jim@jcpowers.com
06-04-2008, 12:03 PM
Hello,
I just found this site yesterday and will, of course, begin applying the recommendations here for increasing my MPG. I have an 04 Freestar with the 4.2L engine. We purchased it for travel comfort and I love driving it but the cost is killing us. My wife also drives an 04 Freestar with the 3.9L engine (don't ask).
I have always maintained tire pressures at 39 just because that gave a crisper drive. I a little uncertain about putting them much higher with the heat here in Dallas, TX. I think the max cold pressure is 44 but they are in need of replacement in the next 5K miles or so. Do I really need to worry with the heat and age or am I OK putting them to the max? I always rotate at 5K miles and have the alignment checked every 15K miles just to extend the tire life.
I do follow the Ford maintenance guide with service every 5K miles. I used to do every 3K but ran across a television program that demonstrated that natural oil is actually good to 7K or more under city driving. Since Ford puts the synthetic oil in, I think I'm OK at their 5K intervals.
I actually live in Allen and work in Dallas. My daily commute is 25 miles each way. I take US75 to work and the toll roads home as this combination provides the best flowing traffic. I even adjusted my work hours to accomodate for traffic patterns. Out of that 25 miles, 18 is highway, the rest is surface streets with speed limits between 35 and 40 MPH. I usually maintain a speed between the limit and 5+ but never higher. I have been averaging 19-21 MPG without the A/C. My first tank with the A/C for the entire tank was 17.84 MPG. With the Dallas heat, it isn't practical to drive without.
I usually drive with a good 2-4 second buffer to the vehicle in front of me. I started doing that just because I hate stop and go and this was the best way I found to reduce the amount of braking I have to do. This morning (my first morning attempting any of these techniques) I used my cruise control and did shut off my engine at the longest stop lights.
One question I'm really wondering about is wear on the starter (and appropriate linkages) with more frequent starting as well as the engine in general. This vehicle isn't the most sound that Ford has ever built. I had to replace the fuel pump at 29K miles (while traveling out of town of all times). Any pointers here or others based on what you now know?
I just found this site yesterday and will, of course, begin applying the recommendations here for increasing my MPG. I have an 04 Freestar with the 4.2L engine. We purchased it for travel comfort and I love driving it but the cost is killing us. My wife also drives an 04 Freestar with the 3.9L engine (don't ask).
I have always maintained tire pressures at 39 just because that gave a crisper drive. I a little uncertain about putting them much higher with the heat here in Dallas, TX. I think the max cold pressure is 44 but they are in need of replacement in the next 5K miles or so. Do I really need to worry with the heat and age or am I OK putting them to the max? I always rotate at 5K miles and have the alignment checked every 15K miles just to extend the tire life.
I do follow the Ford maintenance guide with service every 5K miles. I used to do every 3K but ran across a television program that demonstrated that natural oil is actually good to 7K or more under city driving. Since Ford puts the synthetic oil in, I think I'm OK at their 5K intervals.
I actually live in Allen and work in Dallas. My daily commute is 25 miles each way. I take US75 to work and the toll roads home as this combination provides the best flowing traffic. I even adjusted my work hours to accomodate for traffic patterns. Out of that 25 miles, 18 is highway, the rest is surface streets with speed limits between 35 and 40 MPH. I usually maintain a speed between the limit and 5+ but never higher. I have been averaging 19-21 MPG without the A/C. My first tank with the A/C for the entire tank was 17.84 MPG. With the Dallas heat, it isn't practical to drive without.
I usually drive with a good 2-4 second buffer to the vehicle in front of me. I started doing that just because I hate stop and go and this was the best way I found to reduce the amount of braking I have to do. This morning (my first morning attempting any of these techniques) I used my cruise control and did shut off my engine at the longest stop lights.
One question I'm really wondering about is wear on the starter (and appropriate linkages) with more frequent starting as well as the engine in general. This vehicle isn't the most sound that Ford has ever built. I had to replace the fuel pump at 29K miles (while traveling out of town of all times). Any pointers here or others based on what you now know?