95 sunfire, bad gasmileage and low coolant light

[Xalis]

Hey I just wanna say I always liked sunfires until now. I own one and I bought it to get good gas mileage 20-22 mpg city, im getting like 16 mpg. It has no check engine lights on. The valves in the tranny are leaking and the torque converter clutch wont engauge good. I dont wanna pay 1000 bucks or more to have it rebuilt when i only payed 3000 for the car. I put a K&N air filter in the car which helped for a little while. I was getting 19-20 mpg if I drove really carefully with no one or one person in the car. Im gonna change the fuel filter hoping that will help my gas mileage. In the mean time what else can I do? Is there any bolt on accessories that will help? Like a cold air intake or a new exhaust or a gas saving tornado (lol).

Also the low coolant light comes on for like 2-5 seconds and then shuts off. It seems its when the car is gonna shift into the next gear. The coolant is full and new so it may be a screwy sensor or maybe the thermostat?

[hotbug1776]

Anything you do to introduce more air into the mixture will introduce more fuel, thus lowering fuel economy. if you are interested in maximum fuel economy, keep the stock setup. Get the plugs, wires (for a 2.2L), and fuel filter done. Also, have the fuel system cleaned, and the transmission flushed (for an auto trans). put it this way, I have a HO quad, set up for racing, and I get 34-36 mpg highway, and 28-30 city, your gas mileage sucks bad.

The light for the coolant level is controlled by a sensor on the coolant reservoir, it most likely went bad. the light shouldn't cause you to go into a limp mode, but it will keep you reminded to check your coolant.

as for a reminder....the "Tornado" and all that other garbage they sell touting "better mileage" and "more horsepower" is all LIES!!!!! do this, wrap your filter in plastic wrap, put it in the car, try to start the car, the "Tornado" causes almost as much air restriction, and costs you almost as much horsepower. if you lower your horsepower, it will takes more fuel to make more power to compensate for the lost power, also you will use more gas going up hills and starting from traffic lights.

[Xalis]

Ok, if the plugs look ok should I still get em? Same with wires? Im gonna get a fuel filter and ill get the tranny flushed. How do you recommend cleaning the fuel system? Get the injectors cleaned or just use the fuel system treatment in the bottle? I used 2 of em so far. I tried the lucas oil and STP (I add one about every 2000-3000 miles when I change my oil.

[hotbug1776]

go get the fuel system cleaned, change the wires even if they look new, age determines how good they are, not looks (but looks can be a factor). getting them cleaned can also show if you have other fuel system issues, remember to ask for a pressure test, just to be safe.

[Xalis]

well my plugs are perfectly clean and fine. Im gonna check the wires tonight see if there any arcing, I cleaned my O2 sensor, it was all white and crusty (running lean I assume) I changed the fuel filter. Im gonna call some shops and see what it costs to have the fuel system cleaned. If the wires arent arcing im not sure if im gonna replace em or not, i dont have a lot of money lol.