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Why is my gas mileage dropping?????

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Offline jeff1997

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Why is my gas mileage dropping?????
« on: February 05, 2008, 01:51:44 PM »
I have a 97 4dr. Sport Sidekick with the 1.8L. It has my 2" spacers and a 3" body lift. I run 31" LTB's. This being said I know I should not expect 25 mpg like I did before the lift. I got 18 right after doing all the work, now it has dropped to about 11 and the power is steadily disappearing as well. Any ideas on what to check first. Here is what it is not:
1) All the diffs and tranny are loose with new oil
2) The brakes are not binding
3) the wheel bearings are all good

This is driving me crazy!!! Any help would be nice.
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1997 4dr. Sidekick Sport 1.8L DOHC
2" coil spacers- I make and sell 1.5" and 2" on e-bay.  Look under seller: hoepkers
3" Masterkit1 body lift
Custom strut spacers
31/11.50/16 Super Swamper LTB's w/1.5" wheel spacers Steel bumpers Custom cold air intake 2" exhaust w/cherry bomb 98 Expedition, 2" lift, 35's, Magnaflow exhaust - BIG BLUE
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Offline beercheck

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Re: Why is my gas mileage dropping?????
« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2008, 02:08:44 PM »
Usual stuff first.  Air filter, tire pressure, parking brake (sorry), vacuum leaks (although you'd probably get a dummy light), spark plugs, anchor.  Definitely make sure all plug wires are in good shape and tight.
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'03 ZR2 2dr Tracker, '02 XL-7 drivetrain and electrcs
XL-7 front coils
1.5" rear coil spacers
Monroe 32316 shocks w/2" extenders
235/70-16 Bridgestone Destination A/Ts on stock XL-7 Alloys RRO Rock Rails (Presently removed, as they rusted to all hell; all the bolts were rusted to dust.  Real nice, RRO...) http://www.trivia-nights.com
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Offline Armour

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Re: Why is my gas mileage dropping?????
« Reply #2 on: February 05, 2008, 02:46:32 PM »
Maybe also check for the fuel filter getting clogged abit!
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89 Sidekick. 33's.  Lincoln Locker,4.24 T Case, 5.13 gears. Warn M8000 winch.
96 Tracker. 39.5's Locked 44's front and rear, 6.5 t case, 4.10 gears.
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Offline jeff1997

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Re: Why is my gas mileage dropping?????
« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2008, 04:01:38 PM »
Tire pressure-Good
Air filter- Good
Parking brake- Yes I did check, Good
Plugs, new, but the "coil packs" on each are the original. I don't want it to be them, $125 each :(
This has the DOHC so it does not have normal plug wires it has coil packs, 1 for each cyl. Could the EGR not be working? If so how do I check it? I've already cleaned out both ports on it. They were clogged. But that was 2 months ago and there is no change, only worse.
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1997 4dr. Sidekick Sport 1.8L DOHC
2" coil spacers- I make and sell 1.5" and 2" on e-bay.  Look under seller: hoepkers
3" Masterkit1 body lift
Custom strut spacers
31/11.50/16 Super Swamper LTB's w/1.5" wheel spacers Steel bumpers Custom cold air intake 2" exhaust w/cherry bomb 98 Expedition, 2" lift, 35's, Magnaflow exhaust - BIG BLUE
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Offline Armour

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Re: Why is my gas mileage dropping?????
« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2008, 05:18:52 PM »
if the egr was plugged or something along those line it should idle lick crap. Shouldn't really effect fuel mileage
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89 Sidekick. 33's.  Lincoln Locker,4.24 T Case, 5.13 gears. Warn M8000 winch.
96 Tracker. 39.5's Locked 44's front and rear, 6.5 t case, 4.10 gears.
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Offline beercheck

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Re: Why is my gas mileage dropping?????
« Reply #5 on: February 05, 2008, 05:52:15 PM »
Try another gas station.
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'03 ZR2 2dr Tracker, '02 XL-7 drivetrain and electrcs
XL-7 front coils
1.5" rear coil spacers
Monroe 32316 shocks w/2" extenders
235/70-16 Bridgestone Destination A/Ts on stock XL-7 Alloys RRO Rock Rails (Presently removed, as they rusted to all hell; all the bolts were rusted to dust.  Real nice, RRO...) http://www.trivia-nights.com
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Offline Jeremiah

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Re: Why is my gas mileage dropping?????
« Reply #6 on: February 05, 2008, 05:55:49 PM »
Could be that your engine is getting worn. 31" tires will stress the motor more, and wear it out faster. Have you done a compression / leak down test?
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'96 4 door kick: 29" Pep-Boys M/T, 1.5" OME
'83 SJ410: 31" Toyo M/T, SPOA, 1.3L
'08 Yamaha FZ6
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Offline jeff1997

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Re: Why is my gas mileage dropping?????
« Reply #7 on: February 05, 2008, 05:58:19 PM »
No I have not done a compression or leak down test. That maybe something to look into.  ;)
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1997 4dr. Sidekick Sport 1.8L DOHC
2" coil spacers- I make and sell 1.5" and 2" on e-bay.  Look under seller: hoepkers
3" Masterkit1 body lift
Custom strut spacers
31/11.50/16 Super Swamper LTB's w/1.5" wheel spacers Steel bumpers Custom cold air intake 2" exhaust w/cherry bomb 98 Expedition, 2" lift, 35's, Magnaflow exhaust - BIG BLUE
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big_kountry21

Re: Why is my gas mileage dropping?????
« Reply #8 on: February 05, 2008, 05:59:58 PM »
mine was real lagged when i got it and i use that engine restore and it helped extremely...... one more dummy proof question... is the check engine light on?
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spyder0069

Re: Why is my gas mileage dropping?????
« Reply #9 on: February 05, 2008, 06:11:34 PM »
Does your vehicle have a cat on it and if so does it seem like its getting overly hot like its plugged?  Also the more tire pressure you have the better gas mileage you will get as there will be less resistance.  I have run my 31" tsl's at 32psi and they are now at 16psi.  I am currently trying things out.  At 32 my sidekick runs with the 31" tires just like it did on 235's.  Rolls really well.  At 16psi you can tell more tread hits the ground and drags and I'd say there is a 5% loss in power or so (noticable).  Of course 16psi doesn't knock me out of the seat at every bump like the 32psi does.  That being said I would say to still have a mechanical issue but altering tire pressure will help.   Also I don't think anyone has mentioned the o2 sensor but if its failing it will throw everything off.

P.S. I put a set of your spacers on my rig this winter and they work great!  Only problem I had was the instructions gave a part number for rear shocks that autozone, napa, and every other place around here couldn't match.  Then I found the info for the crown vik shocks and just asked for those and all was good.  I would add that to your instructions (if its there and I missed it then forgive my stupidity. :^)  I flipped my front struts and reused the original struts.
« Last Edit: February 05, 2008, 06:26:59 PM by spyder0069 »
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spyder0069

Re: Why is my gas mileage dropping?????
« Reply #10 on: February 05, 2008, 06:16:25 PM »
I might be mistaken but I think I saw on autozones window that they can test o2 sensors as well for free.  If so drive your zuk to one and put them to work.

Last night when I finished my header install I did clean my o2 sensor with carb spray and a wire brush and then blew it out with compressed air.  You could try that.  The sensor is enclosed by a shield with small openings and I was just careful to scrub the openings but not poke through them.
« Last Edit: February 05, 2008, 06:19:24 PM by spyder0069 »
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Offline geeeeoooo

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Re: Why is my gas mileage dropping?????
« Reply #11 on: February 05, 2008, 08:06:15 PM »
possibly the weather could be effecting your mileage....i know up here in michigan when its cold...like mid-november thru about march or april i get noticeably less mileage...the colder air is denser entering your engine then expands when subjected to heat in the intake/combustion process....but the denser air is balanced by the computer by dumping more fuel in....also, ive heard that they run a winter mix gasoline during the colder months containing different additives which result in less economy....just a possibility??


o...another thing i just thought of was my mass airflow sensor was buck nasty...so i blasted it off real gently with some throttle body cleaner, and that made an improvement for me
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Offline mrfuelish

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Re: Why is my gas mileage dropping?????
« Reply #12 on: February 05, 2008, 09:18:43 PM »
I live in Oregon were they went to some kind of new gas, I think they added more chemicals and made it more like e-85 it smells real bad and it foams while putting it in the tank it looks like your putting beer in there (my m38a1 has a large gas cap)and my mileage on all of my rigs have gotten worse even with a carb and my plow will not do second gear while plowing anymore so yes the new fuel sucks.
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big_kountry21

Re: Why is my gas mileage dropping?????
« Reply #13 on: February 05, 2008, 09:40:38 PM »
i went to walmart and bought like 3 things of 70% isopropal alcohol that will dry up any water in the tank and act as a octane booster
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Offline jeff1997

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Re: Why is my gas mileage dropping?????
« Reply #14 on: February 06, 2008, 02:56:42 AM »
Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I'll give them some try's. The check engine light was on but went off about 2wks ago  ??? I'll let you guys know what i find out. DUMB ?????- where is the fuel filter?
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1997 4dr. Sidekick Sport 1.8L DOHC
2" coil spacers- I make and sell 1.5" and 2" on e-bay.  Look under seller: hoepkers
3" Masterkit1 body lift
Custom strut spacers
31/11.50/16 Super Swamper LTB's w/1.5" wheel spacers Steel bumpers Custom cold air intake 2" exhaust w/cherry bomb 98 Expedition, 2" lift, 35's, Magnaflow exhaust - BIG BLUE
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