Question about past "My Mileage Sucks" threads

B

Brutus

Member
I've read several threads before that the poster was complainin about really poor gas mileage. Mine is all of a sudden pretty bad. Went from 18-19 0n the interstate to 14 when I checked it the other day,
Most of the advice on the old threads said to clean the MAF, maybe clean the throttle body, and change O2 sensors.
For anyone who has done any of these things, did it help? I'm at a point where I'm thinkin about sellin my rig for something with a little better mpg's (stayin with a Toyota) and the fact that jumpin up into my truck hurts my already messed up and old achin' back.

Thanks.
 
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I cleaned my MAF sensor and throttle body, didn't do anything for me but mine were not that dirty. Might as well do them, cheap and easy to do. The O2 sensors are a little more expensive but might be worth a change too.
 
Has anyone actually expirenced a noticable increase in mileage from changing the front 02 sensor even if your not getting a engine light?
 
On my '99, after I did the plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter and O2 sensor, I picked up about 2-3 MPG on the highway. But everything I replaced (other than the air filter) was original.

I've replaced all the same things on my '97 except the O2 sensor (rusted nuts and been too lazy to go back out) and I've picked up maybe 1 MPG. I'm hoping the O2 sensor will make a big difference.
 
Mikes3rdgen said:
My truck has never been good on gas in the winter, i can't never figure out why..
Click to expand...

It's the Ethanol they add to gas in the winter, sucks. Also, cold air is more dense so I assume (I'm by no means an authority on it) that it has to dump more gas to keep the proper air:fuel ratio. Otherwise it would be running lean. I'm sure others know more about it than I do though.
 
Mikes3rdgen said:
My truck has never been good on gas in the winter, i can't never figure out why..
Click to expand...

same here except in the winter i also get a bad gas smell if i start my truck up to defrost/warm it up it in the mornings, i figure the bad mpg's have to be related to the gas smell, i'm loosing gas somewhere and can't find it
 
I know theres differences between winter blend gas and summer blend gas. One burns slower than the other, I wasn't really paying attention in class that day. But I've done the deck plate mod and just did the air aid intake tube, and I'm getting 15 mpg :jaw drop:
 
PitbullRescuer said:
On my '99, after I did the plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter and O2 sensor, I picked up about 2-3 MPG on the highway. But everything I replaced (other than the air filter) was original.

I've replaced all the same things on my '97 except the O2 sensor (rusted nuts and been too lazy to go back out) and I've picked up maybe 1 MPG. I'm hoping the O2 sensor will make a big difference.
Click to expand...

Let us know if changing the front o2 helps, I changed just about everything I could but the front o2 on my truck ....
 
I reckon my next part swap will be the O2 sensor as well. I've done everything else but clean the throttle body and the O2. Plannin on doin both real soon.
Thanks for all the replies
 
I'm averaging 21 on my stock 02 as a frame of reference, but I'm not pushing big tires, big bumpers, or a lift either. I'd hate life with anything in the mid teens.
 
I dropped about 5-6 mpg once in my Gen3... no CEL, but I did find a code that was something like "O2 slow to respond". I replaced the sensors and the mileage jumped right back to normal.

As mentioned, with all things being equal, you will burn more fuel in the winter due to the denser air. Throw in some winter-blend gas, longer warm-ups, more tire spin, and you'll notice the decrease, but a larger, consistent drop might indicate a problem.
 
Up until about 2 months ago I was experiencing an average of 19-20mpg, since then I have been sitting at about 14-15mpg... Not sure what the deal is, perhaps it's just the gas, but I am not too happy about it.
 
I'm positive it's the winter gas that is the cause for the arbitrary decrease in MPG. I've logged my MPG and I usually range from 16-17, fully stock in the city. Once winter comes around, as Doozi and PitbullRescuer has stated, Ethanol gas, warm up time and 4 wheel drive brings me down to 13 MPG.

Just a few days ago, I got 25.8 MPG on the highway coming back to Rockford from the University of Iowa. How you like those apples :)
 
I get bad mpg in the winter too, but I'm positive it's because I let my truck warm up for 10 minutes every morning before I leave.
 
Is there any hard facts that the gas actually changes in winter? Why would they change the chemical makeup, like for what purpose?
 
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