Horrible MPG

[GTRookie]

I have a bone stock 04 GT that only gets 14 mpg regardless of how I drive. I do drive in traffic a lot but this seems a little low compared to what other guys have posted.

I notice the smell of gas when I start the car with the windows open. Is this normal?

Is there anything I can check (or have the dealer check) that may be causing this? Or is poor MPG the norm for driving in heavy traffic?

Thanks

 

[oohsoobad2]

Your 04 is still under the factory warrenty no doubt. Id take it back to the dealer and have it checked out.

 

[JonJon]

Go on a like a 200 mile trip, just cruise on the highway. Then calculate the mileage...

I get 23 MPG on long highway trips but I got 15 MPG this last fillup. I don't even drive the car hard since it's winter and my tires don't hook for ****...

 

[Iniquity]

Do you have an auto? cause the mileage is always worse.

 

[Firemanz]

I get chitty gas mileage in traffic too, make sure your tires are properly inflated. That can make a big difference....

 

[Notched]

well check ur injectors. one may have popped out or came loose. i smelt gas on my friends 02 6cyl stang and he had 2 injectors that were loose.

 

[Chopper1]

I have a bone stock 04 GT that only gets 14 mpg regardless of how I drive. I do drive in traffic a lot but this seems a little low compared to what other guys have posted.

I notice the smell of gas when I start the car with the windows open. Is this normal?

Is there anything I can check (or have the dealer check) that may be causing this? Or is poor MPG the norm for driving in heavy traffic?

Thanks

14 MPG in town ain't that far off the mark,but you could do better.Quick starts and many stops will wreck your average MPG.Try taking the car out of town on a flat,straight road and drive at 55-60 mph.This should get you 27-29 mpg.Now about the gas smell.No you should'nt smell any gas.I would say you have a charcoal canister hose loose or cracked.To see for yourself,Go around the car and see if you smell gas anywhere,look under the hood around the tank and anywhere in between.Have someone start the car and see if you can smell any coming out the exhaust.

 

[hotmustang331]

I drive 38 miles one way to work, and I got 24.68MPG yesterday after almost overfilling the tank to make sure I got as much as would go, I also nailed the gas 2 times, durring the race with the talon...I think thats pretty good.

 

[DeadLurker]

I get chitty gas mileage in traffic too, make sure your tires are properly inflated. That can make a big difference....

A lot of people say that....why is that true?

 

[CanadaStang]

Did ya check to see if the park brake was on

 

[SilverHorse]

Change the plugs. My '98 gets real bad milage too. When I change out the plugs it gets much better, but gets worse again. I've not taken the time to figure out why, but I be a change of plugs will help you.

 

[CanadaStang]

Check your plugs, air filter, clean you maf sensor, and change your fuel filter.

 

[Firemanz]

A lot of people say that....why is that true?

Less air in the tire equals more resistance.....

 

[DeadLurker]

Less air in the tire equals more resistance.....

yeah but how much of an affect does that have?

 

[Firemanz]

yeah but how much of an affect does that have?

Check out this link Kam...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/general/resistance.jsp

 

[bdcardinal]

how many miles are on it? this is an 04 so there are no wires. all of these ideas are great, but the odds of them going bad so soon are slim unless the car has 20k+ miles of driving on horribly maintained roads.

 

[DeadLurker]

Check out this link Kam...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/general/resistance.jsp

thanks

 

[mike2858]

its probably normal. i get around 13-16 in town and over 20 when im on the highway. its just kus of the stopping and starting.