Steven6095

Hi. I have read this forum for a while and I can not find anything about this SPECIFIC problem.
The TSB is for the V8s.
I have a V6 Automatic with 1000 miles on it.
During acceleration I have a whine (not a grind) from the front end somewhere.
It sounds like alternator whine coming over a stereo, but that is NOT the case. It is something mechanical. That is just a good way to describe it.

Dealer is baffled. Car drives fine, but gas milage is horrible.
10-12 mpg driving 45-50 mostly with light traffic and driving it like a granny!
15 on highway is about it.
Driving around town (a little traffic, not much) I emptied a full tank at 168 miles (light on)

Comments?

Thanks
Steven

Tres Wright

WOAH!!! That is really substandard gas mileage. You should be getting well over 20. Does it feel like your brakes are dragging possibly? Since you describe the noise as coming from the front rather than under you, it doesn't sound like the tranny. Also check your belt tension, mabe the factory tightened it up way too much.

ponytx

Something is definitely wrong with your car, if you need to, I think you can take it to another dealership for a second opinion, I think Ford's warranty will work at any Ford dealership.

Steven6095

Not a brake issue. Car has get up and go and I think it would be dragging with the brake problem.
Now the belt thing makes some sense.

I am going to get it back to them for some more work.
They are trying. It is an odd problem. I feel their pain trying to work on it! I am a computer tech and I know how frustrating it is when something is not working but everythign is fine.

Tres Wright

==Car has get up and go and I think it would be dragging with the brake problem. ==

Yeah, it's usually quite noticable as a huge loss of power. Plus the noise would be easier to pinpoint because it gets louder the faster you go.

I'm just amazed at the mileage, it seems like that could only be caused by a huge problem that would be easy to diagnose. If you're driving along at, say 50 mph and put it in neutral, does the whine stop or continue? At least that would pinpoint whether the motor is the source of the sound or not. It could be the tranny after all, perhaps the sound is carrying through the chassis.

ponytx

This problem is baffling me, my husband and I discussed it, he suggested it might be a maf air flow sensor problem, we both think it's weird that there is no performance loss. Please tell us what the problem was, I'm very curious.

Steven6095

thanks for the help. You all have my brain going now I know a moderate amount about working on cars and what you say does make sense.

I will let you all know what happenes when the dealer and I can find it

Steven6095

Not bashing anyone .. but gas milage problem solved!!
My mustang hates Chevron gas! I put Marathon in it tonight (no additives) like Chevron or Speedway and the car is running better than it ever has! HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!! Gas milage seems to be doing ALOT better and the performance is absolutely better!!!

Just FYI to everyone out there! DOnt know if this holds true for everyone, but mine was pure ole' gas!

Tres Wright

No kidding! Wow, that's amazing. Thanks for letting us know!

Steven6095

dealer first put Speedway in in (ethanol).
thats the only thing it ever knew. I was using Chevron - (techron) (my saturn likes it)
Much better performance and seems to be doing better on gas. I am going out to the interstate for a trip tomorrow about 200 miles round trip. Last time I had to stop and refuel! Lets see what happens this time