1990 Ford Aerostar Fuel buring out the tail pipe, 10mpg.

Tiny
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  • 1990 FORD AEROSTAR
Engine Performance problem
1991 Ford Aerostar 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

I just bought a used Aerostar van, and it is going through gas way too quickly. Me and my dad replaced the ancient spark plugs and cap/rotor, sprayed the thing out with carb cleaner, and gave it a burly gas treatment. Still getting 10 mpg, and I can see that its all flying out the tail pipe. Figure I will have to just start replacing things, but were should I start? What is most likely the big problem?
Thursday, August 6th, 2009 AT 1:01 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
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Does the engine have normal power? Has the check engine light come on? Have you checked to make sure the catylatic converter isn't plugged? Is the air filter clean?
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Thursday, August 6th, 2009 AT 10:57 PM
Tiny
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It has fantastic power, it feels like it WANTS to go. In fact, it is accelerating on its own sometimes and I thought that was odd. Air filter is pristine, check engine light isn't on, and I'm not sure how to check if the cat. Converter is clogged up, I figured that the gas cleaner treatment would help that. I don't live in an area with smog checks, could I bypass the cat. Converter?
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Thursday, August 6th, 2009 AT 11:20 PM
Tiny
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If you have a lot of power, the coverter is most likely fins. It sounds like you have gone over it really well. How many miles are on it?
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Thursday, August 6th, 2009 AT 11:34 PM
Tiny
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It is reading 893,200 and I'm assuming that it has already went around once, considering that its a 1990. So that would make it almost 200k I think. All I know is that the tail pipe is covered in soot, it reeks of carbon, and you can see the fumes/smoke coming out of the pipe.
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Thursday, August 6th, 2009 AT 11:58 PM
Tiny
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It could have something to do with the temp sensor. It tells the computer how cold it is out then the computer determines how rich to make the fuel mixture.
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Friday, August 7th, 2009 AT 12:11 AM
Tiny
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Would that be the air temp sensor or the mass air flow sensor? I was also thinking that it could be the idle air control valve.
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Friday, August 7th, 2009 AT 9:14 PM
Tiny
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The temp sensor identifies engine temp, and the mass air flow (air intake) identifies the amount of air entering the engine.
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Saturday, August 8th, 2009 AT 4:29 PM

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