Software Updates from Ford to improve MPGs

[acdii]

You're close. Ten times within two weeks is probably average. Acdii says you can turn your key on and off several times in your garage and have EV+ appear sooner. The computer thinks each time is a trip.

I found out why my car goes into EV+ in Harvard now, where I have never stopped before. The body shop where they repainted my bumper is on that street, so they must have cycled the ignition a dozen or so times while it sat there.

[terryb]

You obviously haven't heard of the new EV drag racing trend?

[ROB281]

Had the flash done, and after 68, and 40 mile trips I'm convinced this update has done more harm than good. I used to be able to pull 40+ at 72 with the cruise control. Today it was showing barely above 20mpg on the empower gauge with eco cruise on. Trying to keep it in EV as much as possible on the 68 mile trip, and it barely cleared 44. On the 40 mile trip I kept it around 69 the whole trip, and pulled 39.8 mpg. Hopefully things improve

Edited September 28, 2013 by ROB281

[VNLongBeach]

I had the software update done when I had about 1,300 miles. Even after the update the gas engine was kicking in at about 62-65 mph. I called Ford and the person that answered said that I would have to drive about another 1,000 miles for the computer to learn. I'm at 3,100 and still the same. Should I take it back in? It's a new car, why didn't they have the software updated before they sold me the car back in August? It takes the whole day. Does it really help the MPGs go up?

[keithsm2]

the software update should not take that long.....maybe 2 hours once they get started on it...maybe less. For the "ICE" to switch off above 65 mph ...it has to be a low power demand situation.( with a charged HVB) like coasting off the interstate or down hill.....

[VNLongBeach]

Thanks but I understand the coasting, which I am but the engine stays on until under 65 mph. For the people that have had the software update and have driven the car a few tasks, have you noticed any increase in MPGs? How much?

 

keithsm2 - are you only getting 35.7 MPGs in your 2013 hybrid. I just got the 2013 about 2 months ago, have about 3000 miles on it now and I'm getting about 47 to 48, but that's when I really watch how I drive, slow starts from stops etc. Should I even worry about the software update?

[dkegel]

You will have to get it done eventually, so I'd just take it in and have them do it. It's certainly not going to make things worse.

 

Dave

Edited October 1, 2013 by dkegel

[hybridbear]

I had the software update done when I had about 1,300 miles. Even after the update the gas engine was kicking in at about 62-65 mph. I called Ford and the person that answered said that I would have to drive about another 1,000 miles for the computer to learn. I'm at 3,100 and still the same. Should I take it back in? It's a new car, why didn't they have the software updated before they sold me the car back in August? It takes the whole day. Does it really help the MPGs go up?

It appears your update wasn't done correctly. The person who told you to wait 1000 miles was not understanding your concern. The change to allow the car to go into EV above 62 MPH was an immediate change. The first 1000 miles after the update is when the car re-learns certain parameters which control engine behavior.

 

I had my update done with my last oil change. It took about 2.5 hours to change oil, rotate the tires and do the update. Granted, I had made an appointment so that they would get my car done right away when I arrived. Considering that oil change and tire rotation takes them about 1 hour normally that wasn't too bad. I went to the dealer in the middle of the day when they're less busy and brought my work laptop with me and got lots of work done while waiting.

[keithsm2]

Thanks but I understand the coasting, which I am but the engine stays on until under 65 mph. For the people that have had the software update and have driven the car a few tasks, have you noticed any increase in MPGs? How much?

 

keithsm2 - are you only getting 35.7 MPGs in your 2013 hybrid. I just got the 2013 about 2 months ago, have about 3000 miles on it now and I'm getting about 47 to 48, but that's when I really watch how I drive, slow starts from stops etc. Should I even worry about the software update?

 

ya..my fuelly number is low.....notice most of my miles have been highway....and that was highway speeds near 80mph and with temps at or close to 100 deg :( Just going to and from work ( a 6.5 mile trek ) I can avg 44 or 45 mpg.( even with 100 degree days ). But the highway miles have killed it!. :(

[MXGOLF]

I agree that the upgrade did not help at all. I am getting worse mileage on the highway. Around town it is harder to kick it into EV mode and takes longer for the car to warm up to be able to get into EV mode.

[VNLongBeach]

Thanks everyone for your replies, I am new at this posting thing. I do have two more comments, I have read many posts and most say they are getting less than 40 miles on the highway, so how can Ford say 47 City and 47 highway? Is the fusion included in the Ford settlement? Second, There seems to be a chance that if I get the software updated again (being it's good they didn't do it right the first time) that my MPG will go down.

[aaronj1159]

Thanks everyone for your replies, I am new at this posting thing. I do have two more comments, I have read many posts and most say they are getting less than 40 miles on the highway, so how can Ford say 47 City and 47 highway? Is the fusion included in the Ford settlement? Second, There seems to be a chance that if I get the software updated again (being it's good they didn't do it right the first time) that my MPG will go down.

There are also many posts that say they're getting more than 45 on the highway, myself included. My update improved that too, going from about 46 to 48 on my highway commutes. Some people might have bad individual cars or they aren't driving in a way that's conducive to good MPGs, but the FFH, in my experience, is capable of performing to EPA estimates.

 

Edit: and no, the FFH hasn't been included in the settlements.

 

Edited again: to clarify that the update did improve performance.

Edited October 2, 2013 by aaronj1159

[dkegel]

Thanks everyone for your replies, I am new at this posting thing. I do have two more comments, I have read many posts and most say they are getting less than 40 miles on the highway, so how can Ford say 47 City and 47 highway? Is the fusion included in the Ford settlement? Second, There seems to be a chance that if I get the software updated again (being it's good they didn't do it right the first time) that my MPG will go down.

The people getting <= 40mpg on the highway are just driving too fast. At 55 or 60 MPG, you can get 45 or more. At 75-80, not so much.

 

I don't see how it's possible for the update to make your MPG worse. I'm sure this change was tested to death by Ford before it was released. The main thing it does is allow the car to go into EV mode more often than before. How could that possibly cause the car to use more fuel?

 

Dave

Edited October 2, 2013 by dkegel

[ROB281]

While driving at 70 (the speed limit) on the freeway my mpg gauge shows I'm pulling about 30 mpg altogether

[corncobs]

While driving at 70 (the speed limit) on the freeway my mpg gauge shows I'm pulling about 30 mpg altogether

That seems a bit low but what is the overall avg. after a trip? it could be all uphill.

 

Btw the EPA test speed avg for highway is 55 MPH IIRC.

[MXGOLF]

The highway speeds here are 65 and if you don't go 65 you get run over. I just got 34.5 after a fresh fill up on a trip to golf on Friday. about 70 miles round trip. Granted it was raining but I drove with the flow of traffic mostly on cruise control. I know how to drive the dam car to get it's best mileage and it doesn't get the best mileage. 800+ miles after the upgrade yielding 35.4 mpg. wahoo. should have not bought this car. Got a lemon.

[SteveB_TX]

I achieved the EPA estimate today on my trip back from Home Depot, a 17 mile trip. I kept it at 72 mph in the 75 zone, and watched it go into EV more often! I could get to like getting 44.9 MPG. :)

[Eddie Sessum]

I achieved the EPA estimate today on my trip back from Home Depot, a 17 mile trip. I kept it at 72 mph in the 75 zone, and watched it go into EV more often! I could get to like getting 44.9 MPG. :)

 

Lack of EV is your friend above 63mph. Ive found turning the heated seat on the passenger side and setting ECC at 65mph i can get around 49mpg. Dont ask why but the heated seat seems to prevent the ev mode when its at a steady cruise. Still kicks into ev slowing down and such which is fine. Just cruising speed above 63 you dont really want ev mode.

[dkegel]

That makes no sense. Anytime the ICE is not running, that's a good thing.

 

Dave

[Eddie Sessum]

But using the ice to charge the battery uses more gas than the savings of keeping the ice on at high speed.. In the city the ev gains are from regen braking

[dkegel]

I don't believe that. Do you have any data to back that up or is it theory? I am think the ICE running at 65 mph is going to use the same amount of fuel weather it's charging the battery or not. And even if it were to use a tiny bit more fuel, that has to be more than offset by traveling 65 mph without the ICE.

 

Dave

[Eddie Sessum]

Ford even knew it with the 62mph limit but they removed it because in hilly areas ev at higher speed downhill is a big benefit.

[jeff_h]

I am think the ICE running at 65 mph is going to use the same amount of fuel weather it's charging the battery or not.

 

I think it makes a lot of difference, and to illustrate this -

 

Picture a portable generator that you have for power outages... start it up and let it run with no load and the tank will last (let's say) 6 hours... plug in a decent load and hear the engine change tone since it is now powering the electrical generator to provide output to the portable outlets, and the tank of gas will now last (let's say) 4-5 hours since the engine has more of a load on it.

 

Same concept with the FFH, as the ICE would use more fuel to generate electricity back to the battery than when not doing so.

[Eddie Sessum]

Ty jeff

[SteveB_TX]

All I can say is I want EV on the freeway. Without it I don't see anywhere near the EPA 45 mpg.