Low gas mileage 98 tracer.

1998 MERCURY TRACER
145,000 MILES • 4 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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VICTOROCK
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I have a Mercury Tracer 98 that I recently bought with 145k on it. It drives awesome, occasionally the instrument lights inside on the meters goes off and comes back again in a half an hour or so. But what I am really concerened is that the gas mileage on it is around 17.3 per gallon. I have verified this number thrice. It has a service sticker on that which says "next service due at 148 K. Do you know why instead of a regular 25mpg it is giving me 17 in city?
I would appreciate. Thanks!
Nov 18, 2010 at 9:47 PM
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MHPAUTOS
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Have you done a tune, and checked for a engine management fault with a scan as yet?

Mark (mhpautos)
Nov 19, 2010 at 1:19 PM
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KHLOW2008
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There are many possible reasonss for high fuel consumption.

1. Driving condition and habit. If vehicle is mostly driven in city traffic, fuel consumption would be higher. So would be a brisk driver who is heavy on the gas pedal.

2. Engine.
a). Mechanical. Any fault with engine mechanical would cause losses in engine performance and higher fuel consumption.
b). Tune-up. Some high fuel consumption problems can be rectified with a tune-up.
c). Transmission fault. If trans is slipping, it would be so.

As to the meter lights coming on and off, it couls be a loose connection somewhere.
Nov 19, 2010 at 1:27 PM
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