2000 Windstar 3.8L poor gas mileage

[ruffneck30]

Well I have a 2000 Ford Windstar 3.8L with 153,000km. I believe the van is getting poor gas mileage from what I have read on the forums, 500km on full tank[city driving, very light foot keeping rpm's under 2000] Things that have been done so far
-6 new motorcraft plugs[double checked gap before install, old plugs had normal wear]
-Air filter
-Oil change
-PCV

-Checked brakes, no dragging
-Tire pressure 35psi
-Steers straight and stops straight
-No missing at idle or driving
-No check engine light
-Engine temp just fine
-No coolent loss

Things I have noticed or may be start of problems
-Engine starts great but seems to go into high idle around 1500rpm's [stays for about 5 to 10 seconds and then slows down to normal idle speed after 30 seconds] Is this normal?

-Oil residue coming out by the pipe the goes from the PCV to where it connects to throttle body[by the rubber boot,which gets the motor dirty over a few days] Should that pipe be replaced or is this common or does this indicate something else going bad]


This might be related to bad fuel mileage I don't know but if you turn the steering wheel when parked and motor on, there is a swooshing noise from the air filter area[ leak in rack or something else]

Where to start, any help would be great as I should be getting better fuel mileage?

1 quick note I have read the leckemby site about the Isolator bolts [would this be my problem, but I have no engine light yet]

Thanks

[ncb639]

I have a 2000 3.8L and it runs like a champ. It gets about the same mpg. It really drinks up the gas in the city. I replaced the isolator bolts and didn't see any difference in mph. The only difference for me was the engine light went off. I get between 19 and 23mpg on the highway and around 300-350 miles a tank in the city. You can convert to km if you like.
I suggest replacing the coil pack and ingition wires and have an assistant turn the steering wheel so you can pin point the swooshing noise you are hearing. My engine also has a lot of oil in the air intake tube but I have 240000 miles on it. Ford also claims that oil in your intake is what causes the isolator bolts to come loose but if you engine light is not on I wouldn't bother with them yet.

[wiswind]

Also, verify that the IMRC shafts that go into the lower intake manifold, on the passenger side, are connected to the actuator.
There are nylon clips, that on 1999 and newer years, can break, fall off, etc.
This can cause pinging, and the motor to not run at its best, as you have more air entering at low RPM than is called for, or 1 side having more air than the other.

When the A/C is on, (any setting that has it on), it is normal for the RPMs to bump up whenever the compressor kicks in.

[ruffneck30]

Well the PCV new line helped but now I need to find out where the swoosh noise of air is coming from, when turning the wheels side to side when parked. I have narrowed it down to around or the top back of the motor area. Has any one had this swoosh noise[seems to be right under the middle of cowl area by the steering rack] Don't know where the swoosh noise is exactly yet but any idea's for different parts to check for or vac lines [pretty tight back there to see or feel] Picture's would be great.

Thanks

[wiswind]

The sounds may be different on your newer windstar.
It is normal for the power steering to make some 'whoosh' sounds when working.
I would flush the power steering system, using Mercon V ATF, as the power steering is noted for getting noisy when the fluid gets old.....and 9 years (if original) is old......every couple of years is good timing for fluid exchanges all around.

Other than that.....make sure that you are up on all the normal "tune-up" items before sending money into other ideas.