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Post by erw38 on Jul 2, 2004 20:09:03 GMT -6
It's been two days since I gutted the airbox and so far I am getting horrible gas mileage. Granted, I have only been driving to work and back (about 5 miles each way) but the DIC says that I am getting about 13 - 16 mpg? Whats did I do wrong? I just replace my plugs and wires about 10k miles ago so I don't think that would be the problem.
Help me!!!!!!! What should I do?
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Post by Marc on Jul 2, 2004 20:54:36 GMT -6
If the modification turned out bad, best thing to do is to return to stock. _________________ GM!!! BRING BACK OLDS!!!
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Post by JimW on Jul 2, 2004 21:31:17 GMT -6
Hrm...well maybe the increase in power is causing you to go a bit harder on the gas?
It really shouldnt be causing that much of a mileage problem. In fact proper mods are supposed to increase mileage in regular driving activity.
My mileage on the road/hwy is better then it was stock, by almost 1mpg
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Post by erw38 on Jul 2, 2004 21:47:38 GMT -6
tomorrow I am going to open the hood at make sure everything is snug............but tis better to be safe then sorry........btw....I took a "trip" and got a dismal 16.5 mpg at best
what kind of mileage do you get? according to your DIC?
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Post by JimW on Jul 2, 2004 21:52:50 GMT -6
When I am on the hwy...the best I have seen is 8L/100kms which is almost 24 mpg at about an average of 70mph, with 90 mph bursts.
In the city, 16-17 mpg is not out of the ordinary...remember 4000lb V8..take a lot to get her to move in stop and go traffic
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Post by erw38 on Jul 2, 2004 22:06:02 GMT -6
I think I have gotten 18 in the city before....oh well.......................hopefully a long road trip will come soon so I can get her up to speed and make the real determination
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Post by Aurora40 on Jul 3, 2004 10:36:48 GMT -6
If it's not helping, change it back. One thing on intake mods is that often people think "louder is freer" but usually louder is just more turbulent, hence the noise. Turbulence means air flow is worse. Not saying the airbox mod doesn't work. But not all removal of stuff in an airbox is always helpful. My airbox is almost a thing of beauty (especially compared to many OEM airboxes) as it is well shaped to transition air smoothly up into the MAF and down into the intake.
Anyway, a less restrictive intake and exhaust will lower pumping losses by the engine (less power required to pull air in and less required to push it out) and in the same driving, economy should improve. If you floor it all the time, it will be worse as more fuel is used to mix with any more air that is added. I think exhaust makes a more noticeable economy improvement, as a generalization.
But a lot of mileage is the driver. I can squeeze pretty impressive economy out of most any car when I want to. Some people manage to squeeze pretty crappy economy out of most any car when they want to...
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Post by erw38 on Jul 4, 2004 8:07:17 GMT -6
Don't get me wrong, I love the mod. Makes the car drive easier. I guess the increased airflow actually works, but I guess I am just afraid. Afraid that it did indeed lower my gas mileage. I looked up the stats on a 97 aurora and it said 17 city. So if that is true, I can probably live with it. But I DO love how it makes the car drive "easier" and more "V8ish." On another note, I, the mechanically challenged one, took my engine cover off the other day. I actually told myself that I can do repair to the car like spark plug and wire changes. But I have to flush out the radiator first. I need to quit jumping the gun. Thanks for listening to me. Sorry for all my constant whining to you. I do , believe it or not, like the airbox mod. I think I want to do more! P.S. Any ideas what I can let my old antifreeze flow into while I do the flush. I don't have jackstands, so it would probably have to something very height challanges? Or should I go ahead and buy jack stands?
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Post by JimW on Jul 4, 2004 11:16:18 GMT -6
If I were you and was planning on tackling some maintenance projects in your driveway, I would scour Ebay or something for the 1997 GM G-body shop manual. Then get your jackstands, then go for the work. You'll feel better doing the work, knowing you are more educated on the task at hand. I just bought an RSM intake pipe (no filter or reducer yet) and the 2 volumes of the GM shop manual.
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Post by Aurora40 on Jul 4, 2004 11:47:04 GMT -6
You could get a large flat pan from a hardware store, probably, or a large kitty-litter pan. But it will be hard to pour the anti-freeze into a subsequent container. Flushing the radiator is very easy, just take your time and be careful. If it is your first time doing any real work on the car, make sure you have a second car or a friend who can pick you up, if you suddenly realize you forgot to buy something or broke something during the procedure. And don't figure it'll take an hour to do, therefore you can start on it 2 hours before you have to be at your wedding...
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Post by Amanda on Jul 4, 2004 15:48:09 GMT -6
I average about 27 mpg on Hwy and 19 city... I guess that's sounding not too bad huh?
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Post by erw38 on Jul 4, 2004 16:29:50 GMT -6
Damn Amanda.........what did you do (no do) to the car?
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Post by JimW on Jul 4, 2004 18:03:56 GMT -6
Her car is bone stock... and shes gonna get dusted next month vs ME ;D haha *dont fire me*
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Post by RADEoN on Jul 9, 2004 7:32:57 GMT -6
we're getting anywhere from 17.5-20, depending and dont feel bad, my moms 2001 AWD Mountaneer gets only 8-10 mpg, but it has a lead-foot driving it
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Post by Amanda on Jul 9, 2004 10:06:45 GMT -6
:-*LoL Your a tool Jim! But I am an excellent driver(i'd say w/ more potential) so I've got that on my side! (despite what people say about women drivers)
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Post by Amanda on Jul 9, 2004 10:08:14 GMT -6
just to clarify that wan't ment as more potential then you. Just potential to be an even better drive... I needed to clarify my gloating heh heh...
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Post by JimW on Jul 9, 2004 10:12:01 GMT -6
Gloat now my dear For in due time...its quad tips that you shall see... I've heard your tire squeal expliots over the phone so I am excited about 2 white Roras lining up and seeing what happens ;D
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Post by Aurora40 on Jul 9, 2004 10:33:26 GMT -6
She probably adds less dead weight to the car too!
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Post by JimW on Jul 9, 2004 13:12:43 GMT -6
LOL! thats downright mean! I'm not THAT big! ;D
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Post by Amanda on Jul 9, 2004 13:15:33 GMT -6
I LOVE this keep going… Oh trust me JIM I can give you a run for your money… ooh so much fun!!! What are the exact dates you’ll be here?
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Post by JimW on Jul 9, 2004 13:31:46 GMT -6
I'll probably leave Sunday, early morning, stay in Syracuse with my buddy overnight or something, get a head start on Monday morning, its about 6.5-7 hrs from Syracuse NY to Cape Cod MA...we'll need directions...we can talk later bout that. I'l be staying for 2 or 3 nights for sure!
Yer bone stock Rora is up for some ownage ;D
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Post by Aurora40 on Jul 9, 2004 13:47:10 GMT -6
Yer bone stock Rora is up for some ownage ;D Maybe she's in so many accidents because her nitrous button has a bad return spring, so it's always engaging at inopportune times?
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Post by Amanda on Jul 9, 2004 13:54:36 GMT -6
Ohh Sharp today huh 40? LoL I would like to point out for the record NONE of those accidents were my fault… one I wasn’t even in the car for… the other was in a parking lot and my car wasn’t even in motion for!! Ok good enough for now LoL…
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Post by erw38 on Jul 9, 2004 20:31:02 GMT -6
Since this seems to be such a hot thread I guess I will post this here. As everyone knows by now I recently modded my airbox. My gas mileage started being a horrible 15-16mpg.....turned out one of my tires was low in air.....so I filled it up and got her back up to 16.5 mpg. That still sucked, but I thought the performance aspect of it was worth living with the bad mileage. Recently, as in the last week, my gas mileage has returned to around 15 mpg (15.3 mpg today). My tires are all at the proper air levels. Could it be bad spark plugs? I just had them replaced about 4 months ago along with the wires. Do you thing it may be something else? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by JimW on Jul 9, 2004 20:32:22 GMT -6
What plugs did you use? Throwing any engine codes? Could be a fautly o2 sensor as well (you have 4 of them on your car)
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Post by Amanda on Jul 9, 2004 20:35:41 GMT -6
Poor elan I don't know what to suggest for your poor gas mileage (by the way... it wouldn't matter where you posted we'd still follow you... you definitley make it the hot topic post... )
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Post by erw38 on Jul 9, 2004 21:16:36 GMT -6
Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!! I've got a beautiful woman taking pity on me I don't remember what plugs were used............probably some cheapo plugs............where are the 02 sensors and how hard are they to replace?
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Post by JimW on Jul 9, 2004 21:22:00 GMT -6
lol!
Well, ok, plugs are very important on this vehicle, I highly recommend the stock platinum tipped plugs. The Northstar is very fussy about its electical components and stock (OEM parts) is best for plugs, wires, coil packs etc.
Also I assume you are running high grade gasoline? Try running some fuel injector cleaner thru the system. Also make sure your IAT sensor on the air box is tightly attached. Hrmmm what else? Oh MAF screen, could be clogged up. The screen is where the intake tube meets the throttle body.
I dont have my service manual yet, so I cant say for sure the o2 sensor locations yet!...sorry bud
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Post by erw38 on Jul 9, 2004 21:36:15 GMT -6
I'll check all those tomorrow morning......thanks for the help Jim
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Post by Aurora40 on Jul 10, 2004 9:18:23 GMT -6
The thing about plugs on 90's GM cars is that they use waste spark. This means the spark fires on the power stroke and on the exhaust stroke. This is also why there are half as many coil packs as cylinders. Anyway, the result is that your plug fires in reverse directions all the time. Most platinum plugs are only platinum on one side (as the spark usually only travels one way on most cars). On a GM car with waste spark, this means every other spark, the non-platinum side is getting zapped away. So many platinum plugs on a GM car will work for a few months and then crap out. If you bought cheapo plugs, this is the first thing I'd check if I were you. On an aside, the 2001+ Aurora does not have this problem, and I plan on swapping to ACDelco Iridium plugs at about 50k.
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