Poor gas milage

[MSM0075]

man, im hit with the bad gas milage cars..the '88 5spd im drivin around now gets like 13-14 MPG... i dont beat on it either...Are their any tips on getting better gas milage w/o rigging anything? perhaps getting some new parts here and there? what do you guys recommomend?

 

[1992 2.3LX]

my guess is you may need a new oxygen sensor. also after you try that use Zmax it really works 5 mpg more here.

 

[JohnnyC]

My '90 also gets terrible mileage. It got better after I replaced the oxygen sensor and did a tune up, but Im still only getting 240 miles to a tank. That seems a little low to me.

 

[Tru_Blue_104]

My '90 also gets terrible mileage. It got better after I replaced the oxygen sensor and did a tune up, but Im still only getting 240 miles to a tank. That seems a little low to me.

That sure is better than mine. I think Im gonna try that Z Max things, cause I alread did a tune up and replaced the O2 sensor.

 

[Dan P.]

Might want to replace to fuel filter too.

 

[Tru_Blue_104]

Might want to replace to fuel filter too.

Already did like a year ago. Recomend replacing it again?

 

[Dan P.]

Already did like a year ago. Recomend replacing it again?

No it does not need to be replaced that often. But it also depends on if you let your car go all the way to E before you fill it back up.

 

[MSM0075]

my '93 would get max 230, although i never pushed it to there. this '88 hasn't gone throught a complete tank of gas but the way it looks now, its real poor...if you guys did tuneups and everything, and still geting poor gas milage, than wtf is going on?? some people push 24MPG!

 

[Dan'l]

Thermostat may not be allowing car to reach full operating temp/ or sensor could be telling the computer it's still cold. You'll be under 20mpg if that's the case.

 

[MSM0075]

nope, acctually if i drive this car long enough, it will overheat, i have a leaking radiator.

 

[nomuffler]

I got alot better gas mileage with premium gas than with regular. Don't know why though.

 

[MSM0075]

intresting, how much better???

 

[GASCOOB]

you may wont to check for a bad fuel press. regulator. temp dosn't affect my milage. temp gauge rarely come off the 130 mark unless stopped in traffic. i put 3.27 gears in for all my hiway driving get 410 to 430 miles to tank at 70 to 80mph.

 

[Dan'l]

Yes, and no. On the premium fuel. If your single plug is pulling timing from the knock sensor, then premium will help. On the dual plug,the partial throttle seems to "reteach" itself over a few hundred miles on premium and the economy goes up some. And the other part of my observation-no, premium is a poor excuse for not hunting down your problem. Think of it as a learning experience.

 

[MSM0075]

its at 1/4 now, 150 miles, so i guess its about the same as my '93 auto..which is poor...good 15MPG

 

[JohnnyC]

Im thinking Ill try changing the temp. sensor to if it improves the mileage. Should I go to the Ford dealer or are aftermarket sensors any good?

 

[nomuffler]

Yes, and no. On the premium fuel. If your single plug is pulling timing from the knock sensor, then premium will help. On the dual plug,the partial throttle seems to "reteach" itself over a few hundred miles on premium and the economy goes up some. And the other part of my observation-no, premium is a poor excuse for not hunting down your problem. Think of it as a learning experience.

That sounds about right, I had some sort of engine mismanagment and I'm pretty sure the computer was pulling timing (the engine had a very erratic compsure). It was worth the extra 20 centa a gallon, Tworards the end I was adding octane booster (the good kind, not touline or whatever) and it helped even more.

 

[ExplodingTurtle]

No it does not need to be replaced that often. But it also depends on if you let your car go all the way to E before you fill it back up.

If you let your car go all the way to E before you fill it up? What does that do to the fuel filter?

 

[GTPhreak]

if the level gets too low it will suck up all the sediments and crap at the bottom of the tank

 

[Keasbey]

I am only doing 94 miles with a tank.. Could it be the choke?
Or me foot that is too heavy?