93 Lesabre gas mileage

[mcqueary]

Just started driving a 93 Lesabre with 123,000 miles after working on it off and on for about a year doing a transmission rebuild. My gas mileage is running about 16.7 to 17.7 MPG mostly driving around town and to/from work. I thought it would be better. Is this MPG about right or should I start looking for a problem? Car seems to run OK and it just passed the state emissions test with lots of margin. I've only owned the car 1 year so I do not know its maintenance history.

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by mcqueary

Just started driving a 93 Lesabre with 123,000 miles after working on it off and on for about a year doing a transmission rebuild. My gas mileage is running about 16.7 to 17.7 MPG mostly driving around town and to/from work. I thought it would be better. Is this MPG about right or should I start looking for a problem? Car seems to run OK and it just passed the state emissions test with lots of margin. I've only owned the car 1 year so I do not know its maintenance history.

Hello

How well does the car start/idle/drive and accelerate? Any check engine light? What's about the condition of the plugs/wires? O2 sensors? How far do you drive to work? Does your engine reach operating temp?

I would think you should at least be getting 18-27 mpg/


Regards

Dan

[Alibi]

You should get about 17-18 around town, and around 28 on the highway. Soo...just for around town your numbers are pretty close to being right.

[Hapynzap]

You like the A/C???

[highlandlake]

Originally Posted by Hapynzap

You like the A/C???

He lives in Texas - doesn't have much choice.
I think your mileage is a little on the low side. Might be time for new O2 sensors, spark plugs and air filter. On my '97 I get about 20 in city driving or pulling a trailer. 26 mpg for all around driving, and close to 30 on the highway with a light load.
These Buicks shouldn't be in the teens for mileage unless there is a mechanical inefficiency including sticking brakes, or the driver is very heavy on the gas pedal in town.
Tom

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by highlandlake

He lives in Texas - doesn't have much choice.
I think your mileage is a little on the low side. Might be time for new O2 sensors, spark plugs and air filter. On my '97 I get about 20 in city driving or pulling a trailer. 26 mpg for all around driving, and close to 30 on the highway with a light load.
These Buicks shouldn't be in the teens for mileage unless there is a mechanical inefficiency including sticking brakes, or the driver is very heavy on the gas pedal in town.
Tom

Tom

I have a 97 and haven't seen anything above 25 mpg for highway. New pre-cat O2, no codes....

What plugs are you running? I have AC's but only single IR's. I wonder if that would make it lug on uphills? I feel that I have to get it to down shift for any power/maintain speed on uphill.

The reason why I boutght a LeSabre is the 30mpg and larger vehical.

Any thoughts?

Dan

[highlandlake]

Hi Dan (and others)

I looked through my receipts and found that I installed Bosch Platnium spark plugs back in May of 2003. The plugs have about 25,000 miles on them now and the car is running great. It's my daily commuter driver.
This year I bought a K&N air filter and put that on. ($45) Seems to accelerate a wee bit better since. When the new filter went on I gave the throttle body a good hard dose of spray carb cleaner too. (had to clear an OBDII code afterward )
Some other things.....I always put regular gas in - never needs premium. I keep the tires inflated to 34-37 psi. I keep the trunk empty of anything except a small tool box, jumper cables, receiver hitch, blanket, workcoat and boots. No heavy stuff always on board unnecesarily. I pour a bottle of Chevron - Techron in the tank a couple of times a year, and a medium bottle of Marvel mystery oil in the crankcase about once a year after an oil change. I buy a bunch of each when the discount auto parts store has sales and/or coupons/rebates. I spray WD40 on the serpentine belt and pulleys every time I check the fluids at home. That spray might not do anything but if it helps reduce friction on the belt just a little it's worth it. The belt action is definitely quieter afterward. All these things might add up to a mile or two per gallon boost. In the winter I get lower all around mileage (19-21) because here in Maine the car gets warmed up at high idle before driving every day. Even under the coldest intervals between winter fill-ups, heavy snow & ice stuck to the car for a week, and more than usual city/town driving (we don't have big city traffic here anywhere) I have would say the worst case scenario in the past was 18 mpg or so. Now that the fuel prices are much higher, I try to beat that of course. I drive my '97 Isuzu Rodeo V6 4WD Auto only in bad winter weather cause that gets REALLY bad mileage even on it's best days. Driving the ol' quiet comfy Buick after being in that is like a dream. Heck, I'd like to rip out all the moving parts from the Chevelle and hide the LeSabre's front wheel drive drivetrain and all the steering and suspension in it. I'd have to keep the hood closed at car shows....some people there would beat senseless anyone who removes a big block 396 from a car like that.