Gas consumption question
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,692
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From: Bethlehem PA
Gas consumption question
LAtely, i've been noticing my car has been consuming a lot more gas.
I fill up my car with gas the other day and half way between full and mid on the gas gauge I noticed my traveled mileage was 76miles. I now have about 146miles driven on this tank and am a bit below the half way point on my gas gauge. On my moms sUV I notice its consuming more gas than usual and she only uses the car to go to work, supermarket and back home.
Has anyone else noticed this with their car?
I dont have a heavy foot and am not sure what else to do.
YEs I searched and mostly everyone says to do a tuneup which i've done like 3 weeks ago.
I fill up my car with gas the other day and half way between full and mid on the gas gauge I noticed my traveled mileage was 76miles. I now have about 146miles driven on this tank and am a bit below the half way point on my gas gauge. On my moms sUV I notice its consuming more gas than usual and she only uses the car to go to work, supermarket and back home.
Has anyone else noticed this with their car?
I dont have a heavy foot and am not sure what else to do.
YEs I searched and mostly everyone says to do a tuneup which i've done like 3 weeks ago.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
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here's a way to find out
fill up all the way, reset ur mileage counter, then wait untill the tank is half way empty.
then go back to gas station, write the down how many u drove, then fill it back up and divided the mileage u drove by the amount of gallons u put in.
another thing u gotta watch out for is people mixin water w/ their gasoline, they cought a few gas station owners doing that here in houston.
earlier this year, my car was givin me 11mpg and after changin out the o2 sensor (even though i didnt have any CEL), it went back up to aournd 17-18mpg, and thats where it stays for me.
fill up all the way, reset ur mileage counter, then wait untill the tank is half way empty.
then go back to gas station, write the down how many u drove, then fill it back up and divided the mileage u drove by the amount of gallons u put in.
another thing u gotta watch out for is people mixin water w/ their gasoline, they cought a few gas station owners doing that here in houston.
earlier this year, my car was givin me 11mpg and after changin out the o2 sensor (even though i didnt have any CEL), it went back up to aournd 17-18mpg, and thats where it stays for me.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 0
From: Bethlehem PA
here's a way to find out
fill up all the way, reset ur mileage counter, then wait untill the tank is half way empty.
then go back to gas station, write the down how many u drove, then fill it back up and divided the mileage u drove by the amount of gallons u put in.
another thing u gotta watch out for is people mixin water w/ their gasoline, they cought a few gas station owners doing that here in houston.
earlier this year, my car was givin me 11mpg and after changin out the o2 sensor (even though i didnt have any CEL), it went back up to aournd 17-18mpg, and thats where it stays for me.
fill up all the way, reset ur mileage counter, then wait untill the tank is half way empty.
then go back to gas station, write the down how many u drove, then fill it back up and divided the mileage u drove by the amount of gallons u put in.
another thing u gotta watch out for is people mixin water w/ their gasoline, they cought a few gas station owners doing that here in houston.
earlier this year, my car was givin me 11mpg and after changin out the o2 sensor (even though i didnt have any CEL), it went back up to aournd 17-18mpg, and thats where it stays for me.
ive never changed out my o2 sensors. im at 143k miles too, is that something i should consider changing? Even though there is no CEL?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 0
From: Bethlehem PA
v-card member alpha
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Assplosion, NE
Colder weather will reduce mileage a little. If you let the car idle and warm up it will be even worse of course (0mpg when not moving)
First thing to check is the air filter as it seems to be the most commonly overlooked cause of decreased mpg(probably already have if did a tune up).
Next Id try some fuel injector cleaner myself, not only will it help clean up the injectors but you might have carbon build-up on the exhaust valves which reduces compression and allows the fuel & air mixture to vent past the valves before ignition even takes place(means more gas because you have to push the pedal farther just to get going or maintain speed).
Cars that burn oil, even if there's no smoke but a little oil use, will develop those blow-by symptoms much faster but any car can have some build up over time. Depends on the quality of gas you get as well, I stick to places like Shell or BP.
If a tank or two of that doesn't help noticeably I would check the ignition timing.
First thing to check is the air filter as it seems to be the most commonly overlooked cause of decreased mpg(probably already have if did a tune up).
Next Id try some fuel injector cleaner myself, not only will it help clean up the injectors but you might have carbon build-up on the exhaust valves which reduces compression and allows the fuel & air mixture to vent past the valves before ignition even takes place(means more gas because you have to push the pedal farther just to get going or maintain speed).
Cars that burn oil, even if there's no smoke but a little oil use, will develop those blow-by symptoms much faster but any car can have some build up over time. Depends on the quality of gas you get as well, I stick to places like Shell or BP.
If a tank or two of that doesn't help noticeably I would check the ignition timing.
Last edited by A-series; Nov 22, 2007 at 08:31 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 0
From: Bethlehem PA
Colder weather will reduce mileage a little. If you let the car idle and warm up it will be even worse of course (0mpg when not moving)
First thing to check is the air filter as it seems to be the most commonly overlooked cause of decreased mpg(probably already have if did a tune up).
Next Id try some fuel injector cleaner myself, not only will it help clean up the injectors but you might have carbon build-up on the exhaust valves which reduces compression and allows the fuel & air mixture to vent past the valves before ignition even takes place(means more gas because you have to push the pedal farther just to get going or maintain speed).
Cars that burn oil, even if there's no smoke but a little oil use, will develop those blow-by symptoms much faster but any car can have some build up over time. Depends on the quality of gas you get as well, I stick to places like Shell or BP.
If a tank or two of that doesn't help noticeably I would check the ignition timing.
First thing to check is the air filter as it seems to be the most commonly overlooked cause of decreased mpg(probably already have if did a tune up).
Next Id try some fuel injector cleaner myself, not only will it help clean up the injectors but you might have carbon build-up on the exhaust valves which reduces compression and allows the fuel & air mixture to vent past the valves before ignition even takes place(means more gas because you have to push the pedal farther just to get going or maintain speed).
Cars that burn oil, even if there's no smoke but a little oil use, will develop those blow-by symptoms much faster but any car can have some build up over time. Depends on the quality of gas you get as well, I stick to places like Shell or BP.
If a tank or two of that doesn't help noticeably I would check the ignition timing.
I know when i go to the oil lube place they always try to sell me an engine flush since they say i have dirty oil when draining. So I've been changing my oil more often just to see if it cleans things out.
I removed the valve cover and didnt notice any slug around the cam and valves so i think the are b.s'ing me.
Thanks for the suggestions....
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,692
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From: Bethlehem PA