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Ford Focus: MPG-Real World Numbers

177 messages,  Last post on Mar 11, 2013 at 8:18 AM

You are in the Ford Focus Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Focus, Ford Focus SVT, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)

Messages Page 17 of 19

#152 of 177 Re: C'mon now [danjerq] by kam327

Aug 10, 2012 (5:15 am)

Replying to: danjerq (Aug 09, 2012 5:29 pm)
"My 2012 Focus is currently getting 31.2 mpg..or Averaging 7.2 liters per 100km..not the 54 mpg they claim on the window sticker.."
 
Well come on now, do you always believe the marketing hype?
 
You must be in Canada. The Ford website for Canada does say "up to 54 mpg" or something like that. Which is ridiculous. You can average that high if you stay at a constant 50mph speed with no accelerations, etc. But in the U.S. no one advertises such an unrealistic number.
 
But at any rate, if you had done any additional research you would've seen that your average is right in line with the U.S. EPA combined rating, as well as the hundreds of Focus owners on www.fuelly.com. So feel comforted that you are in the norm.

#153 of 177 Re: End game [johnplisap] by block_edmunds

Sep 22, 2012 (7:42 pm)

Replying to: johnplisap (Aug 08, 2012 2:34 am)
The size of the tank is irrelevent. The fact that it's been mentioned a few times and that you thought you needed to drive the car until you ran out of gas makes me wonder if you're calculating correctly. How much gas you use and the miles driven is all one needs to know.
 
1) Fill it up 100%.
2) Reset your trip odometer.
3) Drive until you get down to 1/4 tank ot 1/8th of a tank...or wait until the dummy/warning light comes on...have 1/4 tank (or less) left so you have used over 10 gallons of gas to "wash out" error due to not filling it the same exact amount each time. For example, if you fill it more the next time by 1 gallon, say 11 gallons, that means you only really burned 10gal (because you started 1 gal lower), but you think you burned 11, so you'd be off by 10%. 10% is not a huge error though (compared to the terrible mileage you saw), and it's not likely you'll refill it 1 gallon differently.
 
4) Put gas in it - fill it back to 100% so you're back to where it started.
5) Done. Now calculate the MPG.

#154 of 177 Suggestions please by goofball81

Sep 25, 2012 (3:04 am)

Hi,
 
I just bought a new Ford Focus Ambiente 1.6L six speed automatic, model year 2012. I have done 3500 kms and am faced with an unusual noise. It could be either the engine or the drivetrain, but it is a shrill and just audible. It is the kind of sound one can expect to hear when driving if the radiator cap came loose (thats not the case though), like a metallic vibration. It dies off when accelarating and is absent when idle, but is there when deccelarating or cruising.
 
I took it to the dealer, but they couldnt identify the problem. Can someone make any helpful suggestions on what could be the problem?

#155 of 177 35 mpg average for 5-speed manual by scrapple1

Sep 26, 2012 (6:15 pm)

I've averaged 35 mpg, measured by dividing miles driven by gallons pumped. The electronic mpg readout overestimates by 2 to 4 mpg. My driving is about 60% hwy, 40% city. The range is between the high 20s for around-the-neighborhood driving and 39 for all-highway.

#156 of 177 Re: 35 mpg average for 5-speed manual [scrapple1] by joegiant

Nov 21, 2012 (2:26 am)

Replying to: scrapple1 (Sep 26, 2012 6:15 pm)
Just crossed into the 38mpg's(38.3 to be exact) on my lying onboard readout w/90% hwy driving on this commuter. A MT as well. I'm happy.

#157 of 177 Re: Ford Focus Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [kam327] by mo614

Jan 21, 2013 (5:29 pm)

Replying to: kam327 (May 24, 2012 10:10 am)
Thanks for your effort. Your comments and explanations to revss have been logical and accurate. I'm sure most readers have been able to understand and agree with your reasoning. Maybe if revss re-reads the posts and thinks about them some more, he'll get it too. My two cars, now with 80,000 and 90,000 mile odometer readings, go the same miles per gallon as they did during their first 5,000 miles. I bought them new about eight years ago. Neither has had any engine or transmission repairs, but have had regular oil changes and routine maintenance. With our driving styles and routes, each vehicle matches the EPA numbers, city and highway. I use a calculator each time I re-fuel. MPG = trip odometer miles divided by gallons burned between fill-ups. I don't guess by watching fuel gauge needle positions or on-board electronic MPG (estimate) displays.

#158 of 177 Re: Ford Focus Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [mo614] by revss

Jan 21, 2013 (5:41 pm)

Replying to: mo614 (Jan 21, 2013 5:29 pm)
I use a calculator as well and I get 21 MPG in city and 28 highway. However I disagree with both yourself and Kam. Why do you think Hyundai got sued?? It's just a matter of time for Ford.

#159 of 177 Re: Ford Focus Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [revss] by mo614

Jan 21, 2013 (5:53 pm)

Replying to: revss (Jan 21, 2013 5:41 pm)
Depending on your driving style and route, the percentages of EPA numbers you are achieving may be the same as you'd realize if you were driving other makes and models. The EPA numbers do not exist to tell you what fuel economy you will get, but only how one vehicle will compare to another given the same (tested) driving conditions. In your situation, my guess is you'd not get the EPA average in any car.

#160 of 177 Re: Ford Focus Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [revss] by kam327

Jan 22, 2013 (7:36 am)

Replying to: revss (Jan 21, 2013 5:41 pm)
"Why do you think Hyundai got sued?? It's just a matter of time for Ford."
 
If Ford has maliciously cooked the books like Hyundai did, then yes they should be punished. But there's no evidence of that, and many Focus owners are routinely achieving the EPA ratings in their everyday driving, like me.
 
Hyundia was punished because they upset the apples to apples comparison that the EPA ratings afford. And that's all they afford. They DO NOT guarantee you performance. Many folks are lucky enough because of their driving habits and routes to actually achieve the EPA ratings, but many do not.
 
Hyundia tried to give themselves an unfair competitive advantage by making it seem like their apple (in the EPA apples-to-apples comparison scheme) was shinier and more red. Big mistake.

#161 of 177 Re: Ford Focus Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [kam327] by revss

Jan 22, 2013 (7:45 am)

Replying to: kam327 (Jan 22, 2013 7:36 am)
" and many Focus owners are routinely achieving the EPA ratings in their everyday driving, like me."
 
Well if you read through this thread and others, there people getting mileage just like me.
 
Again, time will tell.

Messages Page 17 of 19

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