Gas usage

Tiny
SPRINGMORN
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  • 2005 DODGE CARAVAN
Mini van is using a lot of gas. Getting about 3mpg. No other problems. Seems to be running fine.
Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 6:40 AM

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Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
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Do you mean less than 50 miles per tankful? There should be either a lot of black smoke coming out the tail pipe or there is a leak and it's pouring onto the ground. If it's leaking onto the ground, it's going to be real obvious, not some little seepage.
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 7:18 AM
Tiny
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Yes! 50-60miles per tank. No black smoke and no leaks. Runs fine. About a month ago started noticing using more gas. Got progressivly more, but no change in anything else.
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 7:45 AM
Tiny
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Something is being overlooked. Your van uses a leak detection pump to pressurize the fuel supply system to 2 psi, then a pressure sensor watches for a leak. If the Check Engine light hasn't turned on, there is no external leak in the tank or emissions systems, but the fuel supply line has pressure up to more than 45 psi. If a leak was in that line, it would dribble gas while you were driving and for maybe a minute or two after you stopped the engine. The leaking would stop once the pressure was gone, so you would have to check for leaks under the vehicle while the engine was still running or right after it was stopped. The additional clue would be a very long crank time before the engine started running. That pressure in the line should stay there for weeks when the engine isn't started regularly. If the pressure bleeds down from a leak, it can take a good 5 to 10 seconds of cranking before the engine starts.

Based on what the oxygen sensors in the exhaust system report, the Engine Computer can only adjust fuel delivery by plus or minus about 10 percent. With ten percent extra fuel, the engine will run very rough and there will be black smoke from the tail pipe. That will reduce fuel mileage to around 20 mpg. Even a leaking fuel injector, which Chrysler has WAY less trouble with than some other manufacturers, can't kill the fuel mileage that badly.

One thing they have had some trouble with is leaking o-ring seals between the fuel rail and injectors. The fuel might collect somewhere where it vaporizes and blows off while you're driving, but the typical complaint is a bad fuel smell coming through the vents into the passenger compartment.

I don't mean to dismiss the issue, but you might watch to see if someone is siphoning your fuel. The obvious clue is the fuel gauge will be at a different level in the morning than it was the night before.
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 8:08 AM
Tiny
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No on taking time to start. It starts right up. No gas smell while driving. Same amount of gas from when its shut off. You can watch the gas guage going down as your driving, its that bad. It also seems even worse city driving. Is it possible that its leaking gas only when its in motion? How would u test for that? Someone told me fuel injectors stuck open. Is that possible?
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 9:07 AM
Tiny
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Yup. I mentioned a stuck fuel injector but that is not common on Chryslers. If the gas is leaking that fast while driving, there would be a trail left behind and people would be flagging you down. If the fuel was being burned in the engine, the catalytic converter would be glowing red-hot and would be melted internally. The Check Engine light would be flashing indicating too much raw fuel is going to damage the converter. To burn a quarter as much too much as you're saying would make the engine sputter and barely run, and the black smoke from the tail pipe would be so bad you wouldn't be able to see the people behind you.

The only other thing I can think of is a MAF sensor being off

My best suggestion is to have a mechanic inspect it for a leak. You can't lose fuel that fast and not be able to see where it's going.
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 7:19 PM

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