Ralph Greene

My wife's 2022 Nautilus (22,000 miles 35 months old) gets better fuel economy on 93 VS 87. Not scientific, but she makes about the same 20-22 mile urban trip every day. To grocery stores, library, gym, etc. The dash MPG read out says usually in the 24.2 or so MPG on 93, and 22-23. or so on 87. This is not stop and go driving but does have traffic lights every 1-5 miles. Speed rarely exceeds 45 MPH. And it's been reading this way for past several months since I switched to 93. And I know this is not a scientific test. And on a recent trip, saw over 30 MPG for whole tank. 34 once with a little tail wind. Now I know 93 octane fuel does not have more energy in it than 87. It has chemicals that reduce it's volatility so as not to knock and preignite. It just allows you to run more compression (direct injection allows this with a cooler charge) and timing. And our cars are tuned to pull timing on 87, and I can tell the slight difference in performance. Is it possible that when the CPU goes a while without detecting a knock, it goes back to a 93 octane tune. It still makes sense economy wise to use 87. 93 gives about 5% better fuel economy, and the fuel costs about 25% more around here. Mostly use Shell. And I doubt if carbon build up is any different on 93 VS 87. But I think 93 sure drives more "lively". For a 4200 LB vehicle, that little Turbo 2.0 has adequate power for a family passenger car. Anyone else notice this?

Recall on OBD for cat efficiency light work was done today. Service rep said he thinks the reflash only reduced the sensitivity of the sensor. Said he had a bunch more to do. Hope this works. Lots of warranty left if it doesn't. Car has 18,000 miles on it. Evidently Ford got tired of replacing cats unnecessarily. Recall said our Nautilus may have OBD system that falsely sets DTC P0420.

We have a 2022 with 2.0 engine only. When driving the engine is quiet and makes a satisfying sound when running. Not at all like you expect a 4 cylinder engine to sound. However....when idling, and especially if standing outside the car, you do hear the direct fuel injectors making a clacking sound. It's just the nature of the injection system.

Having our second replacement done this week on wife's 2022 Nautilus. It's the 2.0 T engine. Check engine light comes on and code say inefficient cat the Lincoln tech says. Car is a tad over 2 years old. Has 15,000 miles on odometer. First one was replaced about a year ago, now they're changing it again. Car is driven normally. Usually driven about 20-30 miles each day it is used. Urban driving....45 MPH or so. Occasional Interstate use. Usually goes about 10 miles to gym and shop. Then 10 miles home. Gets to operating temp. Wires have been checked, no exhaust leaks, a/f fine. No other codes. Car drives fine, adequate power, etc. MPG 23 or so on this type of use. We use Shell 87. Have any of you guys seen this on other 2.0 Nautilus vehicles? Thanks

Your engine has dual injectors. Both direct and port. The port mists fuel over backs of valves, and mostly eliminates the problem. The carbon build up problem has been occurring on vehicles that only have direct injection. And I have read of problems on Audi, MB, And BMW vehicles more than Ford engine vehicles with direct injection only. BTW....Most Hyundai and Toyota vehicles have dual injection also.

Some people say to just run the car hard occasionally, helps keep it cleaned out. But to my way of thinking, hi RPM use would just create more blow by fumes to EGR , and increase the problem . Cleaner in gas tank might help keep injectors clean, but this is a problem caused by direct injectors injecting fuel directly into combustion chamber, whereas old port injected engines misted fuel directly into ports and over backs of valves, and kept the valves clean. Maybe nothing to worry about, or just a service item.

Just wondering if this is really a big problem? We have a 2022 Nautilus with 2 L Turbo. Dealer service guy says he doesn't usually see problem until 75,000 miles or so. And they use a chemical process to clean out engine. Believe a Wynn product. 3 step process. Local BMW dealer seems to prefer hand cleaning....blasting with walnut media. My service guy just says this is a service item on 2 L engine. Just something you do. The Ford Ecoboost V6 and V8's have dual injectors....where port injection keeps the backs of the valves mostly clean. Have noticed Toyota and Hyundai both use dual injectors to avoid this issue. Have also read the Mustang 2.3 Ecoboost for 2024 will also get updated to dual injectors. Imagine that engine will work it's way into Explorer and other vehicles. Wonder if a de contented Aviator will also get that engine? In a lower trim level. It will have adequate tq. Something to replace the Nautilus?

My wife has had her 2022 Standard Nautilus 2.0 engine and FWD since April of this year. it has been driven about 3000 miles, all urban driving. Today we took the car on a day trip....over 300 miles of 98% Interstate driving....to Jacksonville (FL) area. (Amelia Island) Is the dash estimate of fuel economy anywhere near accurate? If so.....I am amazed by this vehicle's fuel economy. Trip 2, which I zero'd out beginning of trip, said constant highway MPG driving in the 65-75 MPH range was 33 MPG. The dash has always said wife's fuel economy in urban driving is 22-23 MPG. Now to be honest....we are careful drivers, and usually drive with an eye toward saving fuel. But we don't hold traffic up either. I also filled the tank full at a Buc--ee's (fun place) on way back,, zero'd out trip 1, and drive back about 75 miles on all hwy driving....again 33 MPG, much of it at 75 MPH. Also....it just idles at 73-74 , around 2000 RPM (near as I can read the tach). And has adequate power for our use. If it was one of my past Mustangs, probably would say not enough power, but for our use of this vehicle, and where we use it, would not pay for a bigger engine using more fuel. And we're not necessarily picky about fuel costs, we just like to conserve. That little 2.0 engine makes 280 ft lbs tq at 3000 RPM, and can propel this 4200 lb (plus passengers) vehicle just fine. It has "tall" trans axle gearing for good fuel economy, but 8 speed trans can down shift for more tq with just a slight pressing of the throttle. Impressive engineering. Do wish it had dual injectors (like larger Ford engines) to clean carbon off the valves and intake, but guess I can do a carbon cleaning when necessary.

Up date on hood alignment issue.....Local dealership (Parks Lincoln) fixed it. Was in body shop over night, they gave me an Enterprise Rental loaner (BMW 330I....over complicaed controls and hard to get in and out of....over rated small sedan seemed to me) Could not ask any dealership to do more.

My wife's standard model with 2.0 is now a little over1 month old. The vehicle computer says she is averaging about 22 MPG in urban driving on 87. Don't know trip mileage yet. For our use, it has plenty of power, but do wish it had the dual injectors of the 2.7. Imagine some day will be doing maintenance to clean the carbon build up out. No port injectors to wash over the pistons. Shouldn't have problem on 2.7.

I wish the 3.0 V6 Ecoboost was an option. Offered between the 2.3 and 5.0. That could easily make more HP and torque than the Explorer versions. Make it more of an M3 competitor.

That's the only flaw I have found on her car. When standing in front....the seam between hood and fender is about twice as much on driver side as passenger side. The hood almost touches the fender. It's very noticeable and bugs my wife. Is there any adjustment that dealership can make to this? I'm not taking about a difference one would need a micrometer to notice either. Am I being too "picky"? Otherwise vehicle seems well made.

I don't think going into the corner that fast, obviously to hit him from behind, reflects well on Logano. And I can hear him now crying when he gets it done back to him.

No worries....I appreciate your response. My underhood is exactly like akirby. There is a nice little bolt there just like his pic shows. That question was bugging me. I'm retired from Merrill Lynch, didn't learn much automotive there. Lots of practical stuff I don't know. Now....if you want to buy some futures contracts on pork bellies....well...at one time I did that. In my old age, I'm impressed by people who know about stuff and how to do things. Lots of us know a lot about useless things in retirement.

Thanks guys! I looked all over the written owners manual and the digital one. And the manual from NACO. They just keep saying exposed metal part or somilar.