Software upgrade

[B25Nut]

Your car sounds like GrySq's, and mine before the upgrade. Do you get all EV at 65-75 mph speeds? You either have to take it back to your dealer and have them do the software update over again or do the 100% SOC Battery Reset like GrqSq and others has done. We now are both seeing an average of 44+ mpg. Don't give up yet. Many early updates appear not to have been done right by the dealers.

[GrySql]

Your car sounds like GrySq's, and mine before the upgrade. Do you get all EV at 65-75 mph speeds? You either have to take it back to your dealer and have them do the software update over again or do the 100% SOC Battery Reset like GrqSq and others has done. We now are both seeing an average of 44+ mpg. Don't give up yet. Many early updates appear not to have been done right by the dealers.

My car was getting worse after the Battery Saver TSB, then the PCM update made my mileage sink to barely 30mpg.

I had the Dealer check it so everything was the latest.

I did a Hard Re-set that helped but didn't really accomplish much.

 

DrewFM came up with the idea of doing a forced SOC to 100%, do the Re-set, then drive like a real hybrid hypermiler for the next several hundred miles to teach your computer the new way of driving, clearing out all it's memory.

I did that and it certainly seems to have helped my car.

 

Yes, I can still get low mpg's on short trips, but on average they are much better than before.

I still don't drive like an ordinary gas only car, I work with the FFH, making the best use of it's potential.

 

MXGOLF, why not try the forced 100% SOC Hard Re-set, then the real key is to drive it hybrid style with a very light pedal for a while and see what happens?

I know Oregon pretty well, have lots of relatives from Grant's Pass to Olympia, WA.

You should be able to use the terrain after the 100% Re-set to train your car to use the ups and downs to keep the HVB SOC high enough to help much more than it used to.

I hope it helps your situation, I was getting pretty disheartened myself, things are changed now.

[acdii]

I do believe the key to this is "training the car to be a hybrid". The car does learn your driving habits, and will store that information and only a hard reset will clear it. So drive like a moron and waste gas during its learning curve and it will always behave badly. (not saying you guys drive like morons:), but hopefully you get the drift). When I got my Flex, I drove it so lightly as if it were a Hybrid and now I can have fun with it and STILL get over 20 MPG. It amazes me how consistent it is, every tank save one has been over 20 MPG, the one below it was when I pulled my horse trailer with it. When I got the HyTi, again, drove it very gingerly, very hybrid like, and first trip from the dealer to my office, got over 47 MPG. Now, same trip I get over 50 MPG(did that just this morning, in the rain, after filling up, gas station is across the road from my dealer)

 

However, with that being said, not all cars will accomplish this even with a hard reset. That other car I had I did a full hard reset, where I unplugged everything for an entire weekend, and drove it like I drive my current one, gingerly, and trying every trick in the book, and it still didn't crack 34. The one thing about that car was the inconsistencies, I could drive the same route, the same day, the same way 4 times, and have 4 totally different results. Whether or not the update would have fixed it, dont know, dont care.

 

So hopefully this trick can fix them all, but if it doesn't, it just might be you got one like I had.

[GrySql]

However, with that being said, not all cars will accomplish this even with a hard reset. That other car I had I did a full hard reset, where I unplugged everything for an entire weekend, and drove it like I drive my current one, gingerly, and trying every trick in the book, and it still didn't crack 34. The one thing about that car was the inconsistencies, I could drive the same route, the same day, the same way 4 times, and have 4 totally different results. Whether or not the update would have fixed it, dont know, dont care.

It's true, there are FFH's that are, and always will be, problematic.

The one difference in our discussion now is this latest PCM update that changed so many parameters of the cars driving characteristics.

I am not quite ready to say the Re-set path I've used is going to turn my car into a real high mileage FFH.

So far, with about 1,000 miles of retraining, it is doing better.

 

My 1st question is: How long does 'training the computer' take?

[tbranca]

I was also getting 34mpg before and 38mpg after but here's what I have done since and I'm now getting 42 to 44 MPG.

 

1st change your spark plugs mine looked like they came out of a two stroke vary dirty and black .

 

2nd put 46psi in all 4 tires

 

3rd have them install the new fuel control module. your car may be leaking fuel ford don't want to admit it but that's what's happening on a lot of fusions

 

4th Disconnect the main battery and the HV battery the disconnect for the HV battery is fold down the rear back seat and there a flap on the floor behind the seat. and let the car sit 3hrs to over night if you can. This will clear all the cars old bad Sensors. I still think my cars battery and motor is only 80% of the newer cars. I bought mine in October last year. The dealer gave me a car to drive for 2 days and I was getting 48 MPG on the highway Way better than mine at the time was only 34mpg.

[GrySql]

I was also getting 34mpg before and 38mpg after but here's what I have done since and I'm now getting 42 to 44 MPG.

 

1st change your spark plugs mine looked like they came out of a two stroke vary dirty and black .

What spark plugs did you use, make and part number?

[tbranca]

What spark plugs did you use, make and part number?

I got them from rockauto.com AUTOLITE Part # XP5364

[acdii]

I was also getting 34mpg before and 38mpg after but here's what I have done since and I'm now getting 42 to 44 MPG.

 

1st change your spark plugs mine looked like they came out of a two stroke vary dirty and black .

 

2nd put 46psi in all 4 tires

 

3rd have them install the new fuel control module. your car may be leaking fuel ford don't want to admit it but that's what's happening on a lot of fusions

 

4th Disconnect the main battery and the HV battery the disconnect for the HV battery is fold down the rear back seat and there a flap on the floor behind the seat. and let the car sit 3hrs to over night if you can. This will clear all the cars old bad Sensors. I still think my cars battery and motor is only 80% of the newer cars. I bought mine in October last year. The dealer gave me a car to drive for 2 days and I was getting 48 MPG on the highway Way better than mine at the time was only 34mpg.

According to Ford, thats a normal plug. The ones they pulled out of mine were completely fouled, the center electrode was black.

[rollmeaway9]

• Hi, I bought my car, a dealer demo with 5800 miles on it Sept 10th. Before I took delivery on it, the dealer did the Software upgrade to the My Ford Touch, as well as, and I'm guessing to the Hybrid System. I have driven it over 1200 miles since, and my average MPG is 56.4. I'm guessing, from what I have read, that this will most probably go down some while driving in the dead of winter.

FYI: My commute to work is 136 miles round trip on a mostly flat highway, and secondary roads.

EV works well for me while driving about 65-70 MPH range.

[Charrua]

 

• Hi, I bought my car, a dealer demo with 5800 miles on it Sept 10th. Before I took delivery on it, the dealer did the Software upgrade to the My Ford Touch, as well as, and I'm guessing to the Hybrid System. I have driven it over 1200 miles since, and my average MPG is 56.4. I'm guessing, from what I have read, that this will most probably go down some while driving in the dead of winter.
• FYI: My commute to work is 136 miles round trip on a mostly flat highway, and secondary roads.
• EV works well for me while driving about 65-70 MPH range.

 

 

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your insane MPG. It'll definitely go down this winter but nobody will know by how much because almost everybody who drove one last winter was just breaking it in.

[acdii]

 

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your insane MPG. It'll definitely go down this winter but nobody will know by how much because almost everybody who drove one last winter was just breaking it in.

or had a broke one, LOL I am keeping optimistic that its will mirror the results of the 10 we had, 38-40.

[MXGOLF]

GrySql and tbranca thanks for the advise. I probably will do that hard reset. I will also change the plugs as I am sure they are caked in carbon. I will see if the dealer will change the fuel control module too. Can't hurt any more than it already does.

[hybridbear]

GrySql and tbranca thanks for the advise. I probably will do that hard reset. I will also change the plugs as I am sure they are caked in carbon. I will see if the dealer will change the fuel control module too. Can't hurt any more than it already does.

If your plugs are really bad you might be able to get the dealer to change them under warranty. I believe on acdii's BD the dealer changed the plugs once under warranty.

[MXGOLF]

I took it in at 3000 miles instead of 5000 for the initial oil and filter change and asked them to change the plugs but they did not do it. I also told them the car was very under performing in the gas mileage area and they said the usual it's the gas here in Oregon, the way you drive and the roads I drive. I told them I am averaging 34-35 mpg and the service guy says that about right. Wrong I said but did not push the issue with him. I did e-mail my sales person and two other people at my dealer. One of which seemed genuinely concerned as he said he would see what he could do. Last I have heard from him. My company purchased hundreds of Fords from them and has them serviced there so I would think they might want to really help. Maybe not however. Enough ranting. Sorry.

[wazzul]

Interesting thoughts on the fuel control module leaking. From day 1 I've noticed that Fuelly reports about 2 mpg less than the computer on every fill up. Could this be a sign of a leaky fuel line, or is that pretty consistent for other Fuelly users on this forum?

[GrySql]

GrySql and tbranca thanks for the advise. I probably will do that hard reset. I will also change the plugs as I am sure they are caked in carbon. I will see if the dealer will change the fuel control module too. Can't hurt any more than it already does.

The Dealer HAS to change the Fuel Module, it's a Recall, have them order the parts first.

 

Here's the thing though, after you change the SP's and do the Hard Re-set --> drive your FFH like the best hybrid driver ever for the next 300 miles.

Put that proverbial egg between your gas pedal and the sole of your shoe and do your very best to teach the computer to be thrifty.

If you don't, it will not be as effective.

 

I'm going to change my Motorcraft SP531 spark plugs tomorrow. My car has 14,000+ miles on it already, how'd I do that?

Anyway, I am more curious than worried. This new post-PCM update with the ICE warm up method and the different EV parameters make me want to know how the SP's look.

 

Today, for the first time EVER I drove the 200 mile RT to my specialist doctor in Los Angeles and averaged a tiny bit over 40mpg's - 43.2 mpg's going, 40.4 returning.

Before this it was 36-38 going, 34-36 returning.

There is hope for my car !! :)

[acdii]

If your plugs are really bad you might be able to get the dealer to change them under warranty. I believe on acdii's BD the dealer changed the plugs once under warranty.

They didnt have a choice, they were fouled so bad it set hard codes and ran like crap.

[Boat Racer]

Interesting thoughts on the fuel control module leaking. From day 1 I've noticed that Fuelly reports about 2 mpg less than the computer on every fill up. Could this be a sign of a leaky fuel line, or is that pretty consistent for other Fuelly users on this forum?

I have noticed this same thing since the update with my indicated mpg being about 2 mpg more than actual or what Fuelly indicates. It makes me wonder if others are really seeing actual better mileage since the update or are they just seeing the indicated mileage look better.

[GrySql]

I have noticed this same thing since the update with my indicated mpg being about 2 mpg more than actual or what Fuelly indicates. It makes me wonder if others are really seeing actual better mileage since the update or are they just seeing the indicated mileage look better.

Sure, what if they just changed the math in the computer to show better mpg's to shut up the mpg problem's?

 

After all the issues I've had getting to this point, I've been watching the pump and Trip Display gallons - they have been very, very close in my car.

Trust, but verify.

 

BTW, did you do the 100% Hard Re-set after the PCM update?

Edited September 27, 2013 by GrySql

[Boat Racer]

Sure, what if they just changed the math in the computer to show better mpg's to shut up the mpg problem's?

 

After all the issues I've had getting to this point, I've been watching the pump and Trip Display gallons - they have been very, very close in my car.

Trust, but verify.

 

BTW, did you do the 100% Hard Re-set after the PCM update?

No, I haven't completed the hard re-set yet. I'm not yet convinced that really helps but I'm keeping an open mind as more people report their results. :)

[acdii]

No, I haven't completed the hard re-set yet. I'm not yet convinced that really helps but I'm keeping an open mind as more people report their results. :)

For the 30 minutes it takes to do it, why not?

[corncobs]

No, I haven't completed the hard re-set yet. I'm not yet convinced that really helps but I'm keeping an open mind as more people report their results. :)

I did it without negative effect and I'm still getting the same great mileage as I did before. Loosing EV+ wasn't a big deal when looking at possibility of even better MPG#s

[Boat Racer]

I agree that doing the hard reset is unlikely to cause any negative effect, so I will give it a try although I still have my doubts that it can really improve my gas mileage from tank fill to tank fill. I have put on about 1,000 miles since the software update (two gas fill ups) and at first, I was hopeful for a mpg improvement as the short trip numbers did look better (per the cars computer). But when I calculated the real fuel economy after each of the two fill ups with fuelly, it shows the same 36-37 mpg (average per tank fill) that I have gotten since day one. Most of my driving is either on the freeway 70-74 mph or in town 30-40 mph with very little in between. I will do the hard reset and report back if I noticed any difference. :shift:

[GrySql]

I will do the hard reset and report back if I noticed any difference. :shift:

You are right to be cautious about something like this.

If you do this, remember that the first 300 miles after it's done are critical, otherwise it's not worth the time spent.

If you continue driving above 70 mph (unless downhill) during the 'training period' then possibly you will not notice all the potential this is meant to produce.

For me, that meant always driving the speed limit (or less), not accelerating above 3 bars (better if at two bars), using Grade Assist going downhill and braking as close to 100% each time.

Some folks enjoy this, for me this training period was an exercise in patience. It did make a substantially improved difference to my cars mpg's so it was worth it.

That training period also trained me to be a better hybrid driver, concentrating that hard for that long must have permeated my boney head.

 

For those other days when you just gotta go fast, you have the C6 and I have my Mustang GT.

[Boat Racer]

You are right to be cautious about something like this.

If you do this, remember that the first 300 miles after it's done are critical, otherwise it's not worth the time spent.

If you continue driving above 70 mph (unless downhill) during the 'training period' then possibly you will not notice all the potential this is meant to produce.

For me, that meant always driving the speed limit (or less), not accelerating above 3 bars (better if at two bars), using Grade Assist going downhill and braking as close to 100% each time.

Some folks enjoy this, for me this training period was an exercise in patience. It did make a substantially improved difference to my cars mpg's so it was worth it.

That training period also trained me to be a better hybrid driver, concentrating that hard for that long must have permeated my boney head.

 

For those other days when you just gotta go fast, you have the C6 and I have my Mustang GT.

Thanks for the retraining the computer tip, that makes sense and I shouldn't have a problem with it since I normally only accelerate up to 2 bars and get 100% score on braking most of the time anyway. The only real change is that I will set the ECO Cruise to a maximum 65 mph limit on the highway instead of my current 69 or 74 (depending on traffic conditions). I just refilled the tank today and reset the trip info so this will be a good test after I do the hard reset on the HVB this evening. Can you refresh my memory................do I just need to do the hard reset on the HVB or do I need to do it also to the 12v battery also? Yeah, thank goodness for the hot rods when we feel "the need for speed". ;)