Why the bad gas mileage???
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Why the bad gas mileage???
Well fellas I recently aquired an 01 SS Camaro, and as i recall i was getting about 220-240 miles per tank when i bought it. Unfortunately i now seem to be getting MAYBE 175 miles per tank! Ive changed the oil within a thousand miles, and i just recently changed the tranny fluid. The air filter is clean, and i just put a new fuel filter in today. Im planning a spark plug/wire change, but also want to use seafoam to clean the injectors, and ive heard to wait and do a plug/wire change after seafoam???? the last thing i want to do is perform mantinence and then have to do it again right away, I know a lot of gas mileage has to do with your foot i generally shift around 3k rpms, and about 25-50% throttle most of the time, as in 99%, flooring it basically never because that only seems to break things! Any thoughs or ideas? im also considering the possibilty of bad o0 sensors, but dont want to replace something that isnt broken!!
thanks fellas!
thanks fellas!
#2
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Winter gas blend. Many areas require ethanol blended in during the winter, to reduce smog during cold air inversions that trap smog. Also called 'oxygenated fuel'. Even if you aren't in an area that specs it, you might still be getting it. There are becoming too many personal blends mandated in large cities and several states that the refineries are just giving the smaller customers what the larger customers demand. And gas mileage goes down by just about the measure you are seeing .
By all means, continue with the tune up, seafoam, etc. But if the car is running fine don't worry too much about it.
By all means, continue with the tune up, seafoam, etc. But if the car is running fine don't worry too much about it.
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Oh, yes. Seaform BEFORE the plug change. The seafoam can blow alot of stuff onto the plugs. Seafoam first then new plugs. Everything going to be alll clean inside.
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about how much highway driving do you drive per tank? I am about 70% highway, heavy on the throttle and I get 20-21mpg mixed, which I can go over 300 mi/tank if I let it run dry. Also how many gallons does it take for you to fill up after being on E?
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So figure you're paying $3.20/gal or so? About 14 gals which you had maybe 2 gals left in the tank, so that's ok.
175/14 = 12.5 MPG and your driving style is considered "city". The worst EPA MPG rating is 17 city/25 hwy. So you're a bit below average 50% off or so. How many miles are on the car?
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the car has right at 54000, fuel filters brand new, air filters just cleaned. car doesnt have check engine light on at all. i dont floor it ever and i shift around 2-2500 rpms most of the time. within the next few weeks im going to try and seafoam the car, then change the oil and spark plugs/wires.
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Ok,
So figure you're paying $3.20/gal or so? About 14 gals which you had maybe 2 gals left in the tank, so that's ok.
175/14 = 12.5 MPG and your driving style is considered "city". The worst EPA MPG rating is 17 city/25 hwy. So you're a bit below average 50% off or so. How many miles are on the car?
So figure you're paying $3.20/gal or so? About 14 gals which you had maybe 2 gals left in the tank, so that's ok.
175/14 = 12.5 MPG and your driving style is considered "city". The worst EPA MPG rating is 17 city/25 hwy. So you're a bit below average 50% off or so. How many miles are on the car?
You have to remember that the EPA MPG rating of cars in 2002 ( the old rating system ) was determined based off extreme granny driving. I belive the OP drives a little more aggressively than granny.
Change your air filter, plugs, wires, fuel filter, oil, clean fuel injectors and make sure your tires are inflated to the correct pressure. If you still have crappy MPG then its due to your driving style and the winter gas.
edit: Also, cold temps will effect your mpg a little as well.
Last edited by ZeroFear; 01-15-2008 at 10:28 AM.
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You have to remember that the EPA MPG rating of cars in 2002 ( the old rating system ) was determined based off extreme granny driving. I belive the OP drives a little more aggressively than granny.
Change your air filter, plugs, wires, fuel filter, oil, clean fuel injectors and make sure your tires are inflated to the correct pressure. If you still have crappy MPG then its due to your driving style and the winter gas.
edit: Also, cold temps will effect your mpg a little as well.
Change your air filter, plugs, wires, fuel filter, oil, clean fuel injectors and make sure your tires are inflated to the correct pressure. If you still have crappy MPG then its due to your driving style and the winter gas.
edit: Also, cold temps will effect your mpg a little as well.
Yup, I forgot to mention that 50% off from EPA city #'s is not so bad considering the old method of calculation they used, ethanol laced winter gas, more than 10% throttle, etc. However I've never had a large discrepancy when comparing old HWY #'s vs real #'s, even with the old system.
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you said you cleaned your ail filter? i would assume your running a K&N. If you are it probably wouldnt hurt to clean your MAF sensor. I have seen the over oiled K&N's make them nasty, and it will definitly affect how your car runs and your mileage.