Reclaiming gas mileage
 

Well now that my hesitation problem is solved, I noticed that the car consumes way too much fuel compared to what it used to. I'm still on the first tank after I fxied the problem so I don't know if the computer is still adjusting, or what is causing it, but I've gone 180km on half a tank, that's gonna be less then 300km on a full tank, which is ridiculous. I was expecting the opposite after leaning out the mixture. Also my economy gauge goes 1/4 way up when i come to a full stop, I'm guessing this has to do with idle speed in some way because when the car is rolling with no gas it drops to 0.

I also got a can a fuel system cleaner in the tank, and I'm just wondering if anyone knows what can be done to improve gas mileage, or if anyone can tell me what the average distance traveled on a full tank of gas is for a 85 190E 8vlv.

TIA

xp

I'm checking my 2.3 8 vlv now, after some serious repairs to get it to pass smog and idle correctly. Will post results soon, albeit in miles vs. kilometers.

-irieite

Mileage is going to vary, but my '85 8 valve is getting an average 21-22 mpg. Last night I filled up after a few miles when the low fuel indicator came on at 280 miles with 12.9 gal.

great...
 

Well then my car obviously burns way too much yet it passed emissions when it was running rich, now the mixture is fine and it guzzle like a monster, I'm hoping this will even out, maybe the computer needs to adjust or something I dunno, I'm hoping.

I'll try to play with the idle valve to fix the economy reading when stopped.

xp

xp190 - have you seen this thread?

'M103 hard start, rough idle, hesitation SOLVED'

Haasman

I have indeed,

been down all those roads already, I think my engine is starting to run well on the mixture it's getting, might have been the computer or ignition system that needed to adjust itself, but I won't know for sure until I go through another tank of gas.

I'm hoping to be able to get 450km city driving per tank, is that even possible? Would be great that's for sure.

xp

wow...and i thought getting 280 miles to the tank (before the low fuel light comes on) in my 16v was terrible mileage

Actually, I still have the original US EPA window sticker that says 19 city and 22 hwy, so my 2.3 is still in the ballpark after all these years.

xp190

I have been working on and driving the 190 (2.3) recently and now that the odo is working I will have my gas mileage for you within the next couple of days.... If it is any help, I've got 277 miles so far and the gauge is in between reserve and quarter tank. I drive about 35% highway and 65% in town.

I am amazed at how much I like this car. This was a $1,000 car that was a mess. Body good, but leaked coolant, wouldn't maintain an idle, hammer-shifted if at all. It was the double-dose of techron and bleeding the injectors at the fuel distributor that got it running well.

Step by step with my daughter and son, we are slowly sorting it out. Still needs the heater core done ..... but it is totally fun to drive.

After properly warmed up, conditions permitting, I drive it very hard. It is so smooth on the highways and corners very flat in turns. It has a very confidence inspiring handling. What great cars. (Ok, now back to our regulary scheduled program).

I am going to look for some Redline fuel system cleaner and try that with the next tank of fuel.

List of Redline Dealers (from their website)

http://www.redlineoil.com/dealers.htm

...
 

Sweet,

they have a dealer close by me, so I might go pick up two bottles of that magical stuff too and run it through my car.

correct me if I'm wrong but 280 miles is about 500km right?

my car did 350 km max around the city, so I guess I would be right if I said it burns too much.

Now that the fuel mixture is where it should be, how do I make it go that far?

xp

Mileage
 

OK, I know this is a bit late getting back, but.. I check my Mileage today on my '91 2.3 when I filled up. I put in 10.3 gallons and went 252 miles, so that's 24 MPG with mostly city driving. Not bad from what I've seen.

That's pretty darn good. What adjustments did you have to make to get it to pass?

Oh god, I dunno. hehe After getting sick of throwing parts at it, I just dropped it off at the stealership. $1100 worth of parts and labor (mostly from diagnostics, they spent close to three weeks trying to get it to pass) now it runs fine. The only real part replaced was the "mixture control" which is the throttle body. The rest was a mix of vacuum lines and hoses. I'm sure the adjusted the mixture as well with a meter hooked up.

In the end I'm pretty happy with the result. They changed all the little things that were damaged or missing, such as those air cleaner insulators and the idle control valve bushing, as well as a new drain plug. They even recharged the A/C (it was already converted to 134a, but has a small leak).

Oh yeah, and I almost forgot to mention they seem to have fixed the shift points on transmission as well. Before it would not go to the redline in each gear at WOT. Now, it does. :D