Rough ideal, bad fuel mileage, goes from full to 3/4 in 3-4 miles

CHEVYLOVER46

MEMBER
1995 CHEVROLET S-10
4.3L
V6
4WD
AUTOMATIC
157,000 MILES

So I have a 1995 s10 4x4 157,000 miles on it fresh oil change new spark plugs and wires, new air filter but anyway it ideals rough, but don't die it just ideals rough, and gets terrible fuel mileage, and the fuel gage (I think is messed up) but one minute it says it's at full then the next it's a 3/4 and I have only drove 3-4 miles! I don't know what that could be? Also there is a ticking nose coming from the passenger side on the back side of the motor, what could that be? Help me plz I can't afford to keep putting gas in it!

6 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,873 POSTS

If it's actually using that much fuel, you should have a lot of black smoke out the tail pipe. If not, suspect a fuel gauge issue. If you're going through fuel that fast and it's not leaking onto the ground, suspect the fuel pressure regulator. Pull the vacuum hose off and check if it's wet inside. If it is, replace the regulator, and it would be smart to change the oil again because a lot of raw fuel will have run into it.

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Saturday, January 17th, 2015 AT 12:51 AM

CHEVYLOVER46

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4 POSTS

So hat could be causing the rough ideal then? And thanks I'll look into that

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Saturday, January 17th, 2015 AT 1:04 AM

CARADIODOC

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Absolutely. Instead of sipping a little taste of fuel, it would be flooding in causing multiple misfires.

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Saturday, January 17th, 2015 AT 1:07 AM

CHEVYLOVER46

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Alright thank you! Really appreciate it, and one more thing what could that ticking noise be on the passenger side back part of the motor, could it be a bad valvue spring

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Saturday, January 17th, 2015 AT 1:25 AM

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,873 POSTS

If we're to assume these are related, I would suspect the oil is thinned out from the gas in the oil. That can allow some lifters to bleed down faster than the oil in them is replenished. That could have been from before the oil change too. Sometimes a couple of lifters can take a few miles at highway speed before they pump up.

That by itself isn't real serious, but excessive gas in the oil will reduce the oil's lubricating properties and that will do damage to the crankshaft and connecting rod bearings. That's why whenever we repair a no-start condition related to no spark, the final step is to get the oil out with the fuel in it.