Why does my 2018 Fiesta's miles to empty keep dropping?

Ford Models Forum Ford Fiesta Club
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Hey everyone, I’m not really into cars but could use some advice. I bought my 2018 Fiesta brand new, and back then, when I filled the tank, it would show ‘MI TO E 415’. Now, with 30,680 miles on it, the number drops every time I fill up. Here’s a recent picture after filling up the tank—it shows much less than it used to.

I only drive short trips in my small town, with an occasional 45-mile trip to the city for a doctor’s visit. I used to fill up once a month, but now it’s every three weeks. What’s going on? Is something wrong with the car, or is this normal?

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It’s connected to your car’s average mpg. If you’re driving mostly short trips or accelerating hard, it can drop the number.

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Tatum said:
It’s connected to your car’s average mpg. If you’re driving mostly short trips or accelerating hard, it can drop the number.

I mostly do short trips and drive to the city for doctors occasionally. Thanks for clarifying .

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I also have a 2018 Fiesta SE. This happens because the miles to empty adjusts based on your average mpg. Short town drives bring it down compared to long highway drives. Mine stayed high when I was driving mostly highways, but it dropped when I moved to a city.

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@Patricia
So, you’re saying this is normal? I rarely drive to the city and mostly stay in my small rural town.

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Maeve said:
@Patricia
So, you’re saying this is normal? I rarely drive to the city and mostly stay in my small rural town.

Yes, it’s normal. It calculates based on your driving habits. Check your owner’s manual for more details if you’re unsure.

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Maeve said:
@Patricia
So, you’re saying this is normal? I rarely drive to the city and mostly stay in my small rural town.

You might want to check if the throttle body is dirty. A dirty one can slightly affect mpg.

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Maybe you’re driving aggressively, like a race car driver?

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Emory said:
Maybe you’re driving aggressively, like a race car driver?

What? I don’t drive aggressively.

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Maeve said:

Emory said:
Maybe you’re driving aggressively, like a race car driver?

What? I don’t drive aggressively.

I meant speeding or accelerating hard. Try driving slower and being gentle with the throttle.

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@Emory
Got it, but I already drive pretty carefully.

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If it doesn’t keep getting worse after a tank or two, you’re fine. Anything major affecting mpg would likely trigger a warning light.

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Did you notice this right away, or did it get worse over time? Short trips and cold weather can reduce fuel efficiency. Winter can lower mpg by about 10%.

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Alyssa said:
Did you notice this right away, or did it get worse over time? Short trips and cold weather can reduce fuel efficiency. Winter can lower mpg by about 10%.

I’m the first owner. I started noticing this in September, but the big drop happened last month. I live in a rural town, and most of my drives are under 5 miles.

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Your mileage seems low. I had a 2010 Fiesta and could easily get 372 miles per tank. Have you checked basic maintenance, like the air filter or tyre pressures? If your trip data hasn’t been reset, those might be worth looking into.

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@Ameliascarlet
I had my car checked recently because of a squeaky belt, and they said my spark plugs and other basics looked fine. I’m not sure how to reset trip data though.

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Maeve said:
@Ameliascarlet
I had my car checked recently because of a squeaky belt, and they said my spark plugs and other basics looked fine. I’m not sure how to reset trip data though.

If the garage checked your car, it’s probably okay. Still, you could look into tyre pressures and the air filter, as those are easy to check. If you haven’t reset trip data, that’s likely not the issue.

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@Ameliascarlet
I asked about an oil change, but they said it wasn’t needed yet since I hadn’t hit the mileage mark. Tyres look fine except for one that might need…