Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Maintenance Post to end my other posts

Okay here is my problem:

Car on last refill (12/3) is getting 15.86 mpg! 189.8 miles on 11.966 Gallons of gas.

I have removed the TB and Cleaned the EGR passage ways.
That turned off the check engine light!

Was going to get new plug wires, but found they were replaced with 8mm Autolite Pro Series

Did not change plugs, I'm assuming they are good if the wires were changed, most of the time new plugs go with!

I do not believe its the Cat because the car does not run like a dumb truck.

It is not my conical intake because I had 16 mpg on second last fill up with it on. The last one was with the stock intake running to make my dad shut up about my airfilter killing gas mileage.

It is not my driving. The last tank of gas I only put the petal down at an intersection twice. And I have been turning off overdrive on all the hills in my area. This was also my dad's saying that I drive like a "speed racer" as he put it.

So now I'm down to that
A) The UIM where I couldn't clean from the bend to the EGR is still clogged even thought my CEL turned off.

B) The Car needs to be tuned like there is no tomorrow.

C) One of the 4 O2 sensors is crapping out, and the CEL is to lazy to come on. Also I would like to know how you can check if they are working right.

D) My car wants me to remove the badge so it can't live up to its name! lol JK Had to find some kind of humor.

My whole problem is that if I got 20mpg I could get away with not filling my tank one less time a month and could save $25 dollars I don't have with my part time job. And then put that $25 towards the car! :-)

Everything else is stock on the car except the air intake, unless you want to count seat covers, steering wheel cover, and the new wiper blades I put on....oh and floor mats.

It is a 1998 Duratec Auto. So if anyone has suggests or comments let me know! Thanks for any help I can get.

pull the plugs and check the gaps...it'll take an hour and it'll rule that out as a problem.

I don't have a Duratec, but I thought I would put my $.02 in... You said you had an aftermarket intake- trying cleaning/oiling it again. Dirty filter would really really rob your car. Hope it helps.

I am starting to HATE this car. I am regretting buying it...I was looking under neath and found that part of the body is banged and bent. I bought the car with the side skirt scuffed. Well it has a good dent under there. And the wheel well platic peices are the source of clunking I feel everyone once and a while while i'm driving...also when i was messing with the plastic well, I noticed that the fender has been repainted and is starting to peel/flake. If this stuipd car even makes it through winter, I am trading it in...

If an 02 sensor is crapping out on you, that could cause bad gas mileage. I forgot whether the upstream sensors help with the air/fuel calculations or downstream ones, the ones that do air/fuel are the important ones.

Does the car otherwise run fine? Does it smell like it is running rich?

You said you run it with overdrive off? That could lower gas mileage too.

If the car was in an accident or something like that, the alignment could be off. Do your tires have enough air?

Just some thoughts...

Upstream makes the fuel calculations, downstream is to monitor the cats.

Before buying this car, we did carfax it, there wasn't any reports of an accident, but I know it was in one. There are multiple signs.

- Front fender is slightly off from door
- Scuff passager front bumper
- Crack Passager Fog Light
- Newer Passager Headlight
- Scuff SideSkirt
- Dent unstraighted Under side skirt
- Crappy Repaint

And yes the engine does run fine, except for the fact the EGR ways were clogged tight which I fixed, and the fact that the gas mileage is crap.

I was turning over drive on and off as I go to school and work. There is litterally a drop in elevation of 330 feet if I remember right. I was using overdrive so the car didn't shift 10 times and stayed steadyer (real word?) in RPM.

How or were do I get o2 sensors checked?

oh forgot, no the tires don't need alignment. I can let the wheel go and the car goes where it was headed. It actually is straighter then other cars I have driven (ie moms blazer). And I did also check the tires for air and thread wear. The are wearing really well and the treads are to even to say if there is an irregularity.

hook you car to a scan tool and see how fast your o2 sensor voltage fluctuates, it should be pretty fast, oh and they wont move very fast until the car is in closed loop.