Tested tps with multimeter according to these instructions....

[jimdigs]

I did do a compression test and it wasn't that great. I set the timing where it should be. I keep my mphs around 60-65. Do you think flopping the 12 inchers just on the front would give me a good indication of mpg without them being on the rear as well? Would it affect anything having the slightly bigger tires in the back? Thanks, Jim

[Pu241]

You already know from the compression test which you say "wasn't that great" the engine is not up to spec.
Do you happen to know through further testing if it was the rings or valves.
Do you have issues with blow by, like oil in the air intake?

With a weak engine the smaller tires should help.
As for not having smaller tires on the rear, shouldn't make much if any difference.
The engine is driving the front tire/wheel assembly.

Couple of other things, your currently running 13" or larger tires?
I do not see a correction factor in your MPG calculation for the larger tire size.
A GPS would be useful for MPG testing, additionally the Festiva odometer isn't all that accurate.
Keeping your speed closer to 60 MPH will help, if you can with endangering yourself.

[jimdigs]

You already know from the compression test which you say "wasn't that great" the engine is not up to spec.
Do you happen to know through further testing if it was the rings or valves.
Do you have issues with blow by, like oil in the air intake?

With a weak engine the smaller tires should help.
As for not having smaller tires on the rear, shouldn't make much if any difference.
The engine is driving the front tire/wheel assembly.

Couple of other things, your currently running 13" or larger tires?
I do not see a correction factor in your MPG calculation for the larger tire size.
A GPS would be useful for MPG testing, additionally the Festiva odometer isn't all that accurate.
Keeping your speed closer to 60 MPH will help, if you can with endangering yourself.

I do have some blowby in the air intake tube. Not much but a little oily. I thought at first it was the valves but now I'm leaning toward the rings. I'm gonna slap on two front 12 in tires and see what happens plus try and keep it around 60. The tires are only 13 that are on there now. Also with the 13inchers on and taking a gps reading my speedometer showed me going 3 miles fast on the gps than on my speedometer in the car. example car speedo shows me going 60...gps showed me going 63 at same time.

[Pu241]

Yes, the speedos are not alway spot on.
Make sure the GPS is active before you move every time.
Your going to see within 10 or 20 miles the GPS and Odo readings are going to diverge.
Before you swap your 13" for 12"s you might want to run the GPS to see how many more miles you actually went than what your odo says you did.
Also it means you were going 68 MPH when you thought you were going 65 MPH, and for Max MPG it all adds up.
And I would still bump your Timming a degree or so, but you already have plenty of work.
So that can come later.
You'll also not as the temps increase your MPG should increase as well.

[jimdigs]

Just went out and swapped em out. looks funny. I'm gonna go take a pic.

[Pu241]

Doesn't look that funny!
If the wheels were all black or all silver you'd be hard pressed to see the difference.
This side doesn't look too bad for being in MI.

[shadetree]

That tire swap alone with gain some mpg , At least it did for me !

[jimdigs]

So I filled up today. I drove 316 miles and it took 8.15 gallons to fill up. So I got 38 mpg almost 39. So I gained a little over 2 mpg with the tire swap. I'm gonna try one more thing and after that nothing else I can do but just drive the thing til she dies.

[dalebwilson]

Jim, just 5 MPH makes a big difference on my high mileage B3. My car likes 55-60 and gets the best mileage at that speed.


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[Pu241]

Have to remember the temperatures are rising and so will your MPG, so some of your gain you were going to get anyway.
This time of year, if it takes you 2 weeks to burn off a tank, the temperature change can be significant.

[jimdigs]

Jim, just 5 MPH makes a big difference on my high mileage B3. My car likes 55-60 and gets the best mileage at that speed.


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Maybe I'll do that too. I have been staying at 65 on the way to work and back so will have to slow down a bit. Thanks Dale

[jimdigs]

Have to remember the temperatures are rising and so will your MPG, so some of your gain you were going to get anyway.
This time of year, if it takes you 2 weeks to burn off a tank, the temperature change can be significant.

It has been cooler and damp this past week and I do notice that the car does not like it. Not as pepie. Got frost advisories tonight as a matter of fact.

[jimdigs]

An update on my mpgs, I finally hit 40 mpg. I know the warmer weather has helped but so has all the things I have done to this festiva. I had 79,391 miles at the last fill up and when I filled up today I was at 79,717 miles which took 8.13 gallons. 40mpg. Plus I was doing a lot of 65 to 70 highway miles on this last tank full, faster than I usually drive so I think I can do a little better yet. Here is a list of all things I have had done to this little car of mine.

new fuel filter, new thermostat. as of 02/02/14

Spark plugs and wires, distributor cap and rotor. 02/08/14

New ignition coil. 02/20/14

Rechecked cam timing. 02/22/14

New coolant temperature sensor 03/05/14

New oxygen sensor 03/15/14
New wipers 03/15/14

New front driver side inner and outter wheel bearings 03/19/14

Had all four wheels balanced, drivers side rear rim is bent a little. 03/22/14

New TPs (Throttle Position Sensor), new PCV valve. 03/29/14

New air filter 04/01/14

Did vacuum test, 18 reading, not bad.04/04/14

Did compresssion test, #1=145 #2=120 #3=145 #4=115 04/06/14
Changed oil and filter 04/06/14

Bought a timing light and set the timing. 04/12/14

Flushed the coolant with cascade still rusty. 04/13/14

Bought ignition control module, old one was ticking, turns out that is normal. Also changed out
ignition wire cuz it was wiggly. 04/18/14

Put in new rear wheel bearings. 04/19/14

Swapped out radiator fan switch from thermostat housing I had from previous festiva. Fan works now 04/20/14

Bought a multimeter with rpm kit and adjusted my rpms from 500 to 700 like the manual states, rechecked the
timing after that, all good. 04/26/14

Put two 12 inch tires in front to see if that would gain any mpg. 05/03/14

Tires added 2mpg. Am getting 38mpg now. Added some engine restore on 05/17/14 Last chance.

Advanced timing some before the marks on the pulley. I'm guessing I am at 14 now? Will see if this helps with
mpg? 05/25/14

The engine restorer didn't help. I am now getting 39.5 mpg. I know I can get to 40 by just driving slower. I put in
a new valve cover gasket as the other one was leaking some oil into the spark plugs, plus I wanted to check the torgue of the head bolts and they were fine. Still getting too much blow by in the intake. Bad rings and will see how long the engine will hold up before it blows.

Harvey did front passenger side wheel bearings and new brakes and rotor, charged me $60. 06/23/14

[dalebwilson]

Great job Jim. 40 Mpg at those speeds and compression numbers is more than acceptable.

[jimdigs]

Great job Jim. 40 Mpg at those speeds and compression numbers is more than acceptable.

Thanks Dale. I feel good about it.