SUPER TERRIBLE mileage on 2000 Taurus -- HELP

[enyce2k9]

Hello everyone.

Well I purchased a used Taurus year 2000 with 83K miles just 3 weeks or so ago. It's in wonderful condition, was well maintained from previous owner supposedly, has factory paint, everything stock, I really like it! Wonderful comfort and convenient features.

My ONLY complaint is the darn fuel efficiency! It is RIDICULOUS!

I reset the trip odometer after filling up the tank 7 DAYS AGO -- refilled yesterday and these were the results :

15.207 gallons consumed --- 204 miles ran on trip odometer.
Let me simplify this 13.41 MPG average on CITY & HIGHWAY.
MEANING that city is probably 9MPG and highway 15MPG.

Alright now I don't want to question my local mechanic because now days specially they just try to earn extra bucks with lousy info, so please you cool atoters, let me know what should I consider here....

Thanks alot for reading the long thread, lets save some gas here!

 

[postmortemIA]

i can tell you that on mine (had 2003 for 5 yrs) I was getting about 24-25mpg combined with about 80% hwy driving and during summer and spring months.
Also, car is optimized to run best in 55-65mph on highway, if you drive 75 or so it is going to decrease fuel efficiency.

 

[Howard]

What's the tire pressure?

 

[halik]

Either a bad mass air sensor or a busted O2 sensor. Is the check engine light on?

 

[Vette73]

Can you answer this?


What motor?

Does it run well?

Have you done any work to it? Is the check engine light on?


If no to last 2 questions then start here...

Replace:
Spark Plugs
Plugs wires
Fuel Filter
PCV Valve
Transmission filter
Check/Replace air filter
Oil filter/Oil (5w30 oil and DON'T use fram)

Check(maybe replace):
Thermostat (if stuck open will cause extra use of fuel)
Rad Cap (good to do if thermostat is replaced)
Air pressure (I like 34 front and 32 rear myself)
Brakes (make sure none are dragging/stuck)

Do:
Get a can of Carb cleaner and spray out the throttle body and intake

If you need most to all that look at Rockauto.com as they will be cheaper then advance/auto zone and they have a 5% coupon at fatwallet.

 

[LTC8K6]

Well, that method is not very accurate. Generally, you'd have a check engine light on if you were only getting 15mpg on the highway.

 

[Gibson486]

I am going to guess O2 sensors are bad.

 

[LTC8K6]

My 1995 Taurus 3.8L gets into the high 20's on the highway.

 

[CptCrunch]

The wife has a 2005 Ford Taurus and it gets 24-26 consistently on a mix of mostly highway and city driving. I drove the thing 180 miles the other weekend, average speed of 82mph and achieved 29mpg. I would start checking O2 sensors, air filter, MAF.