Where My D!!! Gas Went???

[SMWS6TA]

I just bought my 98' T/A last week. I filled up with 93 octane. I have only taken her out 4 times because of all the rain we have been having and have only put 160 miles on it (mostly county/city) and I am already down to 1/4 of a tank.

WTF??? I haven't been dogging it or reving the gears up too much cause I just got it and I want to make sure everything is ok first before I start having fun.


Also this is a stock T/A...no mods from previous owners...

The previous owner stated this:
oil change 2000 miles ago
Plugs: 15000 miles ago
Air Filter: 1000 miles ago

When I got to work today I popped the hood and looked....Either the previous owners had put OEM wires or they are the same set....I plan on calling him to ask if they were changes out when plugs were done last.

Other then above ....any other suggestions....

[ss~zoso~ss]

sounds almost normal, a bit low mileage count for 3/4 tank tho. Could somebody have siphoned gas from your tank?

[LS1Jason]

dunno about normal. I'm getting 21 to 22 in town and a whopping 28.3 out on the highway. bone stock, except for exhaust being cut off after manifolds.

[SMWS6TA]

Unless they are getting while I inside the store, no siphoning the tank....

[ls1camino]

Maybe the gauge is reading wrong...it's an approximate, so you may be closer to half a tank

[SMWS6TA]

How could I check that out.......I mean besides opening up the fuel tank to check on the float..

[sunsetorangess]

Since you bought it used i wouldnt take the old owners word for anything. I would start from scratch a do a full tune up so you know where the car stands. Everything, ie air filter,fuel filter, tranny filter if A4, all fluids, diff,oil,oil filter, flush coolant, flush tranny, plugs and wires.
J

[Wesman]

Is it an automatic?? If so, that can have a lot to do with it.

Remember, sometimes its the time the engine is running, not the miles. This is especially true in the city. MPG is a useless measurment for city driving, because often you're only going a few miles but using a lot of fuel due to stop and go traffic. It would be much more accurate if they measured fuel consumption per unit of time in city driving as opposed to MPG.

[SMWS6TA]

Is it an automatic?? If so, that can have a lot to do with it.

Remember, sometimes its the time the engine is running, not the miles. This is especially true in the city. MPG is a useless measurment for city driving, because often you're only going a few miles but using a lot of fuel due to stop and go traffic. It would be much more accurate if they measured fuel consumption per unit of time in city driving as opposed to MPG.

Sorry I thought I mention it is a 6spd

AS far as shifting goes....I usually shift @ 3500 if I am not needing to get on it....>60mph I usually in 4th (3200rpm) in city, 5th and 5th for hwy

Should I go ahead and shift into 5th for speeds >60?

[LS1Jason]

hell, i'm in 5th at 45mph when driving in town. if i road around all the time at 3200 rpm, it'd attract too much attention.

[LS1Jason]

and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but 3200 rpm in 4th gear shouldn't be less than 60mph. I'd actually think 3200 in 4th would be upward around 75 to 80 if i remmeber correctly. possibly have gears in the car?

[SMWS6TA]

I usually in 4th in city, 5th and 6th for hwy

I will check the 3200rpm again after work...I can't remember now if it is 3rd(3200rpm) or 4th (3200rpm) either way....Should I shift into higher gear and keep it around 2000rpm for city driving? I know you get better fuel economy using lower rpms....

[LS1Jason]

all personal preference i suppose. I myself keep the rpm's low due to the exhaust being so loud. so, like i said, i'm in 5th gear by the time i hit 45mph (if in town)

[Wesman]

Sorry I thought I mention it is a 6spd

AS far as shifting goes....I usually shift @ 3500 if I am not needing to get on it....>60mph I usually in 4th (3200rpm) in city, 5th and 5th for hwy

Should I go ahead and shift into 5th for speeds >60?

There's your problem

Shifting at 3500RPM is way overkill for normal driving. I generally shift between 1500 and 2200RPM, depending on how fast I need to accelerate. I only shift above 2500 if I'm really getting on it.

Always go into the highest reasonable gear based on your current speed. Meaning you should always be below 2,000RPM for any given speed, if possible. Cruising at 1500RPM is best, thats what I would aim for.

You'll be surprised how much less fuel you use shifting at low RPM's and using less throttle.

[SMWS6TA]

I found a reason to go out of the office...

It is 3200rpm @50mph in 3rd gear......

I'll try shifting @ lower rpms see if that helps stretch the gas tank some.....

[LS1Jason]

keep it under 2k rpm and i assure you it will

[Cutlass]

98's have a small gas tank also. 5th gear at 40mph for me.
Put a catback on that car. You'll get sick of the noise and upshift sooner to keep the rpms/noise down.

[SMWS6TA]

98's have a small gas tank also. 5th gear at 40mph for me.

Using the great spoken words by E. Cartman.....

"Son of a Bitch!!!"

I didn't pay attention to how much I filled up with.......Damn that is low for this car....:WTF!:

[Cutlass]

I've heard of people cruising around in 6th gear at 40mph, but thats just dumb. I think thats like 900rpms. At least in 5th gear 40mph your doing like 1200rpms and not hearing *ping ping ping* going up a hill.

[qwik219d9]

Using the great spoken words by E. Cartman.....

"Son of a Bitch!!!"

I didn't pay attention to how much I filled up with.......Damn that is low for this car....:WTF!:

1. refill the tank, note gallons, note mileage. reset trip meter.

2.cruise around about the exact way previously then look at trip meter.

yes anything over 2K RPM will significantly lower MPG.get acusmed to driving the new to you car and enjoy it.


Diffently completely tune up plugs, wires, fuel fliter clean air fliter ect.

a good running M6 should get 28MPG on the expressway