For some reason I cant break 20 mpg. I only noticed this over the past 4 months or so.

Be it city/highway or 50/50 it always always works out to be 19-20 mpg any ideas?

 

you got to use premium gas and also try to drive without letting the rpm past 3000

 

get a tune up

 

Premium gas since I got the car and I got a tune up about 8K miles ago, rpms dropped from about 2500 to 2000 @ 60 mph. revs have not changed since.

Also changed all the fluids, new fuel filter as well as new spark plugs.

3K+ rpms only happen when accelerating and even then not that often. My auto usually ends up shifting at about 4K rpm when I push it a bit.


Do the CEL lights go off when the O2 or knock sensors die on a 95?

 

try cleaning out the throttle body. or maybe you're leaking fuel. Stick your nose under the hood and sniff for gas. Check your fuel lines from the tank through the filter, through the rail,and through the return back to the tank. Hook a pressure gauge and see where you might be leaking.

Else, it could be a knock sensor or O2 sensor, but usually those set off the CEL.

Just some suggestions. Good luck!

 

How would a tune up affect the drive ratios?

 

It cant

 

That's crazy talk.

 

Was wondering about the drive ratio thing too. YEs, the 95 ecu should illuminate the cel for the o2 sensors. Have you tried pulling codes anyway? Is your exhaust clogged? Did you change your plugs at the tune up? Btw, I usually only average around 22 mpg. I drive a lot at 4-5k rpm though. Hardly ever shift below 3 unless the car is cold. Also, I'm manual w/ pop, and y, that's all.

 

I did the tune up at the same time I changed my spark plugs/fuel filter/fluid flush etc. I'm guessing the filter was clogged or a couple of the spark plugs where blown. I did it all at the dealer since there prices where relatively low, so I have no idea as to what was working and what was not.

I will check the exhaust, is there anyway that I could check it without taking it off the car? I suppose I could just wait till I roder my y-pipe.

I usually let the car **** @ about 4K rpm but cruising is around 2500 rpm in 4th.

 

Possibly heavy wheels? 18X8s are big.

DW

 

Along with the suggestions from the other posts here, try the following:
1. Change air filter.
2. Check tire pressure.
3. Check for a stuck open thermostat.
4. Check for dragging brakes.

 

I usually get less than 20 also, but I floor it everywhere I go in the city...I can't help it...It's an addiction.

On the freeway I try and be somewhat safe.

When I think about it, I'm probably doing alot of damage to my car driving around like that, but I just can't stop....

Maybe I should put a rubber stopper under my pedal for a couple of weeks so i can't floor it or something.

Or hook up an electrode and whenever the pedal touches the floor, I get a shock.

 

...not to mention the larger tires adding weight and rolling resistance.

 

My 96 got 43K miles and I guess maybe it's time to have new front brake pads, as I hear some high pitch sound when I'm coasting and it's proportional to the driving speed. I took the front wheel out, put auto in "N", and slowly rotate the rotor. Seems brake pad is constantly rubbing the rotor, but slightly. Is this normal for the pads to slightly touch rotors? Self-adjust brake thing?

Thanks.

 

Yup. That's OK. Try driving on a level road, somewaht deserted, then put the car in neutral without braking, your car should coast freely to a stop, not slow down considerably then stop. If you don't coast freely, chances are one of your brakes are dragging. I had that in my car. The rear right brake was dragging. To verify, I touched the wheel and it was very warm compared to all the others.

DW

 

Thanks for the help guys

It wasn't the brakes at all turns out it is the type of gas I was using. I usually insisted on using Texaco because of its 'fuel additive' swapped over to exxon and am getting about 27mpg HW vs 20mpg on HW Texaco

 

I have the same problem man, i even do it sometimes when its cold(whoops) good idea with the electrode, or maybe a monkey to kick my *** when i go above 4000 rpm.

 

Yes the CEL will come on. Also did you use NGK platimums at the tune up.

 

going to synthetic oil has helped my mileage - i broke 20mpg on this last tank (and i was around 18 and 19 before) on my first full tank after changing to Amsoil 10W-30

 

OEM plugs I heard AM ones are picky in the 4th gens and yes I am using synthetic. Like I said above turns out to be the fuel I was using