Okay i read a post on milage, and i think something is wrong with mine. I have a 98 escort sedan with the 2.0 sohc motor and a 5sp man. trans. I avg. bet. 28-33 on mostly highway driving. Is something wrong? it idles a little diff. but i chngd plugs 10,000mi, ago and wires again 2,000 mis ago. It has 146,000miles on it

I think you should be getting more than 28-33 on the highway. I have a 97 SOHC 2.0 and it gets 40 mpg on the highway. If the oxygen sensor hasn't been changed it's time to do that. There are 2 sensors, One is before the cat and the other is after it. Change the one before it in the exhaust manifold. Put 35 lbs air in your tires. Avoid fast starts and acceleration up hills. btw I get 28-33 in town with the A/C on. It really pulls it down.

Check air filter, fuel filter. Have you done any fuel system maintance, i.e. injector flush? How about induction maintance, cleaning MAF running engine decarb through your engine, like sea foam.

Thanks for the reply Any idea how much o2 sensors would cost?

Injector flush? like the stuff you put in when u fill up?
Would the maf help the idle
What/Where would i find "sea foam"
A/f, and F/F are both new.
P.S. I live on gravel!!!! but only about 1/3 of a mile

I don't think your mileage is not that bad for "mostly" highway driving.

However, if you really want to check things out: Remove your intake manifold ... and inspect everything in porcess. It's a bit of work, including dropping the coolant level, but not that bad. A good opportunity to clean/inspect a number of important items ... and look for leaks.

I once found an original intake manifold gasket that had gaps (vacuum leaks) in it. Just a defective part.

Thanks for the reply Any idea how much o2 sensors would cost?

02 sensors are about $60

for both or one?
Would it be ok to get them from a boneyard?

02 sensors is something I would not reccomend from a yard but if money s tight you can try it, just look for the newest car with least amount of mileage out there-If a u-pull it type of yard.

I don't think your mileage is not that bad for "mostly" highway driving.

However, if you really want to check things out: Remove your intake manifold ... and inspect everything in porcess. It's a bit of work, including dropping the coolant level, but not that bad. A good opportunity to clean/inspect a number of important items ... and look for leaks.

I once found an original intake manifold gasket that had gaps (vacuum leaks) in it. Just a defective part.

Taking apart an intake manifold for this particular symptom I do not reccomend at all there isn't a whole lot that you can really do from doing that as far as regular maintance goes.

for both or one?
Would it be ok to get them from a boneyard?

They are $60.00 for one.

Try some throttle body cleaner i have a 97 escort lx i got about another 3 MPG