ok, I should have just bought an suv.
- Thread starter BANANA
- Start date
- :
- 92 & 16 Meyatas
unless you have someone stealing it right from the tank....i'd say no on the stealing...are you blowing a lot of black smoke? 220 miles on a tank is really bad and almost unexplainable?(scratch) what's that like 14-15 mpg?
nope no black smoke.
this is VERY perplexing. mechanic ran a full diagnostic on her when i bought her two months ago. engine and fuel systems checked out FINE.
im seriously considering a seized caliper after going over the R/O from my last shop visit. turns out they didn't do more than rotate the tires and check the pads, even tho i asked them to inspect the whole thing ( since i noticed rust on my rears)
is there an easy way to check without getting the car back on the lift?
this is VERY perplexing. mechanic ran a full diagnostic on her when i bought her two months ago. engine and fuel systems checked out FINE.
im seriously considering a seized caliper after going over the R/O from my last shop visit. turns out they didn't do more than rotate the tires and check the pads, even tho i asked them to inspect the whole thing ( since i noticed rust on my rears)
is there an easy way to check without getting the car back on the lift?
To test for a dragging brake - after a good run - carefully feel the wheel and then the caliper - they should all be the same temp and at least warm - but not HOT.
The alignment could still be off - with the wheels straight measure the leading edge and trailing edge distances to see if they are near equal - or just look from underneath from the front - they would have to be pretty far off. Abnormal tire wear?
The alignment could still be off - with the wheels straight measure the leading edge and trailing edge distances to see if they are near equal - or just look from underneath from the front - they would have to be pretty far off. Abnormal tire wear?
Many shops will also check your alignment for free - it's when they have to adjust it that they charge you. Just be sure you find an honest shop that's not gonna lie and tell you your alignment's off
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- 03.5 YLW MSP
Most shops will show you the print out and let you watch them check it so you can see the display on the screen standing outside the bay.
Yeah, you're probably right. I have a lifetime alignment agreement on my car from Tires Plus, so I'm not really worried about it. I could take it in there every day for the next 10 years and tell them to realign it for free, if I wanted to! (cabpatch)
so quick update!
my last tank i reduced my idle time to the minimum, maybe one minute TOPS to warm up. I also took her out for a few spirited drives. I noticed a two mpg gain, bringing me to around 20 mpg. still lower, but better.
Another thing, and I feel like a total noob because of this-
My Boyfriend scored me some "really nice" spark plugs from a hook up at kragen, and so im like hey why not, and i installed them.
Turns out i still had the origional spark plugs in the car. Turns out my mechanic didn't even bother checking them out when he looked over the car before i bought it.
the closest gap to manufacturers specs was .056 and the WORST... was a whopping .067
yikes. ><
anyone elese think that is my culprit?(squinty)
my last tank i reduced my idle time to the minimum, maybe one minute TOPS to warm up. I also took her out for a few spirited drives. I noticed a two mpg gain, bringing me to around 20 mpg. still lower, but better.
Another thing, and I feel like a total noob because of this-
My Boyfriend scored me some "really nice" spark plugs from a hook up at kragen, and so im like hey why not, and i installed them.
Turns out i still had the origional spark plugs in the car. Turns out my mechanic didn't even bother checking them out when he looked over the car before i bought it.
the closest gap to manufacturers specs was .056 and the WORST... was a whopping .067
yikes. ><
anyone elese think that is my culprit?(squinty)
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Ummm...yes
HelionTBone
Member
- :
- 2003 Mazda Proteg5
Hopefully that will produce better results, but you're just not going to get what you are looking for. I've learned that there is a significant difference between the auto and manual - more of a difference than in other makes.
I bought my mp5 after reading how people got 35+ mpgs. I knew that was probably the manual but I figured I could get 30 in an auto. I consistently get in the 23.5 - 25.5 range (I have an app that tracks it on my iPod Touch).
Hopefully your fixes will get you there, but I doubt you'll see any better as much of my driving is highway - around 55-60. When I hit the freeway I probably drive too fast to expect good fuel economy
For me, the pros outweigh the cons. I love the car - and that's good enough for me!
I bought my mp5 after reading how people got 35+ mpgs. I knew that was probably the manual but I figured I could get 30 in an auto. I consistently get in the 23.5 - 25.5 range (I have an app that tracks it on my iPod Touch).
Hopefully your fixes will get you there, but I doubt you'll see any better as much of my driving is highway - around 55-60. When I hit the freeway I probably drive too fast to expect good fuel economy
For me, the pros outweigh the cons. I love the car - and that's good enough for me!
Wagonbacker9
Member
- :
- 2004 'Hoe
those gaps are DOUBLE factory spec.... they can't be original unless both sides of the plug were just worn that horribly... in any case, oh my god... if changing those doesn't help... NOTHING will.
I'm amazed you haven't plugged your cat yet.
VehiCalc is GREAT! 28.04 MPG over the last 6500 miles, and that was with a plugged EGR... hope it comes up a bit now.
I'm amazed you haven't plugged your cat yet.
VehiCalc is GREAT! 28.04 MPG over the last 6500 miles, and that was with a plugged EGR... hope it comes up a bit now.
HelionTBone
Member
- :
- 2003 Mazda Proteg5
Ah, not familiar with that one. I use Gas Buddy and it covers all aspects of maintenance as well. I can set it up to remind me of various services that need to be done and it uses the mileage from the gas entries to determine when to do so. I imagine VehiCalc is similar?
I know this is a Mazda forum, but if you haven't checked out iPhone / iPod Touch you gotta sometime.
Wagonbacker9
Member
- :
- 2004 'Hoe
similar yes, minus the reminders.
But the speedometer can be wrong from the factory. Mine was off by 3% and running 205/50 made it spot on. Verified by GPS.
Also, this tire size is not a problem. I've gotten as much as 34 mpg with 205/50.
Wagonbacker9
Member
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- 2004 'Hoe
mine reads dead on by GPS on factory size tires in the middle of their useful life.
But you have a different car, and with 215/45/17 to boot. Am I right? Your tire size is larger in diameter than 195/50/16 that is stock on Protege5.
Wagonbacker9
Member
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- 2004 'Hoe
the calibration is different yes, I was just providing an anecdote to support your point.
Also, I didn't say it clearly, but tire wear level will effect the speedo calibration.
Also, I didn't say it clearly, but tire wear level will effect the speedo calibration.
