Fuel mileage plummeted since changing pump strainer

[TorqueEffect]

Ever since I changed the fuel pump strainer, my gas mileage has been absolutely abysmal. (not reflected on fuelly)

30mpg and below.

What could have possibly caused this? I was reading other forums on other vehicles, and they seem to say fuel pressure regulator. Looking up the price of this little piece and I see they cost a whopping $90.
HELLLLLLL NOOooo! not for a little metal valve that looks like a PCV valve but for fuel. That is like paying $150+ for a dizzy cap for a Ferrari motor, there just is no way it hell!

So what else could I be looking at? Before I changed the pump strainer I changed the air, and fuel filter. But I ran that for a tank and got like 42mpg, then as soon as I changed the pump stainer, two tanks have been below 30mpg.
What the bloody hell?!?

I tried to look for a leaky hose, but I smell no gas underneath or inside the car, and see no leaks when running.

[getnpsi]

You can add an aftermarket racing regulator, knockoffs are under 40 bucks, maybe even under 30 bucks. Someone has a fuel rail available near you to borrow I'm sure. I do like how the aftermarkets have a gauge on there even if it's junk and not accurate its close enough to be able to note differences and that's all you really need.

[TorqueEffect]

Could this off-brand fuel strainer be causing it?
Maybe not getting proper fuel flow, too much flow?

The car has felt like it has allot more power through the rev-range lately as well. Also hasn't thrown any CEL codes either.

I am completely stumped.

Does the Festy fuel rail have a test port? Because I will just borrow a fuel pressure tester from autozone to test it if it has a test port.

[Miah]

did you do the informal FPR test? Start engine, pull vacuum line & stick thumb over it quick-lika-bunny, watch for fuel spitting out the port of the FPR.

[TorqueEffect]

No I haven't.

Where is the pressure regulator on the engine anyway? Also you are saying to pull the vacuum hose attached to the the FPR right?

[getnpsi]

good idea miah. I forgot what its like to have one festiva and only one part that may or may not have issues. My modbug logic on these cheap cars is its really disturbing to have to replace anything with oem designs

[Miah]

let's see...should be the drivers side of the fuel rail. Pull the vacuum line off the FPR & the engine will want to die, so plug it quick. If you get fuel wetness from the fpr port you know that fuel is getting past diaphragm & is getting sucked into the intake.

[TorqueEffect]

Checked the FPR, no fuel is getting through the vacuum line, even tried to smell for gas in the vacuum line when running and didn't smell any.

Now my commute to work did changed since being moved to the Autozone Hub which is around the same time I installed the new strainer. But I didn't think accelerating to highway speed for only a couple minutes, then a handful of stoplights before I get to work would make it drop below 30MPG. But that is what my father believes is going on. That, and the fact I don't give myself much time so I am always rushing to work.

[Spike]

Heck, I drove my '90 Auto 75MPH daily to work for nearly 20k miles. I was still averaging 31-ish.

Something's wrong, but I have no idea what. :p Maybe swap the old, old, old fuel strainer back on for a 2-gallon trip and see what happens? It shouldn't be that, as Festivas have a fuel return, right? Too much fuel - sent back to tank. I think that's how it works, anyway.

I think I just talked myself out of my own test. o_o

[TorqueEffect]

Heck, I drove my '90 Auto 75MPH daily to work for nearly 20k miles. I was still averaging 31-ish.

Something's wrong, but I have no idea what. :p Maybe swap the old, old, old fuel strainer back on for a 2-gallon trip and see what happens? It shouldn't be that, as Festivas have a fuel return, right? Too much fuel - sent back to tank. I think that's how it works, anyway.

I think I just talked myself out of my own test. o_o

I think I was ragging it quite hard now that I think about it. after I hit 40 miles, I will top up the tank and see what I get. Not the most accurate way of telling, but it is the quickest. Better than using the whole tank to figure it out.

[fastivaca]

You mentioned that you changed the fuel filter as well. Is there a chance the hoses got hooked back up incorrectly? Not sure what difference it would make, if any, but it wouldn't hurt to check.

Sent from somewhere west of here via Tapatalk!

[TorqueEffect]

Just topped up at 80 miles, 2.19 gallons. So 36.4 MPG.

It was the way I was driving that destroyed it. But DAMN! I didn't know driving it hard would effect it THAT much. Welp the more ya know.

You mentioned that you changed the fuel filter as well. Is there a chance the hoses got hooked back up incorrectly? Not sure what difference it would make, if any, but it wouldn't hurt to check.

Sent from somewhere west of here via Tapatalk!

No, it is in the right way, and yeah I doubt that would make a difference.