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bad gas mileage?

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rumonk View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote rumonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: bad gas mileage?
    Posted: 05 November 2010 at 7:14pm
my '84 w/ auto seems to have really bad mileage since i started driving it in april. i'm lucky if i get 160-180 kms to a tank, i realized the gas tank is small but it seems really bad. i have replaced the distributer cap and rotor, new plugs, new wires, i also replaced all the filters, o2 sensor, temp sensors, even replaced the injector but still no change, i have checked the timing and it's right on the mark. i just picked up a 3.8 v6 this week to do an engine swap, but i'm not planning on starting that until after christmas. i'm hoping to figure out this problem without spending to much money, any ideas would help.
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Patrick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Patrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 November 2010 at 7:29pm

Originally posted by rumonk rumonk wrote:

i have checked the timing and it's right on the mark.

Did you check the timing with the ALDL jumpered?

Have you done a compression test?

Is this the engine you bought in a wrecked Fiero and mentioned Here?

 

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Post Options Post Options   Quote rumonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 November 2010 at 7:52pm
it is the same one, i haven't checked the compression yet, i was planning on doing that this weekend, i did have it jumpered when i did the timing. the engine runs quite good, hasn't burnt a drop of oil. it just seems to be running really rich.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Patrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 November 2010 at 8:57pm

Have you checked to make sure the brake calipers aren't dragging?

Cat isn't plugged?

Functional 195F thermostat installed?

 

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Capt Fiero View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Capt Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 November 2010 at 10:51pm
Bump the timing 2 degree's over stock.  That should improve gas mileage by 10% or more.
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Romeo View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Romeo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 November 2010 at 11:52pm
Does the exhaust smell rich? If not, problem would likely be outside engine condition.
Never shift into reverse without a back-up plan.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote rumonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 November 2010 at 1:11pm
the cat has been removed, i have installed a new thermostat, the exhaust does smell rich, i'll try to bump up the timing to see if it helps. i've also got to do the rear brakes this week so i'm planning on rebuilding the calipers anyways. thanks.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Patrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 November 2010 at 1:24pm

Originally posted by rumonk rumonk wrote:

i have installed a new thermostat

What temperature? 195 is best. 180 is okay. 160 is no good.

 

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Romeo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 November 2010 at 12:24pm
Your best bet, if you can, is to hook it up to a scan tool and see what the engine is doing. That will tell you what to look for, or at least point you in the right direction.
Never shift into reverse without a back-up plan.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote kharmata Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 November 2010 at 12:25pm
May I ask what sort of driving was done for when this low
mileage occurred? FYI. I too have had terrible gas mileage
and thought something was wrong - even when i tried to
drive like gramma (without getting run over in the process)
but then i realized i am used to driving country roads with
very little stop and go. So a little experiment over the
weekend proved that I can still get close to 100km on a 1/4
tank of fuel (mostly higway - at posted speed limits near
90km/h.   

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Patrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 November 2010 at 1:10pm

Originally posted by kharmata kharmata wrote:

So a little experiment over the weekend proved that I can still get close to 100km on a 1/4 tank of fuel...

No way.

I cannot believe that a V6 Fiero would be capable of travelling 400km on a single tank of gas. I doubt that most (any?) duke powered Fieros could even achieve that.

No way Kevin, no way!

 

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Capt Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 November 2010 at 1:59pm
LOL Patrick, my 88GT will do 520kms on a tank, and there are 87 5sdp Dukes that can get close to 700kms on a tank of Freeway driving.  I have heard people claim to get 40mpg out of a duke which would equal about 700kms.  My 88 on several Trips to Oregon can get 30mpg.  Heck you saw my Arlington Fill up towing a trailer and got IIRC 29mpg with an average crusing speed of 130kph.  Special note, this is basing on the larger 87/88 tank on an 11 gallon average fill up from Empty.
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Patrick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Patrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 November 2010 at 3:01pm

All I can can say then is that there must be someone siphoning the gas out of both my GT's and my 84's tank, even while I'm driving. 

 

EDIT: Okay okay, who's the smart guy with "mod" status who edited my statement above?

 

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Colby Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 November 2010 at 3:03pm
I know I can get at least 35mpg on the highway with my Duke. Unfortunately my trips tend to be really short (<15 mins) with lots of stopping so I typically get closer to 23mpg, filling around 330km. So 400kms in a Duke should be easy.
88 Formula 5 speed

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Patrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 November 2010 at 3:12pm

I'm curious how you guys actually work out your MPG, considering we buy our gas in litres and drive kms. Seriously, how do you do it? I have my own method and I want to see if my pathetic MPG works out the same with whatever method you guys use.

 

EDIT: Okay okay, who's the smart guy with "mod" status who edited this post as well? 

 

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Colby Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 November 2010 at 3:46pm
Originally posted by Patrick Patrick wrote:

I'm curious how you guys actually work out your MPG, considering we buy our gas in litres and drive kms. Seriously, how do you do it? I have my own method and I want to see if my pathetic MPG works out the same with whatever method you guys use.


Fill up, reset trip odometer, drive. Fill up again, write down kms travelled and litres used.

Convert kms to miles, litres to gallons and divide miles by gallons.

To convert quickly, just go to Google and search "300km to miles" etc.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote kharmata Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 November 2010 at 4:12pm
Sorry I did not do a direct fill then drive then fill again
- At the end of my hwy trip (when the needle was about 3/4
tank and km said 95) I got stuck on Alex fraser bridge for
10 min of stop go stop go ....so i did not bother
anymore. Will try again soon.    
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Post Options Post Options   Quote kharmata Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 November 2010 at 4:14pm
Originally posted by Patrick Patrick wrote:

No way.
08_130529_smiley_tantrum.gif">

No way Kevin, no way!



Thanks for the laugh Patrick - I could almost picture you
stomping your feet on my monitor. LOL!
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