Gas Mileage Is Too Low On Town Car

I recently purchased a 2002 Lincoln Town Car with 204,000 miles but it runs like a champ. The Problem Is It burns too much gas i filled the tank up and2 days later i'm at a 1/4 tank without driving very much. My fuel economy states that i'm getting 8.5 miles a gallon this number goes up and down. I changed the oil and air filter still having the same problem. I need to know what I can Do to fix this I have heard the plugs and possibly the coils but I would like to know if there is more or perhaps something else I will be doing the work mostly myself but i do have an uncle who is good with cars and will help me, any answers or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

any codes??

no codes or lights showing anything wrong

How you drive these cars will make or break your MPG. The next time you are out cruising, try this: When you see the stop sign or traffic light ahead if you, take your foot off the gas and coast the last 1/4 to 1/2 mile. Believe it or not, these 4100lb. cars can coast for miles without losing much forward inertia. I average 22 MPG city and up to 29.8 MPG highway easily.

How you drive these cars will make or break your MPG. The next time you are out cruising, try this: When you see the stop sign or traffic light ahead if you, take your foot off the gas and coast the last 1/4 to 1/2 mile. Believe it or not, these 4100lb. cars can coast for miles without losing much forward inertia. I average 22 MPG city and up to 29.8 MPG highway easily.

A car this new should not have to practice coasting to stop signs. You should be getting the mpg's no matter what with something that new. The older ones do make a huge difference on how you drive them. I would have a full tune up done on it. something with that many miles will be little worse too.

just do a basic tune up and see what happens
basic tune up video how to DIY (http://www.autorepaired.com/basic-car-tune-up-how-to-video/)

A car this new should not have to practice coasting to stop signs. You should be getting the mpg's no matter what with something that new. The older ones do make a huge difference on how you drive them. I would have a full tune up done on it. something with that many miles will be little worse too.

just do a basic tune up and see what happens
basic tune up video how to DIY (http://www.autorepaired.com/basic-car-tune-up-how-to-video/)

I beg to differ. If you're driving like a bat of hell, your MPG will reflect this. If your foot tends to go directly from the accelerator to the brake pedal, you need to change your driving habits. If you're the first car 'off the line' at red lights, change the way you drive. My 1996 Cartier with 160,000 miles is getting 29.8 MPG on the highway at 60 MPH and your car should get the same or better. I average 23 MPG city because of THE WAY I DRIVE. The Spark Plugs in my car have seen 40k miles. I'm thinking I'll change them soon but when you're getting almost 30 MPG in a Lincoln Town Car, why bother?

Check your tire pressure - tires not properly inflated can rob you of MPG.

And finally - when you're pressing the accelerator, you're using gas. If you can coast that 1/4 mile, you can save gas. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to see what I'm saying.

A car this new should not have to practice coasting to stop signs. You should be getting the mpg's no matter what with something that new. The older ones do make a huge difference on how you drive them. I would have a full tune up done on it. something with that many miles will be little worse too.

just do a basic tune up and see what happens
basic tune up video how to DIY (http://www.autorepaired.com/basic-car-tune-up-how-to-video/)


Thanks for the input I'm going to try that I was just hoping some one had a similar situation and fix

I beg to differ. If you're driving like a bat of hell, your MPG will reflect this. If your foot tends to go directly from the accelerator to the brake pedal, you need to change your driving habits. If you're the first car 'off the line' at red lights, change the way you drive. My 1996 Cartier with 160,000 miles is getting 29.8 MPG on the highway at 60 MPH and your car should get the same or better. I average 23 MPG city because of THE WAY I DRIVE. The Spark Plugs in my car have seen 40k miles. I'm thinking I'll change them soon but when you're getting almost 30 MPG in a Lincoln Town Car, why bother?

Check your tire pressure - tires not properly inflated can rob you of MPG.

And finally - when you're pressing the accelerator, you're using gas. If you can coast that 1/4 mile, you can save gas. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to see what I'm saying.

I see what you are saying but even If i'm driving like a bat out of hell the instrument panel shouldn't tell me i'm getting 5, 6, or 8 miles a gallon but thanks for the input

I agree with All2kool, if you drive like there is no tomorrow, even a 4 cyl. will have low fuel economy.

Having said that, you could try cleaning your MAF sensor too. Use only MAF cleaner or electric contact cleaner available at most autoparts stores. Take a look at it under a magnifying glass and you should be able to see some dirty on it...

Perhaps even a vacuum leak... Make sure all the hoses running to the throttle body are OK. If you have a live data capable scanner you can take a look at the LTFT's to make sure if you PCM is adding too much fuel or if something is out of the normal.

Oscar.

I agree with All2kool, if you drive like there is no tomorrow, even a 4 cyl. will have low fuel economy.

Having said that, you could try cleaning your MAF sensor too. Use only MAF cleaner or electric contact cleaner available at most autoparts stores. Take a look at it under a magnifying glass and you should be able to see some dirty on it...

Perhaps even a vacuum leak... Make sure all the hoses running to the throttle body are OK. If you have a live data capable scanner you can take a look at the LTFT's to make sure if you PCM is adding too much fuel or if something is out of the normal.

Oscar.

Yeah i see what both of you were saying, but i'm not getting a chance to drive fast or far because the gas is burning out too fast. tomorrow i'm supposed to change the plugs and possibly the fuel filter i'll post after and let you all know what happened. since i changed the oil air filter and flushed the radiator it seems to be holding steady at 8.5 miles a gallon but that's still not normal, wish me luck tomorrow and thanks for all the input and suggestions.

Yeah i see what both of you were saying, but i'm not getting a chance to drive fast or far because the gas is burning out too fast. tomorrow i'm supposed to change the plugs and possibly the fuel filter i'll post after and let you all know what happened. since i changed the oil air filter and flushed the radiator it seems to be holding steady at 8.5 miles a gallon but that's still not normal, wish me luck tomorrow and thanks for all the input and suggestions.

When you changed the Air Filter - did you reattach the Sensor to the side of the Air Box? It can easily come off and go unnoticed.

When you changed the Air Filter - did you reattach the Sensor to the side of the Air Box? It can easily come off and go unnoticed.
I didn't even notice one on there, i'll have to check in the morning. what side is it on the driver or the passenger? or is it front or rear?

I didn't even notice one on there, i'll have to check in the morning. what side is it on the driver or the passenger? or is it front or rear?

Rear, as I recall. Small Sensor, half-turn or so locks it in place.

I didn't even notice one on there, i'll have to check in the morning. what side is it on the driver or the passenger? or is it front or rear?

Rear, as I recall. Small Sensor, half-turn or so locks it in place. It may not be present on an '02 LTC but it is on my '96.

Are you talking about the IAT (Intake Air Temperature) sensor?

I think it was removed from the airbox to be relocated into the MAF sensor itself. That's why some newer models have a 6 pin MAF sensor.

Oscar.

Are you talking about the IAT (Intake Air Temperature) sensor?

I think it was removed from the airbox to be relocated into the MAF sensor itself. That's why some newer models have a 6 pin MAF sensor.

Oscar.

Probably, but then again, I'm not sure on a 2002. On the 1996, there is a Sensor (of some sort) mounted to the Air Box.

Probably, but then again, I'm not sure on a 2002. On the 1996, there is a Sensor (of some sort) mounted to the Air Box.
I did see a sensor attached to the hose leading into the air filter box but it was still attached and i never touched it. However i did get to change the fuel filter today and the miles per gallon reset to 0 and now it's up to 9.5 to 10 i have the plugs (platinum) and new boots which will probably be put on tomorrow tried to change the pcv valve but the one they gave us did not match and when the guy looked it up it was the same one he had gave us so well try another store tomorrow. I'll keep you all posted and thanks for the input.

I would advise you to get an OEM PCV valve. Many people says the aftermarket one's don't have the same properties as OEM's do.

Just in case and even if you get an OEM or aftermarket PCV, the new one will come with TWO openings instead of just one (not sure if your model needs both openings) and a small plastic cap. If you need only one, install the cap on the upper (smaller) opening and you're all set.

Let us know if the spark plug and boots make any difference.

Oscar.

Since you mentioned you haven't driven very far or fast, I'd suggest you confirm your transmission is up-shifting properly and/or you don't have any brake drag.

...it seems to be holding steady at 8.5 miles a gallon but that's still not normal, wish me luck tomorrow and thanks for all the input and suggestions.

DONT depend on the 'dash mpg' meter for actual MPG's.. run full tanks and calculate your MPG's at each fill-up. miles / gallons.

Another example of the above comments.. when I drive my cars I get 30% better MPG than my wife.. she brakes at the last minute, takes off hard, etc.

DONT depend on the 'dash mpg' meter for actual MPG's.. run full tanks and calculate your MPG's at each fill-up. miles / gallons.

Another example of the above comments.. when I drive my cars I get 30% better MPG than my wife.. she brakes at the last minute, takes off hard, etc.

Exactly!

How you drive any vehicle will be a big factor in the fuel economy.

I would advise you to get an OEM PCV valve. Many people says the aftermarket one's don't have the same properties as OEM's do.

Just in case and even if you get an OEM or aftermarket PCV, the new one will come with TWO openings instead of just one (not sure if your model needs both openings) and a small plastic cap. If you need only one, install the cap on the upper (smaller) opening and you're all set.

Let us know if the spark plug and boots make any difference.

Oscar.

I think my car needs the one with one opening but i will definitely try to get oem

Since you mentioned you haven't driven very far or fast, I'd suggest you confirm your transmission is up-shifting properly and/or you don't have any brake drag.
i don't know how to technically check the up-shift but the trans shifts nice and smooth and she is fast i might have air in the brake lines but i have to wait for my uncle to help me bleed and flush

DONT depend on the 'dash mpg' meter for actual MPG's.. run full tanks and calculate your MPG's at each fill-up. miles / gallons.

Another example of the above comments.. when I drive my cars I get 30% better MPG than my wife.. she brakes at the last minute, takes off hard, etc.

That's almost how I drive but i have been trying to slow down lately and i have been doing that coasting trick and it really does work so hopefully with the plugs and boot wire change i'll at least get 20 mpg's

I finally got around to changing the plugs and wires I got all out but one I think i'll need an extra extension it's in there pretty tight. the mpg went up to 12 so i still need to find out whats holding it back, thanks for all the input and suggestions.

Mine's got around 12MPG's when driving around town in moderate to heavy traffic. Depending on how far I drive on the highway it can get up to 18-19MPG's ( after around 100 non-stop miles that's the fartest I've driven this car on the highway).

Oscar.