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Question

I own a 2003 Eclipse GTS 4 speed automatic. I'm having gas mileage problems. I used to get 315-400 miles to a tank of gas. I get 250-280 miles now to a tank. I have spent over 2 grand trying to resolve this issue. Everything from tune ups, belt changes, transmission flushes, fuel system clean outs, throttle body clean outs, etc...has been done. All my computer readings are perfect. This problem pretty much happened over night. I'm not sure if this is related, but on cold mornings or when my car has been sitting for over 12 hours, sometimes it will sputter when it starts. Almost like it's stalling out. Once started sometimes my car will sound loud, but will quiet down once the engine has heated up. I'm desperate to find a solution.

Submitted: 69 days and 2 hours ago.
Category: Car
Value: $28
Status: CLOSED
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Optional Information

Year: 2003
Make: Mitsubishi
Model: Eclipse
Engine: 6 Cylinder 3.0L

Already Tried:
Tune ups, transmission flushes, fuel system clean outs, just about every general maintenance fix to improve gas mileage, one mechanice replaced the water temp sensor.

Posted by Tracer 69 days and 2 hours ago.

Answer

Hello, it sound as if you have covered just about everything but do be advised that fuel injection cleaning is not 100%. by description, you could have a sticking injector which will leak fuel overnight into cylinder AND cause bad gas mileage. You woul need a pressure guage hooke dup overnight to look for drop and then it is a 1 in six guess as to what injector or injectors are leaking or partially stuck open. A stuck open injector will alow gas into cylinder after sitting and then , yes, cause misfire when cold till cleared of raw fuel

68 days and 23 hours ago.

Reply

Thank you for the quick reply. Is this related to a rocker cover gasket leak? When I had the dealership trying to figure out my mileage problem, they discovered the rocker cover gasket leak. Looking at my invoice, they replaced the rocker cover gasket, cylinder head seal, and had to replace the plug wires because of it.

Posted by Tracer 68 days and 15 hours ago.

Answer

Some times the orings that seal the spark plug yubes begin to leak oil allowing oil to sit around the plug(s). If this was the case for poor gas milegae, it would be do to a misfire condition. You would lose power and have an engine miss. I was not really going that direction as you did not state a missfire is constant

68 days and 10 hours ago.

Reply

The gasket repair wasn't related to my gas mileage situation. The mechanics just discovered it as they were working on my car. But I didn't know if what you had just told me was the same thing they already did.

One more thing I forgot to mention, and this might be related to the fuel injectors, would a fuel injector problem cause my car to shift harder into a certain gear? On rare occasion I'll notice my car will kick hard into third gear for no apparent reason.

Posted by Tracer 68 days and 8 hours ago.

Answer

No, I am speaking a fule injector or 2 that may be sticking partially open at times. This will surely cause drop in gas mileage AND cause possible running problems upon first start in the am. Fuel injector problems usually will not affect trans shifting. I suppose if one was stuck a little and the cylinder began to miss slighty, this could cause the trans to jump a little or shift into a gear a little hard,.

68 days and 6 hours ago.

Reply

Thank you. Before, I hit Accept, is there a direct e-mail address to where I can keep in contact with you in case this does not resolve my mileage problem?

Accepted Answer

You can simply request me "tracer" at anytime. I will laso leave this post open as well. LMk thanks

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Expert: Tracer
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 9/15/2009

ASE Certified Technician

32 years Foreign / Domestic Cars All aspects of Diag and Repair

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