I have come to the conclusion that it is all about the foot. I went from 17 mpg to 21 same drive simply by making a conscious effort to drive like an old lady.

The absolute worst I've ever gotten with my 96 was 19 mpg and that was during the middle of winter with temps in the 0 - 10 range and almost all city driving. That was one of the only times I've ever gotten less than 20 mpg.

Lately I've been averaging 25 mpg.

12-14mpg city or highway. Car just turned 20K miles, but the same since 9K miles.
I also drive with a very light foot in town and 55 on the highway.
No computer codes.

i get between 24-26mpg on highway and around the city i dont pay attention all that much cuz it constantley changes,

Best I did recently was 250miles on 1/2 tank - Figure 25mpg.

Back roads, 55ish long trip non-stop pretty much.

I swear the synthetic helps along with some ram cold air.

Me ( consistently ).

*And I'm definitely no granny driver.

my city mileage isn't nearly as good as my highway, 14-16mpg in the city probably, might be better now that it is warm out. however, it is very rare that i city drive my car for anything other then getting to the highway or picking up a lady friend. my car is basically just used for highway at this point, which i am very happy about. i bike or walk a lot of my city stuff, other wise i take my suburban. no reason to wear out the ford with the stop and go stuff when i've got a perfectly good chevy to beat on.

It's two things, SpruceGoose:

1) Your rear axle ratio is 3.55.....makes the engine very thirsty, I oughta know I had a 2000 CVLX HPP and never got more than 18 around town, 22 highway.

2) That nasty ethanol blend gasoline up there in Massachusetts.

Presently, my '96 is getting about 19 MPG with 100% city driving. Best ever in this car was during a trip to Cedar Point; nearly 23MPG. Worst- 12.5 MPG in winter '04.

Rob

Part of it could be the bad 2000 ECM tune from Ford. Maybe swapping the ECM out for a 99?

Thanks. I will look into that, I hadn't heard of that.

The best I got was 32.5 mpg. Unfortunately, this was over only 15 miles. 60 mph, cruise, ac off, windows down. It was on the Texas panhandle (between Amarillo and Dallas), which is flat enough that you can calibrate levels against the horizon.
I get 24-ish if I get the cruise at 75, and I think it will go to higher if I slow down to, like, 65. My license, however, says "California" on the top, the car spends much more time between 75 and 95 than 65-75. At 80, she gets about 20, 17 at 95, and 15-14 at 100.
I have a 3.08 rear end, synthetic oil in the engine, tranny, and differential, and run my tires at 50 psi (max listed on sidewall is 51). No mods.

50 PSI?? U better take some air out of those bad boys, that's WAY too high.

Not if the max is 51 psi

I once got with my old 99' town car (which was new when i had it) 37 MPG. I was being stupid and put the cruise at 45 mph on the highway...I did that for over 60 miles.


For all you non believers in the MPG computer, THEYRE ALMOST ALWAYS ACCURATE!!! Even in my 82 Mark, its %100 ACCURATE! Dont doubt them. Like someone here mentioned, theyre more accurate than your manual calculations sometimes.


PS, My best avg with my GM LSC w/3.27s was 27.6 from Long island to Foxwoods in Connecticut.