I'm Also Getting Very Low MPGs

[64s 83]

Hi,  I've been watching Kevbo's thread about low mpg's and since I didn't want to hijack his thread, I figured I'd start another.

 

I have a similar issue with a '03 PT Crusier except that the vehicle has not thrown off any codes.   I got it a little over a year ago - I needed a car to drive the kids around in, my wife didn't like me putting them in my van.  It came from an old lady who only drove it to church, literally.  She put on 9600 miles in 7.5 years.  I'm getting around 13-14 mpg with everything stock in it.  I was told that 17-18 is bad with that car, so 13-14 floors me, and I only get that driving very conservatively.  My wife tends to have a heavier foot (jack rabbit starts) and when she drives, the mileage drops even lower.   Now that spring is arriving, I'd like to tinker with it but really don't have a logical place to start.  Any ideas???

[kaiser 100]

i bet due to the low mileage and little bit of driving the old gal drove it's got carbon issues.

what i do with all new to me cars is fill it with high test and then beat the snot out of it, try that, if you see any improvement at all then use seafoam in the gas.

seafoam is a good idea anyway.

 

you could also have the car scanned by a dealer, their tool will show if there were any "soft" codes, codes that will not show up on a generic scanner. i know we run into that all the time with vw's.

soft codes are just "faults" stored by the system, they are soft because they didn't set off the engine light.

 

mass air flow sensors, pre and post cat o2 sensors, map sensors, egt sensors can all cause low mpg.

 

have you done a tune up? plugs, filters (air and fuel)? those can all cause the same thing.

 

i have zero experience with chrysler/mopar, but these are just some common things that can effect mpg. hows the performance, does it get up and go or does it seem sluggish?

[Don1977 604]

No more miles that it had the oil was only changed 2 or 3 times if that. I would change the oil and add a quart of Marvel Mystery oil to help clean out the crank case. I would also use something to clean the injectors. I have taken the breather hose loose and sprayed carburetor cleaner in the intake to clean the airflow sensor on my van. I would try a few thing like that first the car really hasn't been broken in.

[kaiser 100]

if you feel it hasn't been broken in then go romp on it, get her all hot and bothered.

when you do it pay attention to the exhaust, if a black cloud blows out it's carbon.

 

cars hate to live the way the little old ladies drive them, they never truly heat up and carbon builds up.

 

look into the seafoam treatment. spraying cleaner at the maf really won't do anything, they are shielded, you should really take them out to clean them.

[Trouty56 567]

This may be something that just affected me...but my brakes were worn pretty good.  I just replaced the rotors and linings on the front.  I replaced the tins and springs too...2004 Ford F-150 front brakes....  Mileage went from 13.2 to high 15's immediately.  Must have had some friction going on maybe from the weathered tins the linings ride in or the outstretched calipers were not releasing properly.  This is what I was getting a couple years ago.  I thought it was the ethanol in the gas.

[64s 83]

I did change the oil after I took it to Chicago and back (BTW the highway mileage was 26), but did not add any additives.  I know the guy whose sister owned the car and he owns a tire shop which does general repairs.  He said he did all maintenance for her.  I'll se him next week, so I'll ask him specifically what he did and go from there. 

 

Thanks for the suggestions,  maybe I'll take her out and drive her hard for a few tanks full of gas - in addition to the other ideas.

[kaiser 100]

highway mileage of 26 isn't too bad for that car. it's not very aerodynamic and is built more like a small suv, should still be closer to 30.

 

banging around town is where milage is horrible for most cars.

 

my 09 honda element with a 2.4l 4banger only gets 25 hwy, 18-20 town. and it's in tip top shape.

[64s 83]

I was pleasantly surprised with 26 highway given its built like a brick and technically classified as a van.  Its the around town mileage that bothers me.  I normally drive my '01 E150 and it gets 13-14 with the 4.6,   I would think the Cruiser would do at least 16-17 but more likely 18-20.

[Jim_M 179]

My wife had an 03 PT Cruiser. We bought it with 4,000 miles on it, a salesman at the dealership had been driving it. The best we ever got out of it was 27 on the highway, round trip from Indiana to Florida. I think the best we ever got in everyday driving was 16 and we drove it consevativly. I asked everyone I saw that was driving a PT and nobody was doing any better than we were. We didn't keep it long.

[6wheeler 669]

George, all of the Chryslers I have owned never had great gas economy. I've had several Caravans and even a Dodge Neon. I am on my second Dakota now and it has the 318 in it and 12 to14 mpg is about the best I can get in town. It does get closer to 20 mpg on the highway though. The Caravans did about 14 in town and around 25 on the highway. The Neon was best at around 18 in town and close to 30 on the highway. They have all had great get up and go and good power when needed. So, I always kind of figured that was the trade off. Good Luck with the Cruiser.

[64s 83]

Most people (and the web) I talked to were ranging between 16 and 20.  I'd be happy with 16, but I guess there might not be an answer.  I'll mess with it a bit and see what happens.  I only drive it once or twice a week since its a spare, but I would drive it more if the mileage was better.  Given the Neon got 18, I would think the Cruiser would be close since its built on the Neon platform - oh well!

[Jim_M 179]

It might get a little better once it gets more miles on it, but it will never be great. You have to bear in mind it's heavier than a neon but still has the same amount of power to work with.

[KC9KAS 4,744]

The PT Cruiser is just a different body on a NEON.

Wife had a Neon and her mileage was near what you are saying. She traded it for a Camry and got 30 MPG or so. The Toyota had 180K, so she traded for a Hyundi and it only gets 27 MPG at best.

[squonk 43,628]

Not sure about the current versions but in the mid nineties to mid 2000's chrysler products were known for lazy O2 sensors. Not enough to turn a light on but enough for crappy mileage.