Why does my Saturn that's supposed to average 29.5 mpg only get 19.8?

Question

Engine has been tuned, tires properly inflated, just had oil change, no jackrabbit starts, use a/c as little as possible. I'm getting almost 10 mpg less than others, and I've done the correct math: 244 miles, 12.3 gallons - topped off both times and reset tripmeter to zero. Any ideas? Air filter at most probably can account for one to two mpg right?

Answer 1

Maybe your trip meter is off?

Always buying gas at same place? Maybe they're watering down the gas?

Answer 2

It might just be an old car. Try adding an injection cleaner to the gas. Fill up the car after that with high quality fuel and you should see an improvement. Also, you are probably getting less than your ideal mpg because of your driving style. Do you drive a lot in the city? Most mpg estimates are for highway driving. Also, breaking a lot to maintain a specific speed causes your fuel consumption to go up because you then have to accelerate again. Try using the cruise control.

Answer 3

Weight either passengers or luggage? Is that mileage only on the highway? EPA estimates are on the dynometer simulated driving conditions. Air filters clean and correct oil levels in engine and transmission. Smoothness getting to speed quickly to let back on the throttle and glide along in high gear. My 400+ horsepower GTO six speed rated at 23 MPG with me behind the wheel at 72 mph gets 25 mpg. So you really needed a 6.0 liter V-8. But only 13.5 in town.

Answer 4

Where do you get the 29.5 average? If that's what the window sticker says then best of luck ever reaching that number. It's tested in "ideal" conditions on a car treadmill someplace and is only an estimate. Also if you spend a lot of time in traffic, have extra stuff in the car or trunk, accelerate too fast, etc that will make your mileage go down in a hurry because you burn fuel without going anywhere. Also highway and city mileage are quite different. I drive mostly open highway everyday about 80mph and my 2000 2.2: cavalier gets about 27 mpg on average.

Answer 5

Hmmm, is the 29.5 the EPA estimate? EPA estimates are usually about 7 or 8 mpg higher that the actual you could expect. The Saturn I used to own (94 sc1) still got almost 40 highway with the air when I sold it last spring...but only if I used Shell gas. Maybe need fuel injector cleaner?

Sorry not all that helpful...

Answer 6

engine has to breath, aiar filter can account for a lot, cadalytic converter could be clogging also, not letting engine breath out the exhaust. Those average mpg numbers are also for sea level, are you living at alltitude? Higher you are the less air there is.

Answer 7

Replace the spark plugs and spark plug wires. Those often cause inefficiency. When was the last time your air filter was changed? A clean air filter is soooo important for good gas mileage. Change your oil, too, just for the hell of it.

But DEFINITELY change your spark plugs and wires and air filters. You'll notice a difference!

Answer 8

How old is your car? The catalytic converter may be clogged, You o2 sensors may be bad. They tell you computer how much gas to deliver,And driving habits definitely could be the problem,Altitude also. My friend has a Dodge durango. His visual reading of average fuel mileage when he drives it is about 13mpg. When I drive it it changes to 19mpg. So you may want to change your driving habits too.
Alot of the other answers are right too

Answer 9

The X factor when talking about mileage in vehicles is driving habits.
To learn more about how you can save fuel by making some small changes to your driving habits, visit

http://eartheasy.com/live_fuel_efficient_driving.htm
or just google "fuel efficient driving"

Answer 10

As already mentioned, spark plugs, wires, oil change, gasoline. additives, airfilter. Oh by the way changing the fuel filter won't hurt either.