Burning Gas?

:2cents: I HAVE A GENERAL QUESTION. MY 99 DURANGO SEEMS TO BE BURNING GAS (I DONT KNOW IF ITS THE RIGHT TERM OR NOT) BUT IVE NOTICED THAT IN THE EXAUST PIPES, THE SMELL OF GAS IS STRONGER NOW. I HAVE DUAL EXAUST PIPES AND THEY'RE ALL COVERED IN THIS BLACK DUST. THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN BEFORE. ANYBODY HAS ANY IDEA WHY? OIL MAYBE?

x3mtm,

Sounds like you burning a RICH mixture. How's you gas mileage? If what I'm saying is true then your gas mileage must be pretty lousey.

When was your last tune-up?:screwy:
when did you change the AIR FILTER?
Have you ever changed your 02 sensors?
Maybe you have a bad tank of gas?
Are you consuming any oil?

Investigate any of these areas as I'm sure it has to be one or more of these conditions. First I'd check into your mileage first for the first possible sign.

rimfire,22

im going to tune it up, hopefully this weekend. changed my air filter about 2 yrs ago, might have to do that again.oil consumption is the same, no bad gas tank, i think. my mileage is in the 96,000 - what are the 02 sensors? what is a rich mixture?

im going to tune it up, hopefully this weekend. changed my air filter about 2 yrs ago, might have to do that again.oil consumption is the same, no bad gas tank, i think. my mileage is in the 96,000 - what are the 02 sensors? what is a rich mixture?


x3mtm,

You know since you didn't changed the air filter some time ago that could be your problem. A cloged filter could cause the mixture to run rich.

Rich air mixture is the difference between air and gasoline before it's ignited in the combustion chamber. If the air/gasoline ratio is off it can burn rich. Look at your ehaust pipe. If it's really sooty black then it's running rich.

02 sensors are items that monitor your engines performance during your driving. I believe you have 4 of them just as I do in my Durango. I fairly recently had one of them changed as it went sour. Boy was it expensive. Easy $300 bucks for just one.

Anyway if you haven't tuned your "D" for a good while then you might be ready for one. A major tune is every 60,000 miles. For myself I'm due for my 60 soon. Check your manual for the proper service interval and get the filter changed right away. If it is the filter then I'd recheck your mileage (take a long trip) and see if you can get about 18.0 or so in the city (average) and highway about 21.2 (average). Your figures might be different due to your altitude and environment. If you can match mine then your doing fine.

Good luck to ya.

rimfire,22:grinyes:

hey , i checked the air filter, it looks dirty, but not enought to clogged it up, i think. i was changing spark plugs and wires, and i saw that one of the connectors on the distributor cap had this white stuff on it, like when the battery is old and it has this white residue on it, it had it inside the wire as well.....do you think is probably that?

x3mtm,

I am surprised you found corrosion under the connectors. How often do your drive the Durango? In either case take it to the dealership and get a full scale "tune-up" They will put everything back into specs for you. The air flter still might be dirty so be safe and swap it out with another one.

After you get it back check the tire pressure carefully by looking on your recommended PSI from the label off your drivers door. Take it on a good drive and measure your gas mileage. Be careful not too be heavy footed.

Personally I can get about 18.2 average off my overhead computer in the city AND 21.2 MPG on the highway using ARCO gasoline (regular). If you can get about the same then your fine.

rimfire22

This Fully Scale Tune Up (is That What Is Called?) Do You Have Any Idea How Much That Goes For? Also, I Have 20" Rims On It, So I Dont Know Is The Psi On The Door Would Help, You Know?

This Fully Scale Tune Up (is That What Is Called?) Do You Have Any Idea How Much That Goes For? Also, I Have 20" Rims On It, So I Dont Know Is The Psi On The Door Would Help, You Know?


x3mtm,

It would be considered either a 30 or 60K service. They do everything so be prepared. let me look at my records tonight and I'll get back to you tomorrow.

So you have those 20" inchers huh? Well my Durango wants 35 in the front and 41 in the back BUT because you have those 20's I can't give you and hints. Perhaps someone else can interject some info for you on that issue. MAYBE part of your problems those big tires and wheels contribute some to your lousey gas mileage. MAYBE. Don't let me tick you off. I'm just wondering.

rimfire,22

x3mtm,

OK my service records indicate a full fledged tune-up will cost you in the high $800 buck range. That's good info cuz I'm due pretty soon for the 60K anyway so in my mind I'll be prepared.

Good luck,

rimfire,22

$$800....whoa!!! talk about a big tune up.........i really need to get ready for this......as far as the rims, i've noticed this problem recently, and i've had the rims for more than a year now.......like you said, it might be a tune up thing.

$$800....whoa!!! talk about a big tune up.........i really need to get ready for this......as far as the rims, i've noticed this problem recently, and i've had the rims for more than a year now.......like you said, it might be a tune up thing.

x3mtm,

Yeah I know it NOT cheap. Be aware that it might cost you less in your region. Heck everything cost more here in California than any place in the nation. Even the gas price came down a bit and it starting to feel a bit better although it should be far less by all rights.

Take your time and plan your service. Once done check your mileage again and see if your mileage increases. My guess is that you will.

rimfire,22