to clean it. I do it on my vehicles about every 10k miles, with every other oil change (Mobil 1). I was going to put in K&N filters but decided not to because of the oil film question. Synthetic fluid in the rear; and if you have a stick, synthetic in the gearbox would probably get you another .25%. Tire pressure a few pounds higher than the door rating if they continue to wear properly. And they all add up.

Paul B_5

I've been using synthetics for 32 years , back not only since it was first introduced but Hard to find. And it was hated by OIL companies (you guys Know the politics with this ) Anyway I use it in All my vehicals in all areas, end to end,Motor,trans,power steering ,diff's,Everywhere. Synthetics Pay you money IF you keep the vehical otherwise the next owner benifits from it on your $$. Gas motors easily go 400,000 miles with a 6,000 mile oil change interval. As already stated the winter benifits alone are phenomenal. Paul

Metro Man

oil madness

Had same conversation w/ my mechanic. We both concluded that if done properly K/N air filter is superior. Plus ya gotta love the pink-pong ball air filter suction test. But......... too many people rush the cleaning -drying and then over-oil filter. What he does on his car is to have two filters and change with a prepped/ cleaned filter. Too expensive for me. I just start the night b4... clean, drink and beer, let dry, drink couple more beers, in morning spray lightly, drink coffee., let dry, wipe and ready to rock. I use the same proceedure when I change oil. What I'm saving in gas goes into beer. Much better return on investment.

Will have to look up MAF cleaning

I've been thinking of trying synthetic on next oil change of next vehicle... any better than others??? Mobil 1 seems to get lots of votes.

MetroMan

mark schofield

maf cleaning

http://www.msnusers.com/Sorensonbrian/airfilterandmafsensorcleaning.msnw

this is a link to a site for Toyota Echo owners, for cleaning the sensor. It gives you the general idea. On my ford Ranger, the sensor is about 6" downstream from the filter housing.

Metro Man

Gass- e - ****!

> http://www.msnusers.com/Sorensonbrian/airfilterand

> mafsensorcleaning.msnw

>

> this is a link to a

> site for Toyota Echo owners, for cleaning the

> sensor. It gives you the general idea. On my ford

> Ranger, the sensor is about 6" downstream from

> the filter housing.



Metro Man

Metro Man

Gass- e - ****!

Tanks Mark. Will give her a try

Metro Man

Ken_40

My motor-head brother-in-law

is in charge of a fleet of tractor equipment in north Jeresy. They send their drain oils out for evaluation and test for engine wear through particulate testing.

The results were impressive and synthetics won by a wide margin. I have since switched the Volvo wagon, F-150, my Honda Shadow 750 and Kubota B8200 tractor over to Mobil One 5W-30 with only good results. The mileage on the V70 went from 26 to 28, the pickup from 16 to 17 and the bike does exactly 50 MPG (I never checked before switching and therefore have no data.) The Kubota three-cylinder diesel seems to love it too.

I'm a convert. Costco, aisle seven.

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Unknown

amsoil ?

Anybody ever try using Amsoil? They claimed to be the first and the best in scynic oil... Read somewhere using amsoil in ur 2 cycle boat motor, smoking exhaust will be gone..

Bruce Stevens

I've used used Amsoil

since it first came out and still believe it is better than Mobil 1 as it is pure synthetic and most of the others are blends to keep costs low. And yes being a synthetic it burns clean.

Paul B_5

synthetic 2 stroke mix

I have used the synthetic 2-cycle Mix In my snowmobile,chain saw ,weed whipper, with no smoke...again for more than 30 years. Now running the Higher end Redline 2-cycle mix.,but there are lots of other house brands as well. Optimal for chainsaws. Quicksilver injector oil for mercury Marine engines. Synthetics have been around but most people just Don't Know....Paul Ooopps..I forgot to mention that I also run everything at 100:1 mix for it All!!!

Boilerpro_5

An update on another vehicle using Synthetic Blend

I just changed the oil on our 1993 Escort 5 speed wagon with 225,000 miles on it. Engine burns very little oil (maybe 1/2 qt per 5,000 miles). Filled up tank and took off for Chicago with about 500 lbs in Vehicle. Loaded up vehicle in Chicago, after a little in city driving, to about 900 lbs or more (the fold down cargo area was jammed full). We all had the A/C on quite a bit. Stopped back at the same station and same pump and filled the tank. After driving 273 miles, we only used just over 7 gallons of fuel for a mileage of 39 MPG. Under typical highway conditions we topped out at 33 and run as low as 28.5, but usually 31 to 33 hauling around 1 and sometimes 2 passengers. Works out to about 22% improvement in mileage. Maybe the Energy Tax credits would be much better spent for people purchasing better oil for thier vehicles.

Boilerpro

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Tom Hopkins

Hypermiling geeks think the gains are quite small

The extreme hypermiling crowd like at www.gassavers.org or www.cleanmpg.com will generally say it makes just a slight difference. Most of the difference comes from how we drive (coasting especially and not using the brakes much at all if we plan out far enough), then tire inflation, alignment and brake drag, tuneup, clean air filter. Things like that. There is a gain there but most who test all of the mods would say its not that much. They'd all agree its better for the engine and it does take a lot of energy to make a new van.

Disconnecting the alternator on the other hand is good for 10% although at some point some how some way that battery will need a charge.

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