Wasnt sure if i should post this in the problems section so ill start here.
Ive had my 04 for about 7 months or so and love it. Im a little concerned recently as my mileage has gone from high 20's to 16-17mpg. I haven't done anything yet to try to rectify it. was thinking about changing the plugs since its got just over 100k (they may have been changed by the last owner) the E starts and runs like new, its always had synthetic oil in it and i drive like an old lady.
as far as some advice on where i should start, would it go something like this?
-change air filter
-change plugs
-run some injector cleaner through it
-take it in for a tune up.
this is my first gas engine, always owned diesel so not quite sure where to start. im actually getting the same mileage as my 1ton ford :(

How many tanksful are we talking, and are you calculating mpg in the standard way?

Check and see if your emergency brake is engaged. Also check to see if a brake pad is getting stuck. Normally you can smell it after driving.

If your eyeball inspection of the air filter is negative, suspect the gasoline, the only dramatic change you made. If your driving pattern didn't change to include many shorter trips, your previous fill-up may have been with a winter blend gas that was sitting in a storage tank for months.

Before going down your list, run the tank down, get a 12 gallon or more fill up from a known high volume station, check your tire pressure and fluid levels, then test again. If that doesn't work to restore mpg, try injector cleaner next, before changing plugs.

"Tuneups" are really a thing of the past, without a carburetor and distributor there aren't adjustments to "tune". The equivalent maintenance only includes changing parts - fluids, filters and plugs. Anything else is considered a repair.

Make sure there isn't a kitten in your air filter. (Really. On tonight's news.)

I would actually suspect your previous mileage. I have a hard time believing that an '04 AWD element would get 28MPG reliably.

I'm not saying 28 is impossible, but, my '04 average is 18-22. I know it is higher in newer models, but in an AWD, I'm happy. Really, 28?

I have a hard time believing that an '04 AWD element would get 28MPG reliably.

Donīt get it fixed. If you do, the car will now get you the normal 17 and will never give you 28 again...:lol::lol::lol:

Hello, Vrooom? Would you care to participate in this thread you started?

Two and a half months later, no word from Vroom. That'll do.