Is your throttle cable stretched? Check out the throttle cable zip-tie mod in the tech articles.
Thermostat and fan running ok and maintaining proper engine temperature?
What about fuel filter?
MAF sensor dirty?
EGR working properly?
The thermostat is good, I replaced it when I had the timing belt cover off and everything was out of the way. Stock 192*F unit with a jiggle valve, I think Delco. Fan clutch is good, spins free. The dash temp sender does not work, when hot it barely touches the "N" in Normal and this didn't change with the new thermostat. Heater will blow hot. I bought a replacement CTS but the harness has a egg shaped round (?) connector where the new one is the normal rectangular plug. I can't see a reason not to change the fuel filter, just haven't picked one up yet.
Today I pulled the top of the air cleaner and the MAF out to clean. It looks like an aftermarket unit, nice and clean! Blew 1/4 can of MAF cleaner through it just to make sure. While I had the top of the box off I pulled the hot air WTF and cold air intake out of there & capped the vac line. I hooked some line onto the EGR, sucked on it, truck quit right away. Next thing to check is the throttle cable, just need a brick.
Only thing here, a 94 shouldn't have EGR, especially with the MAF system, so I'd just be sure to clean the MAF sensor.
I seem to have EGR, it's not a Cali emissions truck either. What did Ford do that year for CA?
Sounds about right for a 2.3 in '94. None of mine have ever averaged over 20mpg. Beyond the normal maintenance stuff suggested there is not a whole lot that can be done about it... they are very heavy engines based on a design from the 60's. Deeper gears in the axle(s) will make it feel snappier from a stop and smaller tires can make a difference there too. Tuners and chips and stuff will not make a noticeable difference.
Looks like you run lifts, I haven't gotten that far into the project yet but if I'm at 20 now I'll get better mileage in my F250... Not surprised about the heavy engines or Ford under-gearing the 2wds. What do you make of the stock mileage chart on this site? 80s trucks at 35 MPG on carbs?
Pissing in the dark but....
Did this start after the timing belt change?
After having a few 1.9L escorts, i can tell you having that timing gear ever so slightly off will cause exactly what your saying.
If not that, i second the compression test.
It seemed just as bad before swapping belts. Seems to idle a little shaky, otherwise no symptoms that'd come with low compression but I'll certainly check that out.
Thanks for all your help guys! I spent some time in the garage today and tore into this thing a bit more. Ended up finding the manual pouch and complete service history through 150k tucked in under the drivers seat, it looks like she took it into Point-S every 5k for oil and the filters were all changed on schedule. It seems well taken care of but well used. Still stock ride height with 215/75r14s on stock mags. With the hot air WTF pulled out of there and a clean MAF it seemed to do a lot better on the freeway but ideally it'd have an e-fan conversion. Feels kinda gutless and the journey is still out on mileage - might take it up to Spokane this weekend to see my folks.