The Gas Mileage Polls are in..Thanks Guys

[SlkMerc]

Wow!...what a response, this board kicks ass.

My car is getting 14 MPG/230 per tank. 90% city driving and I do not drive it hard. Have the AC on most of the time. I have the cold air intake, delete tips. A rough idle too. Any suggestions as to the rough idle? Seems alot of you are getting much more MPG/MPT and we have the same equipment. So I am wondering what Im doing wrong to get such sucko mileage.


Donnie

[RR|Suki]

Wow!...what a response, this board kicks ass.

My car is getting 14 MPG/230 per tank. 90% city driving and I do not drive it hard. Have the AC on most of the time. I have the cold air intake, delete tips. A rough idle too. Any suggestions as to the rough idle? Seems alot of you are getting much more MPG/MPT and we have the same equipment. So I am wondering what Im doing wrong to get such sucko mileage.


Donnie

Do the seafoam like mac said, get some fresh oil, a fresh filter and watch where you fill up, see if it clears up in a couple weeks ;)

[ckadiddle]

I'm not much of a mechanic here.... bad sensors somewhere making you run too rich? dirty plugs?

[SlkMerc]

Do the seafoam like mac said, get some fresh oil, a fresh filter and watch where you fill up, see if it clears up in a couple weeks ;)

Seafoam? Como Que Seafoam?....I have the CAI set up I think, so youre suggesting a clean and re-oil?.. :banned:

[RR|Suki]

it's an engine cleaner so to speak... http://www.seafoamsales.com/

[Smokie]

Wow!...what a response, this board kicks ass.

My car is getting 14 MPG/230 per tank. 90% city driving and I do not drive it hard. Have the AC on most of the time. I have the cold air intake, delete tips. A rough idle too. Any suggestions as to the rough idle? Seems alot of you are getting much more MPG/MPT and we have the same equipment. So I am wondering what Im doing wrong to get such sucko mileage.


Donnie

230 miles per tank with almost all city driving does not seem really bad to me, city driving depends on the city. How often in one day you turn your engine on and off, how long you idle at how many red lights are all variables that are different from one city to the next.

If you want to know if indeed there is some sort of problem you need to fill up and hit a highway and drive nonstop about 150 miles; fill up and see if you are not getting around 23 mpg. If it falls much lower than that then there may be a problem...by the way make sure you have a tire pressure of at least 35 psi all the way around.

The rough idle can be caused by a sticking Idle Air Control valve or maybe your throttle body blade assembly needs a little cleaning.

[StevenJ]

it's an engine cleaner so to speak... http://www.seafoamsales.com/

Lucas and STP make fuel injector cleaners that clean the injectors and remove carbon build up. You can pick up either one for about $3 each at autozone.

[KillJoy]

You could also try cleaning the MAF...... it wouldn't hurt.....

KillJoy

[SergntMac]

Okay...I didn't get what you were asking, now I can add some improved input. BTW, I did this myself, just this last January, after buying a used high mile '03 Marauder in sad shape, owner maintenence-wise anyway.

In this order...

1) Go to a FLAPS (friendly local auto parts store) near you and purchase three one-pint cans of SeaFoam. It's an engine and fuel system cleaner that's been around longer than me. Also, buy a fresh stock paper air filter for a stock OEM air box and induction path (if you still have that). Again, clean is best. If you don't, well skip it...
2) Add one pint SeaFoam to the crankcase, let it mix with the engine oil.
3) Add the second pint of SeaFoam to the fuel tank, with a fill-up to capacity.
4) Adjust your tire PSI to 40 (city), or, 38 (country) depending on your locale and driving habits.
5) Drive through the full tank of fuel until the "low fuel" light comes on, refill and add the third pint of SeaFoam to that.
6) Drive through the second full tank of fuel and plan your next oil change soon (approximating 500 miles at this point).
7) Drain engine oil and change your filter. Your choice on what to use. I use Motorcraft 5W20 mulit-blend synthetic (bulk in-house fill from my dealership), and the appropriate MotorCraft filter. Works for me.
8) Maintain this drain/fill program with a 2500-3000 mile interval on oil exchanges. Add SeaFoam to the crankcase every other oil change, and to the fuel tank every 4 fill-ups after this. Keep an eye on the tire PSI as well.

You will see an improvement in MPG/MPT, 'cause the engine will respond better to low RPM "tip in." Better throttle response = less throttle use, this is about all you can do to improve MPG/MPT.

I've been very pleased with my results from this program, and a big "thank you" is owed to Brad "Dr. Tire" Grissom, wherever he is today.

Just my .02C on it all, happy motoring gents.

[KillJoy]

Okay...I didn't get what you were asking, now I can add some improved input. BTW, I did this myself, just this last January, after buying a used high mile '03 Marauder in sad shape, owner maintenence-wise anyway.

In this order...

1) Go to a FLAPS (friendly local auto parts store) near you and purchase three one-pint cans of SeaFoam. It's an engine and fuel system cleaner that's been around longer than me. Also, buy a fresh stock paper air filter for a stock OEM air box and induction path (if you still have that). Again, clean is best. If you don't, well skip it...
2) Add one pint SeaFoam to the crankcase, let it mix with the engine oil.
3) Add the second pint of SeaFoam to the fuel tank, with a fill-up to capacity.
4) Adjust your tire PSI to 40 (city), or, 38 (country) depending on your locale and driving habits.
5) Drive through the full tank of fuel until the "low fuel" light comes on, refill and add the third pint of SeaFoam to that.
6) Drive through the second full tank of fuel and plan your next oil change soon (approximating 500 miles at this point).
7) Drain engine oil and change your filter. Your choice on what to use. I use Motorcraft 5W20 mulit-blend synthetic (bulk in-house fill from my dealership), and the appropriate MotorCraft filter. Works for me.
8) Maintain this drain/fill program with a 2500-3000 mile interval on oil exchanges. Add SeaFoam to the crankcase every other oil change, and to the fuel tank every 4 fill-ups after this. Keep an eye on the tire PSI as well.

You will see an improvement in MPG/MPT, 'cause the engine will respond better to low RPM "tip in." Better throttle response = less throttle use, this is about all you can do to improve MPG/MPT.

I've been very pleased with my results from this program, and a big "thank you" is owed to Brad "Dr. Tire" Grissom, wherever he is today.

Just my .02C on it all, happy motoring gents.

I may try this w/ our Daily Driver Grand Am.

Just a question though.... wouldn't the price of the Seafoam counteract any savings from the added fuel milage?

I understand that the car would be running & functioning better.....

Just my ponderings...

KillJoy


PS - YEAHHHHHHH!!!!!! POST 1000!!!!! :party:

['03BlkMM]

A couple of other non-mechanical tips.

Avoid idling situations as much as possible. The main one for me is at drive-thru's. Get out of the car and walk in. I know around here its almost always faster to get out of the car and walk into the restaurant and get it to go. As I leave I almost always pass cars in line that were there when I walked in...I saw on the news last year that Dallas/Ft Worth was looking at forcing restaurant drive thru's to close during the summer months as one way to bring pollution down. If its reducing pollution then its reducing your fuel consumption.

Try to time your stop lights. I know most everybody already does that. But I try to see how many times I can eliminate stopping altogether. That means slowing down a bit and watching further ahead and a lot of coasting.

When your on the highway slow down a bit. I'm bad about driving as fast as I think I can on the highway without getting in trouble. But I don't really need too, I'm just always in a hurry! ;) Recently I've tried to slow it down a bit on the highway. I'm hoping to see a bit of an increase in my overall mileage.

I generally see 17-18 mpg with at least 90% city driving.

[DEFYANT]

Cruise control works.

I've saved gas on long trips with the CC on. I set it at about 65 and stay to the right or center lane.

[Bluerauder]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Cruise control works.

I've saved gas on long trips with the CC on. I set it at about 65 and stay to the right or center lane.
Who are you trying to kid ?? :rofl: I followed you back from Detroit and I am here to tell you that your cruise control is off by 20 MPH. ;) ---- minimum !!!