Help!!!! Fuel Consumption Is Too Much Even For A Chevy!!!

[NIQUE]

Ok...i Have A 1989 Caprice Classic. Recently Had A Complete Tune Up:wireset, Plugs, Cap, Rotor And A Oil Change. Even Got A New Catalytic Converter. I Am Going Through Entirely Too Much Damn Gas!!! I Have To Put At Least 10 Dollars A Day Or Else I'm Running On Fumes. I Dont Smell Any Gas Or See Any Visible Leaks. Please Give Me Some Suggestions!!!!

[CD Smalley]

What has been your actual MPG? Have you filled it and checked the MPG. Give us that figure and we might be able to tell you if it's at least normal...

I get about 13-15 in city up to 20mpg on the highway, usually closer to 18mpg.

[comp]

i agree , you also need to look at how you drive, late brake, quick start
all city ,stop and go etc..

[NIQUE]

well i usually just go from home to school, nothing unusual. City and expressway driving. I think my actual mpg now is about 10-15.

[NIQUE]

Okay Everybody Wants To Just Look, And I Appreciate It...but Can I Get Some Replies???

[CD Smalley]

How about answering our questions to you? You need to give us ACTUAL calculated figures for MPG.

"I think my actual mpg now is about 10-15."

Thinking and knowing are two different things. Do we have to spell out just how to check your mpg?

[HLandin]

Fuel mileage also has a lot to do with your driving style and engine size. Do you like to coast or race down the highway? Do you gradually take off at lights or burn rubber? Is your engine a 305 or 350? If it is a 350, then 10-15mpg is right within the range of city driving, especially if it is stop and go traffic.

Check out the following link for projected gas mileage: http://www.9c1.com/brochures/1989/89_9c1.pdf
Its a about page 3 in document, with the engine specs.

[NIQUE]

Originally Posted by CD Smalley

How about answering our questions to you? You need to give us ACTUAL calculated figures for MPG.

"I think my actual mpg now is about 10-15."

Thinking and knowing are two different things. Do we have to spell out just how to check your mpg?

Hmmm, arent we a little pushy?? The MPG is between 10-15.

[NIQUE]

I have a 305 V8 in it, I dont burn rubber or stop and go erratically or race.

[CD Smalley]

Originally Posted by NIQUE

Hmmm, arent we a little pushy?? The MPG is between 10-15.

On the contrary, I'm trying to help by getting more specific facts out of you. The MPG is between 10-15 is too vague. 15 MPG would be perfectly acceptable for this car in city driving. 10 MPG would not.

Pushy would be :

Originally Posted by NIQUE

Okay Everybody Wants To Just Look, And I Appreciate It...but Can I Get Some Replies???

You want answers but are unable or unwilling to provide any information to help us help you. Can you give us the actual MPG you are getting out of a tankful? More than one set would really help.

Driving habits do of course play into this. So does weather. I find I get much worse mileage during the winter. Probably colder denser air and the ECM compensates with more fuel. With my car I think I could get it down to 10MPG, but I would have to be running at WOT most of the time to do.

[misfit2004]

Im running an '89 305 as well.Let me ask;is your fuel delivery system throttle body or carb?Just curious.Anyway,right now I am singing the praises of upgrading the combustion process.Basically,you want a hotter spark and better airflow.This means spending money.The reason I mention this to you,is that with your combustion running 50% or so more efficiently than stock,you get MUCH better fuel economy,and more power.Look into getting a performance ignition coil,ignition control module,cap and rotor,and some 8.8mm wires.The HEI ignition system is awsome to begin with,and this stuff will really let it put out.Next get a K&N air filter.More airflow wont hurt a bit.These are also some beggining mods to wake up the 305 5.0,which is a decent motor when treated well.
Now,do you have any idea what kind of tranny you have?If its a turbohydra 200 or 700 overdrive you will have a little D with a circle around it as well as your D for drive.This means you have 4 gears,the overdrive which is the fourth being the gear for freeway cruising.Just set your shifter on that circled D whenever you wanna go forward,around 45 mph the computer will lock up your tourque converter and put you in overdrive,or 4th gear.Much better fuel economy at freeway speeds.
Of course,as stated before by someone else in this post,you need to get a measurement on your MPG thats as accurate as possible.That would be where I would start my troubleshoot.If youre getting really bad MPG within stock specs,than you need to fix the problem before modifying for better performance.But if youre getting stock MPG,and youre not happy with it,the 250 to 300 bones spent on the mods I mentioned will pay for itself when you save 400 to 500 on gas in the first year.Just make sure to burn high octane juice after you mod.

[kenwood guy]

check you air filters as well