Terrible gas mileage! 240 miles per tank!!

[littlecar]

Running Problems

If you still have issues, check your plug wires, compression, fuel pressure, and the basics.

Double check everything. Don't take this the wrong way, but the solution is normally something simple.

Take your time and good luck.

[lanemeyer14]

Still haven't had a chance to look at it with the weather being cold and not being able to get to my mom's to use the garage. As far as the two posts above this one go, I don't even know what a "gap" is, and I've never checked my plug wires, compression, or fuel pressure. I don't even know how to do that stuff! So much to learn!!

[bhazard]

The FIRST thing you should be doing is making sure your CAM timing is right. If its not, your ignition timing doesnt even matter.

GET the cam straight, THEN the ignition timing. 10* advance is stock, I run like 13-15* on regular with no problems. I even ran around 20* on premium and it had great torque.

Then make sure everything else is good, sparkplugs, wires, cap/rotor, etc.

[Gforcefd]

Would the timing belt being off by one tooth would the car seem to be running okay but actually not buring gas correctly? I ask because I just changed my headgasket and I thought I might be off by a tooth from what it was. But I get 30-31 mpg in my auto festiva no mater what, and it only has 67k miles on it.

Logan

[rcottle]

Thought I would chek my timing today and after warmed up I tried shorting the STI 1-pin connector and it sparked then the engine stalled - Has anyone ever had that happen to them? I just center the distributor and tightened down. Any ideas - ANYONE?

[SIBladerunner]

in the city no car ever gets good mileage. i deliver pizzas and I only get about 30 if that. Its hard when you do stop and go traffic and the engine idles a lot. try changing your oil and air filter, as well as the pcv, then check the timing

[Amos]

My 89 Auto gets about 350 Kilometers to a tank (Your car is getting about 380)

But for a 5 speed.. the difference should be bigger than that

[ejp2fast]

.
Ground the STI connection (while its still running)
.

Pu241:
Just curious, why do you ground the STI connection? I've adjusted my distributor before without doing that. Was i supposed to? Does it temporarily bypass the ecu?

[stefan]

Pu241:
Just curious, why do you ground the STI connection? I've adjusted my distributor before without doing that. Was i supposed to? Does it temporarily bypass the ecu?

It turns off the electronic timing advance.

[ejp2fast]

ahhhh ok..... b/c you are doing it manually... thanks.

[lanemeyer14]

I still haven't messed with my timing or anything, just been testing the mileage some more. It's getting just under 31mpg, and that's city driving only. Is that average or should it still be higher?

[Gomez]

i am getting horrible mileage as well. my last tank was less than 250 miles and 30% of it was highway with a 5 spd. My mechanic buddy thinks there is a possibility that the new rings never seated in and is losing comp in 1 or more cylinders. We are going to check it next weekend. if this doesn't work I will be starting the process of a high end (very detailed) BP swap because like you I think I have exhausted every possible system check. Like you I am open to suggestions. Mine has no power at all.

[CharlieZ]

Back in the day, there was an aftermarket device that allowed the driver to control the static advance from the driver's seat with a small wheel. My buddy had one on his mid-fifties Buick Century, and later a Pontiac. Down the highway at speed, you could crank in more advance and actually feel the difference. Same for aircraft pylon racers of the midget class. They controlled the engine with timing while the throttle was wide open. This offered only a narrow range of control around an optimum RPM.

Even with an ECU in the picture, could anything like this work for those looking for maximum mileage record runs? Needless to say, it would be important to return the spark advance to it's normal setting. My first car, a '25 Ford had the same concept with the lever on the steering column. Just fuel for discussion.

[Mike McKown]

My first car, a '25 Ford had the same concept with the lever on the steering column. Just fuel for discussion.

I don't know about the '25 model but the '28-'31 Model A Ford also had a fuel mixture control on the manual choke rod. You pull the rod out to choke the engine and you turned it clockwise/counter clockwise to change the fuel mixture.

If some of these young whipper snappers ever drove one of those cars, they'd have a better idea what makes an engine tick, wouldn't they?

[Gomez]

knowing what makes an engine tick is the easy part. it is the diagnosing that is the killer. especially when the car ran excellent, was tore apart and rebuilt, put back together and now runs like total horsey sauce. the only difference is the tranny. and the new parts.