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Gas mileage question
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
in General Chat
Does anybody know any possible reasons why a car would get, on average, about 5 miles a gallon less than its supposed to?
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Could it just be the car is old? Do old cars lose gas mileage? I think something might be broken, but I like to have a general idea before I take it places, else they tend to screw you over. Especially since I'm a girl that knows nothing. And the internet is not helpful at all I've been looking it up for the past couple days to no avail.
Though the internet probably lied to me, it always does
I'll keep an eye on different driving situations and see if it increases/decreases, thanks
Timing might be fucked.
Anything Heavy in it?
Roof rack/box?
Tires flat?
If its an Auto 'box, it mgiht be fuckerooed.
And wow.. your cars in the US run off GAS? Thats quite rare here, no forecourts have LPG here ;p (Sorry, I do know what you mean... but what do you Americans call actual gas then?)
also keeping the car in higher revs, eg doing 50miles per hour in fourth in high revs, go up to 5th gear and revs go down, eg - using less fuel.
I'll look into the fuel injector thing, thanks. But that sounds important and expensive. Is it?
And nothing heavy, I have a rip off Barbie (Sassy Tiffany, oh yeah) in my back seat and my gym clothes... but thats probably not really weighing it down.
What do you mean gerbil, what do we call gas, gas is gas, lots of things are gas, like car gas, butt gas, I think our stove runs off gas too... Should/would/do/can they have different names?
Ed's selling his car and I'm off my parents health insurance July 1st and its going to cost me alot more than I was expecting so now I have to have the crunchanator for alot longer than I thought, so I don't want it breaking on me!
I thought it would be awekward calling it "gas" when it is a liquid. Confusing with actual Gas... I know it is shortened from Gasoline... but still confusing tbh!
Bad luck! Well, you could take it to a garage but thast is expensive. Any people you know who know alot about cars you could ask to check it out for you? If not... well, follow the adivce in this thread that gets given and has been sofar.
Or pick up a cheap $50 banger.
I kinda get you... like a joke, ha. Maybe. Anyways. Maybe Ed knows somebody who knows somebody who knows something about cars. I'll ask around. Thanks. High five. Oh, and my car is the cheap $50 banger... well it is now... cuz of the second hand crunched up hood thats spray painted to match and held down by a bungie cord... but thats neither here nor there
I hate car shops, they always try to screw me over. Oh, girl, score.
I come up to the counter, my car makes a sound like *makes sound*
haha, dumb girl, score x2.
Later that day...
your car has this this this this this this and this wrong and will cost you this much and we'll refill your washer fluid for only $19.99 and most of those things, including low windshield washer fluid are dire to get fixed or your car will explode and you'll be trapped and die.
You don't have enough air in your tyres
Nope, check them regularly, they are good. But thanks.
Clutch slipping maybe?? I got a new clutch recently and got more MPG's as a result
Oh I'll feel so smart when I eventually talk to somebody
Could be a lot of things but age will be a factor due to engine wear. Tyre pressures, having the windows down in the summer takes your mpg down 10% (or aircon). Has the car been serviced recently?
clean any fuel filters.
Incorrect grade of gearbox oil
Incorrect grade of axle oil
Underinflated tyres
Binding brakes
Poorly adjusted a/f mixture - old car
Dirty or damaged sensors - newer car
Blowing exhaust
Blocked exhaust
Dirty air filter
Leaking fuel tank
Increased use of A/C
Driving with windows open
And, most importantly...
Not driving the same route as the morons who measure mpg for official statistics
Take them with a pinch of salt. Some are accurate, some are not. US gallons differ from the rest of the world, so don't try to compare your mpg to the same vehicle in a different country.
Now, as I previously stated, up until a week ago, I got as I stated. This past week, I got 25 and 24 mpg. This is a big difference to me and raised some alarms. Nothing has changed in the way I drive or maintain my car.
I havn't found anybody that knows anybody who knows about cars, though somebody said they'll check with somebody
Thank you all for your help.
Thats so obvious, how did I not even think of that! Thank you.
I even had that once before on my last car. I deserve a big smack in the forehead for that one.
Your my hero of the day.
(if that is whats wrong
Give your dad a big high five!
but ...having a clean air filter is important ...makes a big difference.
Don't worry Mr. Roll, it got replaced just about a month and a half ago