DRASTIC decrease in MPG

[Doc8404]

Originally Posted By: Quest
"...bran' spankin' new Moog greasable tie rod ends..."

*Yikes*, greasable tie rod ends on a passenger car such as your mitsu??!

*perplexed*

Q.


certainly....why not??? *confused*

 

[Quest]

most OE, non-greasable tie-rod ends and ball joints for imports are encapsulated in nylon insert materials which not only does it provide extremely long wear characteristics but also self-lubricating. Coupled with a proper sealing rubber dust boot (more like moisture boot/seal), they provide some surprisingly long service life.

On the other hand: greasable ones are suspended by only a thin film of lubrication and even with grease channels cut to the ball/race of the joint, they tend not to last that long (IMHO) even if they are spring loaded to take up the slack. Most Japanese OE sealed ball joint/tie rod end replacements are the former type meaning that you install and off you go, and no need to worry about excessive preloading of tie rods/ball joints (greasable type) causing steering problems.

Q.

 

[youdontwannaknow]

loosing 1 or 2 mpg in winter(well below freezing) is a fact I experience first hand. Its interesting how the theory about cold air = richer fuel makes sense (cold air carries more oxygen, O2 sensor asks PCM to send more fuel), but shouldn't that also mean more power ?
I have always wondered why isn't the power gain, if any, as obvious as the mileage loss ?
Winterized fuel(whatever that means) maybe ?

 

[BuickGN]

Originally Posted By: youdontwannaknow
loosing 1 or 2 mpg in winter(well below freezing) is a fact I experience first hand. Its interesting how the theory about cold air = richer fuel makes sense (cold air carries more oxygen, O2 sensor asks PCM to send more fuel), but shouldn't that also mean more power ?
I have always wondered why isn't the power gain, if any, as obvious as the mileage loss ?
Winterized fuel(whatever that means) maybe ?


Cars generally make more power the colder it gets. My turbo car has picked up 5mph from mid day to night time. It's the winter gas that causes the loss in mileage. All else being equal your throttle opening is probably lower for a constant speed in the winter.

 

[Doc8404]

i know they say winter gas causes it....but in upstate NY we always have the 10% ethanol...isn't that "winter gas" ????????

 

[blue_goose]

No, it a different formulation for summer and winter blend gases




Goose

 

[Doc8404]

no kidding? the decrease in mileage probably isn't worth what the government thinks they are saving in pollution costs.

 

[wavinwayne]

I usually run 93 octane gas in my VW 1.8T, gas that contains no ethanol. Recently, I've used a couple of tanks of 92 octane 10% ethanol gas, and my gas mileage has taken an approx. 3% nose-dive.

Being that the 92 octane gas is 10 cents/gallon cheaper than 93 octane, the difference in mpg is pretty much a wash.

Lately, I've purchased gas at the first station I come to when my fuel light comes on. I'm not brand loyal, and I'll use anything from 89 to 93 octane gas in my 1.8T. It doesn't seem to be very picky about octane.

 

[Audi Junkie]

I think 89 at a +$.10c premium is pretty worthwhile in many cases. It works better than I expected.