Crazy little Escort Quesiton

[MattP]

I have a 97 Ford Escort, and it has been great. Lately, though, the gas mileage has plummeted, about 7 miles to the gallon. I replaced the fuel filter, and that didn't help, and so forth. The thing that is buggering me is that it doesn't seem to be losing any power. It takes hills and highways as well as ever. There was some heavy knocking before I changed the filter, but it's gone now.

I am worried about the computer, because I don't know enough about it not to be. Anyone got any other suggestions.

(BTW if it's cratered, I've got my eye on an used XJ8, so even bad news isn't all that bad of news.)

 

[tony barnhill]

Now there's an upgrade - Ford Escort to Jaguar XJ8!

 

[MattP]

Not a new one. By slipping back a few years, the used ones are about what I paid for the 'scort. Plus, I am a known wacko, so this doesn't seem like that great a stretch to me.

 

[CraigFL]

I have a 94 Escort ... my second one in the last 10 years. What's odd is that you see no performance difference. Check wires, plugs & O2 sensor but first see if it gives you and codes from the OBD. This might give you a hint what is happening. Maybe leaky injectors? Got a leak in the fuel tank?? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Camshaft]

Bank 2 oxygen sensor? If the bank 2 sensor's out, the car will still run, but mileage will suffer because you won't be getting a stoichiometric air/fuel mixture. How many miles at a time do you drive it? My Jeep's sensor was bad but I didn't start throwing codes for months...the car was never running long enough for the computer to notice something's amiss.

 

[tony barnhill]

I'd like to find an XJ8 for the price of an Escort....

 

[Banjo]

97..(OBDII) It really should have thrown a code if it were an O2 sensor.. but it's possible it hasen't You may also have a sticky injector. dumping fuel into the cylinder, but not necessarily causing a misfire.

 

[MattP]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd like to find an XJ8 for the price of an Escort....

[/ QUOTE ]

https://www.internetautoguide.com/usedcar...39/2/index.html

This one is just about exactly what I paid for the Escort about 8 yrs ago. So it is within range, but the one I am looking at is similar, but local to me, and has my droolers going, even if it wouldn't be the most practical of vehicles for me.

 

[kennypinkerton]

I had no clue that 4 cylinder cars had banks. Check the MAP sensor if it's the CFI engine. It'll be a small black box (about the size of 2 boxes of kitchen matches) on the firewall near the passenger side with a vacuum hose and an electrical connection. probably less than $70 for a new one.