Gas Mileage on a 93' escort LX

[escort_jay102]

recently i have changed my plugs and wires on my scort, and then replaced the air filter with a K&N. I live in michigan so right now with all the cold weather and i have the heat on the lowest it can be at, i get 30mpg(high way miles). I think i have a 11gal tank or so,and I want to take a trip to kentucky coming up at the end of april and i want to get as much gas mileage as i can. my car has 64,500 on it and i dont think the fuel filter has been changed or anything else. Can you think of some other stuff that i could replace, fix or whatever to get better mileage.(because going to kentucky is about 450miles there)(
thanks

[mustang302]

1) Check your tire pressures, and make sure they are at the recommended pressure for your size tire. A lot of people overlook this!
2) Keep as much heavy stuff in the front as possible, I usually put my work bag on the floor in front of the front passenger seat, the more weight in back, the worse the gas mileage. If you can help it, clean your car out and leave as much junk at home as possible.
3) Drive like an old man, don't rev the heck out of it, and accelerate slowly. Maintain your speed as closely as possible on the highway, accelerating and then slowing down makes you get worse gas mileage. Along with that, if you go a little slower, you do better on gas. 70 instead of 75 will save some gas. Don't race from stop light to stop light, try to plan ahead so you won't have to come to a complete stop by going a little slower early on, rather than racing up to a light to sit.

Just some simple things you can do. I average about 37 mpg out of my 93 LX 5 speed, sometimes as high as 39, sometimes as low as 34. Good luck and drive safe.

[A. Souphound]

While on the interstate you can draft on 18 wheelers. Check to make sure you don't have any brake drag. Re-pack the rear wheel bearings. No A/C. No windows down. As Mustang said, unload the car, an extra 100 -140 lbs will cost you 1 MPG.

[UnexplodedCow]

Wash and wax your car...all metal. It'll decrease wind drag on the car. And putting 35 psi in the tires should be alright. I drove on mine like that, and I never had a problem. I used to drive a Tempo, and pulled 51 mpg in it (no joke). I would drive 65 mph up a hill, and 75 down, so I averaged 70 mph for the most part. You can do the higher speed downhill because it's less work for the engine, even though it's more rpm.

[escort_jay102]

hey thanks for all those tips, i will surely try to do all of them. i know that my car only has 1 heavy thing in the trunk, and thats my subs. but i usually try to keep my car clean and i will put heavy stuff in the front if all possible.. thanks again