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Ford Escape Mercury Tribute Real World MPG

81 messages,  Last post on Dec 23, 2008 at 7:45 AM

You are in the Ford Escape Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester

What is this discussion about? Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), SUV


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#62 of 81
Escape-Tribute 2006-4cyl auto by bobsw1
Nov 23, 2007 (4:19 pm)
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Just an update from 10/8, now another 1,500 miles approx, milage still holding between 26 &28 over country roads, and hwy.
 
Suggestions: Drive by the Tachometer, try and attain 30mph at no more than 1250rpm, 45mph at 1600rpm, and 55mph at 2000rpm. Dont use cruise control on hilly areas, carefully raise the speed, and country roads use OD on any hills. Take your foot over the gas any down slopes, dont idle the car, dont warm up and no jack rabbit starts.
 
Keep tire pressure mfr specs, and of course find the shortest distances to where you have to go.
 
good luck.
bob
#63 of 81
Thanks by twolford
Nov 24, 2007 (6:40 pm)
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Thanks Fred and Bob for the input to my question.
 
Fred,
 
I had planned to go to synthetic as you had done and see if that helps but was wondering if there were any aftermarket add-on's like headers/exaust bolt or a chip that might help but so far have not seen any for the escape. I'm thinking of replacing all the oil's in the vehicle with Red Line and see what that does but the oil is fairly expensive and harder to find so may to to Mobil synthetic instead.
 
I have just returned back from a Thanksgiving trip (525 miles one way) and on the way up was able to acheive 20 mpg without babying the vehicle and running 70-75 most of the way. My vehicle is a V6 automatic and I have previously tried running 65-70 on the interstate in overdrive but when I go up any hills the vehicle will downshift and the RPM's jump from about 2200 to 3000 which I assume reduces my MPG. I seem to have to only run about 63 MPH to keep the vehicle from downshifting up small grades. I'll keep expiermenting and see what works best. We like the Escape so far. We have the leather seats and electric drivers seat and padded console so it's all pretty comfortable and there seems to be plenty of space between the gas pedal and brake so no issues there for me. I think I would have liked the 4 cyl model better as I'm more into saving fuel than having the extra power but will make the best of what we have.
 
Terry
#64 of 81
27 MPG w/ V6 AWD!!!! by kam327
Jun 29, 2008 (1:21 pm)
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I have a 2008 Mazda Tribute V6 AWD. It now has about 9,000 miles. I have been averaging around 19-20 mpg overall with mostly suburban driving and some highway driving. Max highway economy was about 22.5 mpg. I just took a 450 mile road trip this weekend after doing the following to try to boost fuel economy: 1) Remove roof rack cross bars, 2) Install a K&N air filter, and 3) keep speed below 70mph and try to avoid hard accelerations at all costs (even turning off cruise control while on up grades to prevent transmission from downshifting and increasing engine rpm's). To my shock, on the way out I calculated 25.8 mpg and on the way back 26.7 mpg. I thought on the way up it was a mistake, like somehow I didn't as much gas back in the tank at the end of the trip. But since I did even better on the way back a mistake is much less likely. I'm going on another road trip this weekend and will try to confirm these numbers, but so far it looks like making a few simple modifications and changing your driving habits really does make a huge difference in fuel economy.
#65 of 81
Chat night by pf_flyer HOST
Jul 01, 2008 (3:42 pm)
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Tuesday means Mazda chat night! The chat opens at 8:45 pm ET and runs until 10 pm ET. I hope you're able to join us tonight to meet and greet with your fellow CarSpace members!
See you there!
#66 of 81
Tribute 2008,V6 AWD in Quebec city, Canada by chiricano
Jul 28, 2008 (4:12 pm)
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I got my Tribute on 2008/03/08. We had a record snowfall this year in Quebec city area, around 4.8 meters (15 feet) of snow.
 
I got around 14 MPG (U.S gallon) up to early May, 2008. The last tank I got 17 MPG (July 2008). Modifications done: I put 5W-20 mobil one syntetic oil and I just put last weekend a K % N air Filter and I got an "scan gauge II" recently as well.
 
Average around 15.5 MPG up to know with 80 % city and 20% highway driving.
 
Please note that temperature in the winter in Quebec city can go below minus 30 degrees Celcius January, February and March.
 
I love the car so far, but fuel consumption is overrated by Energy Canada (23MPG city/31 MPG highway) in Imperial galons, not U.S. gallons.
 
I hope the mileage improve with the K & N filter and changing my driving habits. .
 
The Mazda dealer told me around 5000 miles are required to break the engine.
#67 of 81
escape-tribute mpg by bobsw1
Jul 28, 2008 (5:20 pm)
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hi chiricano
 
we have Tribute 2.3 front drive auto 2006 with just over 50k miles now. For the past 6 months, I have getting a steady 29-30mpg (us), The key is careful use of the tachometer, keep your rpms as low as possible to get to your target speed. Don't be afraid to drive at 55mph even if the MAXimum speed limit is 65, No jack rabbit starts, ease off on the gas just before topping a hill, and use overdrive on level or near level grades. keep the tires properly inflated and the SUV well tuned.
 
I rarely top 2900 rpm.
 
I enjoy the car, and in the land of $4.25 us gas, the SUV goes a long way for a moderate amount of money.
 
good luck.
bob
#68 of 81
Re: Tribute 2008,V6 AWD in Quebec city, Canada [chiricano] by explorerx4
Jul 29, 2008 (2:31 pm)
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Replying to: chiricano (Jul 28, 2008 4:12 pm)

you mileage does seem low.
since you replaced the air filter, we can rule that out. how did the original filter look when you replaced it?
i would check the tire pressures and bump them up a couple of pounds(or whatever) over the number on the door sticker. if the ride is too harsh for you, knock it down a bit.
on a street with a slight slope(not a hill!), i would put the windows down and coast a bit in neutral. do you hear any noises that sound like something could be binding or dragging?
i might take off the roof cross bars if you have them, but i don't think they make much difference in primarily city driving, and be careful you don't scratch the roof if you do.
check the odometer over a long run 20-40 miles if you have a chance.
none of these things will result in a big upswing in mileage, but they might help a bit.
let us know how things go as time goes on.
my wife has an '04 with part time 4x4, which has averaged i tick over 19 us mpg over 60k.
#69 of 81
06 Tribute i4 fwd by rooski41
Aug 27, 2008 (6:09 am)
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I have a 2006 Tribute. 4cyl auto, fwd. I drive 85% freeway and back roads and use the cruse control at 30+ mph as much as possible. I can get a consistent 28-30 MPG and have repeated 32+MPG on 100% highway trips. I have 36,000 miles on it.
#70 of 81
Re: 06 Tribute i4 fwd [rooski41] by bobsw1
Aug 27, 2008 (4:34 pm)
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Replying to: rooski41 (Aug 27, 2008 6:09 am)

great job rooskie41,
 
I havn't been able to break through 32mpg yet, may have to remove roof crossbeams, drive w/o spare tire, since I drive very carefully. The regular 30mpg has been very good overall when you consider the total cost of ownership for this tribute. Just oil changes & filters so far with 53k total miles. A great wagon with plenty of room to load, and drives well.
#71 of 81
Re: 06 Tribute i4 fwd [bobsw1] by rooski41
Aug 28, 2008 (5:29 am)
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Replying to: bobsw1 (Aug 27, 2008 4:34 pm)

I never thought about the cross beams or the spare.... Sounds like good idea's. I am about due for new tires though. I understand good year makes a tire that's advertised as quiet. That would be a change from the Conti's road humm.
 
Are there any other add on's that can increase the mileage? K&N filter..etc.

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