I always suspected my truck wasn't getting good gas mileage, and finally (after 12 years) checked it. I'm getting about 16 MPG with a 4 cylinder carburated 22R. Any ideas why this is so bad? I'm about to start driving my muscle car to save on gas!

 

16 mpg is bad? dude i get 14, then again mines the 3.0... but still.

 

And that's without the load of hay in the back.

 

tune it up...

 

There's a bit you can do to improve mpg, but if you're getting 16mpg with a 22R a tuneup will likely help the most.

 

Adjust valves.
I got around 18 last summer when i calculated it out..
When it's colder my MPG's drop like a rock. I think it's the winter fuel, but idk.

 

I was just thinking I should adjust the valves, since they are making some noise, and I'll throw a tune up at it. Good ideas. The truck ran lousy for years until I finally figured out it was a plugged cat. I also just replaced the exhaust manifold gasket. Some dummy had snapped off a stud next to a stripped stud, which was all fun.

 

Tuneup, for sure. Plugs (NGK or Denso), wires (get the good ones, less resistance in the wire = better spark = more complete ignition), valve lash, air filter, cap, rotor.

Valve lash - .008 intake and .012 exhaust, I believe? you can download a copy of the FSM here:

http://ncttora.com/fsm/index.html

Good luck!

 

Haha that sucks... I get 17 with my 35's!

 

One more thing to consider if and when you do the tune up. You may want to give to carb itself a good cleaning.

 

check out the fuel filter while ur at it....
stay up on tire psi, i check all the time probably more than i should...a little obsessed about it actually lol, but surely it can;t hurt

 

Good basic advice, thanks all. How much does fuel injection help with MPG? Just wondering. Also, Pumpkinyota, do you have to set the valve lash with the engine running? That is always scary.

 

No, you really don't want to do that. Valve lash is set with the engine warmed up, but off. All you need is a 14mm wrench (socket or open end, for valve cover removal), 12mm open end, a flathead screwdriver, and a set of feeler guages. Download that FSM, and follow the procedure there. It very easy and straightforward, and will probably take about 15 minutes.

 

Thanks for the FSM lead, Pumpkinyota. Downloading it now. Love to save money on free stuff! My other car is a slant six that you're supposed to adjust on the fly. It always makes me nervous.

 

Wow if you adjusted the valves with the motor on you'd have a giant mess on your hands with a 22RE anyway

Don't think anyone mentioned, but check your timing as well.

We have your sparkplugs, air filter, and very high quality plug wires, I would recommend NGK wires. Use YTECH10 at checkout for 10% off your order. Thanks

www.sparkplugs.com

 

lol... well, not really... got the truck I'm driving now from a guy that thought you had to adjust the valves while it's running...

remind me again, that's for hydro valves, right?

talk about facepalm! If you don't know how to do it... just don't freaking do it!

 

Its a learning process!!


NGK's have been good in my experience, used them on last three vehicles, toyota's and subaru...

 

If I never did stuff I don't know how to do, I wouldn't do anything at all. I even use NGK's on my Mopars. Adjusting the valves on a running engine is hairy the first time, and you get an oil bath, but it actually goes quicker.

 

Assuming something isnt learning anything...

It just tee's me off when ppl act like a Service Manual has cooties, and b/c it's gotz 4:10's I can putz 35's on it Cuz ma Uncles gotz 35's on his Chevy, and itz gotz 4:11s?

 

I've got an EFI and I just checked my mileage, it's about 20MPG. This is after doing a valve adjustment, NGK plugs and wires, new rotor and cap, new brushes in the alternator. Runs like the day I rolled off the showroom floor now. I just put a bottle of fuel injector cleaner in it and already it seems to be getting better. We'll see if it has gotten better at the end of this tank.