TSB 99-26-09 Fuel Economy Techtips
IF THE IMAGE IS TOO SMALL, click it.
ISSUE: Customers may perceive that vehicle fuel economy is lower than it should be, based upon Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates. Fuel economy is most influenced by vehicle usage and duty cycle.
ACTION: Refer to the Figures of this TSB. Consult this TSB and share with customers to improve their understanding of fuel economy factors.
MPG TechTips - Economy/Mileage Improvement
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https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/ethanol_e85_specs.html--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUEL ECONOMY SERVICE TIPS 4.9L, 5.0L AND 5.8L ENGINES
Article No.90-6-15
FORD: 1985-1990 BRONCO, E SERIES, F SERIES
ISSUE: Fuel economy, considered unsatisfactory by some customers, may be due to a lack of customer awareness of various conditions that can unfavorably affect fuel economy. Use the following sections to assist in diagnosing complaints of low fuel economy. Refer to the Engine/Emission Diagnosis Manual for additional diagnostic information.
CUSTOMER INTERVIEW
1. Determine how the fuel economy is being calculated.
NOTE: SOME CUSTOMERS USE OUT OF POCKET COST AS A BASIS TO MEASURE FUEL ECONOMY RATHER THAN ACTUAL CALCULATION OF MPG.
Two tanks of fuel are usually needed to accurately calculate fuel economy. Canadian fuel economy is calculated with the following formula:
Kilometers Traveled/Liters Used x 2.819 = Miles/Imperial Gallons
2. Ask the customer to describe their driving habits. See the conditions below that decrease fuel economy:
- Stop and go city driving is 17% less efficient than steady highway driving
- Short trips of 3 miles or less increase fuel ACTION usage due to lower engine operating temperatures
- A loss of fuel economy due to an increase in posted speed limits or operating a vehicle at higher than posted speeds. Test results indicate a loss of about 2.4 MPG for every 10 MPH increase above 40 MPH
- Hilly or mountainous terrain requires more power from the engine to maintain a constant speed thus demanding more fuel
- Use of speed control in hilly and mountainous terrain
- Idling for long periods can consume about 0.7 gallons of fuel per hour
- Vehicles frequently loaded down or used to pull a trailer. Fuel economy decreases due to the increase in total weight and frontal area.
VEHICLE INSPECTION
1. Tire pressure should be set at the vehicle manufacturer's specification. Under inflated tires have a higher rolling resistance which requires more power to roll. Under inflated tires can reduce fuel economy by as much as 1 MPG.
2. Bug deflectors, running boards, and sun shields affect fuel economy. Each item affects fuel economy by 1-2 MPG. The faster the vehicle is operated, the greater the effect.
3. Look for vacuum leaks and restrictions. Pay particular attention to the MAP and EGR vacuum lines.
4. Look for electrical concerns such as broken, chafed or disconnected wires. Examples of areas to check are:
- Electrical grounds must have good continuity (0.4 omhs or less with the battery positive cable and the EEC processor disconnected).
- Battery cables must be clean and free of corrosion
- Non-factory items such as two-way radios, electric trailer brakes and mobile telephones must have the wiring at least 5 cm away from any factory electronics.
NOTE
ELECTRICAL POWER FOR NON-FACTORY ITEMS SHOULD BE TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE BATTERY OR FUSE PANEL. THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE ROUTE IS RECOMMENDED.
5. Ignition timing, including spark advance, should be checked to make sure it is within specification.
6. The speedometer/odometer calibration could be inaccurate due to aftermarket tires that are oversize. Oversize tires will cause the speedometer to indicate lower than actual vehicle speed. They also cause the odometer to indicate less than actual miles traveled which could appear as a 10% reduction in fuel economy.
FUEL QUALITY
Fuel quality can be checked for water, alcohol, lead, and fuel vapor pressure using Rotunda Gas Check Test Kit 113-00004. These items can cause poor fuel economy.
Lead in fuel has the following effect:
- Contaminates the EGO sensor causing inaccurate reading to the processor. This results in an over-rich fuel condition.
- Catalytic converter may overheat and plug, creating high exhaust back pressure.
Alcohol in fuel has the following effect:
- Incomplete combustion because alcohol does not burn as hot as gasoline. If fuel quality is poor, the fuel should be replaced before proceeding. The catalytic converter and EGO sensor may require attention also.
BOTTLE TEST
A bottle test may be the only way to resolve a fuel economy concern.
- Using Rotunda Mileage Tester 021-00042, bottle test the vehicle at a steady speed of 60 MPH over the same section of road in both directions.
- Repeat the test as necessary for consistency.
- Average the results to account for normal test-to-test variations such as hills and wind.
NOTE: IF THE FUEL ECONOMY IS NOT SATISFACTORY, REFER TO THE ENGINE/EMISSIONS DIAGNOSIS MANUAL FOR FURTHER ACTION.
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: none
SUPERSEDES: 88-26-14
WARRANTY STATUS: INFORMATION ONLY
OASIS CODES: 4500, 640200
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TSB 96-10-07 California ReFormulated Gasoline (CaRFG)
ISSUE: California introduced CaRFG around March 1, 1996 and statewide it must be available at all service stations by June 1, 1996 to help reduce emissions and improve gasoline quality. It will replace the traditional gasoline sold in Northern California and improve the reformulated gasoline that has been sold in Southern California since January 1995. California Air Resources Board (CARB) projects smog forming emissions from motor vehicles to be reduced by about 15 percent.
ACTION: The following text is provided to give some answers to some commonly asked questions by our customers.
POSITION: Ford Motor Company recommends the use of CaRFG as a cost effective means of reducing emissions to provide cleaner air. We have participated in vehicle and laboratory testing of CaRFG to make sure it is acceptable for our customers' use. There are no unusual vehicle performance concerns expected based upon these studies. The use of CaRFG will not affect Ford's new vehicle and/or emissions warranty.
WHAT DOES CaRFG CONSIST OF?
CaFRG consists of the same basic components as other gasolines, but it reduces pollution because of its cleaner burning components. Features are:
> reduced aromatic hydrocarbons to form less smog emissions
> added oxygenates to reduce emissions
> decreases the amount of fuel evaporating from the vehicle
> lowered sulfur content to provide more efficient operation of the vehicle's catalytic converter
> reduced benzene by about one-half
IS CaRFG MORE HAZARDOUS THAN CONVENTIONAL GASOLINES?
CaRFG is a hazardous substance like convential gasoline. Precautions should continue to be taken to avoid exposure to vapors or liquid when it is pumped or handled. It should never be siphoned or swallowed.
HOW WILL CaRFG AFFECT VEHICLE PERFORMANCE?
Properly blended CaRFG should have no adverse effect on vehicle performance or the durability of engine and fuel system components. Its basic properties are not significantly different than other cleaner burning gasolines that have been used in the U.S. for several years.
If the vehicle is a certified California calibration 1996 or later model year, it was designed to operate on CaRFG gasoline. The vehicle will operate satisfactorily on gasolines in the other 49 states, but emission control system performance may be affected. Using gasolines other than CaRFG have substantially increased emissions from motor vehicles.
WILL THE USE OF CaRFG AFFECT CALIFORNIA VEHICLE WARRANTY?
No. The coverage of Ford's new vehicle warranty is not affected. In fact, Ford Owner Guides have consistently approved the use of properly blended reformulated gasolines containing oxygenates. Further information about properly fueling your vehicle is included in the Owner Guide.
WILL FUEL ECONOMY BE AFFECTED?
A very small reduction in fuel economy of less than one-half mile per gallon is possible if the customer was using gasoline without oxygenates. This is attributed to the lower energy content of oxygenates which have been in all Southern California gasolines since January of 1995 and in some gasolines since the 1970's.
Many factors affect fuel economy like driving habits, vehicle maintenance, weather conditions, etc. Fuel economy can vary by more than a mile per gallon from one fill-up to the next with the same gasolines. For further details see TSB Article «95-12-2» for customer expectations regarding fuel economy.
ARE SPECIAL ADDITIVES NECESSARY FOR CaRFG?
No. It is not necessary to add anything to the vehicle fuel tank after the gasoline is purchased from the service station. California regulations require deposit control additives in CaRFG to minimize port fuel injector and intake valve deposits.
WILL OLDER VEHICLES OPERATE SATISFACTORILY WITH THE NEW CaRFG?
Older vehicles are expected to operate satisfactorily on CaRFG because vehicles have been operating on gasolines similar to CaRFG for a number of years. However, considerable testing indicates that older, high mileage vehicles are more susceptible to fuel system problems due to age and normal wear and tear regardless of whether they are operated on conventional or CaRFG gasolines. Owners of these older vehicles are encouraged to follow their vehicle manufacturer's recommendations regarding vehicle maintenance.
WILL THE SMELL BE DIFFERENT THAN CONVENTIONAL GASOLINE?
CaRFG is not expected to smell different than the gasoline most vehicles are currently using. If an unusual odor is noticed, it would probably be from oxygenates. Most service stations use vapor recovery systems to minimize the release of gasoline vapors while refueling. The use of CaRFG should result in little or no "rotten egg" smell from the exhaust because CaRFG has much lower sulfur than conventional gasoline.
WAS CaRFG TESTED BEFORE INTRODUCTION?
It was tested for over five million miles in more than 800 vehicles under the guidance of CARB including experts representing automobile manufacturers, gasoline suppliers, fleet operations and government. There was no increase in problems identified with the use of CaRFG.
DOES CaRFG COST MORE?
The price at the pump cannot be accurately predicted, although a modest increase is likely. The price of CaRFG is subject to the competitive forces in the marketplace. Many factors including production costs, supply and demand, weather, crude oil prices, and taxes affect gasoline prices.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ON CaRFG?
Additional information within the state of California on CaRFG is available from the California Air Resources Board toll-free at 1-800-922-7349 (within California only).
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: 95-12-02
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TSB 98-26-02 Fuel Volatility Tips
ISSUE: Some vehicles using winter blend fuels may exhibit a stall on start up and a no restart, hard start condition or a no start condition in unseasonably hot weather (greater than 27°C/80°F). These concerns may be related to fuel volatility from winter blend fuels during winter-spring and autumn-winter transitions and may result in a fuel pump vapor lock condition. This condition may appear to be a fuel pump failure but may be caused by winter blend fuel.
ACTION: Explain to the customer that this concern may be due to a low tank level of winter blend fuel combined with unseasonably warm weather. Advise customer that filling the fuel tank to full may be effective in resolving this concern. Also, advise customer to use the recommended octane grade per their Owner Manual and not a higher grade.
NOTE: FUEL TANK ADDITIVES WILL NOT RESOLVE THESE CONCERNS BECAUSE VAPOR FORMS FROM CAVITATION WITHIN THE FUEL PUMP. FILLING THE TANK TO FULL MAY BE EFFECTIVE. ADVISE CUSTOMER TO USE THE RECOMMENDED OCTANE GRADE PER OWNER MANUAL AND NOT A HIGHER GRADE.
BACKGROUND
Gasolines are seasonally adjusted, meaning they have higher volatility (vaporize easier) in the winter and lower volatility in the summer. Government mandates to improve air quality have resulted in significant changes to gasolines, such as the mandatory use of oxygenates (ethanol, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), and others) in the winter or the reduction of Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) in the summer. The addition of oxygenates (especially ethanol) increases volatility while the reduction of RVP reduces volatility.
Gasoline distribution practices often do not allow branded marketers to have much control over their gasoline's volatility other than RVP. Oxygenate (e.g., ethanol, MTBE) use is more dependent on local gasoline markets, rather than specific marketers practice. Therefore, it is difficult to recommend specific brands to avoid volatility related complaints.
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: 91-08-13
SUPERSEDES: 96-05-04
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TSB 91-08-13 Tips to Avoid Lean Conditions
ISSUE: Rough idle, hesitation, poor throttle response, induction backfire and stalls during cold start/warm up may be caused by the poor volatility of some high octane premium grade unleaded fuels (91 octane or higher (R M)/2). When compared to regular grade unleaded fuel (87 octane (R M)/2), high octane premium grade unleaded fuel may cause long crank time.
ACTION: Use a regular grade unleaded fuel in all vehicles, except where a premium unleaded fuel is recommended in the Owner Guide. If lean air-fuel type symptoms are experienced, determine the grade and brand of fuel used and offer the following service tips.
> Advise those using a higher octane grade fuel to switch to a regular grade unleaded fuel. For those using a regular grade fuel, advise them to try another brand.
> Do not advise using a higher octane unleaded fuel than is recommended for that specific engine. Ford engines are designed to perform best using a high quality regular grade unleaded fuel.
> Only advise using a higher octane unleaded fuel to avoid potentially damaging spark knock or ping, but do so only after mechanical fixes are ineffective.
NOTE: ALL UNLEADED GASOLINES USED SHOULD CONTAIN DETERGENT ADDITIVES THAT ARE ADVERTISED AS HAVING "KEEP CLEAN" OR "CLEAN UP" PERFORMANCE FOR BOTH INTAKE VALVES AND FUEL INJECTORS.
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TSB 92-11-10 Fuel Stabilizer
Publication Date: MAY 20, 1992
LIGHT TRUCK: 1988-90 BRONCO II
1988-92 AEROSTAR, BRONCO, ECONOLINE, F SUPER DUTY, F-150-350 SERIES, F-47, F-53, RANGER
1991-92 EXPLORER
ISSUE: During extended periods of vehicle storage (60 days or more), gasoline may deteriorate due to oxidation. This may damage rubber components and other polymers in the fuel system. It may also eventually clog small orifices in the fuel charging system.
ACTION: Add Ford Gas Stabilizer (E8AZ-19C544-A) or an equivalent commercially available fuel stabilizer such as "STA-BIL" to the vehicle's fuel tank whenever the actual or expected storage periods exceed 60 days. The instructions packaged with the product should be closely followed. The vehicle should be operated at an idle speed to circulate the additive throughout the fuel system.
PART NUMBER PART NAME
E8AZ-19C544-A Gas Stabilizer
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: NONE
SUPERSEDES: 87-7-16
WARRANTY STATUS: INFORMATION ONLY
