Problem w/ MPG on my '81 Corolla....O2 Sensor bad?

[Dandingo]

I'm brand new to this site and I just got this car a few months ago and have done the following things: Changed oil/oil filter, new waterpump, air filter, and fuel filter and the guy before me put new wheels/tires, batter, muffler, cat converter and struts. I'm only getting like 20 mpg in the city and I baby it. Could it be the Oxygen sensor? I just had it smogged so I don't know if the O2 sensor can be bad and still pass smog. I don't wanna throw down $40 unless I'm sure that's what it is. How do I check to see if it's bad? What about the plugs or getting it aligned? It pulls to the left so that's probably not helping. I wanna get as much MPG out of this badboy as humanly possible. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[DoubleEdgedWomb]

If it's an '81, then it's carbureted so no oxygen sensor.

[Noobified]

Get an alighnment/balance on all of your tires. One or more of the rims are bent if the steering wheel wobbles. Usually, if it pulls to one side, its alignment, so a re-alignment will fix that easily. so pulls with no wobble, its just alignment, and if it pulls and wobbles, both rims and alignment need to be adjusted/checked.

Also, check for other things, Ive heard of crazy stuff. like a cv joint loose, or other randome crap. But, check those two things first, its takes the car more "work" or "gas" to move an improperly aligned/bent rim/balance car. That WILL rob power/speed/milage even if its small.

good luck

[Flashmn]

It's an 80's corolla, carbed, its not gonna have good fuel economy.

[Hemi3TC]

82 Corolla and I get 9.5L/100 km mostly city driving short trip.
Carbs do not mean bad fuel economy, especially using the stock Aisin carb. Poor fuel economy happens if you run performance carbs like Dual side drafts or bigger flow.

The only reason the Auto makers went to EFI is to meet emmissions standards worldwide
at all elevations. Otherwise Carbs are good if not better than EFI.

Tuneup and check that your brakes are not dragging especially that the front calipers
are not stuck. That could be why the car is pulling left.

Also if this is a US spec corolla it might have the O2 sensor and a feedback carb.
US spec 82 for sure it had an O2 sensor. Just check the exhaust manifold for the O2
sensor, it is plugged right in there.

hemi3tc