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horrible mpg


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fat-katie
User

Mar 9, 2023, 5:57 PM

Post #1 of 10 (2147 views)
  post locked   horrible mpg  

1995 Skylark.

The car is getting very bad mileage. I don't smell gas. Car starts and runs smooth. No transmission problems. No brake problems. I have no idea where to start looking. Any ideas where to start? Thank you.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Mar 9, 2023, 6:06 PM

Post #2 of 10 (2145 views)
  post locked   Re: horrible mpg  

Define "very bad mileage"



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Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
Sidom profile image

Mar 9, 2023, 7:24 PM

Post #3 of 10 (2136 views)
  post locked   Re: horrible mpg  

Ironically 1 of the 1st things you wanna check, is your tire pressure. Under inflated tires can kill MPG.


(This post was edited by Sidom on Mar 9, 2023, 7:25 PM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Mar 9, 2023, 11:20 PM

Post #4 of 10 (2119 views)
  post locked   Re: horrible mpg  

? Is this noticed just recently? What has changed if anything this is plain old (fine with extreme care.) Don't forget virtually all fuel changes formula for Winter use evaporates faster whether cold out or not.

Old habits of warming up car long over with except for impossible to clear ice no choices really if the case you get zero mixed in your calculation.

Define with real #s miles driven full tank to full tank - simple as that,
Tom



fat-katie
User

Mar 24, 2023, 11:11 AM

Post #5 of 10 (1918 views)
  post locked   Re: horrible mpg  

I took some time to verify this... a tank of gas. It's less than 10 mpg. Damn!


(This post was edited by fat-katie on Mar 24, 2023, 11:12 AM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Mar 24, 2023, 12:04 PM

Post #6 of 10 (1912 views)
  post locked   Re: horrible mpg  

OK a lot of gas needed I take it? If all just poking around, stop and go, short trips & errands that could be fine?

So what are the miles or better run time on this vs other things you may drive?

If it runs so well + not leaking and really is under par for it then I really think it would stink out tailpipe?

FYI, some newer engines are so finely machined they don't warm up fast till you drive.

If a real issue it wouldn't run well or stink most likely OR calculation is
somehow wrong. Have you a highway to test odometer for 10 miles or more using mile markers is one way,

Tom



Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
Sidom profile image

Mar 24, 2023, 1:25 PM

Post #7 of 10 (1899 views)
  post locked   Re: horrible mpg  

1st thing to do is start with the basics. If it hasn't had any tune up done recently, This would be the time to do it. Take care of any over due maintenance. Like I said before check pressure and condition of the tires
After that you need to start looking at some scan data, there is a thing called fuel trims that can be very helpful to see if this is where you are losing your MPG.

1 easy trick to tell if there's any excess resistance from anything on the car causing poor fuel mileage Is to find a flat parking lot, put the car in neutral and see how easy it is to push, it If it takes 2 or more people to push it and it feels like there's a dead body in the trunk, then that is where a lot of your MPG is going


fat-katie
User

Mar 25, 2023, 11:02 AM

Post #8 of 10 (1877 views)
  post locked   Re: horrible mpg  

I'll be back in a couple of weeks. I'm going to bring it into the shop. Thanks all.


fat-katie
User

May 11, 2023, 9:40 AM

Post #9 of 10 (1222 views)
  post locked   Re: horrible mpg  

Per mech... that's the mileage you get when you drive it like that. No problem.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

May 11, 2023, 9:57 AM

Post #10 of 10 (1213 views)
  post locked   Re: horrible mpg  

If discussed clearly with a tech so be it. Way a thing gets used matters.
Close this one up ask one of us will re-open it upon request, Tom







 
 
 






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