1992 Ford Escort LX

[Thtwsacls1]

Hey everybody

Great forum you got here. I read about hypermiling elsewhere on the net and it peaked my interest. I did some more research and found this site. Hooray! My last tank refill was $40 so I decided to really take this stuff seriously and save some bucks.

A Quick Bio
First off, I'm a fairly laid back driver, I never go beyond 5 miles above the speed limit. I break gradually and cruise to stops or cruise whenever its reasonable. My style consists of accelerations and cruising. If I'm in a hurry or late I accelerate hard at lights, but I'm trying to stay organized so that doesn't happen anymore.

So far my car has given me some pretty good gas mileage. I don't feel like I fill up that often (yesterday was my first time at the pump this month). But I'm trying to find a way to keep better track of my mileage while increasing efficiency. I've seen some very informative material here so I hope I can learn something.

From the title you already know what car I drive so here are some relevant specs:

-Fuel tank: 11.9gals
-Transmission: Automatic 4spd
-EPA Mpg Estimate: 26(combined)

I'm just starting out, so I'll list my beginner goals for you guys here:

-Fill tires up to maximum rating listed on tirewall
-Leave for destinations early to allow for slower, smoother driving
-Turn off engine in neutral before shifting to park when parking the car
-Get an Mpg meter to manage fuel economy
-Coast/cruise behind larger vehicles whenever possible
-Windows up on highway, windows down in the town when warm (avoid AC)
-Keep a cold drink w/ice at hand in a thermos for hot days (avoid AC)

That's it so far. Take a look and let me know what you think!

Oh yeah, one more thing. Does anyone know of a good place to get an Mpg meter? Anyone find a meter at a bargain price at some place?

[theholycow]

Welcome! It sounds like you've been reading up on this stuff pretty well.

The MPG meter might be hard to come up with for your car, unfortunately. There are a few threads about DIY solutions. Do you know if any 1992 Escorts or similar other years/models had MPG gauges that might be compatible? If so, you might be able to get one from a junkyard. You could check car-part.com but they don't have a specific category for gauges, so you'd probably have to look under misc electrical or interior parts.

[101mpg]

The best way to increase your FE is to start a gaslog by putting your vehicle in the garage, and posting gaslogs. This will be public, and you'll watch your FE more, which will give you better driving habits.

Welcome!

[Thtwsacls1]

Originally Posted by theholycow

Welcome! It sounds like you've been reading up on this stuff pretty well.

The MPG meter might be hard to come up with for your car, unfortunately. There are a few threads about DIY solutions. Do you know if any 1992 Escorts or similar other years/models had MPG gauges that might be compatible? If so, you might be able to get one from a junkyard. You could check car-part.com but they don't have a specific category for gauges, so you'd probably have to look under misc electrical or interior parts.

I was kinda wondering what is DIY, or what does it stand for?

[GasSavers_RoadWarrior]

DIY = "Do it yourself" as in home made, self built, roll your own etc.

Things I noticed that are important on the escort.

i) Tire pressure, very sensitive to underinflation, let 'em drop to 28psi and your 32mpg tanks turn into 28-29mpg tanks.
ii) MAF sensor, keep it clean, the PCV breather filter disintegrates and blows it with oil. Replace filter, clean MAF.
iii) Keep on top of cooling problems, heat kills trannys and engines on these. Cooling system is relatively oversized but lack of maintenance will bite you in the tush. Check for proper ground of the pipe that the engine and gauge coolant sensors are screwed into, it's under the air hose, it should be bolted to the block, but for some reason, it gets left hanging loose by idiot mechanics, pro or am, it's the only ground those sensors have, if it's not bolted to the block various screwy things happen with the temp gauge, fan and engine operation.
iv) Further to the above, listen out for the water pump quitting, or starting to go out. Change timing belt at same time.

Improvements.
Mine liked...
Walmart Supertech 0W30 synthetic oil
Airhog panel filter
ATF change with Lucas Transmission Fix to take slush out of transmission (Firming it up also keeps it cooler, heat kills these trannies) consider adding a tranny cooler if this one didn't have one.
Fresh Champion double copper plugs.

Didn't do it to mine yet but there's an air silencer tube in the bottom of the airbox, removal of that is meant to improve breathing.

Escorts don't like..
Bosch sparkplugs or O2 sensors, overheating (Melts plastics in tranny solenoid pack, warps head and drops valves)

Edit: Further points...
Ignition switches are considered "delicate" on Escorts, keep it well lubed up with graphite or similar, and try to use ignition key on it's own, without half a pound of other keys pulling on it.
Acetone was sort of working on mine, I'd get +2mpg on 3 1/2 oz per tankful, but only the "first" time, seems to tune it out if you go two tanks in a row with it, but if you do every other tank, that tank gets 2-4mpg better. Think I had straight gas for that, not E10, in E10 it might not do anything.

[Ford Man]

I have a couple of things listed in my introduce yourself you might want to try, it would be easier for you to read it than for me to try to retype it. As for a mileage gauge I suggest you do what I have done on my 1988 Escort. Just buy an inexpensive vaccum gauge and hook it up to read your manifold vaccum it doesn't give you MPG readings of course, but you can figure your own MPG. Just try to accelerate and keep your manifold vaccum as high as possible this will increase your MPG. With a little practice you will figure out how to keep your speed pretty constant while also feathering the gas for the highest manifold vaccum. I also noticed one of the other persons who answered your thread said Escorts don't like Bosch platinum plugs or Bosch oxygen sensors. My 1988 Escort has 474,000+ miles on it and I have used Bosch platinums for about the last 200,000-250,000 miles, and it has a Bosch oxygen sensor that has probably been used for about 100,000 miles. I have encountered no problems with either one and my MPG went up a little when I started using Bosch platinum plugs. It was not a large increase, but I do remember a slight increase and of course when I replaced the defective oxygen sensor with a new Bosch MPG's increased dramatically. Of course this wasn't because it was a Bosch it was just because the old one was defective any good oxygen sensor would have improved MPG. Hope this helps you out.

[GasSavers_RoadWarrior]

Glad to hear the Bosch's worked on that one, many folks with the 2nd and 3rd gen models have had complaints about them though. '91 up don't seem to like them, guess it's the computer.

[Ford Man]

Originally Posted by RoadWarrior

Glad to hear the Bosch's worked on that one, many folks with the 2nd and 3rd gen models have had complaints about them though. '91 up don't seem to like them, guess it's the computer.

I have a 1997 and a 2002 Escort besides the 1988. I have never tried Bosch platinums in either of them. What kind of problems do people complain about when using them in the newer Escorts.

[GasSavers_RoadWarrior]

Spluttering, hesitation, loss of power, loss of mpg.....

Edit: might depend on what plug wires you're using, have a suspicion that higher resistance plugs just make regular wires flashover

[Thtwsacls1]

Yeah, there are very few other options than a Bosch sensor though. I ran a quick search at Autozone and a Denso O2 sensor was the only alternative. I think I'll consider getting that one.

My last sparkplug change was about 3 yrs ago, so I don't think I'll be switching it anytime soon. I am considering getting a high grade air filter & breather filter though. Just starting small at this point.

Anyone tried this magnetic fuel saver? I bet its a scam:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...002066/c-10101