# 2011 Ford Mustang mpg dropped

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-ford-mustang-mpg-dropped/162416>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mustang, ford\
**Created:** [April 4, 2020, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-ford-mustang-mpg-dropped/162416 "2020-04-04T18:10:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JamesLHicks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@JamesLHicks](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JamesLHicks)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-ford-mustang-mpg-dropped/162416/1 "2020-04-04T18:10:53Z")

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41k on auto. First 25k got upper 20’s. I’m now retired and  
don’t drive much at sustained  
frwy speeds so mpg has dropped to barely 20mpg.  
Could lack of engine temp  
reaching and sustained be  
the issue-if so is there a remedy? Thanks

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**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 6:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-ford-mustang-mpg-dropped/162416/2 "2020-04-04T18:17:40Z")

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It is just your driving habits that account for the miles per gallon you get. That is why the window stickers always say xx miles highway and xx miles city . It is just that simple .

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2020, 12:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-ford-mustang-mpg-dropped/162416/3 "2020-04-05T12:10:49Z")

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You could have told us what engine the car has. Not sure it could help, but certainly couldn’t hurt.

If the car takes a while to fully warm up, you could have a bad thermostat. If you are taking only short drives not fully warming the engine, as @VOLVO_V70 points out, lower mpgs can be expected.

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2020, 12:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-ford-mustang-mpg-dropped/162416/4 "2020-04-05T12:15:59Z")

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> [@Mustangman](#):
>
> If you are taking only short drives not fully warming the engine lower mpgs can be expected.

… along with the formation of damaging sludge in the crankcase, and possible failure to properly recharge the battery.

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**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2020, 5:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-ford-mustang-mpg-dropped/162416/5 "2020-04-05T17:20:54Z")

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Are you making sure to keep your tires properly inflated? If not, this could be a minor factor.

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**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 9:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-ford-mustang-mpg-dropped/162416/6 "2020-04-06T09:12:07Z")

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There are 2 remedies.

1. Drive more at steady sustained highways speeds.
2. Get a more MPG oriented car.