OK i just did a gas mileage check and im wondering if im doing ok or if i should consider changing some things.. Its a 98 sunfire with 2.2 auto 184,771 miles. This past summer put in new plugs and wires, used coils and ICM, and air filter. I run 17's with a 205/40 in summer and factory 195/70-14's in winter. I drive mostly highway miles and drive conservatively. so my results were just a bit over 23mpg and about 320 miles to the tank my fill up was about 13.51 gallons i believe which about usual. So is my car doing good bad or what? if not what can i do ?

sounds a bit low, though im not running same specs.

im getting 34 mpg highway
i run 17's year round 225/45 A/S kumhos
i have a 2000 cavalier
2200 automatic 3 speed 117K miles

what i have done recently for maintenance that helped push me from 27-34 highway mpg/

new fuel filter
fuel injector cleaner/seafoam
oil flush with oil change
short ram intake w/K+N filter
AC delco platinum plugs / bosch wires
new coil packs and starter
* i also replaced my fuel pump, it died, didnt change mileage by more than 1mpg which could easily be driving conditions

on my last trip home from myrtle beach SC to westminster, MD traveling at 65mph avg i went 384 miles on 10.97 gallons and i kicked it getting onto the highway during merging... so i would say your mileage is a bit rough.


cheap side, i would start with fuel injector cleaner, and a fuel filter. obviously an oil change is a regular thing...i usually add a bottle on injector cleaner every 10-15 tanks
a short ram intake would keep mileage more consistant. wont give much power at all, but it makes the motor breathe easier, less pipes and fittings to run through.

Sounds a bit low to me too - but I'm used to a 5-speed.

My car: 2002 Sunfire with 2200, 5-speed, Kelly winter tires installed begininning of Nov (195/70R14). Currently about 146,000miles.

Plugs have been changed (AC), and wires 2 years ago (NGK), stock paper air filter, and fuel filter was replaced earlier this year. The car has never seen a drop of injector cleaner, or had an oil flush. Fuel pump is still original.

My average mileage between the beginning of November and now has been 33 MPG (U.S.). It's stayed within a narrow range of +/-1mpg during that time. My driving is about 70% highway. I usually cruise at about 65MPH on the highway. In the summer months I've managed to hit 40MPG on straight highway running several times (although 38-39 is more common).

I never idle the car for more than 30 seconds before driving - so maybe that helps somewhat compared to what I see some people do. Mine's always been excellent on gas since new (for what it is). I'm sure that there are smaller cars that can still do better.

John

Yeah i thought that i should have been closer to the 30mpg range in all honesty i was pissed when i seen 23mpg. i did do the seafoam through the booster also this summer forgot to mention that. IM sure my fuel filter is prolly original, always thought about changing it but didnt know if it was a PITA. Since John mentioned it my car sits at idol quite a bit now that its winter seeing as i have a remote start and i im a pussy and dont like gettin in a cold car.

definitly do the fuel filter.

well I'm only getting 23 mpg city and 26 highway (75-80mph)
I have a 2000 Sedan w/ a 2200 and a 3spd.
Modded Air Box, K&N filter, and dynomax super turbo muffler.

weird. how we all get seriously different numbers. with relatively the same mods.

i looked at some of my reciepts with notes on them


june avg mileage 28 city/highway mixed ----- 40 on I95 from MD to SC (70mph avg over the entire trip)
july avg mileage 27 city/highway mix ----- 38 straight highway miles (65-75mph) - added exhaust, noticed drop in mpg
august avg mileage 27 city/highway mix ----- no highway only records
september avg mileage 22 mpg city/highway mix ---- added fuel injector cleaner, changed oil, cleaned air filter, ---- race wars (south carolina test and tune went 8 trips down the lane)
october avg mileage 26 mpg city/highway mix mainly from work to home and school to home.
november 24 mpg city.highway mix cold temps, lots of idleing to warm up before going anywhere... i let the temp get to 1/4 before moving the car
and on my trip home for thanksgiving, 27mpg in maryland near home, 34 mpg on the trip up I95- stuck at about 80 miles per hour


i use midgrade or premium in my car. dont flame me for it. i dont care about prices.lots of places down here in SC water down their cheap gas. so i avoid every places cheap gas

I guess Im the worst off... 22.4 to be exact. 97 2.2 auto with 222,XXX miles, stock everything. I do need to do the fuel and air filters though, as my air box is filthy and I have to mess with the throttle in the mornings.

97 2.2 4 spd auto and I get a consistent 30-33 around town and just got 35 doing 80-90 highway. If you always let your car idle to warm up, I'd say that is much of your problem. These cars warm up really fast, so you should stop that if you want better mileage. My car will blow warm air within a couple miles. The 3 spds always get worse mileage from what I've read.

I'm completely stock and run all Wix filters, Valvoline 5w-30, 35 psi in the tires, Delco platinum plugs and Oreilly house brand wires.

2.2 97 Cavalier......the "Crapalier"

I need answers. I have a 1993 Buick Regal, and I only get about 12 to 15 miles per gallons. I got 192 miles on 15 gal tank, and a 210 on a 15 gal tank. I have had tune up with wires and plugs, he said he replaced the throttle body and a cracked vacuum hose.
I know it is an old car with 120 miles, but I like the feel and how well it runs. It just eats gas. Help!

I may be able to help, althow I am not very familiar with these engines, the fuel management to be precise, one thing I have noticed the ones with the worse gas mileage also have the highest mileage, now I understand one has replaced plugs, are they the corect plugs?, or some aftermarket gimmic, are they gaped properly?
needless to say it is always best to start with a tuneup, ignition, filters fuel lines, clean up a few things, for instance I have seen this on many cars, not sure if it aplies to the cavaliers, but the egr tube blows right behind the throtle body, on a car with 200k I bet it is caked with carbon on the backside, also old vacum lines will leak and cause missreadings.
however the fuel mileage is all related to fuel management, are you having any check engine lights? have you read the codes lately? when is the last time the oxigen sensors been cleaned if not replaced, truth is if you have bad fuel mileage you are running rich, the computer calibrates the mix acording to various sensors readings, like the TPS, MAF or MAP, again I heavent read much about these engine not sure which one is it, but usualy with fuel injection there are also intake air temperature sensors, and who knows what else cavaliers have that I never seen, and I belive the oxigen sensors are the final multipliers.
I supposed some reaserch is in order unless a more knowledgeble member might want to pich in, there are procedures to clean, oil, test those components, and if they do not check out replace them, would somebody please elaborate on this?

I just pulled this up city 21, highway 30, mix 24 http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm
those claiming 40, check your math, I call bull, unless you were going downhill, with a very strong back wind and a 10 foot sail

George - I've made sure my math has been very accurate and I've seen 38-40 many times over the last 7 years (in warmer weather). My car's a 5-speed, and to achieve that you essentially have to drive pretending the pedals are made of stained glass. I still cruise at or slightly above our speed limit (100km/h or 62MPH), but I try to keep the throttle very steady, and I also have a vacuum gauge I installed which I think helps me tremendously. I only managed that number once before I installed it, but have done it much more easily since. Other than the gauge, the car is completely stock. Obviously any city driving is also kept to an absolute minimum to achieve such a number.

Although I don't have definite numbers, from what he told me, my brother's '02 Ecotec seemed very capable of getting at least into the mid '30s or higher too, with careful driving. These care are pretty aerodynamic compared to many others I've owned in the past, so these numbers don't surprise me too much. For comparison, my mom has a 2003 Suzuki Aerio with a 2.0 and automatic, and it seems like a pig in comparison (low 30's if I'm very careful). It makes sense when looked at though - it's higher, certainly not as streamlined, and has shorter gears (higher revs).

My brother now has a 2009 Vibe with the 2.4 and 5-speed, so I'm going to be curious to see how it does in comparison. It too has much shorter gears, so I'm not expecting anything too spectacular.

Honestly though - no BS with my numbers. I've kept track since new - look back for the thread "too much time on my hands" and you can see my overall stats.
John

I like you I realy do but still not buying it, I've monkeid a lot and read a lot on the subject, I doubt a relatively stock cavalier/sunfire esp four door can consistently do 40mpg, or close to, at best youd get, 33-34, are you sure something did not got lost in the translation? I grew up in europe, I know in canada also you have liters per 100 kms.
I'll definately search your post.

I always figure out my calculations in L/100km - but translate to MPG for the sake of being on the same page with most others on here.

My best was 5,8L/100km, which I've hit several times. In the summer I typically average between about 6.1 and 6.5 unless I'm towing, which can put me up to as high as 8.9.
Sorry, I did remember one minor change from stock - my head was rebuilt at 175,000km and machined slightly, so my compression may be just a little higher than stock.
My last tank was horrible in my books - 8.5L/100km - but that was mostly shorter trips around town in sub freezing temperatures. Admittedly I've had a slightly heavier foot lately too - maybe a side effect of the lower gas prices right now...

I've always been impressed at this car's mileage - considering it's rated at 10.6 city/7.0 hwy. Most other cars I've had were difficult to meet the rated mileage with, where this one has typically exceeded it since new. Maybe it runs a little lean or something - but I don't want to mess with whatever's been working for the last 7 years!
John

thats low. autos are epa rated at 24 city 33 highway. i think those are still a bit higher than actual but 23 mostly highway is low still.

cold weather really drops MPG. so if you live wheres it cold, take that into consideration.

Working on obtainting an M-Class license... ?? Hint: 2 wheels.

john if this is the case I am happy for you, still not buying it, back in europe small cars, and I mean realy small yours is like a large sedan compared to those I speak of, were geting 8liters to 100kms, and that was on a good day.1.2liter engines, half the weight of your car, a geo metro is large in comparison. but like I said if you do get that kind of mileage , good for you.

Sergio Valenzuela wrote:I guess Im the worst off... 22.4 to be exact. 97 2.2 auto with 222,XXX miles, stock everything. I do need to do the fuel and air filters though, as my air box is filthy and I have to mess with the throttle in the mornings.

Ha Ha, you wanna bet? Try 15.7 MPG from a 2.2 5-speed with 68,000 miles completely stock. And my car had a complete tune-up 1,500 miles ago.

now you got some issues, at about the same mileage our car had some breaks issues not disengaging properly, took a while to figure that out but the mileage was terible during that time, you might want to look at it.

That's what I'm thinking. I know there's definitely something wrong with it, I'm just too lazy to figure it out right now.