My first Mustang
10-01-2012, 09:39 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 3
My first Mustang
Just got my first Mustang, 2013 V6 Coupe, and I am in LOVE.
However the mpg haven't been what I thought, about 20 city and only 21 highway. Although I am new to shifting I think I've been doing a pretty good job at not over working my motor. Any suggestions on improving the mpg?
Thanks guys.
However the mpg haven't been what I thought, about 20 city and only 21 highway. Although I am new to shifting I think I've been doing a pretty good job at not over working my motor. Any suggestions on improving the mpg?
Thanks guys.
10-02-2012, 09:49 AM
#2
i'm thinking you bought the thing brand new, since it's a 2013. i've read a lot of articles that talk about a car's engine breaking in, and gas mileage improving later on down the line (like after 20,000 miles or something).
there's a big debate on HOW to break in an engine. especially for the first 1,000 miles. some people like to treat the engine nicely, and NOT punch it to high RPMs. i'll look for the link, but i found a mechanic who provided picture evidence of how driving the engine hard for the first 1,000 miles was better. the high RPMs and work caused the engine to break in more favorably. so that's what i did. i didn't take it above 5500 RPMs, but i accelerated hard after every stop.
to boost your fuel economy, just drive nicely. do not gun it at take-off, casually work up through the gears and always shift between 2500 and 3000 RPMs. when you reach your speed limit (let's say 60mph), make sure to be in a gear that allows the RPMs to be below 2000.
for example, i drove on a 55mph state route, and cruised at about 61 mph, while sitting in 6th gear. my RPMs were at about 1500-1600 and my fuel economy was 38mpg (i reset the calculator so i could see the current average). stuff like that, just stay in a higher gear when cruising to keep the RPMs low, but i do NOT like going below 1500 RPMs.
finally, one of your screen settings on your gauge cluster that has a DOWN arrow on the left, several bars (that look like cell phone reception), and an UP arrow on the right. if you can fill the bars up to the UP arrow (by driving conservatively) your fuel economy is high (this is how things are on my 2012 v6).
all this said, be sure to drive your car hard from time to time. pick a car you don't like and try and race it or something (even though other driver almost never fights back).. turn off your traction control, let the engine come alive, and make your heart pump like it wants to. you bought a mustang, so you don't need to treat it like a prius all the time. enjoy, and congrats on your car!
there's a big debate on HOW to break in an engine. especially for the first 1,000 miles. some people like to treat the engine nicely, and NOT punch it to high RPMs. i'll look for the link, but i found a mechanic who provided picture evidence of how driving the engine hard for the first 1,000 miles was better. the high RPMs and work caused the engine to break in more favorably. so that's what i did. i didn't take it above 5500 RPMs, but i accelerated hard after every stop.
to boost your fuel economy, just drive nicely. do not gun it at take-off, casually work up through the gears and always shift between 2500 and 3000 RPMs. when you reach your speed limit (let's say 60mph), make sure to be in a gear that allows the RPMs to be below 2000.
for example, i drove on a 55mph state route, and cruised at about 61 mph, while sitting in 6th gear. my RPMs were at about 1500-1600 and my fuel economy was 38mpg (i reset the calculator so i could see the current average). stuff like that, just stay in a higher gear when cruising to keep the RPMs low, but i do NOT like going below 1500 RPMs.
finally, one of your screen settings on your gauge cluster that has a DOWN arrow on the left, several bars (that look like cell phone reception), and an UP arrow on the right. if you can fill the bars up to the UP arrow (by driving conservatively) your fuel economy is high (this is how things are on my 2012 v6).
all this said, be sure to drive your car hard from time to time. pick a car you don't like and try and race it or something (even though other driver almost never fights back).. turn off your traction control, let the engine come alive, and make your heart pump like it wants to. you bought a mustang, so you don't need to treat it like a prius all the time. enjoy, and congrats on your car!
10-02-2012, 04:42 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 3
thanks
Thanks for the response and I did find that fuel gauge that looks like the reception bar. I pretty drive according to that. I think I may be cruising at to high of a gear at to low of speed, i usually am in 6th by the time I hit 45-50 mph. I'll play around with the different rpms and see how that goes. Thanks again the advice, this car is so awesome!
10-02-2012, 10:06 PM
#4
Thanks for the response and I did find that fuel gauge that looks like the reception bar. I pretty drive according to that. I think I may be cruising at to high of a gear at to low of speed, i usually am in 6th by the time I hit 45-50 mph. I'll play around with the different rpms and see how that goes. Thanks again the advice, this car is so awesome!
0-10 mph >> 1st gear
11-25 >> 2nd gear
26-42 >> 3rd gear
43-58 >> 4th gear
59-70 >> 5th gear
70+ >> 6th gear
once i am in the 60's i may be in 6th gear, but only if i'm cruising. 6th gear is really just that, a cruising gear. there's no power in it if you wanna launch, and you have to drop gear. so if i'm accelerating i'm usually in 4th or 5th. typically, if i'm on the highway and i wanna pass someone quickly, i don't even mess around, i just drop to 3rd and take off around him (more gas consumption though). i have 2.73 gears in the back tho, so my giddy-up isn't as good as a, say, 3.73 geared vehicle.
