I just purchased a 2016 Escape SE. I was told by the dealer and the sticker, that I should get 24 mpg city. Had the car 3 weeks and I am avg between 12-14 mpg. When I asked the dealer about this, I was told it had a break-in period of 2000-3000 miles before I will see that. Really?? Is this typical of a new vehicle?? I've never had this with any other new vehicle I've had.

 

Sometimes it does improve. A lot depends on where and how you drive, and if you have an ethanol mix in the fuel.
Of course the sticker figures could be questionable.

 

Yes, it can take up to that long. The vehicle systems have to go thru an adaptive learning process on how you drive. Along with that, how one drives, traffic conditions, outside temperatures, terrain and just about everything else affects your MPG. Also, you may never see 24MPG for city driving. Is the 24MPG you're referencing on the window sticker the combined city/highway MPG? Pretty much every 2016 Escape SE's are listed at 22MPG City. My owners manual for my new 2015 F-150 Lariat even states that my mileage won't start settling in until 1,000+ miles.

 

Thx hanky. I just was hoping that it gets more than 14mpg and the dealer was being a jerk about answering our question. Of course this was after we purchased the car. And it is not ethanol mix.

 

Thank you for your reply. Yea I was basing this on the sticker from the vehicle info. I figure 14mpg city is quite a bit lower than what it stated. Hope to get at least 20 or better.

 

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find...36498&id=36509


ditto for the break in period....the piston rings have to seat.


mileage can vary greatly. my Taurus can get 40mpg imperial gallon 100 % highway an 17mpg city.


after the engine is warmed up and your driving on the highway; reset the mpg computer. That's the best mpg you are going to get.




epa ratings are just a measuring stick for vehicle comparison. Its dyno tested in a lab using a strict driving criteria. It not real life driving.

 

TY primem. I appreciate the input. I guess I just have to wait and see how it does after I get a cpl 1000 under the belt. Hoping it goes up much better than 14 mpg city

 

FYI...This is straight out of my 2015 F-150 manual...

Calculating Fuel Economy
Do not measure fuel economy during the
first 1000 miles (1600 kilometers) of
driving (this is your engine’s break-in
period); a more accurate measurement is
obtained after 2000 miles - 3000 miles
(3200 kilometers - 4800 kilometers). Also,
fuel expense, frequency of fill ups or fuel
gauge readings are not accurate ways to
measure fuel economy.
1. Fill the fuel tank completely and record
the initial odometer reading.
2. Each time you fill the tank, record the
amount of fuel added.
3. After at least 3 to 5 tank fill ups, fill the
fuel tank and record the current
odometer reading.
4. Subtract your initial odometer reading
from the current odometer reading.
5. Calculate fuel economy by dividing
miles traveled by gallons used (For
Metric: Multiply liters used by 100, then
divide by kilometers traveled).
Keep a record for at least 1 month and
record the type of driving (city or highway).
This provides an accurate estimate of the
vehicle’s fuel economy under current
driving conditions. Additionally, keeping
records during summer and winter show
how temperature impacts fuel economy.
In general, lower temperatures mean lower
fuel economy.

 

marketplace, a consumer advocate tv program in Canada did a report on epa ratings and consumer complaints about this very subject. After seeing one of the interviewed owners vehicle, I had to shake my head...had a luggage rack mounted to the roof!


In Canada they are adopting a new test criteria that more so simulates real life driving. The result was lower ratings for the newer model year.

 

TY CS. I am going on the highway tomo and am going to watch closely to see what happens. Thx for the formulas. I'll use the info for sure!