poor gas mileage

[97mustang3.8l]

My mom drives a 2006 v6 it has around 60k miles on it she says she hasn't been getting as good of gas mileage lately. She goes by the MPG display on her dash which i don't really trust all that much. she is a little heavy footed sometimes. I told her to granny it and to also start checking her mpg herself. I am changing her oil tomorrow and i was wondering if there was anything else i should do about her fuel economy. I know plugs are recommended on her car at 60k but what else should i look at. Also what plugs do you guys recommend? one more question i have is; my dads always put 10w30 in her car shes concerned about using 5w30 as stated in her owners manual but my dad is real big on using 10w30 and is stuck on his ways, is there any concern about this?

 

[Jeff Kleb]

60k on a 2006? Holy crap.....she should have bought a RAV4. Seriously, though, don't go by the trip computer - since they seem to be about 15% too optimistic.

If she is getting 17 to 18 in town and 21 to 22 on the highway, she can consider herself lucky. The 4Runner is not an econobox, dude.

Be happy that she can drive such a nice vehicle and still afford to put fuel in it. As for the sparkplugs, they should be replaced every 30k on the V6 model.

 

[97mustang3.8l]

thats about what shes getting she wasnt real concerned about it

if she was concerned about fuel economy she would've bout a prius lol

o yeah she just told me its a 2005

 

[wolfgang]

5W30 synthetic will give you slightly better gas mileage - as will using premium gas and airing up tires a few # over recommended "comfort" setting. Check the air filter - it may need replacing along with the plugs.

 

[TheBlueWave]

5W30 synthetic will give you slightly better gas mileage - as will using premium gas and airing up tires a few # over recommended "comfort" setting. Check the air filter - it may need replacing along with the plugs.

All those things will help. Nothing wrong with 5w30 synthetic, in fact I would use it just because almost all manufacterers are recommending it for all their vehicles. If your dad is skittish, get some Amsoil 0w-40 or something. Premium fuel may help, but it doesn't help me get better mileage that I can notice. And at 15-20 cents per gallon higher than regular fuel, is it really worth it?