Software Updates from Ford to improve MPGs

[Skydogz]

Good point on the weather change. It's definitely a factor. Spring and fall are the ideal times. No heat or AC makes for nice MPG numbers.

 

Dave

So really, no summer AC will improve my mileage until I have to use the heater!

[B25Nut]

Ever since this TSB was applied, my gas mileage has been worse. I take it in for the first oil change today, and I mention the TSB and worse gas mileage. The service rep agreed and acknowledged that Ford knows about.

 

No ETA on fix and the TSB can't be removed.

 

Does anyone know of the ETA for the patch for this TSB?

 

Thanks

 

Ron

 

I feel there is nothing wrong with the TSB, but there is a problem with how some dealers did the procedure. They are not going to admit they made a mistake. Have them do it over again. Do you get significant time above 65 mph in EV mode?

[Eddie Sessum]

I still say there is. In the city I may get better MPG. Didnt have alot of city driving prior. Highway is down though for sure.

[B25Nut]

I never saw 40+ mpg on the highway before the update. My commutes are now consistently between 42-48 mpg, with an occasional 50+.

[Eddie Sessum]

I never saw 40+ mpg on the highway before the update. My commutes are now consistently between 42-48 mpg, with an occasional 50+.

 

 

Are you in the hills? Because that seems to be of major benefit.

[B25Nut]

There is a 70' change in elevation on my commute, with no hills.

[Eddie Sessum]

no idea than.. i can set cruise at 70mph with no wind at all and im lucky to get 41mpg. Thats reseting the computer once im upto speed and at a decent SOC.

[B25Nut]

I don't use cruise control. If there is a upward slope, I let my FFH slow down slightly. On the downslope, I let it build up speed and/or go into EV. I don't stay at one speed, but I rarely go below the speed limit.

[dkegel]

no idea than.. i can set cruise at 70mph with no wind at all and im lucky to get 41mpg. Thats reseting the computer once im upto speed and at a decent SOC.

41 is pretty good. I don't think we can get that at 70.

 

Dave

[acdii]

Before the update, @80 MPH expect 35.5, @ 68 MPH expect 43. I havent had any long highway trips yet to see if there is an improvement, and probably wont be able to compare if I took one now due to the change in weather and winter blend fuel.

[kevink]

I posted this under a different topic earlier, but I should have posted here. This is really good info that I look forward to using with my dealer.

 

I have a 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid, and I generally love it. I never expected to get 47MPG - I think everyone knew that wasn't realistic.

From April 2013 until October 2013 (mine was built in March 2013), I was averaging around 39.x MPG overall (according to the car's computer). I commute 110 miles round trip, three days a week, or around 25K miles per year, mostly on the highway at 75 MPH. So I wasn't too unhappy with 39 overall. On some trips home from work (55 miles), I was getting 42 MPG when I drove conservatively on a slower-speed road. Then in October, I accepted the Ford PCM "fix" that changed the algorithm for when EV mode could kick in. After the fix, I saw the engine occasionally switch to EV mode at the higher speeds, so that part seemed to have worked.

However, soon after the PCM "fix", my overall gas mileage started to decrease. I have a very consistent driving route and conditions. Each time when I stopped the car, I looked at the mileage for that trip, and the numbers were lower than before the fix was applied. I could no longer get 42 even if I tried. This continued for the next 5 or 6 weeks. I mentioned it to the Ford dealer shop and they said to keep an eye on it. Well, after the weather started getting really cold in November and beyond, the mileage decreased even further, but that always happens with hybrids (and most cars) in the winter. So I couldn't really prove after that what was due to the Ford "fix" and what was due to the cold weather conditions. This has been a particularly cold, harsh winter in Indiana, and now my overall gas mileage is down to 36.9 MPG (according to the car's computer).

I am biding my time until warmer weather an more optimal driving conditions return. Then I plan to consistently measure my MPG again and see if it goes back up closer to what it was before the fix. I do plan to go back to the dealer and keep this issue in front of them. They seemed sympathetic, but now that I've learned more here, I plan to ask them to start over on the PCM fix. Is there something I can ask the dealer to specifically check again? They claim they have EV trained technicians and fixed it right, but I'm not a mechanic and can only press it so far on technical issues. Thanks for all the good info here.

[hybridbear]

Have you tried a "hard reset"?

[acdii]

Right around October is when they switched from summer blend to Benzine around here, so that could be what is impacting your MPG, and just a coincidence with getting the updates. Mine dropped below 41 around that time too, and was pretty much like yours, around 43 for the most part. I would wait until the summer blend is back and see what it does after a few tanks.

[Checkers]

I was wondering if anyone here know if the update discussed in this thread applies to Energi's as well? I have not seen EV kick in about 62 using ACC on the highway.

 

ThanksM

[kuzzi]

After having the update for quite a while, the only thing that is not better than it was before was my 75+mph cruising to Dallas. It would stay above 40mpg without the update, now it struggles to get 36mpg on these trips as now it cycles between EV and ICE when I would just prefer it to dedicate the ICE the whole time. This is a killer as it usually takes a whole tank or two. Would be nice to have an "Energi type" switch to change the computer's behavior when going on these trips to say, "hey listen Mr. Car, we got a long trip ahead of us and I'm not too concerned about getting EV miles today since I've seen you can break 40mpg on ICE alone at these speeds. I'm not shooting for a 45+mpg trip so only take power from the ICE when you need to get the AC going or to crank up the music."

[Fastronaut]

I was wondering if anyone here know if the update discussed in this thread applies to Energi's as well? I have not seen EV kick in about 62 using ACC on the highway.

 

ThanksM

If you have an Energi, you should be able to do EV far above 62. I believe it's rated to do up to 85 MPH on all electric.

[dkegel]

If you have an Energi, you should be able to do EV far above 62. I believe it's rated to do up to 85 MPH on all electric.

After the update. I am almost positive the 2013 Energi's need the update as well.

 

Dave

Edited April 3, 2014 by dkegel

[hybridbear]

After the update. I am almost positive the 2013 Energi's need the update as well.

 

Dave

The update never applied to the Energi. The Energi could do 85 MPH with the ICE off from day one. The Energi has a completely different code for how to perform in hybrid mode because the kWh used by the Energi in hybrid mode is different from the kWh used by the hybrid.

[jeff_h]

The update never applied to the Energi. The Energi could do 85 MPH with the ICE off from day one. The Energi has a completely different code for how to perform in hybrid mode because the kWh used by the Energi in hybrid mode is different from the kWh used by the hybrid.

 

Exactly - mine were built in February 2013 (I think 6 days into the job) and March 2013, both can go above 62 in EV, haven't made it above 85 but hit 75 here and there but don't keep it there since it burns the HVB at a higher rate.

[dkegel]

The update never applied to the Energi. The Energi could do 85 MPH with the ICE off from day one. The Energi has a completely different code for how to perform in hybrid mode because the kWh used by the Energi in hybrid mode is different from the kWh used by the hybrid.

Thanks. I was apparently misinformed. Sorry for the confusion.

 

Dave

[Checkers]

Thanks everyone.

 

My car does do EV at higher mph's, but when the main battery is depleted and in hybrid mode only I cannot get the EV to power the vehicle above 60ish, especially with cruise, ACC on. My former car, Kia Optima Hybrid would go EV at highway speeds every 5-7 minutes for about 30 seconds and the ICE would shut off, I have not experienced that at all in my Energi.

[Skydogz]

Thanks everyone.

My car does do EV at higher mph's, but when the main battery is depleted and in hybrid mode only I cannot get the EV to power the vehicle above 60ish, especially with cruise, ACC on. My former car, Kia Optima Hybrid would go EV at highway speeds every 5-7 minutes for about 30 seconds and the ICE would shut off, I have not experienced that at all in my Energi.

It never occurred to me but, the software is different and probably is not shared with other manufacturers? In other words an industrial secret!

[LadyDi]

I had the update done to my car and I noticed two things. First, when I left the dealership after performing the update I fueled up the car. The car indicated that I now had 678 miles to empty. I was shocked as I never had that before it was always around 535 to 578 when filling up. Well I never saw that again. In fact a few times after that I saw 335 miles to empty. It is back to 558 but I never saw the six hundreds again. Also, the EV+ mode was reset due to the update which I figure would happen, but the EV+ is not working the same way it did after the update. The EV+ prior to the update would turn on about 2 miles to reach my house, now after the update if it turns on 1/4 mile prior to being in the vicinity I'm lucky. Also, btw I didn't see any gain on the MPG with the update. Anyone else see this problem?

[jeffo65]

I had the update done to my car and I noticed two things. First, when I left the dealership after performing the update I fueled up the car. The car indicated that I now had 678 miles to empty. I was shocked as I never had that before it was always around 535 to 578 when filling up. Well I never saw that again. In fact a few times after that I saw 335 miles to empty. It is back to 558 but I never saw the six hundreds again. Also, the EV+ mode was reset due to the update which I figure would happen, but the EV+ is not working the same way it did after the update. The EV+ prior to the update would turn on about 2 miles to reach my house, now after the update if it turns on 1/4 mile prior to being in the vicinity I'm lucky. Also, btw I didn't see any gain on the MPG with the update. Anyone else see this problem?

 

Nope. No issues here.

[MTGilby]

My dealer did this update last week,when they finally put the thrust washers (TSB13-5-24). I was skeptical last fall when it came out as I have been getting excellent mileage (I put off doing it). We averaged over 47 mpg all last summer and fall. The mileage went down over the winter to just over 44 mpg. After following this thread I am glad they did it and will be hoping for better mileage this winter, as our winters here in MT can be cold and long.

I want to thank everyone on these forums as they helped me purchase this car and have kept me up to date on things to check out. My dealer is more interested in selling pickups so it is a great help to have people I can trust to get advice from.

Thanks again,

Ken Gilbertson