'89 Camry 2.0L getting 20MPG?!

[jasonck08]

My grandparents recently gave me their '89 camry 2L with 144k. I filled up the tank last week. I then set the odometer to see what kind of gas mileage it would get. I was expecting it to be around 30MPG give or take. I was shocked today when I filled up the tank with 10 gallons after traveling 199 miles. That works out to about 20MPG.

As far as my driving style and the factors involved. Throughout the week on average I had two passengers with me together weighing 350lbs. About 70% of the mileage was highway driving and 30% city. On the freeway I average about 70mph. The AC was on about 80% of the time on medium-high settings. As far as accelerating goes I would say moderate acceleration. Sometimes when I'm merging on the freeway I floor it so I can keep up with traffic. But other times I press lightly on the gas.

From what I have read 100lbs on most cars = .6 MPG decrease. So the 350lbs should account for my MPG being ~2MPG lower. Also from what I have read AC accounts for a 3% milage decrease. In my case about .6 MPG.

So what I'm asking you is what could be causing the poor gas mileage? Should I replace the spark plugs? How much do new plugs cost? What about the fuel filter? I have no idea where it is located. The air filter is quite clean, and the oil was changed 500-1000 miles ago. I checked all tiers and they were all properly inflated to the recommended 35PSI. Please advise. Thanks!

[JMSports]

Originally Posted by jasonck08

My grandparents recently gave me their '89 camry 2L with 144k. I filled up the tank last week. I then set the odometer to see what kind of gas mileage it would get. I was expecting it to be around 30MPG give or take. I was shocked today when I filled up the tank with 10 gallons after traveling 199 miles. That works out to about 20MPG.

As far as my driving style and the factors involved. Throughout the week on average I had two passengers with me together weighing 350lbs. About 70% of the mileage was highway driving and 30% city. On the freeway I average about 70mph. The AC was on about 80% of the time on medium-high settings. As far as accelerating goes I would say moderate acceleration. Sometimes when I'm merging on the freeway I floor it so I can keep up with traffic. But other times I press lightly on the gas.

From what I have read 100lbs on most cars = .6 MPG decrease. So the 350lbs should account for my MPG being ~2MPG lower. Also from what I have read AC accounts for a 3% milage decrease. In my case about .6 MPG.

So what I'm asking you is what could be causing the poor gas mileage? Should I replace the spark plugs? How much do new plugs cost? What about the fuel filter? I have no idea where it is located. The air filter is quite clean, and the oil was changed 500-1000 miles ago. I checked all tiers and they were all properly inflated to the recommended 35PSI. Please advise. Thanks!

So you had the AC on, passengers, you do over 70 mph, and you expect to not be getting such shit gas mileage?

Your supposed to get 35MPG Highway when you do the speed limit (around 60mph) If you do 65, you waste 15% more gas then if you do 55, so if your doing 70 with the AC on (which uses 10-15% of engine power), with like 250 extra pounds, your probably getting 30% worse gas mileage then your supposed to be getting.

I get about 35pmg and i drive alone, no ac, just radio blasting and i do 65 on the highways. I also make sure i dont have anything i dont need with me in my car, like dead weight.

[jasonck08]

I was doing "the speed limit." The speed limit is 70mph on I5 at least in my area. Also there is no way the AC uses 10-15% more engine power. The alternator is an 80 amp alternator. At full load that is. 80amps x 12 volts = 960 watts. 1HP = ~748 watts. so I'm using up at most ~1.2HP. Thats about 1/100th of the stock engines power of 115hp. But obviously I'm not using the engine on full trottle and RPM's, so I'm never using near 115hp. But assuming that I use 30hp on average (city and highway combined) that still translates to roughly 3% more gas usage. 10-15% more fuel consumption with the AC would only be possible when idling.

There is a thread about gas milage for Gen 2 camrys and most people claim to get around 30mpg @ 70mph with AC. I expected to get in the mid-high 20's with the two passengers.

What I want to know, is how I can improve this? My guess is that the fuel filter is clogged up a bit (but I don't even know where the darn thing is). any other suggestions?

[drugal]

Even with those factors, 20mpg is way too low.

Here's something to think about: I once went on a 8000km highway trip with my Gen2, packing roughly 1000lbs of stuff in the car. Despite averaging 60-70mph and exceeding the load limit by 100lbs, my mileage didn't drop below 30mpg.

These days, I'm getting 29.9mpg in city driving, with AC on and off randomly, empty car, and not making any effort to save gas. It could also use a tune-up.

So: Something's wrong with your car. Spark plugs cost about $10-15 for a set of four. Do not use Bosch plugs. NGKs work well in these engines.

[84Cressida]

Something is wrong. I can squeeze at least 20 mpg in my Cressida driving around town with the A/C on full blast and constant stop and goes. Try your air filter, tire pressure, etc. The simple things first.

[JMSports]

Originally Posted by jasonck08

I was doing "the speed limit." The speed limit is 70mph on I5 at least in my area. Also there is no way the AC uses 10-15% more engine power. The alternator is an 80 amp alternator. At full load that is. 80amps x 12 volts = 960 watts. 1HP = ~748 watts. so I'm using up at most ~1.2HP. Thats about 1/100th of the stock engines power of 115hp. But obviously I'm not using the engine on full trottle and RPM's, so I'm never using near 115hp. But assuming that I use 30hp on average (city and highway combined) that still translates to roughly 3% more gas usage. 10-15% more fuel consumption with the AC would only be possible when idling.

There is a thread about gas milage for Gen 2 camrys and most people claim to get around 30mpg @ 70mph with AC. I expected to get in the mid-high 20's with the two passengers.

What I want to know, is how I can improve this? My guess is that the fuel filter is clogged up a bit (but I don't even know where the darn thing is). any other suggestions?

Actually the car is rated to do around 60, not 70, so reguardless of whether you did the speed limit or not, you werent getting the MPG that you thought.

[jasonck08]

@84Cressida, as stated in my first post the air filter and tire pressure are fine. That I checked before I drove the thing.

I've probably asked this question 5 times now on this forum, but have not gotten a single answer. Where is the fuel filter located in the engine compartment?

Also, how much do spark plugs cost usually?

[canddmeyer]

There may be nothing wrong with the car. If the tires are properly inflated and the air filter clean, I'd just live with it. Admittedly your MPG is way low, but some vehicles of the same make and model have differing results for whatever reason. I wish I had your car payment.

I don't know where the fuel filter is located, but I'll attach a link from Autozone. Spark plugs are less than $5 each.

http://www.autozone.com/shopping/rep...00c15280073f40

[fourdrinie]

If you're not able to find the fuel filter on the car, are you really competent enough to change it?
Follow the fuel lines from under the car to the engine...the fuel filter is on the driver's side under the air filter housing attached to the sidewall. It will take two wrenches to get it off, I believe a 17mm and 14mm in tandem as not to bend the metal fuel lines.

[fredk]

make sure the cat is not blocked up, mine on my 89 is

[Kep]

The fuel filter can be a pain to remove. Be very careful not to strip the nut or bend any lines.

What checks have you done on your emissions system so far?

Check that your cold start system is working properly. If the cold start injector is leaking or if the cold start timer switch (I'm guessing a 3SFE engine?) is sending the wrong signal you might be dumping fuel into the system all the time.

Kep

[Kingdom934]

Geez, 20MPG is pretty low. Only time I got near the low 20's was when I didn't have a second gear on my Gen1 because of an electrical issue with the tranny.

Odd question to ask, but is O/D enabled while you drive? If you got an LE trim, what is the rev on highway speeds?

[jasonck08]

I enabeled O/D when I was on the freeway going over 55mph. I'm going to try driving slower and see how big of a difference it makes. I'm also going to try running some restore, to try and gain compression.

[disregard]

fuel filter is in the engine compartment below the air filter box you will need to remove the box to get to the fuel filter. after that check plugs and wires.

[canddmeyer]

Leave O/D on all the time. Also be aware the obvious, an older vehicle with wear and tear isn't going to perform as well, hence 20mpg. You'll probably gain 3+ mpg leaving the O/D on all the time.