The fuel economy of our 96 sable seems to have dropped off slowly over the years. It is the 24 valve DOHC engine and the car has 143,000 miles on it. It seems to run fine and the local dealer has been no help. If there is no "check engine light" they don't seem to know what to do, but I am only getting 24 miles per gallon, average. This is not stop and go driving but pretty much back and forth to work which is 27 miles one way andonly a couple ofstop lights.


Seems to me I should be getting considerably better fuel economy, but maybe I am dreaming.


What are you getting for fuel economy?


After all those miles, is there anything that should be replaced in the fuel injection system?

i would consider 24 miles to a gallon in the DOHC engines pretty good.A good fuel induction service may help you fuel economy a little as well as plugs and a fuel filter but at 143000 miles you may just want to live with it.

I would suggest doing a full tune up. Plugs, wires, air filter, fuel filter. Also next time you fill up put some fuel injector cleaner in. If you do all that you should see a notice. One more thing try using a High flow air filter such as K&N, Fram Air Hog, Green performance air filters.

Have a compression check done. For 143k miles,24mpg is good. But for 143k miles,your cylinders are a teeny bit worn. If the check is a little low,no biggie. If the loss is high,you've got two choices fix or sell. I would agree with the major tune up. K&N filters are real good. BTW,what grade oil do you use?








Lenny.[img]smileys/smiley16.gif[/img]

24 thats better than the sticker say ed


when you got it new? it also might be where your filling up at.

Don' t go out and spend your money on expensive things like K&N filters and major tune ups. As mileage increases ona car the car naturally will get less MPG than it used to. Just make sure you have clean air and fuel filters and be happy that you still get decent mileage. Definatley don't listen to windzer and you should do fine.

I have an 89 sable and I have been getting everywhere from 21 to 27 mpg depending on what kind of driving I do, there are so many factors to consider when it comes to mpg so isolating the cause will be nest to impossible. Edited by: Sablefreak

Reformulated gasolines. More ethanol = less mpg.

k&n's will help gas mileage on ANY car and they pay for them selves... do not say "don't go out and spend your money on expensive things like K&N filters and major tune ups". that's rediculious. if he is getting 24 now i bet he could get 27mpg easy.


also.. i threw a bottle of "water wetter" inside my coolent tank and it dropped the running temp A LOT... a cooler car make mnore HP. the more HP, the easier it is for a car to accelerate and burn fuel better

Before we go any further...wanting to be helpful...this thread is 2-1/2 years old.[img]smileys/smiley2.gif[/img]