1998 Saturn SC2 idle and gas milege

First off I would like to thank u for ur donation it really helps to keep this site going. So tell me more about ur problem. Do u have black smoke out the tail pipe?Does ur temp gauge go up and the fan comes on and it goes back down like it should?Has ur car boiled over?Has ur temp gauge moved around erraticially?How does ur car run going down the road?Have u had trouble starting it like its flood had to hold ur foot to the floor or extended cranking then it started and ran rough at first?Iam suspecting ur coolant temp sensor thats why I ask u all these questions. Please answer them so I can better help u.

If u were burning too much fuel the o2 sensor would be setting a code for a rich condition and u would be having black smoke out the tail pipe. All the mpg vary on the saturns even the same yr model etc.I have worked for saturn dealers for over 16yrs and have seen the same model car mpg and overal power of the car vary. Every car is differnt even though they may be the same yr model etc. My 99 sl2 will get sometimes 30 mpg on the high way or 32 mpg. It has gotten as high as 35mpg but thats not typical. Even the fuel u burn affects the mpg meaning summer blend and winter blend. Brand of gas even I had a 92sl2 when I lived in upstate ny it got like 35-38 mpg up there. Moved to california same car got 32mpg with the differnt fuel. So what is ur mpg not ur per tank mileage?Also how are u figuring ur mpg?Let me know.

Ok ill help u but we need to figure out ur actual mpg. Ur figuring ur putting 12.2 gallons when u fill up maybe if ur pushing the car to the gas station. My point is when ur fuel gauge reads close to empty or even empty itself it doesnt mean ur tank has no gas left. Thats why I asked ur mpg and how u figure it out. Most people that come in with low mpg issues just dont know how to figure mpg. When they figure how far they drove between fill ups and thats how they figure mpg it gets them in trouble.I have had people come in and say there they getting only 10mpg now I know thats wrong and ask them how u figure there mpg they dont know.I just dont want to waste ur time and money with searching for a problem thats not there. Because there are alot of things that affect gas milleage and most of them only affect it by a small amount. So first off heres how we figure out mpg next time u fill up run the tank to about 1/8 tank fill it up reset ur trip meter. Then run ur tank down to about 1/8 tank again also when ur filling the tank each time once the pump stops ur done filling no topping the tank. Then u will divide ur miles u drove by the gallons u used to fill the tank. Pretty easy that will give u a general idea I like to take about atleast 3 mpg reading and average it out between the three.

Sorry I forgot about adding what to check to help ur mileage so here it is. It is no secret gas prices are up and putting a big pinch on our pocket books. Car maintenance and driving habits significantly affect fuel economy. Here are a few tips to help you get the most for your buck. First, check the air pressure in your car's tires. Most vehicle tire pressure recommendations are located on a sticker in the driver's door jam or on the side wall of the tire. While tire and car manufacturers recommend a prescribed tire pressure, it has been shown that slightly more tire pressure is optimal for achieving higher fuel economy by reducing rolling resistance. Some hybrid cars are manufactured with tires that can hold up to 55 P.S.I. As compared with the usual 32 P.S.I. For safety and better gas mileage always keep your tires properly inflated. Next, analyze your driving habits. Do you take off quickly from a stop? Try easing into the throttle and allow the vehicle to accelerate slowly. Observe the traffic and signals in front of you. If a stop is imminent release the gas pedal and allow the car to coast the remainder of the distance before using the brakes. Proper maintenance of your car's engine is essential for optimum performance. If your engine is misfiring it will decrease mileage. If the engine oil and filter changes have been neglected it will cause additional friction inside the engine and hinder the performance and gas mileage. Finally, remove all un-necessary objects from the car, added weight can decease mileage also inspect your engine service records and perform a tune up or oil change as recommended. Following these gas saving tips can increase your mileage and save you money. Also I would check ur spark plugs make sure there not worn out or gaped over.040". Have u ever changed ur fuel filter?Do u keep up on ur transmission services oil changes etc?Do u have any engine trouble codes?Have u had it checked for engine trouble codes?Let me know.