Was Getting 36 mpg, Now Its 23 mpg

[bronsin]

This has happened two fillups now. The car sat for about 2 months Jan and Feb. I filled it up early March and got 23 mpg. Now it just dropped two bars after only 80 miles. It never did this before. No CEL. Engine runs and starts flawlessly. No leaks that I can smell or see. Im wondering: is there an OD on/off switch? I dont see one. I hate to bring it to the dealer cause I KNOW they wont find anything.

[127.0.0.1]

od on/off is shift lever 3 to D (D is overdrive)

it sat for a while ?

is the e-brake binding on the rear drums ?
is the MAF clean ? (check it, usual poor mileage cause)

go wind the crap out of it, run some Techron or BG-44k thru a tankful.
(only these 2 products, all others are junk)

[sex]

how's the oil level? if you had it in storage with the battery disconnected maybe the ECU is relearning

[bronsin]

Checked the MAF and it was clean. Only 4k miles on this car. Oil was just changed and its full. Battery always connected, but maybe something unlearned when it sat for 2 months. Parking brake seems nominal.

[darthbauer]

I let mine sit for two months one time and it was fine so I don't think it was that.


Was it sitting outside the whole time is was sitting and if so what was the weather like?

[bronsin]

Yes it was outside Jan and Feb and it snowed something fierce!

[swidd]

tire pressures?

[fearturtle44]

Winter/winds will definitely hurt the MPG and low tire pressure. But not to the extent you have seen. Are you sure your math is correct on the MPG?

[thebarber]

don't know about NJ, but it's stil cold here...my mileage is slowly getting better as the weather gets nicer...

[Yaris Hilton]

Got a neighbor with a siphon hose?

[darthbauer]

Got a neighbor with a siphon hose?


I didn't even think of that.

Do you live somewhere where that might happen?

[Yaris Hilton]

I've seen it happen. Wonder if it happened to my van in the driveway last summer.

[darthbauer]

Yeah what part of Jersey are you in? A bad part?

Gas prices on the way up your going to start seeing more theft.

[bronsin]

Im pretty religious about tire pressures. Theyre always 35 psi. How would a siphon get past the gas flap lock (no obvious signs of forced entry) Im mean if they ARE siphoning theyre only getting like 1 or 2 gallons.
I work in Camden NJ. Its better now but 25 years ago it was pretty scary. Downtown (where I work) is safe (for the most part) but stay out of the neighborhoods!

[Hershey]

think I saw when gas prices were at $4 and up people would puncture the gas tank for fuel :eek: . They would steal the catalytic converters for the metals platinum , palladium , and rhodium . Desperation rules . :evil:

[XYaris]

I just installed a sway bar and exhaust and have been doing some shorter/fiercer trips. I just filled up...106 miles and 4.5 gallons. :biggrin:

Its probably just me, but unless I'm on the highway (where i get 39+mpg) I've never had a city tank over 30.

[bronsin]

Maybe they are putting more alcohol in the gas...

[jambo101]

Could be unphazed diodes in the Turbo Encabulator
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLDgQg6bq7o

[Yaris Hilton]

Lot of catalytic converters were getting sawed out and stolen here the last few years. Toyota trucks were the most popular to hit.

[bronsin]

Think I figgered it out. I was driving the car 6 miles to work and back when I was getting the 36 mpg. Then I was in and out of the hospital for 3 1/2 months. Instead of driving 6 miles to work I was going like 1 or 2 miles to the store or on errands. Maybe more than that but nowhere near 6 miles. so the mileage REALLY dropped. Now that Im working again Im back to 6 miles a pop and 36 mpg. YEAH!

[Yaris Hilton]

That's it. I get about 35 MPG when all I'm doing is my 7-8 mile, mostly in-town drive to work and back.

[Hershey]

seems like most YARIS have overall gas average of 36 m.p.g. .

[eTiMaGo]

Yeah what part of Jersey are you in? A bad part?


you mean there's a *good* part of New Jersey? :biggrin:

[coffiend]

Yes sir, wherever "the situation" is at that particular moment is the good part of jersey.

[Palmer812]

I was 4 miles from work then recently moved 2 miles closer and my first tank was 26 mpg and I babied it.

[shinlee]

yeah, the yarii epa estimated 29/34 is BS imo. I've only hit 29mpg once, and that was over a 100 mile stretch of going up to and back down from 118 to 65.

My 07 estimate is 34/40 and that's what I've about always gotten, well slightly less than actual. I get 36/42, and most others on here do better than me :)

"go wind the crap out of it, run some Techron or BG-44k thru a tankful.
(only these 2 products, all others are junk) "


Uh... advertise much? Where's your proof that all others are junk? BG-44k is what I deem good, but I also like Lucas products.

I don't understand how you can say so matter of factly that all others are junk.