Help ???

[bdeitsch]

Hello,

I have a 1996 Chevy S10 with a 2.2L 4cyl engine that is only pulling about 21mpg. The engine runs good (except for an intermitent check engine light) but it has 140,000 miles on it. I think this is pretty sad for a 4cyl. I'm told that it is because the transmission is geared for towing. This seems like an odd set up for a 4cyl.

If I have the engine rebuilt, will it get better mpg? How hard is it to drop a 4.3 V6 in there? If the tranny is geared low, how hard is it to swap it out for a higher geared one?

I don't do much hauling in my truck (I did deliver a couch one time) and with gas running around $2.00 per gallon, I'd like to do better than 21mpg.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[vtmecheng]

Get the check engine light looked at. Go to your local Advance or Auto Zone and they should be able to check it for you. It may be finding something like the O2 sensor is bad which would effect your gas milage. The codes are stored for a lot of starts so you can get them read even after the light turns off.

[chris15706]

I have a 2000 with a 4cyl 5 speed. I only get 17-20 mpg. Get used to it. The V6 gets the same gas mileage so i dont see what the point is to get a 4cyl. I will never get a 4cyl in a truck again. I know everyone is gonna say that its my driving habits or something is broken. This truck has had the same mileage since it was brand new and i usually dont drive with a heavy foot.

[Fireplug]

Try living with 12mpg

[OverBoardProject]

The 4.3L engine is a gas pig too. 2.8L are ok, I think that I'm getting about 25 although I don't drive my blazer 4x4 often enough to really know. But the motors have a weak botom end.

And Fireplug you think that 12 is bad. I just bought a 30' motorhome with a 350. I'll be lucky to get 8. I'm told 160 bux Canadian to fill it. Good thing that I don't plan on using the pig often

[ups88daj]

Well I will ahve to agree that 21mpg isn't good. My 2000 Sdime 2.2 gets 21 city and 27 hwy.