1990 Sr5 Corolla Bad Fuel Consumption

[pumped101]

Hi, I recently purchased an old 1990 corolla SR5. It had no service history and was running like a dog when i got it, really bad idle, and gutless and guzzling the petrol. I took it in for a major service, they tuned it up, changed the air filter, oil filter, fuel filter and spark plugs. The mechanic said that he doesn't think the fuel pump had ever been changed. The car runs well now and idles properly and drives with a lot more power. However it is still guzzling petrol, I get about 370-380 k's from a full tank, and that's if i run it dry. The car is fuel injected 4 cylinder 1.6, my mates corolla which is older than mine gets over 500 k's to the tank and he has a carburetor. The mechanic mentioned that my fuel injectors looked a bit clogged up and suggested i have them cleaned, he said i will get better mileage out of it that way. Is this true? Would i see a big difference if i had this done? Is there anything else that can be done to increase the mileage, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :dance:

[MYSTIK[RL]]

by getting the injectors cleaned will see a better idle

 

i would checking and changing the O2 sensor, probably because it has never been changed since the vehicle was manufactured

[KE30_KE35_KE55]

how many km has the motor done?

Do a compression test, check tyres pressures, wheels for Resistance eg a tight wheel bearing or brake dragging, and a good tune up.

[pumped101]

The car has only done 140, 000 k's. So do you think changing the O2 sensor would show a good increase in mileage? Is the O2 sensor hard to change yourself? In regards to the wheels and brakes, I had a mechanic check over them, I had the brakes changed and one of the ball joints was loose so it was tightened, so i don't think there are any problems there.

 

When I took the car in, I asked for a major service, the mechanic said he will take a look at it and tell me anything that needs to be done to it. Everything that i mentioned above including the fuel injectors was suggested by the mechanic. (if that helps anyone get a better idea of what could be the problem?)

[MYSTIK[RL]]

The car has only done 140, 000 k's. So do you think changing the O2 sensor would show a good increase in mileage? Is the O2 sensor hard to change yourself? In regards to the wheels and brakes, I had a mechanic check over them, I had the brakes changed and one of the ball joints was loose so it was tightened, so i don't think there are any problems there.

 

When I took the car in, I asked for a major service, the mechanic said he will take a look at it and tell me anything that needs to be done to it. Everything that i mentioned above including the fuel injectors was suggested by the mechanic. (if that helps anyone get a better idea of what could be the problem?)

 

yep changing the O2 sensor helps, stuffed O2 sensor = bad economy, because its running rich

 

not overly hard, it will either be 2 nuts and the sensor comes out of the exhaust, or it maybe the type that screws into the exhaust.

Edited February 28, 2009 by MYSTIK