Don't know what to do?

[Gabe Madlem]

I'm caught in a problem. I love my ST but it is killing me in gas. I'm getting around 16-17 mpg. I'm driving about 60 miles a day and it is just draining me. Is there any ways to boost the gas mileage. I thought about putting a new cold air intake on it but I don't know how much this will help. I'm afraid if I can't find anyway to get better gas mileage I'm going to have to get rid of it. I hate to say that because I love my ST and have always wanted one but I don't know if i'm going to be able to afford it. So if anyone has any suggestions i'm all ears.

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

You can do a few mods (TB, CAI, Exhaust) to get a few more MPG, but not enough to make a difference in the wallet. The ST is a SUV. They will not get great MPG like a car. With all the mods listed, you may squeek 19-22 MPG. Sorry.

 

[user 62851]

Hello, I drive 65 miles a day. I feel your pain. But usually I can get a 5 day work week done, until I need to refill. I used to get worse mpg. After I did 265/75 tires, I went from 18mpg to 13mpg. After I did the Zabteck TB, C & L MAF, MAC intake, Screamin' Demon Coil Pack, RT Y-PIPE & Cat, and Magna-Flow exhaust, it brought it up to 18mpg. I still haven't done the XCAL yet, but am planning to do so. Hopefully it will help.

 

[Kevin Palmer]

Three things, first-make certain the air pressure in your tires is correct. If they are down by as little as 7 PSI, that will cost you as much as 10% in fuel economy. Second, air filter. The air filter is MAJ ORLY important. If it is dirty, you simply do not get the correct volume of air and the engine does not perform at it's optimum. Third, drive the Trac like you have a hot cup of coffee sitting on the dash and you don't want to spill any.



Moderate acceleration and anticipate your stops. Slow down LONG before the stop using the coasting of the vehicle, not the brakes...



As far as not spending money to get performance, these are your best options.

 

[Jenn D]

Gabe, your story sounds like mine. My ST gets 16-17 mpg and I drive about 65 miles per day. I had a rough time contending with gas prices as well. However, I did the math and discovered that with what I paid in gas, which was about $250-$300 a month, I could get a cheaper commuter car that got double the gas mileage and not really lose out. Personally, I decided to "even" out and I put the $250-300 a month into a new Ford Focus and gas. If you can get used car payments on a fuel efficient car that are around $100 and then only have to put in around $100 a month (which is about what I pay now), then you've already saved yourself at least around $50.



It's not an answer, just a suggestion. Seriously look at costs and determine if it is even worth it. Remember, you have to insure the new-to-you vehicle, but the ST insurance should go down as it will be a pleasure driver. The best part of this option is that you get to keep the ST for the "fun" trips, and drive the econobox for your daily drive. Trust me, it feels quite nice to pay no more than $30 to fill up instead of $65 and still get the same number of miles out of the tank...

 

[EddieS'04]

The bad news is any money spent to up the gas milage would be so much, it would take along time to make up the difference in gas savings. Your best advice is what coastiejoe said. Or if if your budget allows, do what Jenn did.

Dont buy into the gimmics that are out there..



edit; I see you have an '01 trac. how many miles? Is it due a tune up? If your 65miles is mostly highway a tune up may get you 20mpg, some members here do.

 

[WXMotorSports DecalsPartsAccs]

Ok, you spend 1K in mods to get better gas mileage. How long does it take in the extra MPG to pay for that 1k?

 

[Gerald Pierce]

I look at it this way. I have no car note, so that is ~400.00 to the plus on transportation. Say I spend 250 a month on gas. I'm ~150 to the good.



If I buy another car (keep the trac also or not), I have a 400 car note, and I spend 125 on gas, I am now 125 to the bad.



My trac is making me money



My wife has a new Focus. She wanted an SUV, until she drove my ST for about a month while I was at sea. She went from 120 a mnth in gas to 280.00. She saw my point and the ST now sits in the garage while I am out, except when my son uses it to haul the grandbaby around, and she drives her Focus.

 

[Kevin Currie]

Where i come from gas is $1.11 a liter or $4.20 a gallon. Im putting in $50 a week.

I average 1100 Km a month. I was warned prior to buying my TRAC that they are the worst thing on gas since the motorhome. A customer of mine is a rep for this company and gave me some trial CAPS to see if i liked them. Here is a link.



I havnt tried them yet because i needed a month of gas mileage before using them to see the difference.

 

[Tom Schindler]

Compare between buying a new car or keeping your Trac. As cruzrtwdgt has already said, compare what you could buy to keep the same payments, or pay straight up for that your Trac is.



For me, trading my Trac in for a new car would be a waste of money. Unless you can trade your Trac for a reliable small car straight up, saving the money at the pump is no savings if you spend the rest of that money, and maybe even more, on a monthly car payment.



Too many people fail to see that.



I could spend 500/month on gas and still be money ahead since I have three cars and not one monthly car payment.





Tom