2001 GA SE Auto 2.4L Gas Mileage?

[oldmike]

Hi Everyone,
Just purchased a 01 2.4L auto with 64K miles. I'm still on first tank of gas but it's going pretty fast, so I expect 20 mpg AT BEST. I'm used to driving a 2L auto Cavalier and getting GOOD mileage. What would be typical for the 2.4? I'm an older fellow who babies his cars and doesn't drive hard at all. All the miles so far have been in town.
Thanks
Mike

[Hoags]

Don't forget to take into consideration the tank size, I believe that the tank in your car is about 13 gal. If you had a larger tank in your old car and a little better milage the gas would seem to last longer. I just went through this with my wife, She drives my 96 GAGT which gets decent milage but the last couple of days she was driving my XL-7 which get about 17mpg, the thing is the tank size is about the same so getting in the 20's in the GA at 13 gal in the tank and getting in the teens on a 13 gal tank, the gas naturally lasts longet in the GA.

You may want to check the plugs and filters if you think the milage should be a little better. I know the plugs are supposed to be long life but depending on the previous owners driving habits and maintainence practices it may need to have some of the consumables replaced.

[nova_gh]

my 99 2.4L GA SE on a hot summer day will get 29mpg. here lately in the cold of winter, i'm pushing around 25. Mostly highway. When i lived in town, roughly 25 in the summer, 20-21 in the winter. Don't think i've ever gotten anything less then 20, my best has 32.

[oldmike]

Thanks for the fast answers guys. As I said, I just bought the car from an individual and as cold as it has been, I haven't spent any time under the hood. I feel like the kid didn't change oil or check filters or do much maintenance at all. If we get any warmth at all after Christmas, I'm going to start checking all the items that could pull the mileage down.
Thanks again,
Mike

[xeroinfinity]

Also oldmike , dirty oil will decrease mpg. I bet you change that and an air filter and your mpg will increase.
I get killer mpg on my V6, but I hav the 12-13 gal tank, as Hoags mentioned before. Keep it warm out there Oldmike.

[Werm9]

i have a 01' and i get 20mpg during winter also with the same engine. im really frustrated because i went from 29mpg during summer to 20mpg in winter.

[Hoags]

Werm9, what are you doing differently? do you let the car sit and idle to get warm in the mornings, are you using the A/C in the summer if not when you use the windshield defroster it does kick the A/C clutch/compressor which will cut the fuel economy, also if the wheels are spinning more the higher RPMs are gonna use the gas even though your not getting anywhere. Even the extra weight of the snow on the car (if parked outside and not cleaned off ) will cut milage, don't forget just the fact that everything is cold and not running as freely IE: cold tires stiffer suspention and so on will effect the preformance, I know that I run slower in the cold, and it does take more coffee to get me moving on a cold morning.

I may be barking up the wrong tree but I figured I'd throw my 2 cents into the ring maybe none of what I have mentioned apply to your situation, but I am willing to bet that there are some people that some of it will apply to.

I hope your milage improves,
Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays.

[nova_gh]

Low fuel efficency in the winter is simple, the gas is going into the cylinders is cold. In the summer time the gas is readily warm and combusts better. Letting my car sit and warm up for 5-10 minutes every morning in the winter doesn't help either. Me and Werm are getting the same mileage with more or less the same car, I don't think he's doing anything wrong.

[xeroinfinity]

ya if you let the car run for long times on cold days you'll get less mpg. Also when its below 32 deg the air temp sensor throws the engine into a richer fuel mode. Thats why in the winter, your car seem to be more pepy, and peeling out everywhere, just my
HH's!

[Werm9]

im not one of those ppl that let there car idle for 15 mins during winter. for me i let it run for about 7max if i leave it outside or about 3-5 when in garage. i only have my heater fan speed on 3 on really cold days and turn it down to 1 after it warms up. only time i use my defroster is in the morning to meld the snow when i first start it. and as for summer i probably only used my AC 3-5 times.i tried another gas station here than what i normally use (BP) because ppl said they do get better gas mile from it. im a little under a half tank and let you know what i get after i have to refuel

[Werm9]

as for air intake systems. which would give you better milege in winter. im probably the only person that doesn't care about gas milege because i could care less if gas is $.40/gallon more than a week or w/e before because it only adds up to a couple dollars more. who cares? but i do care that i go from 28mphish to 20mpg. as much as my dads blazer gets. back to my question. what would get better gas milege during winter.1. Stock air intake. 2.Warm intake air system. 3. Cold air intake?

[oldmike]

I'm going to bump this back to the top as I started it originally, and give an update. I just filled up and on my last tank of gas got 19 MPG! Before this tank, I changed oil & oil filter and air filter. This is only the 2nd tank of gas I have run through it. I am retired and don't drive to work, so there are no highway miles put on it. Most trips are 2-10 miles on city streets, stop and go (30-45 mph). Here in Kentucky we are having a reasonably mild winter, but still it's cold. I realize these are all the worst conditions to drive under, but still am disappointed with the mileage. Also, it purrs like a kitten, starts immediately every time, runs and drive beautiful. There is no gas leak (in fact, no fluid leaks). As soon as weather gets a little better I will be changing plugs and wires and PCV valve. Any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Mike

[Amerikaner83]

Originally Posted by oldmike

I'm going to bump this back to the top as I started it originally, and give an update. I just filled up and on my last tank of gas got 19 MPG! Before this tank, I changed oil & oil filter and air filter. This is only the 2nd tank of gas I have run through it. I am retired and don't drive to work, so there are no highway miles put on it. Most trips are 2-10 miles on city streets, stop and go (30-45 mph). Here in Kentucky we are having a reasonably mild winter, but still it's cold. I realize these are all the worst conditions to drive under, but still am disappointed with the mileage. Also, it purrs like a kitten, starts immediately every time, runs and drive beautiful. There is no gas leak (in fact, no fluid leaks). As soon as weather gets a little better I will be changing plugs and wires and PCV valve. Any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Mike

That sounds about right. Here in Seattle I'm getting about 25 MPG highway and 20 MPG city driving...I let it warm up for about 5 mins or so before heading out...During summertime I do get better mileage (no AC, that's what rolled-down windows are for). But I think if you change the plugs wires etc and put some carb/Fuel Injector cleaner that woudl help out a little bit. I put the Chevron Techron stuff in and it works pretty well...need to do it again soon...bumps my mileage a couple MPG even though i tend to drive like a bat out of hell

[xeroinfinity]

try different gasolines. I try to Only use BP(Ammoco) which is a blue-ish colour fuel. Not red/brown lik most. If I do hav to buy other brands/types ,I get less mpg and less power overall. You get what you pay for.

Short trips will acually get less mpg because the engine doesnt hav time to fully warmed up. Also you could try some fuel stablizer since the cars not driven regularly, this may help with fuel economy.