gas mileage problems on 04 vibe.

Discuss any problems, warranty, repair, or replacement issues you are having with your Vibe & Matrix
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savibe23
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Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 10:59 am

gas mileage problems on 04 vibe.

Post by savibe23 »

I recently purchased an 04 vibe with 92000 miles and read up on it that gas mileage would be decent. After changing the oil with 10-30 Valvoline durablend and spark plugs ngk iridium my first full tank of 87 octane dished out a whopping 15 MPG. I replaced the air filter and took a drive to Dallas and got 23 MPG. That was all highway. Had the AC on but still. Any ideas on. What might be robbing my mpgs?
2004 vibe 1zz fwd automatic demon..........
epcIII
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Re: gas mileage problems on 04 vibe. (savibe23)

Post by epcIII »

Just to make it clear: is it AWD, manual, auto?
savibe23
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Post by savibe23 »

It is fwd.
2004 vibe 1zz fwd automatic demon..........
09vGT
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Post by 09vGT »

Tire pressure? Heavy load?
06pvibe
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Re: (09vGT)

Post by 06pvibe »

That is way too low.....MAF sensor, O2 sensor(s), clogged cat?Is the temp guage reading normal? Does the car seem to have adequate power?Have you tried resetting the ECU?If a manual trans, does the clutch seem to be slipping?
FJ's Garage Thread "There is no tool you can buy that will replace experience." - Josh Mills, C.K.DeLuxe January 2011 GenVibe MOTM
zionzr2
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Re: (06pvibe)

Post by zionzr2 »

Quote, originally posted by 06pvibe »That is way too low.....MAF sensor, O2 sensor(s), clogged cat?Is the temp guage reading normal? Does the car seem to have adequate power?Have you tried resetting the ECU?If a manual trans, does the clutch seem to be slipping?Agreed!! 23 is way to low even for an AWD.Tires properly inflated?Good Quality Gas?Clean Filters? Oil, Engine, Fuel.Clogged Cat?Fouled sensors? MAF, O2, etc.Condition of Plugs?Run a bottle of fuel system cleaner? (i.e. Techron)Switch to 5w30 or 0w30 Oil.Remove lead from foot.Keep it under 70mph. I will usually try keeping it around 65 and keep to right and let the speed demons pass.Remove other non essential weight from vehicle.
dgekiere
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Re: gas mileage problems on 04 vibe. (savibe23)

Post by dgekiere »

read through this thread. for the mileage it may be a good time to change the vvt filter anyway, but it looks like this guy got better mileage after changing this filterhttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=42494
2003 VIBE GT, CONVERTING TO RALLY CAR. http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=463112004 vibe gt magnaflow catback exhaust (bought totaled 9/06 with 1600 miles, fixed it and in love ever since2004 HONDA CBR1000RRASE Master certified mechanic
06pvibe
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Re: (zionzr2)

Post by 06pvibe »

Still, tire inflation, and oil weight will not make that much of a difference. I think you have a more serious problem, e.g. sensors or cat. Only a serious problem would cause a serious drop in mileage like that. All those other things that I and others have mentioned will not make that much difference if every one was out of spec.And for oil weight, stick w/the manufacturer's recommendation, which is usually 5w-30.
FJ's Garage Thread "There is no tool you can buy that will replace experience." - Josh Mills, C.K.DeLuxe January 2011 GenVibe MOTM
savibe23
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Post by savibe23 »

Its an automatic. I've notice it has a high idle on cold start up. Around 1500. But goes down to about 700 when warm. Any ideas would be appreciated thanks.
2004 vibe 1zz fwd automatic demon..........
savibe23
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Post by savibe23 »

Well when I first got it trouble code p0420 came out I think bank one sensor one was weak. Reset it and it came back on again with a slow evap leak. Maybe the o2 sensors? I have no weight in it and the filter is a kn. Filter that I cleaned before driving. I changed the plugs and the temp has been normal since I got it.
2004 vibe 1zz fwd automatic demon..........
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joatmon
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Re: gas mileage problems on 04 vibe. (savibe23)

Post by joatmon »

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=6088&#p65128 has an excerpt from the service manual on what to check if gas mileage is loower than expectedi wouldn't run 10W30 in a Vibe, but theres a lot of debate about oil weights in various threads here lately
Last edited by joatmon on Sat Dec 03, 2016 10:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
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zionzr2
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Re: (savibe23)

Post by zionzr2 »

Quote, originally posted by savibe23 »Its an automatic. I've notice it has a high idle on cold start up. Around 1500. But goes down to about 700 when warm. Any ideas would be appreciated thanks.This is pretty normal idle ranges. Mine does about the same.
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Water boy
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Re: (zionzr2)

Post by Water boy »

Quote, originally posted by zionzr2 »This is pretty normal idle ranges. Mine does about the same.+1 on my '08 automatic front wheel drive
2008
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47,900 Yokohama Avid 205/55-16 $492.40 drive out w/TPMS rebuild kits
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savibe23
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Post by savibe23 »

well i cleaned my maf sensor today and throttle response was better. tomorrow ima try and take on this p0420 trouble code and hopefully it isnt the cat converter. still my hopes of great gas mileage has been crushed til i figure this out. thank ya for yas input.
2004 vibe 1zz fwd automatic demon..........
hextavo
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Re: (savibe23)

Post by hextavo »

Hmm that is some crazy low mileage, so you have the all wheel drive automatic ? Hmm, isn't the highway speed in texas like 90 mpg, or not where your driving? I'm pretty sure the best gas mileage I've seen was 36 and that was right after a oil change, and 100% nonstop highway driving at like 55-60 mph... So if your driving with 4wd on, at 90+ avg speed.. Maybe you'd expect that kind of mileage, especially if you have 4 heavyweight passengers, so maybe some more specifics, like avg speed, weight ( i think rule of thumb is 100lbs = 1mpg , and of course I'm sure if you replaced the plugs, oil, air filter, cleaned MAS, there has to be some thing still wrong here..
Mark
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Re: gas mileage problems on 04 vibe. (savibe23)

Post by Mark »

That really sucks. My '04 base gets 34 highway with the cruise set at 80 and the a/c on. At 70 on non-interstate highways I get 36, and one time driving across Wyoming with a 40mph tailwind I got 49.Tell you what, since I feel so bad for your poor mileage, I'll give you $3k for the car, just to alleviate your suffering.
'08 Base Stealth, '05 Base Satellite
Mark
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Re: gas mileage problems on 04 vibe. (savibe23)

Post by Mark »

double double post post
'08 Base Stealth, '05 Base Satellite
savibe23
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Post by savibe23 »

thats what i bought it for..... and i kinda like it. besides the fact that im at a quarter tank already and barely got a total of 170 miles driven. damn gas mileage is sucky as heck. I have the front wheel drive automatic and here in san antonio the speed limit at its highest is 70 mph. but this tank ive kept it under 60 and havent gon past 3000 rpm. maximum of 300 pounds including me my wife and two kids. im assuming the only thing it might be is the intake gasket or throttle body gasket. but who knows.. thanks for the input..... and the offer...
2004 vibe 1zz fwd automatic demon..........
09vGT
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Post by 09vGT »

Thats sucky! I get around 22-24 mostly around town.. Though.. I only get around 220 miles per tank.. I wish the Vibes had bigger gas tanks.. So we could go farther.. my friends G6.. on the computer says its close to 400 miles range when she fills up..
wallyuwl
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Re: (savibe23)

Post by wallyuwl »

That code is your problem. Replace the cat, and it isn't a bad idea to change the O2 sensors at the same time. I am not seeing the hit in mileage yet, but am going to do that soon with my vehicle since I have the p0420 code as well. This is the cat I'm considering:http://www.autopartswarehouse....ellerThen the other things to consider have already been mentioned (5W30 "energy conserving" rated oil, tire inflation, new air filter, run a bottle of techron, etc.).You might also have an intake manifold gasket leak, though that often sets another code for the bank 1 (on the back of the engine) O2 sensor.
06pvibe
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Re: (wallyuwl)

Post by 06pvibe »

I am not a big fan of Autopartswarehouse.com. As a Moderator on a Mazda forum they did a pretty good job of SPAMMING up that forum, enlisting various people to register and drop their SPAMBOMBs. I had to call them personally and tell them legal action would be taken if they didn't cease and desist. But I have to admit, that's a pretty good price compared to others I have seen.Another subject came up on Mazda recently was catalytic converters and (for what its worth) there was a link to a veteran mechanics (30+ yrs he said) site. He stated that adding a gallon of lacquer thinner to roughly ten gallons of gas can clean up a bad cat. I haven't tried it myself, but I just might should the need arise.It might be worth a shot in your case. And what have you got to lose?
FJ's Garage Thread "There is no tool you can buy that will replace experience." - Josh Mills, C.K.DeLuxe January 2011 GenVibe MOTM
wallyuwl
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Re: (06pvibe)

Post by wallyuwl »

Rock Auto actually has a better price by about $40 after a 5% coupon code and even when shipping is considered on the same cat. I emailed AWP to see if they'd price match, no reply yet. I would rather get everything at one place, though, and APW has O2 sensors with a 5 yr. warranty that are no more expensive than direct fit ones. Not sure about the lacquer thinner thing. Don't want to mess up anything else with the fuel system.
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