What MPG and Range can we expect on the Bronco Sport?

[NickAtNight]

… is usually accomplished by retarding timing, decreasing boost pressure,.

This paper, sponsored by FORD, shows the effect for the FORD 2.0L ecoboost engine.

In normal driving, we don’t go reach that condition much, so the fuel Octane rating has a smaller effect on MPG. (<20%)

When we drive in hotter conditions and/or put the engine under heavier loads, then we may be limited more often( to 70%). There is a much larger effect on MPG.

Exactly when the Owners manual recommends we use the higher Octane fuels!

——-

4 Conclusions

This work investigated the significance of fuel RON and MON to the drive cycle fuel efficiency of vehicles
powered by a 2.0-L, 4-cylinder GTDI (gasoline turbocharged direct injection) engine, using the Octane Index approach. The analysis only accounted for the direct effects of RON and MON on an existing engine, not for
opportunities to optimize engine design e.g. by changing compression ratio. Using vehicle test data and engine K-maps, the fuel efficiency loss caused by measures to avoid engine knock, termed knock-limited fuel
efficiency loss (KLFEL), was calculated for five drive cycles, and the effects of changes in RON and MON were quantified. The major conclusions of this work are as follows.

1. The GTDI engine vehicle was not very knock-limited in the EPA UDDS and HWFET cycles.
Despite approximately 20% of fuel consumed under knock-limited conditions, the engine was not greatly retarded from MBT timing. The KLFEL therefore accounted for no more than 0.5% of the total fuel consumed.

2. The vehicle was more knock-limited in the US06 cycle, with 68% of the fuel consumed under
knock-limited conditions and 6.3% extra fuel consumed for knock control. The KLFEL-weighted K (KKLFEL) was -0.44.

3. The vehicle was significantly knock-limited in the hot-weather Davis Dam towing tests, with up to 77% of fuel consumed under knock-limited conditions and 5.5% extra fuel consumed for knock control. The KKLFEL was -0.11 and +0.12 for the two Davis Dam tests.

4. Fuel efficiency loss due to knock avoidance (KLFEL) mostly occurred when K was negative. The significance of RON and MON to fuel efficiency was characterized by the parameter KKLFEL which ranged from -0.44 to +0.12 for the five cycles studied.

For all cycles with non-trivial KLFEL, increasing RON effectively improved fuel efficiency while decreasing MON had only a minor effect.

—-/

The test below (left normal test, right higher temp test) shows normal driving conditions versus the knock limit is in effect. (everything above the red line)

we are only in knock limited conditions about 20% of the time.

The knock-limiting has a big effect on fuel economy. Fuel economy plummets the more the limit is inplsnebted

When the engine is under heavy load, the driving can be in the knock-limited range for up to 70% of the

 

[NickAtNight]

I am using an ODBD reader

? Wow

So which ODBD reader with Bluetooth are you using?

so I could mount an iPad and Bluetooth some additional monitoring. ?

 

[RushMan]

? Wow

So which ODBD reader with Bluetooth are you using?

so I could mount an iPad and Bluetooth some additional monitoring. ?

I'm using an OBDLINK MX, which has been superceded by the OBDLINK MX+. The new model looks to be much more expensive than the older version.

Torque Pro is relatively inexpensive app. around $5 USD.
I'm using it on an Android phone. I'm not sure if it is available for IOS.

 

[strckerie]

Very Nice. That would be th4 2.0 L, 4-cylinder engine with an official 20/24 MPG rating.
- You got 33.4 MPG for 3/4 of an hour at 58 MPH.

My husband filled the tank on his way back home, so the time was short.
He also took this shot, so what is true mpg from the trip?

 

[Mark S.]

I found this massive 230 page report by FORD.

Manufacturers have known for quite some time now that less displacement equals better fuel efficiency. The problem was that customers were unwilling to accept the performance loss that goes along with less displacement. Most automobile manufacturers have learned that you can replace lost displacement with turbocharging so customers don't have to compromise.

I didn't look through this entire report; did Ford publish tune maps in it?

 

[Dude]

Torque Pro is relatively inexpensive app. around $5 USD.
I'm using it on an Android phone. I'm not sure if it is available for IOS.

Torque Pro Is not available for iOS Devices

 

[Mark S.]

He also took this shot, so what is true mpg from the trip?

There are far too many variables affecting fuel economy to answer this question with accuracy. The most accurate way measure fuel economy is over several tanks of gas in a variety of driving conditions. This averages out all the variables and yield the greatest accuracy.

 

[NickAtNight]

...which has been superceded by the OBDLINK MX+.

They include ios/android apps ! "Free included iOS, Android, and Windows apps"

Note: The older version is not IOS compatible. We also do not get to the advanced Ford & GM networks with the older version.

I shall give it a try !

 

[NickAtNight]

I didn't look through this entire report; did Ford publish tune maps in it?

I don't think so, they gave us the test results they used to generate their maps.

Engine Mapping
Engine Mapping is performed to fill critical calibration tables for the powertrain control module (PCM) software. Steady state engine mapping was completed at Ford’s Engine Laboratory Dynamometer facility (Figure 187). Indolene clear fuel nominally rated at 97 RON was used for testing and validation.

Testing fuel:

Indoline is an aromatic heterocyclic organic compound with the chemical formulation C8H9N. It has a bicyclic structure, consisting of a six-membered benzene ring fused to a five-membered nitrogen-containing ring.

 

[Mark S.]

The knock-limiting has a big effect on fuel economy.

Yes, but only when:

...the engine is under heavy load...

From the report (see Section 3 Results and Discussion):

Overall, the total [fuel efficiency loss due to knock mitigation] ... [is] only 0.3% for the [city driving] cycle and 0.5% for the [highway driving] cycle, corresponding to 0.028 L/100km and 0.036 L/100km in fuel economy penalty, respectively.

To put this in perspective: 30 mpg equals 7.8404 L/100km. A .028 L/100km penalty reduces that to 29.9 mpg; a 0.36 L/100km penalty reduces it to 29.8 mpg. One or two tenths mpg is all but unmeasurable outside of laboratory conditions, and is far cry from claims of 10% or even 20% improvement in fuel economy when using premium fuel.

IMHO, this report validates my claim, which is based on my real-world measurements: under normal driving conditions (engine not under heavy load) with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine, there is no mechanism or physical process under which the use of premium fuel can increase measurable fuel economy.

If you drive with a heavy foot you might see a slight improvement in fuel economy burning premium, but I don't believe it will be enough to justify the increase in cost.

 

[V8 Yankee]

The premium versus regular fuel discussion is compelling, with two main perspectives to consider: the technical side and the real-world experience. From a technical standpoint, data and numbers are crucial. Manufacturers rely on these data points to engineer engines that meet today's performance and efficiency standards. As consumers, we value metrics like EPA-estimated fuel mileage to make informed decisions when selecting a vehicle.

On the real-world side, after tracking my mileage over nearly 48,000 miles with different fuel types—top-tier 87, 91, and 93 octane, as well as ethanol-free 90—I’ve observed that higher-octane fuels slightly improve fuel economy. However, the question remains: does the mileage gain justify the extra cost? My answer is a definitive “NO.” That said, premium fuel does feel necessary when towing or carrying a full load, as it provides a more responsive drive and noticeably reduces engine knock under heavy load or lower RPMs, much like lugging a manual transmission in a high gear at low speed.

After nearly 48,000 miles, my average fuel economy hovers between 34.1 and 34.2 mpg, a figure shaped by many factors beyond fuel choice alone. While octane does impact real-world performance, it's worth noting that results in controlled settings may vary. I’m pleased with the overall fuel efficiency but less so with ongoing maintenance issues, such as recalls, a rear differential unit (RDU) replacement, and now potentially a water pump replacement. Still loyal to Ford, though, hoping they iron out these issues before the next generation hits the market. Good luck out there!

 

[Truckbuddy]

I'm getting anywhere from 28-31 mpg on my Badlands, it's had 93 octane from the get. Even made the dealer fill it with premium, got 32 mpg on the way home.

Turbo engines need premium fuel, probably why they recommend it. ?

No complaints here!

 

[Dude]

I'm getting anywhere from 28-31 mpg on my Badlands, it's had 93 octane from the get.

Turbo engines need premium fuel, probably why they recommend it. ?

Me too .. do you know what your in town mpg is on your Badlands? I was getting 19mpg in stop and go driving when ambient temp exceeds 100°F

Now that it’s cooler I’m back to getting 23-24 in town stop and go traffic. And around 27mpg on the freeway. This is on my badlands.

 

[Truckbuddy]

I live in a rural area so most driving is 55+. It's 2 hours one way to the nearest dealer, and 1.5 to any large city, so not really sure... ? The dealer is rural as well! I don't think I've ever seen it at less than 28 even with a trip to the local grocery. Better than the 26 rating anyway. I tend to "feather" the gas pedal, but do hammer it once and a while to pass. Seems the sweet spot for mpg is about 60.

If we get any snow this year I'm hoping to see how it does. So far I can't say enough good about the comfort and utility of this vehicle.

 

[Mark S.]

[Ford's EcoBoost] engines need premium fuel [to get maximum performance], probably why they recommend it [when you need maximum performance]. ?

FTFY.

Based on the description of your driving style you rarely operate your engine at power levels that require premium to prevent detonation. Try running three or four tanks of regular and see if anything changes. My guess is you won't see a significant change in fuel economy, but you might notice better throttle response those few times when you demand high power.

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