EGR as source of bad mileage?

[L1011tristar17]

My car has been getting 12-15mpg in mixed driving (a lot of windy country roads but few stop signs). I noticed that one of the three bolts on the EGR valve/sensor/whatever you call it is missing. I'm guessing it's a nut on a stud, since the stud seems to be broken off too. This means that there is a gap between the plastic and metal (2nd pic)



Thinking about it now, this might explain my gas mileage. I pulled a code months ago that had something to do with the EGR (code 34?) that would explain a lot. Since the problem seems to be with the stud being broken, should I just grab a replacement from the junkyard and throw it on there? Or can I just replace the stud?

[pantera77]

No, the stud is welded on. That's just for the sensor anyways, and as long as the o ring is sealing it should be fine.

EGR has very little effect on gas mileage.

[gadget73]

If its causing a vacuum leak, it won't help you any but otherwise it really should not have a significant effect. Working egr vs non-working EGR might be good for a half mpg on the highway. You'd barely notice it unless you really did some testing with and without it hooked up. I would fix it though just because I like things to work. 15 with mixed driving sounds about normal.

[BerniniCaCO3]

sad to say but i'm with gadget, it's normal.
I was so so optimistic when I got my baby and I got 24mpg first trip! Well, that was on a spring day, going 4 hours downhill in a continuous long haul.

Once I started commuting 3-5 miles, in winter... Oooo like 10mpg.
Also, putting on truck tires, even though they are pirellis (craigslist special! don't judge), was a terrible idea for fuel economy. Shaved 2mpg right there.

[mobydick]

Yeah the people that say they get 35mpg with these cars are on crack.

[miamibob]

Yeah the people that say they get 35mpg with these cars are on crack.

To quote Al Gore, "They mis-spoke"!!

[slack]

I was getting 14mpg in my car when I had no vacuum going to the egr. I fixed and cleaned everything and lately I've been seeing around 19mpg with daily driving... Are you guys sure the EGR doesn't do a lot for fuel economy because mine definitely went up.

[porschpow]

I am on the same boat, I think I am having issues with my EGR, b/c the mileage is 19-20 with 80-85% mostly highway driving (75 mile commute)

[L1011tristar17]

19-20 on the highway is pretty good in my opinion.

[porschpow]

I also have the 34 code (first 22, then 134-can't find what its for unknown, then 34)

[gadget73]

20 with 85% highway? Thats about as good as you can realistically expect to get. Maybe with very careful throttle control you can eek that out to 21-22 but I wouldn't count on it.

[sxcpotatoes]

I got 28.5 once out of my '88 LTD w/true duals (no crossover h or x) & 4 12's & 1000w amp in the trunk.

Of course that was with 2.83/2.73 gears, no trak-loc, & cruise set at 55. From Canton, Oh area to up in the hills west of Charleston, WV, so it wasn't all flat/downhill.

Made it down AND back on the same tank of gas, and there were like 22 miles on trip odo already. Was showing 420 when I pulled into the gas station in the old hometown.

Sent from my XT557 using Tapatalk 2

[porschpow]

That is remarkable.

ALthough I know I can do better. I had an 87 ford corwn vic two door, when i lived in VA, commute back home to NJ from VA I usually got 25-27 MPG. And this was of me doing60-65mph

Also I had a code 34 which has something to do with the EGR.....

I know...KNOW these cars can do 21+ EASY

[dmccaig]

20 with 85% highway? Thats about as good as you can realistically expect to get. Maybe with very careful throttle control you can eek that out to 21-22 but I wouldn't count on it.

Many tens of thousands of highway miles later with wagon in top tune on AVID high performance tires, lightly loaded (500 pounds?) 19 to 21. Better on methanol free gas.

Donald

[pantera77]

I was getting 14mpg in my car when I had no vacuum going to the egr. I fixed and cleaned everything and lately I've been seeing around 19mpg with daily driving... Are you guys sure the EGR doesn't do a lot for fuel economy because mine definitely went up.

Maybe 1-2 mpg at most.


My POS winter beater wagon w/ 3.55's and 260k miles still gets 24+ on the highway. I just checked the mileage last week as I haven't been keeping track, 19.9 with a 40/60 mix city/highway. I also drive it like it's stolen.