Fuel Mileage

[gxryan]

My car since i bought it has been making less and less mileage, I'm just kinda curious what everyone else with the Ecotec is making. If you have any mods please post them when u say what mileage you are making. (Isn't there a difference between american and canadian mileage) ohwell either way if ppl could post that would be awesome.

Oh and one other question how can you test you MAF sensor?

I'm making about 40 mpg at tops right now completely highway driving like a old man. but any normal highway driving is about 36 which I am not to impressed with but my friend told me his sisters ecotec sunfire never made more then that.

[MikeSS]

I once calculated my MPG without mods and I was getting about 25MPG combined city and highway which isn't very good.....A lot of my travel time is in stop and go traffic though

[2000NavyAleroGLS]

I see why you are complaining. I have a Alero GLS with a 3.4, have a borla exhaust and I am getting pretty close to 41mpg. I am not exactly grandpa driving on the highway either.

[gxryan]

lol see thats weird, my buddies 3.4 Grand am has NEVER made more then 36.

and yeah cobined around town and HWY i get about 27 on avg.

but yeah there should be NO way a 3.4 should be getting more mileage then a ecotec but maybe thats just me that thinks that

[2000NavyAleroGLS]

Ya I find that wierd too. I know of two other people that have Alero's around here and they seem to get about 39mpg too. With the borla I could see that it could give me a little better gas mileage but not a huge difference.

[gxryan]

hmmm maybe I am just calculating mine way off to,

like my last trip i put 300kms on 21L's of gas.
that was with a full car load. which works out to like 39mpg

[mikegett]

It will help to specify if you are using a metric conversion. Some one in the US may be thinking it is MPG and not Klm per Liters. Your liters and Klm's would equal up to a 33.6 mpg average. Not bad. This is about my average with a 3.4 liter in the summer. I did notice that this was only about 5.4 gallons. In order to get a better average you should let the car go down by 3/4s of the tank. The weight ratio and various driving conditions will give a better idea of the average. It will need to be noted that climates and driving conditions will alter it as well. In the winter I only get around 26 Miles per gallon. I have also noted that medium grade fuel will always give a higher return over 87. Paying the added 1.40 at the pump seems to be worth it. I have also seen a difference in companies. Shell is the large supplier in my area. However, BP and Co-op seem to yield a much higer return than Shell. I average 27 with shell 91. BP 91 gives me a mid to low thirties under the same conditions. I am not dispeased with the alero. But I do think there is a large room for improvement. MY 98 honda coupe had 200 horse. It averaged 36 Miles to the gallon and barely fluxuated in the winter. I believe the lowest recording I had was 28 with alot of city driving in temperatures under freezing.

[FormulaNERD]

i get 180 miles on 12 gallons :(

[2000NavyAleroGLS]

Originally posted by mikegett@Nov 16 2004, 01:08 AM
It will help to specify if you are using a metric conversion. Some one in the US may be thinking it is MPG and not Klm per Liters. Your liters and Klm's would equal up to a 33.6 mpg average. Not bad. This is about my average with a 3.4 liter in the summer. I did notice that this was only about 5.4 gallons. In order to get a better average you should let the car go down by 3/4s of the tank. The weight ratio and various driving conditions will give a better idea of the average. It will need to be noted that climates and driving conditions will alter it as well. In the winter I only get around 26 Miles per gallon. I have also noted that medium grade fuel will always give a higher return over 87. Paying the added 1.40 at the pump seems to be worth it. I have also seen a difference in companies. Shell is the large supplier in my area. However, BP and Co-op seem to yield a much higer return than Shell. I average 27 with shell 91. BP 91 gives me a mid to low thirties under the same conditions. I am not dispeased with the alero. But I do think there is a large room for improvement. MY 98 honda coupe had 200 horse. It averaged 36 Miles to the gallon and barely fluxuated in the winter. I believe the lowest recording I had was 28 with alot of city driving in temperatures under freezing.
It would also help if you looked at where we are from. Canada. And I almost always use 92 octane fuel. I'm not sure about the other people I asked but they probably use regular which is 89 here. This was recorded recently with temperatures down at about -10 to -15C.

[bigd6983]

lol im with you formula, not that bad but close......

[gxryan]

Well yeah i know it's not horrible but I'd like to think my car could make mid 40's. Cause when I first got it I moved from Grande Prairie Alberta back to saskatchewan and I made close to 48 mpg (I think that was using canadian metric conversion or w/e) Which was great but yeah that was also, 15 hrs of straight driving only stopping to fill up. But my car was also full of crap.

I dunno I guess I just expected more from my ho. But it seems like I am getting about average. (not so impressed that NavyAleroGLS is making like better mileage then me with his 3.4) lol but ohwell. Guess it could be how i drive it.

But yeah like u said mike thats about average for a 3.4 I drive an ecotec :unsure:

[brsexton]

Mine gets pretty good. One year I took it to the beach, and I got 36MPG with the AC on the entire time and not driving so good. Around the city, I still seem to get ok. In the winter, it is not that great Hwy or city. But its still better then my girlfriends Suzuki Esteem which has a smaller motor...

[Final-Reality]

You people put too much faith in that sticker on the window when you buy the car. Your mileage will vary GREATLY with your driving conditions. 41mpg with a 3400? It's possible (maybe...) if you're doing mainly freeway driving at ~60-70mph, and the reduced-backpressure exhaust system will actually help mileage. If you're driving in the city, and always in a hurry, then your mileage will plummet to half of that, no matter what engine is in your car...

[doubleN0alero]

Hell, I jump for joy when I get anything over 20mpg... if i ever got 41, i think i'd have a mess in my pants

[2000NavyAleroGLS]

Thats what I calculated. 41mpg. Yes it was all highway driving at 117km/h with cruise control on, no load in the vehicle, and double laned so not having to speed up to pass people.

[gxryan]

yeah, my 48mpg was on the divided going 110-130 through the mountains.

(any possible way that could have something to do with like thinner air up there or something???)

Like I wouldent be complaining but I am curious as to why I was making better mileage and now i'm not and this has happened even before it got cold out.

and if my ever made worse then 20 I'd be driving my car through the window of the nearest GM dealership telling them to take there piece of **** car and shove it.

My dads 91 Dodge with a 318 V8 makes more then 20mpg. :blink:

but u probly got alot of stuff done to ur car and alot of city driving double0alero

[2000NavyAleroGLS]

(any possible way that could have something to do with like thinner air up there or something???)
Up high in the mountains would probably give you worse mileage if the car is not used to being there. When you come out of the mountains the car should perform a little better due to being out of high elevation.

[Vtolds]

Some of you guys must grandpa your cars around becuase my 2.4 with a intake a muffler only get about 22 mpg. How does that sit in your guys pockets? at a average of 220 miles I do a week I spend a bit ove$20.00 USD on gas in 7 days.

[2000NavyAleroGLS]

That was all highway miles there that I did. In town my mileage drops down to probably 15 with the way I drive. Get about on average 300-350km to a tank. And spending $20 on gas a week. I wish. Try spending between 35 and 40 a week, all the time to get the tank 3/4 full.

[gxryan]

I wonder what i spend a week accually I don't even pay attention.

I've spent about 60 bucks on gas so far this month and my tanks almost empty, so by the time i fill that up and finish the month i'll have spent about 100 bucks.

[-Alero-]

Originally posted by FormulaNERD@Nov 15 2004, 10:23 PM
i get 180 miles on 12 gallons :(
start filling your car up with gasoline and not air :lol:

[brsexton]

Originally posted by gxryan@Nov 15 2004, 01:52 PM

Oh and one other question how can you test you MAF sensor?


I almost missed this part. Ecotec's don't have a MAF sensor or an EGR valve. Very strange. Just an FYI.

[gxryan]

okay then what is that temp sensor called that goes on the intake tubing from the airbox to the engine?

[brsexton]

IAT sensor...Intake Air Temperature sensor

[gxryan]

ahhh interesting.

so then anyway to tell if may this sensor would be bad at all? I assume if i messure the resistance of the accuall sensor inside the intake tubing what kinda resistance should it read? any ideas?

[brsexton]

Well just for kicks, I take mine out and clean it with a q-tip everytime I check my air filter. I have never really seen any improvements from doing this, but it does get dirty. And dirt would cause it not to read correctly. From I understand, they are pretty cheap. GM P/N # 12160244 So I don't think it would hurt to pick up a new one.

[GXsport]

Has anyone with the ecotec noticed a big decrease in MPG when the car is due (or overdue) for an oil change? I have found that when my car is fresh off of an oil change, the highway mileage is up around 35-40, while when the car is about 3,000-3,500 miles into a batch of oil, the efficiency drops down to 30 in the same driving conditions. Just seems strange to me.

[mike2002]

so i take it my 01 3400 has a 12 gallon tank? sounds about right, i can always fit around 10-11 gallons in there

[MikeSS]

Originally posted by mike2002@Jan 2 2005, 01:00 PM
so i take it my 01 3400 has a 12 gallon tank? sounds about right, i can always fit around 10-11 gallons in there
tank is 14.1 Gallons, but it is hard to ever get it completely empty.
In litres (our measurement) it works out to 53 Litres. Most I ever put in it is 46L...and I thought for sure I was not going to make it to the gas station.

[oldsroyce]

Up here in the "mile high city" Denver,CO, USA my 2003 Ecotec averages 30 MPG at about 90% highway-I drive 25 miles to work and 25 back home every week day. I've had it alittle over a year and has seen from 28 to 34 MPG. When its cold out it naturally looses almost 2 MPG. This is due to the "oxygenated fuel" and longer warm-up times.

[Hasani]

I haven't seen anywhere close to 30 MPG yet, city OR hwy :( I'd think a 2.2-4 would get better mileage..the cars don't weigh that much. For those who are getting high 30's-40 MPG...whats the secret? are you using 87, 89 gas? mods? how many miles on the car? Help a brotha out! :cry:

[brsexton]

Originally posted by Hasani@May 8 2005, 10:43 PM
I haven't seen anywhere close to 30 MPG yet, city OR hwy :( I'd think a 2.2-4 would get better mileage..the cars don't weigh that much. For those who are getting high 30's-40 MPG...whats the secret? are you using 87, 89 gas? mods? how many miles on the car? Help a brotha out! :cry:
Quoted post


How many miles do you have? I have heard that some Ecotec's can have bad O2 senors around the 50k mark. That would cause a big drop in MPG's.

[Cyber Knight]

I just had my O2 sensor fail on my car, caused the engine light to come on (who knows for how long it was bad :( ). My mileage has greatly improved since. I don't have the Ecotec tho, mine's just the 2.4L 5 speed.

[Hasani]

Alright, thanks, that helps! I'l check the o2 sensor. The car has around 44,300 miles. Where can i can a new o2? Dealer? Universal one? How much?

[Cyber Knight]

The dealership put mine in, the part was about $200 CAD, labor was almost the same :(

[BLK03GXS]

Originally posted by Cyber Knight@May 9 2005, 06:59 PM
The dealership put mine in, the part was about $200 CAD, labor was almost the same :(
Quoted post

GAH :eek:

I'll be staying away from that one for a while... :hide:

[Crolero]

im getting bad milage, i used to get 250miles on a tank then i went down to about 170miles. I used some fuel injector cleaner and fuel system cleaner and now im at 170miles and still have 1/4 left. should be the best milage this year. mind you i do all city stop and go. My best highway was 300miles. doing 55mph i found was best, keeping the rpm's below 2k.

[Hasani]

I'm not paying anyone $400 (200 prts/ 200 labor) to put in a sensor. Can't I get a universal sensor or find an factory one for cheap? I'll put in in myself.

Crolero: I'm trying some fuel system cleaner too. If that helps, maybe you/we should get the injectors cleaned. Have you changed your plugs? 170 miles to a tank is crazy! :wacko: ...you might as well be driving a Viper :grin:

[Crolero]

i just realized that i wrote this in the 2.2l thread, ive got the 3400. :lol: im such a noob.

[gxryan]

Well I do only have like 21,000 km's on my alero so I don't think I will have any O2 sensor problems.

as for how i get this kind of mileage, All I have is a drop in K&N and I took of that snorkle thinger.

And as for the question earlier if getting close to an oil change drops my mileage. For me it definately does, and I notice a bit of a loss in power. Rite now I'm almost due for an oil change and my mileage is getting kinda poopy.

[alero_ecotec]

^^^ Snorke thinger.....what???????????????????????

[Crolero]

i think he ment the stock rubber intake tubing (thing-a-ma-jigy).

[gxryan]

Yeah that thinger,

[BLK03GXS]

The tuner tube>?

[Alero04]

Originally posted by GXsport@Jan 1 2005, 08:05 PM
Has anyone with the ecotec noticed a big decrease in MPG when the car is due (or overdue) for an oil change? I have found that when my car is fresh off of an oil change, the highway mileage is up around 35-40, while when the car is about 3,000-3,500 miles into a batch of oil, the efficiency drops down to 30 in the same driving conditions. Just seems strange to me.
Quoted post



hrmm...maybe i should change my oil

[treekiller]

25-27 around town 35 on the highway if I granny it and lock the curise on 70 i can get 37-40mpg but this is not realistic since i usually am driving much more agressivly then that... over 30,000 miles with mostly stop and go or short trips i see adverage 26mpg. my car is running perfect. and mileage and performance do not differ from 87-94 octane. so most of the 30,000 is done on 87.

[gxryan]

LOL okay so no one is gonna believe me but well I just gotta tell u guys anyways.

280km's 14L's of gas.

by my dads math that works out to like 56MPG. I'm not exactly sure it thats rite but i'm pretty sure it's close.

oh and I had a 60-80km/hr tail wind the ENTIRE way LOL

but still :-)

[Alero04]

actually...when i went to halifax in the fall...i filled up here and cost 40 bucks...hali is between 400-500 kms from here...and if i didnt fill up at half full in some nowhere town...i coulda made it with id say prolly 1/4 tank left...maybe a bit more (and that including getting lost)...now i thought that was good but i dunno :blink:
but lately my gas mileage sucks donkey as*

[gre0481]

I'm Currently getting approx. 27mpg stop and go and 35 hwy.

I have a 2.2l ecotech. I have no mods.

My highway driving usually entails 80 to 90mph.

Your mileage will plummet if you're a hard braker.
My car gets it's best mileage after a fresh oil change. My car thrives on new oil. Make sure to change your filter at every oil change. It's good to check your airfilter too. the manual recommends 15.000 check, by I check mine every 10. If it's clogged or filled with dirt and debris, change it. It give the acdelco code right on the air box. I'm going with a K & N for my next change, that's only because you can clean and recharge it. The paper filters don't really hold up to that. If you can't afford a paper filter (rough 7 usd) you could shake it out or blow it out with an airhose. But I recommend just replacing the air filter.

[Whitetigerboi83]

ALL this talk about gas milage .. i got a 2002 2.2 ecotech i love my car i get between 35-40 miles per gallon i dont put anything but low grade becasue thats what the owners manual sayd to put in it i havent had anyproblems.. i also have a k&n airfilter on it i dont grandpa my car either some days i i drive maybe 10mph over the speed some days i drive 25 over the speed i do notice a big difference in hot days and colder days and sitting in traffic to no traffic but with gas at $2.15-2:30 a gallon here in michigan i put an avg of $26-30 once a week in my car.. i'm happy for that i was driving a truck at $46-50 a week on gas if not more.... but thats my end ( I HATE DETROIT TRAFFIC/CONSTRUCTION)

[walley]

Dumb question:
Has anyone figured the fact that a major altitude change may affect it a little? I don't know if it effects gas mileage but I do know it effects power since air density changes at higher altitudes.

I average 25-27 MPG in a lot of stop and go traffic. I'm also at 3200-3400 ft above sea level. I havent had it on the highway yet but I plan on a trip to Southern Cali for a family reunion in a week. Maybe I'll find out then. 40 MPG is making me rethink the money I need to have for the trip. Hopefully I can do that good.

[gre0481]

Originally posted by walley@Aug 7 2005, 11:42 PM
Dumb question:
Has anyone figured the fact that a major altitude change may affect it a little? I don't know if it effects gas mileage but I do know it effects power since air density changes at higher altitudes.

I average 25-27 MPG in a lot of stop and go traffic. I'm also at 3200-3400 ft above sea level. I havent had it on the highway yet but I plan on a trip to Southern Cali for a family reunion in a week. Maybe I'll find out then. 40 MPG is making me rethink the money I need to have for the trip. Hopefully I can do that good.
Quoted post



I imagine your gas mileage will improve once hitting the highways.
I drove from So Cal to michigan in 3 days; I chose the sotuhern route (I-5 to 405 to the 40) Instead of the more nothern route to avoid the altitude and mountainous terrain. I got excellant mileage on california highways. Only suffered a little on a friday or sunday rush, or when the Immigration check point got backed up.

[slalomking]

Wow, you guys w/ the over 30 MPGs (English units) should be estatic. My bone stock GL1 Ecotec w/ auto gets a rock steady 21.6-21.8 MPG in an 80/20 mix of suburban / interstate driving. Yes, I do 80 MPH on the interstate...but as an experiment, I held it to 65 for several weeks, and dismally found the MPG went 'up' from 21.6 to 21.9. Big deal.

I do all the maintainance stuff that helps MPGs...filters...oil, air pressure..yada yada....

I took it twice to the dealership. Ist time they said they replaced an electronic module or two and said 'it seems to run better'.

No change. Took it back.

THEN they showed me some reviews off the net from (as I recall) either Consumer Reports or Edmunds.com. The reviews were for an Ecotec auto Grand Am, getting...you guessed it...21.8 MPG.

They smiled, said 'your car is FINE', and handed the keys back to me.
Bastards.

So the obvious question is....how are you guys getting 30-40 MPG? I find this astounding, and frankly, something is not adding up w/ my car.

[alero_ecotec]

i have no idea how people are getting 30-40 MGP....but if i drive hard i get around 25.....if i drive a little more conservative i might get 28 or so

[gxryan]

well those #'s in high 30-40's are pure highway

on a 50/50 tank highway and around town I make about 24.

my last tank i just did had about 420km's and 45 litres.
170km's highway and 250 around town.

so do the math i guess...

mines also a manual....
i dunno i'm still not impressed with that mileage.
some people mite be using the american conversion instead of the english or whatever so that probly is why the numbers are so different.

I dunno the first time my car makes less then 20mpg. I'm pretty sure i'm gonna smash it into something and get it written off.

I dunno it's a 4 cylinder it should be doing better then the 3.4 so when someone with the 3.4 makes better mileage then you. I'd say there is something wrong with ur car.

[Mischief007]

The highest I hit was 34 MPG (US) when driving on back roads. My last tank got 23 MPG. Mostly city and some on the highway in excess of 140 km/h.

I guess some of you really want great gas mileage. And yes I found the car looses some power coming up on an oil change.

The car has 78,700 km right now.

[merlot566jka]

well i have full exaust, header, hi flow cat, and a flowmaster, and a new intake(not the one on my cardomain) and i get 27mpg in the city and 33 hiway. on 94octane i get 35 mpg hiway. but in the summer its less, and winter more, obviously. so the guy with 21mpg...that sux dood, i dont know what to tell you, get a k&n, coolant flush, tranny flush, and oil cleaner/change, fuel system cleaner, and see if that does anything. other than that you have emissions systems problems..good luck man

[Alero2k4]

Originally posted by slalomking@Oct 25 2005, 07:02 AM
Wow, you guys w/ the over 30 MPGs (English units) should be estatic. My bone stock GL1 Ecotec w/ auto gets a rock steady 21.6-21.8 MPG in an 80/20 mix of suburban / interstate driving. Yes, I do 80 MPH on the interstate...but as an experiment, I held it to 65 for several weeks, and dismally found the MPG went 'up' from 21.6 to 21.9. Big deal.

I do all the maintainance stuff that helps MPGs...filters...oil, air pressure..yada yada....

I took it twice to the dealership. Ist time they said they replaced an electronic module or two and said 'it seems to run better'.

No change. Took it back.

THEN they showed me some reviews off the net from (as I recall) either Consumer Reports or Edmunds.com. The reviews were for an Ecotec auto Grand Am, getting...you guessed it...21.8 MPG.

They smiled, said 'your car is FINE', and handed the keys back to me.
Bastards.

So the obvious question is....how are you guys getting 30-40 MPG? I find this astounding, and frankly, something is not adding up w/ my car.
Quoted post


I hear ya, I get roughly 18-20 MPG depending. 22-24 MPG if I REALLY grandpa it around... I too took it into the dealership with the same basic result...NOTHING. Same with the other four things that I took it in for...worthless GM dealers...I could probably go on for days about them... I just gave up and figure I will have to build my own car to get it how I want it. From the brake system which I plan on replacing from pads to calipers to accumulator...everything, to the suspension, engine...I guess since they can't do anything about it, I will.

But honestly, I am stumped just like you...I do live at about 4500 ft if that makes any difference... I keep up on all maintenance oil changes, filter changes, tire pressure checks, etc. I don't worry about it to much though as I was getting 8-10 out of my truck...

[gre0481]

Unfortunately, my car is now getting 25 mpg.


this is after adding my 18" chrome rims. They're steel, so the weight explains it a bit.

[Alero2k4]

Originally posted by gre0481@Jan 16 2006, 07:46 PM
Unfortunately, my car is now getting 25 mpg.


this is after adding my 18" chrome rims. They're steel, so the weight explains it a bit.
Quoted post


Crazy thing is, I BARELY saw a difference when I took of my 18's for the winter...BARELY...like non existent. :thumbsdown:

[Whitetigerboi83]

Talking about crappy gas miles i just got 280 off 13gallons..21mpg this last fill up hope this changes soon uaually all summer i'm around 28-30mpg mix of city and highway driving.. sorta helps i live a mile form work now but still drive downtown every few days avg of 15 miles there 15 back

[battistoni21]

i get about the same as you, and i have a 2.4L.... but i also have an aem wai..... i think this might be the problem.....try switching grades.....

[natedawg9640]

i just got 30 mpg... garanted most was highway miles... but i just did and oil change air filter and new spark plugs...

[Ghadsphi]

I've been keeping track of my milage since I got my Alero. It's a 2003 2.2l with about 43,000 miles on it. I don't know how much maintance has been done it. When I got it the change oil light was on, I just reset it, I'll be getting an oil change on monday. First tank I got right about 21 mpg, but I was kinda tearing around town to see how it handles. Second tank I got about 23. I took it on a little road trip yesterday, About 175 miles round trip, almost all freeway driving between 65-85 MPH. I fuel gauge still says I have about half a tank left. But that last half seems to disapear real quick so I'm going to fill it up on the way to work tonight and see just how accurate my fuel gauge is. I'm hoping after an oil change and maybe some maintance it will get a little better, my 1990 geo prism with 217,000 miles on it and almost no maintanace, with a busted up radiator got about 22-25 mpg lol.

[gre0481]

My alero got 26 mpg across country (mich to cali), that second half of the tank goes quick. The gauge isn't 100% accurate. You can go above full, and just below e. plus below the half mark droppin so quick. My gas mileage has plumetted since hitting san diego area. dang stop and go.

[marvindk]

I have been reading some of your mileage reports...wondering if there are any mods that can be made to engine or fuel injection to boost performance and/or gas mileage.

Thanks

[battistoni21]

I have the 2.4 but these will help out anything....

cai or wai, new spark plugs,igniton wire.....

if your getting bad gas check your fuel filter and air filter

if you havent changed your oil in a while, change it

O2 sensors....

tire pressure and tire rotation

I tried this lucas injector fluid and it worked a little bit...
the seafoam didnt work for me but from others it worked very well...

I have sh!tty gas mileage too, thats why i told you that many lol...

[gre0481]

Just know that if you ave the 2.2 ecotec, there are no plug wires !

Not sure what they call it, but it's built right in. not as cheap as replacing just wires

[marvindk]

I have the 2.2L. I just changed oil last evening and am running a synthetic. When I first changed to the synthetic over a year ago I thought I had seen an increase in my gas mileage. I travel about 750 miles every two to three weeks and am just trying to save in fuel. I am driving a ways today and want to check what I get.

My brother has worked on the Powerstroke Deisel and put different mods in and got a lot better performance and I wanted to see what anybody knows about the Ecotec 2.2L

[battistoni21]

i know the 2.4 has the coil pack..... doesn't the 2.2 have it as well?

[alero_ecotec]

2.4 and 2.2 both have the coil pack

[Johnnyangel]

I wouldn't sweat it, I have a 2003 GX 5 speed and I got 36 mpg on my last 3 hour all highway trip on cruise control at 60 mph the whole way. Then again, I have what, 250 pounds of amps and subwoofer in the back too, plus the luggage... Mine made it to 40 mpg on ONE trip, before I put anything in and I was the only one in the car. Original sticker MPG on mine was 35 highway, which has been more than fair, given that I consistently get better than that, if only by a few mpg. The great thing is the girl at work (yes, AT A CADILLAC DEALERSHIP) who bought a prius, but lives an hour away... We tried to explain to her that it only gets good mileage in the CITY, but noooo..... it's worse than my alero on the highway, which is almost all her driving. :-D I feel all warm and fuzzy inside over that one.

[eag182]

I got 32mpg (highway) in my 3400. Just depends on how fast you drive. I get 27mpg at 80mph avg and I got 32 at 65mph. Your foot determines your mileage.

[Cliff8928]

I get about 25 average, and I'm not bashful with the accelerator.

[b1alero]

I average 28ish and my girlfriend averages 20. I also noticed a big difference in performance between the cars. We both have a 2003 red 2 door alero with the same options(which by the way is spooky but our cars is how we met). I don't know what or how her car sems so different when we both are all factory still.

[Gr1m]

have you tried cleaning your air filteR? lol sounds stupid but sounds like it might be the problem

[b1alero]

have you tried cleaning your air filteR? lol sounds stupid but sounds like it might be the problem

Checked it out already. I wonder if hers was driving by a grandma before and has carbon build up. Other than that I don't know what it could be. Oh well.

[battistoni21]

just dump some seafoam in, and then see how it runs..... if you think carbon build up is the problem, than by all means go for the seafoam

[talero]

Hey guys, just got in.
My 2003 2.2L automatic alero (80k miles) gives me steady below 20 mpg and I've been trying to dig out an official statement what the mileage of this 2.2L engine is supposed to be. I didn't succeed and there's no info in the car book, nor on any GM website. After 30 min. on the phone, some GM rep told me "around" 25city/30hwy. Well, I don't think that's possible. I tried some injector cleaner and it kind of improved the performance up to 22 mpg, but just for a while. I have the car for about 2 months, and a week ago the "check engine" light showed me a P0130 error of the before the catalitic converter oxygen sensor. These days I'll change it and I hope things to get better. I REALLY count on it! DO you guys think this sensor could've been messing up the fuel proportion, even if the "check engine" light was not on? Could it still have been giving bad data to the computer? I've changed the oil (+filter) and the air filter. Other than the bad mileage, the car runs like a bullet while I barely touch the accelerator pedal. Man, I really counted on this 4 cylinder engine, to have a low cost driving, cause other than the bad mileage, the car is great to me - comfortable, good ride, good looks. Yes, it is a big 4 cylinder engine (2.2 is a big one, compared to 1.8 or even 2.0 ones) and I know the US car makers are good mostly at the 6 and up cylinder engines, but GIMME A BREAK, this is a 4 cylinder engine! How could it give 18 mpg?! I get 24-25 mpg on my other car 1997 Chevy Lumina 3.1L 6 cylinder! I've read some of your postings here, about cleaning here and there and I'll probably try some of them. Any help/suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Hey, one more thing. Do you believe that by the time the "low fuel" light appeares, there is only one gallon left in the tank? I doubt it, but that's what my experience shows. The light is on, then I drive like 10-12 miles and then I load 13.5 gallons! The tank is 14 GL, right?
Take care!

[talero]

Just doubled it...

[Cliff8928]

Most definitely your upstream oxygen sensor plays a LARGE part in your fuel consumption, You should have it checked out or replaced.

[talero]

That's the sensor I was talking about, right? The one that is before the convertor. The other two sensors (after the catalitic convertor) should be downstream. I HOPE to have a good news after I replace that upstream sensor! Thanks for your reply!

[slalomking]

Hey Talero,

The EPA numbers for our 2003 Ecotec automatics were 24/33 (thanks for the correction on this Cliff8928!).

My shot in the dark is that once you get that pre-cat 02 sensor fixed, you should get out of the dismal teens for MPGs. and hopefully at *least* get what I am getting in 70/30 suburban/highway driving- about 21.8.

I did a granny run 2 weeks ago- all highway, minimal traffic, about a 70 MPH average, and got a carefully measured 27 MPG- a record for me.

It does seem everyone has noted the last half of the tank goes faster than the first half due to gas gauge design.

Let us know how it turns out.

[Cliff8928]

I was just recently on a trip and managed 30 MPG on the highway, not being light on the pedal either. The rest of the time i get about 23 MPG. EPA ratings for my car are 26 city, 37 highway.

The '03 Ecotec automatic was officially 24/33 from the EPA

[talero]

Thanks guys for your comments. If the rating for this engine (automatic transmission) is 24/33, then it should easily give 25 in the average... Strange numbers occurr though. Yesterday I replaced the sensor and in a few days I'll be able to check what the result is. Will post it. You guys take care.

[STYeattes]

Well I just got My 03 2.2L last week, I took it on a road trip of about 140 miles mostly highway, then back and forth to work and stuff for 130 miles all city stop and go. I filled up tonight with 12 gallons and that averages out to right at 23 mpg with 50/50 highway to city....im not impressed my 92 corvette got an average of 28 through its lifetime until I sold it, and it was probably 60/40 highway to city...

[zoomie]

Do we know how many people have auto vs manual? My experience with other cars is that a 4cyl with auto does not do very well. I think cause you have to really punch it to get it to move.

I have a manual, do mostly highway and cruise at 70mph. I consistently average 29 - 31 miles per us gallon. (yes I did all the conversions from metric)

[Alero_1986]

Thanks guys for your comments. If the rating for this engine (automatic transmission) is 24/33, then it should easily give 25 in the average... Strange numbers occurr though. Yesterday I replaced the sensor and in a few days I'll be able to check what the result is. Will post it. You guys take care.
.
I'm curious to see if the sensor is going to make a significant difference. Let us know what kind of numbers you get

[Alero_1986]

btw, I've never hit 30's. my mileage ranges from 22-25 of 50/50 city/highway. pure highway driving my highest number is 27.86 mpg

[jayson_waltz]

I've only got 27 in my 2.4 on the highway at 65 mph. Around town i get...umm...14-15 usually. In the winter around town its about 10. Sucks bad.