bnajack

In summer I average high 30's to low 40's day in/day out. In winter I average mid to high 30's. I baby it more than any other car I've owned. I start noticing lower mileage when it goes below 50. I think a lot of it has to do with the engine taking longer to warm up (running longer before battery kicks in) and the Atkinson cycle high engine idle.

We've be seeing more and more requests for a Lincoln MKZ specific forum - so to better gauge interest, we'd like to ask MKZ users on this board if you would like an MKZ only forum?

I think it is a good idea. Even though both cars are similar, there is enough difference to justify a separate forum (as long as it remains on this website).

I've done some tests. It's closer to -0.17. There are lot's of other effects. Speed lowers mpg 0.7 mpg per mph. I think the base line is 45 mpg at 50 mph at 60 degrees F, AC off. One analysis of the wet roads loss is energy required to lift the water 5 ft. in the spray. That calculation seemed off by a factor of ten. Look at this site about Gen 2 Prius's: http://privatenrg.com/. FFH numbers are about 20 % different but magnitude of the effects are similar.

Nice link. Thanks.

Temperature affects mpg to the tune of almost -0.2 mpg per decrease in temp. per degree F. A forty degree drop is worth a drop in mpg of almost 8 mpg. That's in addition to less EV when calling for cabin heat which increases initial ICE operation. Wet roads and head winds are very adverse. You're mileage change is not alarming. After the interior is warm, If the ICE stops below 47 mph while decelerating and at stops, it's probably OK. Comfort permitting, delaying cabin heat requirements until the ICE warms up from driving will help the initial high ICE use in cold weather. That's not much fun. Wet roads are terrible! If you're throwing a lot of spay, it might be -10 mpg!! Make sure you're not in "L". That provides no drive-ability advantage except in very steep or long downhill driving. Check your tire pressure; mine was down 6 psi with cooler weather. Move to Florida! Good luck!

Thanks. This is a very helpful post. How did you derive the -0.2 decrease / degree F? Not questioning this, just curious. I, too have noticed that my mileage drops when I drive in the rain. I don't understand the correlation between wet roads and gas mileage. Heads winds I understand.

I've just about got 700 total miles on the Hybrid so far. Seems like I'll be just shy of 600 miles on this tank and also on the first. Is anyone seeing 700 per tank?

After about 4200 miles, I am averaging about 38-39 mpg day in /day out. When I first fill up, the MTE says about 660 miles and by the tank is almost dry, the sum of the MTE and trip meter equals about 620 miles.

Same here with my iPhone. It has happened twice. I just turned the phone off and back on and all is ok.

"Leather seating surfaces only" is a long-standing, common practice in the industry. You can spend much more money than you did on the Fusion and not even get leather as standard, e.g., BMW. If you don't know this already, it might comfort you to know that Leatherette, commonly known as vinyl, is the standard seating material in the BMW 528. Leather is a $1400 option. The MSRP, without options, is over $45G. You'd expect it on a car in this price range. Same goes for some M-B models as well. So, I wouldn't feel too bad about it. It might not be the best quality leather in the world, but at least you got the genuine article.

 

I received a letter and samples from Lincoln stating that only Leather Master products should be used in my MKZ. MKS owners received the same packet. However, these cars use different leather from that in the Fusion. I really don't know if this is just a promotional tie-in, as was the case with BP fuel in Fords (imagine them recommending BP these days), or not. I did use the samples they gave me and was quite pleased with the results. Obviously, you could use them in your Fusion as well.

 

You can use any quality leather cleaner & conditioner in your Fusion, but as bbf2530 states, never use a product designed only for vinyl on your leather seats. They have much harsher cleaners in them.

For what it's worth, I prefer the fake leather. It seems to hold up better over time. I had a 2002 Audi A4 for seven years / 90,000 miles and the seats looked brand new (with very little care) when I traded it in. My last car was a 2009 Hyundai Genesis and the real leather seats looked horrible after 18 monhs / 22,000 miles.