Tips on getting better fuel economy on a 2011 town car?

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Towncarguyxyz

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Due to some unforeseen events, my town car is the main “work” car and since where I live it’s 90% city you can imagine what’s been happening to my wallet when I drive about almost 400 miles a week! Now I’m a new town car owner, cant complain its comfortable, looks wonderful and I love it but everywhere online it’s suggested that the town car gets 15MPG in the city. But what I’m seeing, is more like 11.5MPG. What gives? I’m 24 but believe me when I tell you I have been driving it like an old man, no wild accelerations, no sudden braking, rpm doesn’t dare go over 2000, and yet I’m getting worse fuel economy than I researched about.

My main question is, if I replace the spark plugs will the MPG rise atleast to 15MPG? Considering ofc that my tires are brand new and good to go. Due to work I’m forced to drive in the city 90% of the time, I usually have a Camry for that and I’m not expecting Camry level fuel economy but I hate having to Start my mornings in a gas station only to be back there before going home.


Btw, I am going to replace the air filter aswell. Also would the replacing of the fuel injector with the spark plugs be even better? Is what I’m suggesting a reality? To go from 11.5 MPG to at least 15MPG


I’d like to thank all of you for reading this ebook, I would really appreciate any replies, I am not a car guy and I often have no idea what would work and what wouldnt so any help is awesome. Thankyou

(oh and another thing, I got the car basically a week ago. So I can’t really compare what it was like back whenever)
 
Norms1stTC said:
If you really want to take your life in your own hands, try getting on the Fort Pitt bridge from the North Side to 376W, but on a Harley Davidson Ultra Classic, there is no humanity for any on ramps in Pittsburgh for sure !!!
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Lmao exactly. Please make sure your life insurance policy is up to date and valid!! Only way I'd ride a bike through that area is if it's on a trailer behind a freightliner!! I've talked to alot of truckers and always ask what's the worst roads to drive on, they always have Pittsburg either 1st place or top 3.
 
oktowncar said:
The other factor involved in my mileage is that I have very little in-town driving.
I live out in the Country. 12 miles for me to go get groceries/gas and if I need to shop well, that's a minimum of 50 miles away
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I get great mileage in country. Up hills and that takes away and oil rigs or water bottles but if it's a clear drive I do rather well. Usually 320-335 miles a fill up.
 
Jaskim06 said:
Spark plugs come in alot of different styles that claim alot. I use Motorcraft plugs, filters etc or approved products thats equal or better. If your plugs look bad or are very old yes it will help, but your not gonna put e3 plugs in and get 40mpgs. Fuel injectors in most cases are meant to last the life of a motor. Thing is what is the life of a motor. 100k, 300k, 500k? So if you want to spend the time and money by all means put new plugs, coils, injectors and it will run as good as can be. An engine is a big air pump like I said. They make cars to be reliable and last long time. You can do alot to get it to run as most efficient as possible with alot of things some cheap some not so cheap. I usually try to get a better airflow in and out that helps alot. Anything past that is only gonna help. But if you want a race car, get one, if you want a 50mpg car get a smart car or something small with few cylinders. You can get it breathing better and tuned up and have a shop give you a tune that makes the most of the free flowing exhaust, and all the mods to give you the most out of your improvements. I usually get with 93 gas around 16-18mpg city and around 24-28 or better highway keeping cruise on and not being in a hurry. Best thing is to do some research online to find what works best for you and what you can do yourself to learn how to work on autos and to have a better idea about my opinions and others. Have fun with it and you'll be surprised what you can do with a lil knowledge and some tools!! It's a good felling knowing you can make your auto run great and fix yourself let alone save that money for things you enjoy in life.
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Well, Im off to the shop tomorrow to get myself some new plugs, and I thought it might be a good way of getting to know my car and give me little experience in the mechanics. I’m fairly confident, but that just might be the excitement talking, is it easy replacing spark plugs. I plan on buying all the equipment\tools I’m going to need and I’ve got good space to work.

what about the o2 sensors? Are they easy to do or are they best left to a mechanic?
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02's can be a right pain in the rear, only reason I haven't changed my likely original ones are one of them is stuck tight.

The spark plugs on these cars have a history of issue with them coming loose and "blowing" out of the hole.
I strongly suggest a dead cold motor, compressed air to blow out any crud in the hold they are down in, a good
fitting spark plug wrench, and a torque wrench to tighten them back up with. And be dead on the torque.
Most cars you can kinda wing it and it's fine, but these are kinda temperamental. Some of them are worse than others
but they are all susceptible. It's a fixable problem if things do go south but it's a pita, having to tow the car, find someone that
knows how to fix them correctly, etc. Not saying don't do it, just be slow and careful. And torque them to spec.
 
Towncarguyxyz said:
@dave42 ok, i am ashamed to say I don’t know what boots are, and google search has only brought up pictures of those caterpillar work boots. 😂
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You can buy them most anywhere, but it's the rubber end of the coil.

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Oh, very cool. I’ll try to pick em up. I’ve already made some changes, added some engine flush, left the car on for about 15 minutes, drained the old oil added new oil and filter, swapped the air filter too. Added transmission fluid too. I bought a fuel filter and spark plugs too. Will get to those tomorrow. I can already feel the car driving differently.
 
Towncarguyxyz said:
Oh, very cool. I’ll try to pick em up. I’ve already made some changes, added some engine flush, left the car on for about 15 minutes, drained the old oil added new oil and filter, swapped the air filter too. Added transmission fluid too. I bought a fuel filter and spark plugs too. Will get to those tomorrow. I can already feel the car driving differently.
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Be careful changing your plugs. Use a torque wrench to install the new ones.
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wolf_walker said:
02's can be a right pain in the rear, only reason I haven't changed my likely original ones are one of them is stuck tight.

The spark plugs on these cars have a history of issue with them coming loose and "blowing" out of the hole.
I strongly suggest a dead cold motor, compressed air to blow out any crud in the hold they are down in, a good
fitting spark plug wrench, and a torque wrench to tighten them back up with. And be dead on the torque.
Most cars you can kinda wing it and it's fine, but these are kinda temperamental. Some of them are worse than others
but they are all susceptible. It's a fixable problem if things do go south but it's a pita, having to tow the car, find someone that
knows how to fix them correctly, etc. Not saying don't do it, just be slow and careful. And torque them to spec.
Click to expand...
I love to watch some videos and they just come right out. Yeah ok sure they do. Only 02 I've ever had come right out was ones that had to be taken out for mocking up a system. They're always a pita. Always. Some ppl say to soak them and yes that works but some ppl don't have time to keep spraying them. Easiest way is with heat. Use a torch of some kind to break loose then spray away and they'll come out easily. I had one on pass side downstream that wouldn't budge. Ran out of gas in torch so I tried all the easy ways I saw ppl doing it and it took a cheater pipe 3 feet long, a 02 socket with a gob of weld holding it from flexing and rounding off the sensor and alot of pulling. The guy had a big pipe wrench on it and it was already a tad bit messed up. Those things are the worst for getting out undamaged. They get so much heat and cool cycles. And rust. I've had some luck with a warmed engine and alot of spray. I saw a guy use one of those heat conductor tools with the different sized springs with asbestos wrapping. Idk what the tools called. Brain fart but it heats up whatever you have inside the springs with heat and will turn it glowing red with no torch. Very good tool. I used a decades old version but it crapped out years ago. Worked every time if you can get whatever your taking apart inside one of the heat tips. And no worries about fire under a automobile. What I always try to do is if it's bad and gonna be scrapped just cut the wires and use a impact deepwell and always comes out. Alot less time and work. Let us know how well it turns out. Ppl are always surprised how much better engines run with a simple tune up. Alot of worn small components can make a big difference in efficiency. One big piece of advice is to always do plugs cold. These engines are known for weak or few aluminum sparkplug threads. It don't take alot of heat in aluminum to make a big difference compared to steel. Even other makes this can happen so always do plugs cold. Have fun and welcome to your new habit of mechanics. Once you get the itch it never goes away!! Alot of pride in fixing or making what you got better by your own 2 hands and brain.
 
Alright, I am officially done. Wow, all the things that went wrong. I usually always park my car in the parking lot under my house and I change parking, so I hadn’t noticed the leak. Yup, what leak? Turns out the water pump was faulty, the Gauge didn’t show anything out of order. So I went ahead and replaced the water pump. Then I see another thing, transmission fluid is leaking, so I think alright maybe I went a little over. Nope turns out one seal had worn and was leaking through there. I didn’t know how to fix that and honestly I couldn’t even If I did, so a trip to the garage and bam transmission seal is fixed and fluid is topped off. I added coolant too. I asked them to replace the fuel filter too, and btw the fuel filter was nasty. Thing was well beyond it’s years. I came back feeling the car run smoother than ever, parked the car waited till Morning to replace the spark plugs. Spark plugs were worn but werent dead, but I changed them anyway. I got some premium fuel injector cleaners and I swear it’s driving like a new car. I got 15MPG on my first tank. I am happy. (only city driving no highway) I went from 11MPG to 15MPG not bad at all.
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Right where she needs to be. A little love goes a long way! Glad you got her all fixed up.
 
I completely agree, and with the Camry out of the shop and taking over most of the city drives. My Town Car gets to be used for what It was built for. I think cars are sentient, as soon as I feel like everything is taken care of, the axle “clunked“ on me when I took a turn. I think the CV joint needs replacement. That’ll get done later on. I’m running out money 😂😂
 
Towncarguyxyz said:
I completely agree, and with the Camry out of the shop and taking over most of the city drives. My Town Car gets to be used for what It was built for. I think cars are sentient, as soon as I feel like everything is taken care of, the axle “clunked“ on me when I took a turn. I think the CV joint needs replacement. That’ll get done later on. I’m running out money 😂😂
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Glad you got it done and running fine. That's a good jump. I'm sure you'll be pleased on the highway!! Pretty good for city.
 
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