Help only 18 mpg!!! whats wrong!

[Liltucker]

but my cat isn't failing!!! its brand new!!! not even a month old!

[Pu241]

phantorn,
Having successfully diverted the topic, can you get us back on track and provide Liltucker with some useful info on getting into his car or the possible a fore mentioned fuel leak?

[phantorn]

Do festiva gas tanks have a roll over valve?I have seen these stick on other vehicles and cause a leak when filled to the top.

[FB71]

yes they do, but he did state his concern is greatest until he reaches half a tank. I also vote for rust at the seam. Run the car till its almost empty, then drop the tank and check it. To drop the tank, jack the car up, slide under, and remove the two straps that hold up the tank. They're pretty obvious, once you're under there.

[25Horseplay]

Don't forget, you can detach all the hoses and fill tube by lifting up the rear seat and pulling back the carpet. There are access panels under all that!

[phantorn]

Be carefull if you are using a drop light just as bad as smoking if you break the bulb

[Liltucker]

ok well im not sure about any leaks... cause it was sitting for two days and my gas gauge didn't move.. and yes i finally got in with an acura key...... but my gas gause only reads full half and empty... so yea, but ill drive it around the block until it dies saturday... then ill drop the tank and see what i've got. ill do a tune up and all that jazz cause its proabaly about time.

[jglutz]

I was refering to this post by jglutz

The cat fails two ways
1) it's blocked, car idles well and might drive well but no power under load, going up a hill...no power
2) It leaks...car will run better...louder...but better.

Sorry I should have used quotes

Not to get off topic...but...you're right!!
In pre OBII days a chemical reaction failure and blocked are typically the same problem...thats why most post OBII cars have a second downstream O2 sensor (error code 4**)....they predict the failure or more importantly prevent the owner gutting the cat.

[Liltucker]

ok stop messing up the threads guys thanks

[Liltucker]

ok so for some reason my mpg went back up... i went though another tank and i got ~ 29 mpg. so thats better and im glad, but my car really stinks of gas like really bad like i don't want too sit in it... but its still smoker friendly..... so i don't know whats going on. on the driver side behind the panels theres two black plastic tanks. one with a hose attached and then the left one doesn't have a hosed attached but there is one on that side hanging free... but the hole in the hose is too small too fit on the end off the tank. whats that for?

[Safety Guy]

Can you take pictures? There are so many little stupid hoses that come out of the tank and go somewhere! It amazed me when I first saw it.

Karl

[Liltucker]

uh yea i will try, im gonna do a tune up tomorrow so ill see what i can do.

[kzbill]

sometimes with a line leak they only leak while the car is running and the system is under pressure, pinhoe in the supply line or hole in the return line. 2 cents.

[Liltucker]

ok so i did a lil work here and there and now im getting ~27 mpg, so what the in the world is going on. im just confused, and i haven't had a chance too look at the mess behind the panels for the gas or looked at the gas tank. what would make me get 27. i just want too get it back too 40 ish

please watch the language

[kzbill]

do you mean it is "smoker friendly" because it hasn't yet blown you through the windshield in a ball of flames?