MPG-what am I doing wrong?

[Alanp970]

4 door 2.3 SAS - Just filled up after a little over 300 miles of a mix of probably 70/30 highway/city. Speeds between 67-72 miles per hour. Indicated 20.8 mpg hand calculated out to 19.6 mpg. This is the best mileage I’ve gotten since we started seeing winter fuel last Nov. I lost a solid 1.5 mpg all winter even though it’s garaged so it doesn’t spend a lot of time idling. Over the past 14,000 miles I’m averaging slightly over 18 mpg

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[hozer]

How fast were you going on the highway? That makes a huge difference. Above 65mph and the mpg drops considerably for me.

Big stress on this.

In AZ where highway speed is 80+ that extra 15mph is about 5-8mpg for me

 

[615_Bronco]

I’ll admit I haven’t read all 6 pages of this, but I get worse mpg on the interstate using cruise control unless very flat. (2.3,7MT,SAS)

 

[Brian_B]

Is there any data on whether the Aeroskin bug deflector on the hood has a positive effect on mileage?

I installed one a little while ago - no appreciable effect on on my MPG. I don't have a super accurate mileagle log though, so it may be +/- 0.1 or 0.2 or something, but nothing drastic or immediately noticable.

I did, however, immediately notice that it started fluttering one of the covers on the roof rack / light bar bolt housings above the windshield - had to correct that. And overall wind noise was somewhat reduced.

 

[burgerking]

I like how you can shift gears with cruise control on. In my jeep it used to shut off when you pressed the clutch.

 

[swamp2]

Big stress on this.

In AZ where highway speed is 80+ that extra 15mph is about 5-8mpg for me

Power lost due to aero drag goes as speed cubed so drag power lost at 80 vs 65 is almost double (1.86 times).

 

[PrepVet]

My 2021 4-door 2.3 rear locker non SAS is at 15.7 MPG

 

[BroncoWildBill]

2024 OBX non SAS. 3.73 ratio.

Swapped tires to 285/70R17 Falken Rubitrek on OEM 17” steel.
629 rev 18 OEM off and 632 rev 17’s on.
As close as I could get to 629 trying to keep speedo within 1 mph.

550 miles ..15.8mpg max via
highway with cruise set.
15.4 around town.
Tires dropping mpg down?

Was hoping for 17mpg minimum if
not 19-20. Specific break in period?

My OB w/SAS is averaging 18 for first 1,000 miles driving around town and driving interstate about half and half.

 

[gwp]

2024 OBX non SAS. 3.73 ratio.

Swapped tires to 285/70R17 Falken Rubitrek on OEM 17” steel.
629 rev 18 OEM off and 632 rev 17’s on.
As close as I could get to 629 trying to keep speedo within 1 mph.

550 miles ..15.8mpg max via
highway with cruise set.
15.4 around town.
Tires dropping mpg down?

Was hoping for 17mpg minimum if
not 19-20. Specific break in period?

Are the new tires the same diameter as the original ones? I’n too lazy to look up the stock size or do the calculation, but if the tire circumference is for example,, 10% larger, your speedo, odo, and and mpg gauge will be reduced commensurately. You might be traveling further than you think, at faster speeds than you think, and all hosed up with your numbers until you recalibrate.

Or maybe I’m just making this up. (Back to my cigar.)

 

[GroovyGeek]

Shocked by all the terrible numbers I see here. Mine are not stellar but at least don't suck

BD non SAS, 4dr, BL rims and tire takeoffs (KO2 285/70 R17), Bilstein 6112 coilovers

Have been consistently getting 18.2-18.7 around town even when it was bone stock. Under the right conditions (flat and no wind, under 70 mph) on the freeway I can tickle 20 on occasion

Are you guys lead footed? The turbo will kill mpg if yes

The Rubitech is a pretty light tire, under 50 lbs. Must be something about the recal. Check your odometer against the GPS on your phone.

 

[NYtoCALI]

Thank you for all the responses. Much appreciated. I’m hoping the MPG increases over the next 500 - 1000 miles.
Tempted to put the OEM tires back on to see what the difference is.

 

[Brian_B]

Changing tires, adding lifts, differential ratio, running weights and the speed limit where you are driving have a huge effect on the MPG. A lot of that gets overlooked. MPGs are all over the place on the Bronco, because builds are all over the place (even stock builds) - and the aerodynamics of a cinder block mean that your running speed has an oversized effect compared to other vehicles. So two people with identical Broncos, driving in the same manner - but one running in Indiana on mostly 55 MPH local roads versus someone in Montana running at 80MPH down the interstate are going to see very very different MPG numbers, even though everything is the same.

I know those points are obvious when said out loud, but they almost always gets overlooked in these "Why can't I get the same MPG as everyone else" threads.

There are plenty of good tips on how to get better gas mileage. But comparing mileage to other drivers isn't going to do a lot of good (at least without plenty of context to go with it) because there are so many variables that go into it with a Bronco.

Also remember the EPA sticker MPG is done "perfect" conditions - with no traffic, no mods, 100% stock on a perfect course - and Ford knows exactly how to build a car (or Bronco) to maximize the sticker number.

 

[mpeugeot]

2024 OBX non SAS. 3.73 ratio.

Swapped tires to 285/70R17 Falken Rubitrek on OEM 17” steel.
629 rev 18 OEM off and 632 rev 17’s on.
As close as I could get to 629 trying to keep speedo within 1 mph.

550 miles ..15.8mpg max via
highway with cruise set.
15.4 around town.
Tires dropping mpg down?

Was hoping for 17mpg minimum if
not 19-20. Specific break in period?

I would expect better mileage in a non-sasquatch Bronco OBX.

That’s a 2.7 running in sport mode using 4A (4.27 gears) with adaptive cruise control and an average speed of over 70 mph (including a rest stop).

 

[Brian_B]

I would expect better mileage in a non-sasquatch Bronco OBX.

That’s a 2.7 running in sport mode using 4A (4.27 gears) with adaptive cruise control and an average speed of over 70 mph (including a rest stop).

Bravo taking the pic while driving at 80+MPH!

 

[mpeugeot]

Bravo taking the pic while driving at 80+MPH!

At least it wasn't the driver taking the photo, just looks like it.

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