Getting really bad gas mileage.

[scottxd45]

1989 Festiva L 4 speed - stock

I have only been driving it for about a month now and I am only getting about 25 MPG. It starts up every time and runs strong. When I first start it up it usually idles about 2K - 2.5K until I rev it a little, then it will go down and fluctuate a little between about 700 and 1000 RPM. The idle screw is all the way out and it won't idle any lower. As far as I can tell the throttle plates are closeing like they should and not sticking.

What is there to adjust on the carb to control fuel ratio? It seems to maybe run rich and smells like fuel when it is running. I know very little about carbs.

[jasonpaulbauer]

Check for vacuum leaks if its Idling high.

Our 88 runs similar, Idles high when cold (on the choke) then after tapping the throttle will come down to normal 700-1000rpms. We are getting 35-40mpg as is.

Has it had a tune up? Hows the timing?

[scottxd45]

I have some new carb to intake gaskets I could put in. Also I have a new set of plugs for it but the ones in it don't look too bad. One thing I have noticed is it seems to loose power when it is raining. Maybe the plug wires are leaking off voltage?

[jglutz]

Smelling fumes....good power....hmmmm....signs that the timing is slightly retarded

[FestivaWilliam08]

Check for vacuum leaks if its Idling high.

Our 88 runs similar, Idles high when cold (on the choke) then after tapping the throttle will come down to normal 700-1000rpms. We are getting 35-40mpg as is.

Has it had a tune up? Hows the timing?

Scott....I personally would have to agree with this .....when you helped me hook my vacuum lines up like yours my idle went down to about where everyone said it should

[scottxd45]

Smelling fumes....good power....hmmmm....signs that the timing is slightly retarded

Timing as in timing belt skipped a tooth or ignition timing?

[FB71]

ignition timing

[scottxd45]

Ok I'll check all these thing this weekend. Thanks for the suggestions everybody.

[WmWatt]

Wipe off all the ignition wires, cap, and coil with the usual clean,dry cloth.
That should fix damp weather problems.

I use a vaccum guage ot check for ignition misses. There is a "sticky" at the top of the forum on using a vaccum guage. I pull the vaccum hose off the top fo the distributor and plug the guage into that. If the needle is vibrating the enigne is missing. Sometimes just listening careful ot the engine idle will tell if the rpm's are unsteady or the firing is not steady. Wioping the ignition wires clean usually clars it up. If it has been a while since a tuneup, cleanning off the sparkplugs and checkign the gap wouldn't hurt.

[jglutz]

Thanks Jim