not the greatest gas mileage

[jlmcghan]

my '99 alero has approx 65,000 miles, gas milage to me should be better, can i change out the fuel filter myself? or should i drop off at dealership? i'm a woman and am willing to do these things.

have their been any re-calls on alero's , after reading this web site, it looks like aleros are problems.

[demanufactured]

I also have a 99 and I wondered the same thing about my milage when I bought it. The city milage is pretty bad, but I find its a lot better on the highway. Not that this really helps you, but you're not alone. I haven't had many problems with my alero...but it has just cut out on me twice while driving.

[JTrujillo86]

Get the fuel induction service done at any GM Goodwrench service dealer. They clean all of your injectors as well as the throttle body. If you haven't changed the fuel filter, you should get that done as well. Also check your air filter and PCV valve. Both of those are extreamly cheap and easy to replace. Eventhough GM doesn't recommend changing the plugs and wires on thier engines until 100K miles, I would still do it before 70K miles. All of these on their own will only likely give you little MPG improvement, but together, you should see a decent hike.

Also, driving habits to hinder MPG. Try braking lightly and don't accelerate too hard.

Jeremy

[jr6078]

I also have a 99 Alero purchased within the last 2 months or so. What engine do you have, the 6 or 4 cylinder? What kind of mileage are you getting? I have the 6 cylinder and I'm getting between 24 and 26 mpg with a combination of city and highway driving. I feel like that's reasonable for a car with a V-6 and 85,000 miles.

As for the recall issue, no recalls have ever been issued against the Alero, although I have seen some posts by people with some real safety concerns. In order for a recall to be issued, the problem has to be fairly widespread or has to be nearly certain to happen on all similar vehicles at some point. The Alero is no different than any other car, they all have issues, and you'll find that a large number of people have similar issues with each type of car. Some cars have more issues, some have fewer. I've found that this forum is a good place to come to research some of the issues I've had.

Good luck with your new car.

[breddell05]

I have a 99 2.4 with 83,700 I am getting about 20 City 25 highway. Time for service on the fuel system O2 sensor, plugs and wires. I'm thinking about going ahead and changing transmission fluid and filter around 85,000.

[JTrujillo86]

When I was talking about the increase in MPG, I was talking about my experience with the 3.4L 12V engine. It may help those of you with the 2.4L 16V engine, but I have seen and heard many people with the 2.4 engine say that their MPG is horrible no matter what they do, especailly on ones with 75K+ miles. I have also heard people say that city driving gets better MPG than highway with the 2.4's...how that's possible I have no idea, but like I said, I have heard it from many people.

BTW, I only know how to do the PVC valve replacement on the 3.4 V6. I don't think that the 2.4's have a removable valve, I believe it's built in.

As for my 3.4 V6, she's great on MPG. I make the frequent trips between Ft. Collins and Denver, always doing 80+. I ususally see MPG at about 27 when I drive like that and 23-24-ish in the city. If I tone down my driving and do about 65-70 on the interstate, I can get nearly 30MPG. Don't forget that oil and filter condition do have an effect on MPG. I NEVER go by the oil life monitor on my car. I use Mobil 1 full sythentic 5W-30 and a genuine GM filter on my car. I never go more than 4K miles without changing my oil. Also back at 30K miles, I had the transmission fluid flushed and the filter replaced. I went to Aamco (awesome place w/great prices) and had it all done for $129. I was even able to request that Valvoline ATF was used -- they went out and got the ATF special for me at no extra cost, eventhough it cost them more than what they usually use. The dealer wanted $150 just for the complete flush, and told me that the Alero's use "special wire filters in the transmission", and the filter itself was going to be $250...BS!!!!!

In response to the first post, there has been a recall for the hazard switch on the early Aleros...99 and 00 model years I believe. When you take your car to the dearler, have them check any open recalls on your vehicle. I don't think it effected all Aleros in those model years though.

Jeremy

[breddell05]

I only use Mobile One Full Synthetic 5W-30 and I do all of my own oil changes. I think Mobile One is the best oil to use in my car it can go 5-6K but I never let it go past 4,500. I am getting ready to do a transmission fluid flush and filter. Aamco sounds like they have great prices. As far as Fuel MPG's I hope I will be able to boost it back up to what it was at 50,000 Miles.

[DamienZ28]

I just figured mine out last night... I have a 99 3.4 and I got 19.2 mpg!!! I was expecting atleast 22 like our montana gets with the same engine!!! Oh well I do drive it hard and alot of city driving lately.

[rrousou]

My 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GT 3800 V-6 gets 27 city 36 highway

[lincoln_mark_8]

I was getting 16 city and 22 hwy with my 99 gts with 3.4L I installed a cold air intake and now get 20 city and 27 hwy with it. A big difference.

[Kouga]

hmm we are measuring it in liter per 100 km. i made a formula to calculate it.

236,17 / (your mileage) = y liter per 100km
and vice versa
236,17 / (liter / 100km) = y MPG

my car (3400 alero) takes from 12 liter/100km city up to 16 liter/100km full speed on the autobahn around 200 km/h (125 mph)

in MPG: city=20 and autobahn=14,7
with 95 oktane gasoline

The car is not modificated in any way. yet

i want a dhc reprogram in the future, but first is a k/n CAI for the sound

[JTrujillo86]

I have to be honest...your car looks funky without the lights on the trunk...

Anyway, I (once again) got back from a snowboarding trip to Copper Mountain, Colorado. I gassed up in Fort Collins, CO, drove about 50-60 miles to Denver, ran around in Denver, went to Copper Mtn, and back to Denver....all together it was about a 315 mile trip. I got 29.5 MPG! That is awesome considering I was driving up to the mountains in 3rd gear and coming back down in 3rd gear. I used 3rd to lessen the shifting on the way up, and to lessen the braking on the way down from the mountians. By the way, I have a 2002 Alero GL1 V6 with just over 42K miles now.

I truly believe that good car care makes a crapload of a difference. My friend has a two door 2001 V6 (less weight than mine) with 50K miles and has never seen more than 25 MPG and she takes care of her car like crap. Believe it or not, a little trip to the car wash can improve MPG as well.

Jeremy

[Rivyndel]

My gas mileage is pretty good IMHO. 2001 3.4v6 58,000 miles. I average 25mpg city and got 30mpg my last highway trip.

[Kouga]

funny? cruel x.X

[JTrujillo86]

Oh calm down...I'm just not used to seeing the Alero's like that.

Jeremy