Lame Gas Mileage...HELP

[Unseenspirit2002]

Right on man.

[Teekypt]

Spirit, I have a GT and when I first purchased mine (used at 21,000mi), I was getting about the same as you...around 12mpg. I could actually see the needle move! So, this may sound crazy, but how fast have you driven ur PT? I ask because my dad told me to "blow it out"...meaning to go as fast as possible. So, while driving to the country, I hit 120mph about three times and, seriously, this seemed to have fixed my prob!

At first, I thought once I changed my air filter, my mpg would drastically change, but it didn't. It was once I went to 120mph that I started to get much more mpg. I think the owner before me either didn't drive the car too fast or it was just sitting up before they sold it (saw dry rot on tires, but treads were perfect, hence the idea of it not being driven).

So now, I get about 19-20 in the city (I drive 70+, more on the plus side) and I have gotten up 28 mpg on highway (with the cruise on 70).

I say, just "blow it out"!

[Teekypt]

Oh yes...the tires! The max on my tires show 50psi, so I inflate them to 40-45psi. I do not go by what's on the inside of the car door (proper tire inflation). The more air, the better/easier it is for your tires to roll, the less fuel used to make your car go.

HOWEVER, this may eat up the life of your tires quickly.

In the summer, the tires stay inflated cuz of the heat (rubber expands). In the winter, be sure to keep an eye out on your tires, like once a week...cold deflates...

[lakersfan1]

Originally Posted by Teekypt

Oh yes...the tires! The max on my tires show 50psi, so I inflate them to 40-45psi. I do not go by what's on the inside of the car door (proper tire inflation). The more air, the better/easier it is for your tires to roll, the less fuel used to make your car go.

Not a great idea. The more you inflate the tires, the harder it is for your car to stop as well since you're decreasing the contact patch. I can see 5PSI more if you don't mind the harsher rider, but 45PSI is insane. Once the tire is inflated enough to have a fully round appearance, you're not gaining that much in MPG.

And the driving fast idea is interesting. Usually the 'Italian TuneUp' is for when you've got alot of carbon build up in the combustion chambers of a car with some miles on it. Never thought about it on a newer engine as a way of increasing MPG.

[Teekypt]

Not a great idea. The more you inflate the tires, the harder it is for your car to stop as well since you're decreasing the contact patch. I can see 5PSI more if you don't mind the harsher rider, but 45PSI is insane. Once the tire is inflated enough to have a fully round appearance, you're not gaining that much in MPG.

K, I'll keep that in mind. Thx.

And the driving fast idea is interesting. Usually the 'Italian TuneUp' is for when you've got alot of carbon build up in the combustion chambers of a car with some miles on it. Never thought about it on a newer engine as a way of increasing MPG.

Yes. It totally worked for me. I began to see a difference within a couple of days. I was surprised at the way it handled 120mph too! The ride felt taut and it shifted out AGAIN at 100mph!!!! I don't believe mine is stock...it pins me in the seat when I punch it...not sure if it's chipped...gotta find this out.

It feels much more powerful than 215 hp...at least this is what my dad says (grew up during the muscle car days...he had a 1970 roadrunner). I am not even sure what 215 hp feels like, but he says it's much less than what I got. I gotta find this out....

[Hooligan]

Try disconnecting the Negative battery for about 5 minutes, especially IF you bought it used. It resets the computer to the way you drive, and doesn't carry over the way it had been driven previously.

[Unseenspirit2002]

I actually don't drive it that much or that fast. I live in the city where the max speed limit is about 35 mph. I probably should disconnect the battery, but before I purchased the car I did the whole key dance thing and the code for the battery being disconnected recently flashed, so I ASSumed it had been done and wouldn't be an issue. However, I'm not sure I can follow the reasoning. You're saying that regardless of how light I am on the pedal, no matter what, the car is going to suck the gas because the computer learned to do it from the previous owner's driving habits? Now according to a car fax sheet, the car is 6 years old, I am only the second owner and the car was purchased with only 24,990 miles on it. Which averages out to less than 12 miles every single day for 6 years. So dude floored it every single time he drove it? Not likely, my friend, the car is in impeccibly clean condition, it still has the original sticker stuff on the carpets. Anyone who took that kind of care of a car wouldn't hot step it all over the place.

[Hooligan]

I bought my first one used.I disconnected the battery as soon as I got it home, just in case. My comment was just a suggestion.

[Unseenspirit2002]

Oh no worries bud...just wasn't sure of the reasoning behind it. With gas at $4.25 for regular unleaded, the situation with my mileage is frustrating. Don't take what I say to heart, peace brother!

[tazmanchester]

Hi

Got my 2001 PT CRUISER on Friday, Saturday the engine light comes on and after several trips goes off again. It came back on today (SUNDAY) and wont go off. The code is 340 - CAMSHAFT SENSOR. The car seems to be running fine though, I have asked the garage to check it out, waiting for them to respond - any reason why it would come on but still run fine?

Thanks
Tracey, Manchester, UK.