Terrible gas mileage.

[turbohead2332]

I've noticed thatmy gas mileage is absolutely terrible. I filled the tank up to the Full mark and started driving. (One thing is that when I fill my tank up all the way, the needle goes all the way back about 1/4 tank distance past the full mark. What causes that?) Anyways, I filled the tank up to the full mark, reset the counter and drove as I normally do. I took it easy, rarely getting on it. By the time the needle reached the half tank mark, the tripometer read at about 75 miles. What the hell is causeing me to burn through so much gas?! Wht can I do to fix this? I just recently changed plugs and wires (They had been in there for about 100k miles.) Could this be my O2 sensor? I'm betting it's never been changed.

[Tom Rs]

Re: Terrible gas mileage.

fill your tank all the way, reset trip odometer. then drive for a bit and then refill your tank all the way again. then take the miles you drove and divide it by the gallons you refilled. thats the best and only way to calc mpg

[turbohead2332]

Re: Terrible gas mileage.

ok. will do, but shouldn't I be getting more miles out of a half tank of gas than 75 or so?

[xmetallicaxguitaristx]

Re: Terrible gas mileage.

Well with our cars, well my car anyway.. pretty sure it's everyones, the fuel guage isn't very accurate... like I fill my car up whenever I get to 3/4 tank, just put a $20 in. What normally happens for me, I get like 100 mi. out of the real full tank, to the "full" mark, and then once it gets past the full mark, it seems like it just flies down to empty.. I think the true halfway mark is actually closer to 3/4.

[badinfluenceRS]

Re: Terrible gas mileage.

the point tom rs was making is you dont know your using half-a tank of gas.

You know your gas gauge is ****ed so you have no idea that it's really half a tank.

[turbohead2332]

Re: Terrible gas mileage.

the point tom rs was making is you dont know your using half-a tank of gas.

You know your gas gauge is ****ed so you have no idea that it's really half a tank.

Ah. Lol. Yeah. I understand now. Thanks!

[95redslp]

Re: Terrible gas mileage.

The reason our gauges are like this are because the tanks are shaped like a V. As you go through the tank of gas the gauge seems to go down faster because there is less volume the lower you go because of the shape.

[Tom Rs]

Re: Terrible gas mileage.

the point tom rs was making is you dont know your using half-a tank of gas.

You know your gas gauge is ****ed so you have no idea that it's really half a tank.

yep exactly

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Terrible gas mileage.

LOL! Our tanks are most certainly not shaped like a V. Who told you that lie? They are shaped just like almost ever other tank I have ever seen, a rectangular box.

OP, fill full, drive, fill full, divide miles driven by new gallon amount. Clean your airfilter, new fuel filter, clean 02's will help you get better mileage. What gears do you have in your car, and do you have stock sized tires? Are you driving in "D"?

[95redslp]

Re: Terrible gas mileage.

really? someone told me that our tanks are shaped like a v, maybe not like a v but the volume at the top of the tank is not the same as the bottom making the gauge seem to go quicker as you get lower

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Terrible gas mileage.

Nope, just an inaccurate gauge.

[HeadyFirebird'00]

Re: Terrible gas mileage.

Tank is hung so in the tank the meter reads like a v shape. did that make sense? but that sucks for you if your not getting over 100 miles to a full tank. u have some serious problems going on there. do u smell fuel anywhere? i mean 100 miles that baloney

[turbohead2332]

Re: Terrible gas mileage.

I've been driving a lot and I haven't really realized it. I drive a LOT. I've had the car around 6 months and I've put about 7-8k on it. I figure I'm tight for money, so every time I have to put fuel in it, it feels like I'm getting less mileage than I actually am. I do need a new o2 sensor, I'm sure.

[95redslp]

Re: Terrible gas mileage.

you should just do a tune-up. plugs, wires, o2 sensors, fuel filter, air filter, pcv valve, oil change. you could also seafoam your car but if you do seafoam it just do it before the tune-up.

[00 Silver 6]

Re: Terrible gas mileage.

I've been driving a lot and I haven't really realized it. I drive a LOT. I've had the car around 6 months and I've put about 7-8k on it. I figure I'm tight for money, so every time I have to put fuel in it, it feels like I'm getting less mileage than I actually am. I do need a new o2 sensor, I'm sure.

did you do what Tom RS said yet? I'm pretty sure that will show you the exact mpg's you're getting, i would do THAT before you go and start replacing sensors...