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hi all
..i just bought a 2008 ford escape hybrid ( my first new car ) so far i love it ,but im only gettin 28 mpg;s !! sticker said 34 city 30 hiway . im not exactly city and not long hiways either .i drive alot of short around town trips.. any thoughts or advise? its only got 700 miles is there a break in period? i tried calling my dealer.."patriot ford "here on long island , but once they got the money they havent returned any calls...

I have a 07 FEH. It can take as much as 4000 miles for the systems to "break in". It can take that long to learn how to drive a hybrid like the FEH and Prius to get the best milage. I was getting 28mpg on my first few tanks then the crept up to 30mpg now I'm working on about 33.5 mpg. A EBH helped a bunch when it got below 65 degs.

BTW welcome to the world of Hybrids esp the FEH

he ymark
thanks for the reply. is ther e a difference between a post and a thread? i really dont know how to navigate all this
ray

Break-in is part of it. I've had a 2007 FWD FEH for a little over a year and started trying to apply techniques I read about here and other sites in early January. It took a good 2 months before I started seeing noticeable results (10-12 tanks). I'm sure some of that was cold temps. Late Jan - early Feb is usually the coldest time of the year here.

It wasn't until March that my numbers went up significantly. I went from 29-31mpg to around 34-35mpg. The largest single difference I saw was tire pressure. I increased to 44psi and noticed a 3-4mpg increase on the next tank. I bought a scanguage in late March and that also helped a lot. Up until recently I've been 36-38mph.

-- Rick

Welcome FEH-Ray :) :) and congratulations on your 2008 FEH :) :) :)

Give it time; there's a break-in period of anywhere from 1,000-5,000mi. - because the ICE doesn't run as much as an ICE-only vehicle, it takes a little longer to break in - & while you're learning how to drive your FEH, it's learning about *you* driving *it*

Short trips are mpg-killers, because the engine doesn't get warm enough to go EV :( If possible, make your longest trip the first one, then your engine will be warmed up for the shorter ones. For starters, press up your tires to the max sidewall (44psi on mine) & slow down to the speed limit. Try coasting up to stop signs & red lights. Another thing you can do is make it a game to see how long you can stay in EV when you're pulling away from a stop.

When you're ready for more, here are some good sources of info:

Pravus Prime's FEH FAQ (good basics): http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/f26/feh-faq-6662/

GaryG's Hypermiling the FEH (a little more advanced):
http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/articles/t-hypermiling-the-ford-escape-hybrid--350.html

Xcel's article on hypermiling *anything*: http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/articles/t-beating-the-epa-the-whys-and-how-to-hypermile-1510.html

Don't try to do everything at once - pick a technique & practice it until it becomes second nature, then move on to another. And feel free to come back here & ask more questions, & let us know how you're doing :)

The FEH has *so* much potential - it's Ford's best-kept secret ;)

thank you one and all for the replies and the advice. this is goin to be an on goin learning experience, (MAX MPG ) and a fun one at that! Ray

Hi and welcome Ray. The best part is that most of the fuel saving tricks you learn in the FEH can be applied in the Envoy as well.

Everybody can play; everybody can save fuel $$.

As the FEH is new, you ought to have some leverage to make the dealer confirm that the suspension alignment is just right. I imagine that the bigger the tire footprint, the more you pay for scrubbing off tread (both fuel-wise and tire-wise).

DAS

thanks das ....i dont think i can get any cooperation from my dealer but im gonna give it a try
deb katz i could only open up one of those addresses ( it was a great article wish i could open the others! try resending or checking the address thanks ray p.s. ive benn trying to hyper mile

thanks das ....i dont think i can get any cooperation from my dealer but im gonna give it a try
deb katz i could only open up one of those addresses ( it was a great article wish i could open the others! try resending or checking the address thanks ray p.s. ive benn trying to hyper mile

Hi Ray --

I've fixed the links above, & checked them - they work now :) Sorry about before - I copied abbreviated links :o

As far a dealing with dealers, as I've discovered recently we FEH owners have to be our own advocates - be patient & help your service-people learn about your unique vehicle :)

does anyone notice a vibration at 2k rpm? on the feh?
thanks for the links deb

I notice a vibration at 2k rpm any one experience a similar vibe?

thanks for the links deb

Welcome to CleanMPG FEH-Ray! For getting the most out of your FEH, look up everything that DebbieKatz, Pravus Prime, and GaryG-and others that I'm probably forgetting have posted- and you'll be knocking out some awesome mpg numbers in your FEH in no time.

Like others said, give it some time. It needs to "break in" and you need to reprogram your driving habits.

My ex hates me. My diesel F-350 gets better MPG than her hybrid Escape. Of course she drives like she thinks she is Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and I am sir Coastalot. The driver definitely matters.

Sir Coastalot. I like that.
.
_H*

Hi Ray. I've owned my '08 FEH for only 3 weeks now (purchased on 11/8/07) and I haven't noticed a vibration at 2K RPM. Can you describe the vibration a little more? is it from the engine or more from the entire car? If you maintain 2K RPM's, does the vibration persist or is is short-lived?

So far, with over 1500 miles in the 3 weeks I've owned it, I've been averaging in the neighborhood of 34.5 MPG, including a long stretch of running at 85+ MPH down a SoCal freeway! (running late to pick up my daughter). To me, the biggest gain in MPG (so far) has been just trying to slow down, especially avoiding the "jack-rabbit" starts that I used to love. Pay careful attention to DebbieKatz's post above. She gives some great ways to get started hypermiling. Especially the "game" of trying to see how long you can keep the ICE off when accelerating from a stop.

Personally, I've tried to find every possible alternate route to and from work, avoiding freeways and finding streets which are not heavily traveled in order to allow me to try and maximize MPG by slowing down. If I stay off the freeways it's not too hard to get my MPG up above 37. I'm hoping to get to 40+ someday.

Good Luck!

Just joined today, and have made a couple posts, and I do have a few questions. I have read a couple different posts about the break in period being maybe up to several thousand miles. So far my Average Fuel Economy MPG for the first 200 miles is just about 22. Have been trying to pay attention to the Instantaneous Fuel Economy MPG gauge and attempting to keep it at the right side (more effecient). This information is displayed in the Info Menu. When I first started drving my FEH, the Average MPG was around 19.

Should I expect to see the Average MPG continue to climb during the break-in period?

My dealer recommended 5,000 mile intervals on oil changes.
Is there a mileage number where the oil should first be changed, like 1,000 miles in a typical ICE?

The FEH came with synthetic oil (5W-20).
Is this the best way to go, or is regular 5W-20 adequate?

Will plugging in the engine block heater really improve my FE?

It is below zero here for a couple in Southeast Wisconsin, so I figure it is a good idea anyhow, even though it is kept in the garage overnight.

Any suggestions for plugging in when away from home?

Appreciate any feedback from FEH owners, hypermilers, etc.

Thanks! :)

Welcome to CleanMPG!

I've heard from a number of FEH owners that the fuel economy during the break-in period is not going to be that good. That and it's winter, but it only gets better...when it gets warmer you will be familiar with the dash, etc.

Some other things worth considering during the wintertime is hot air intakes and radiator blocks.

Patience and practice. Relearning how to drive takes a while. As your habits improve, your mpg's will. That's been my experience, anyhow. Good luck and welcome!

Regarding the break in period, it seems like using the CC is a good idea and recommended for increasing FE, but is there a waiting period for waiting to use the CC?

No waiting period for using CC. Welcome to CleanMPG :) Best of luck and mpg to you and your FEH.

Hi Bruski:

___Short trips can kill your FE and an EBH (Block Heater) will definitely help. Tire pressures as has been mentioned a few times are a huge key. Get them up. Lastly, break-in has a lot more to do with you re-learning how to drive efficiently then the car breaking-in. I have driven brand new brand new hybrids right off the lot and even at door pressures, they offered up some amazing fuel economy. Take it easy and read Gary G’s article a few times. Practice on some empty roads to get used to maneuvering into and out of the various “modes” and then begin thinking about how you will apply what you have learned on various parts or all of your commute. Much larger FE numbers will come but in the middle of winter and a brand new hybrid driver, it may take a while is all.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi Bruski1959 :)

It's always nice to welcome another FEH driver :) :) You don't say whether you have the FWD or AWD - that will make some difference in your FE. And you're correct that WI's winter temps take a bite out of FE as well :(

As Wayne wrote, check out GaryG's article on hypermiling the FEH (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/articles/t-hypermiling-the-ford-escape-hybrid--350.html); Pravus Prime also has a very good FAQ for the FEH (http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/f26/feh-faq-6662/), & Wayne's article on beating the EPA estimates also has a lot of good general hypermiling information (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/articles/t-beating-the-epa-the-whys-and-how-to-hypermile-1510.html).

Just pick 1 or 2 techniques at a time, so you're not too distracted. I keep going back to these sources, & at almost 3 years of ownership, my mpg's are *still* increasing :) :) :) :)

Whereabouts in SE WI are you? (With a handle like "Bruski", could it be anywhere near Milwaukee? ;)) Let me be the first to invite you to check out our Milwaukee Hybrid Group (http://www.milwaukeehybridgroup.com/) - our next meeting is Feb. 16 - while I've enjoyed being unique as the only hybrid SUV owner, it would be great to have someone there to compare notes with :) :) :)

What time does the meeting start? If my son doesn't have a college wrestling meet I might be able to make it then.

What time does the meeting start? If my son doesn't have a college wrestling meet I might be able to make it then.

We start gathering in the parking lot around 9:30AM; the library (& therefore the meeting room) opens at 10AM. If you can't make it that early, come whenever you can - our meetings typically go a little past noon, & we have *awesome* pot-luck lunches :), after which (or sometimes *during* ;)) our experts take new drivers out for eco-driving &/of hypermiling clinics.

Hope you can make it :) :)

Hi Debbie,

I have the FWD FEH. Now that I am up around 1500 miles, my FE is starting to pick up, especially when the temps are warmer. Had a couple tanks close to 31 on mostly highway driving using Winter RFG. Think I am at about 90% of EPA combined. Have been posting my tanks from the get go in the Mileage Logs.

Reside in Kenosha, the bruski handle is my first 3 characters of my first name and the last 3 characters of my last name. Will not be able to make the February meeting, due to a prior committment, but maybe the next one? Was thinking about trying the make the Hybrid Fest in Madison in July.

Been thinking about getting the ScanGauge too. See there is some kind of group buy but I wasn't sure I wanted to send my money off and wait for the next batch to get ordered. Might just go ahead an order one.

Trying to figure out how to get the combined EPA icon into my posts. Can you advise?

Thanks,
Bruce

Hi Bruski1959:

___Welcome to CleanMPG!

___On your next new post, let us see if your new FE sig does not magically show up ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Taking my FEH in for its first oil change Wednesday to get out the break in shavings before our first 700 mile road trip to Cincy and back. Will be curious to see what the FE is like on a long trip like this...

Also curious to see if my FE sig shows up ;)

Ah there it is ! :woot: