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Advice from Gas-Man, how can a woman put in practice.
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MacGyver
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

No, with a but.......Generally speaking a simply rusted out exhaust will not effect your economy. But, if your cat (catalytic converter) is blocked then yes this will effect your economy.

No real easy way you can tell this. Speculatively does the car feel like it has good power? When you floor it and take the revs up around 4000+ does the car feel like it is struggling or is it smooth?

If it feels sluggish or struggles up high then yes maybe your cat is blocked. A mechanic can do a dynamic compression test and this will tell if your cat is blocked but this is pretty old school and most mechanics today would look at you cross eyed if you asked them to perform one.

The other way is to pull the exhaust and visually check.

Most exhaust shops will check and or just replace when they quote on an exhaust for you.

cheers
Scott
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clearlipstick
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Scott, There is no power at all when I push the accelerator to the floor. It takes a while to pick up speed but does cruise well after initial flooring. Does this indicate a cat a (what ever you called it) change is needed? The car does not shake, or splutter. I have noticed a smell at times not exactly like fuel but something smell rich.
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howsie
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sounds like it just needs a good tune, check the gas fitting under bonnet in case their freezing over.

Smell is common to most gas cars i have been in. (because the tank is inside the car)
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Rick's EF Fairmont Wagon
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Tiffany,
Scott is right on the money with the oxygen sensor. When I replaced mine I improved mileage by nearly 100klm per tank.
They are pretty hard to get out if it has been in a long time but I got a couple more newish looking spares from pick-a-part wreckers and they came undone pretty easy. I got mine (NGK) from Bursons for $80 2 years ago and with virtually no other changes the results jumped immediately.
Good luck
Richard
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MacGyver
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It is kind of hard to say. If the car has no power and is chewing through the fuel then it could just be way out of tune. But then if the cat is really blocked you could get the same symptoms. Here come a few ifs.....If the exhaust is really bad, it needs doing, if the car has travelled more than 200,000k's then the O2 is guaranteed to be stuffed and if you have the money (who does, I don't), but if you do then I would go to Auto Barn or the like and buy an O2 sensor. I would then go to a few Ma and Pa exhaust shops and have a chat with the guys there. Which ever one gives you the best feel I would ask them to fix the exhaust, check the cat and replace if blocked or collapsed and fit the O2 sensor.

You will know a good shop because they wont just replace everything. They will put the car up on the hoist and check it and say if the mufflers need replacing or if they can be reused, if the resonator can be reused, etc. If you are lucky and the exhaust is not completely rooted then I would think you may get change from $300 (including buying the O2 sensor). Worst case would be $500 I would think.

Food for thought.

Cheers
Scott
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relaxed_diplomacy
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do you mind offering your thoughts on cleaning the O2 sensor Macgyver?

[p.s. another motto similar to yours, "If you can't force it get a bigger hammer", but i've come across these with mechanics, not engineers.]
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MacGyver
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I can't really comment on cleaning them. Most times they fail is because of a breakdown in the chemicals that cause the electrical reaction. Once the chemical has brocken down or gets contaminated by say running leaded petrol in an unleaded vehicle then no amount of cleaning will help.

A good O2 sensor has a life expectancy of 80,000K's. After this they may still work but the reaction time is slow, they all eventually fail.

cheers
Scott
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clearlipstick
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you all, especially scott.

I am now checking prices on all you have mentioned.

Tiff
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hans hartman
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PostPosted: Sun May 04, 2008 3:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

clearlipstick wrote:
HI,

If my exhaust system is in a bad way, rust wise will that affect the mileage?

Tiffany
it should not,but be noisy.do you do all city driving and heavy traffic? have you fixed the gas problem yet?
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-GAS-MAN-
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PostPosted: Tue May 13, 2008 5:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hello, didnt know anyone actually read my posts icon_smile.gif
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clearlipstick
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PostPosted: Tue May 13, 2008 10:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes we do obviously icon_biggrin.gif Seems your rather knowledgeable.
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Mechan1k
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I can agree with others here in suggesting to seeing Joe at Crescent Motors in Liverpool ... he looks after me and my LPG work ute.

A decent running venturi mixer ring system should be getting you on average 14-15L/100km around town ... that's normally what I see (about 550km for 85L)
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