Right now I'm getting 11MPG in my camaro (96 Z28)....I'm usually getting along the line is 23.3MPG. I'm thinking its the O2 sensors. could i be wrong? any ideas as to what is killing my MPG (the car is stock BTW)

 

You might be right, but there could be a lot of other problems to. I would take it to a mechanic so you can hook a scan tool up to it to see if your 02 sensors are working proberly. You could also have a temperature sensor broken, a clogged air filter or intake, you might need a tune up like new spark plugs and wires. Did this just suddenly happen?

 

i cant really take it to a shop becasue i dont have a lot of money. i have have having issues with the car getting really hot idk if that helps any.

 

That helps a lot. It's probably your temperature sensore or thermastat. If you can't afford to take it in right now, you might want to drive as little as possible until you get the money to get a tune-up and get everything checked out, unless you can do it yourself. The only way to be for absolute sure is to get a pro to check it out. Too bad you don't live in north east Arkansas, my parents own an automotive shop, my dad is an auto engineer and I look at my friends' cars for free all the time. Your best bet is to get in good with a friend like that to check it out for you. But if it's getting hot too fast you have a huge problem.

 

i doubt its the thermostat because i just replaced it les then a month ago.

 

Install the Prestone flush kit, and use the Super Flush fluid a couple times, noting the color and look of the fluid...

 

Even if the car was running hotter than normal it still should not kill his MPH by half!! Check engine light on? I would look into the o2 sensors but with out a scanner you won't know for sure. Your car has 2 temp sensors. 1 on the water pump and 1 in the block so the only way you'll know which one is bad is if you run it on a scanner. I had the one on my water pump went out and the car would not run for more that a minute and then shut down. What kind and brand of thermostat do you have in the car? I stay away from the Checker parts cheapies! Either way it sounds like you'er going to need to get the car scanned.

 

i get just about those same mpg on my 98 z28.the service engine soon light came on about 8 months ago so i took it to get checked by one of my friiends and it said a bad o2 sensor so he reset it but the light hasnt came back on yet so i didnt think anything of it.i really dont want to replace the o2 sensors if theres nothing wrong with them but ifeel like my mpg is lower than what it should be when my car is basically stock.my car doesnt ovrheat either so does anyone have any other suggestions?

 

On LT1 cars the tempsensor on the water pump is the one that the PCM looks at, the other temp sensor, on the left side cylinder head,only drives the temp gage and has no effect on how the engine runs, but can give some goofyindications on the gage. If your engine lite is lit youshould find out why before you throw parts at the problem. If the lite is not lit, tune up the engine (plugs, wires,filters), and then start looking at the output of all the sensors with a scanner, especially the O2 sensors, and make sure the readings make sense. Also check the fuel pressure & make sure the fuel pressure regulator works properly. It is a simple test and all you need is a $20 FI pressure gage. Also, if the car has an auto transmission,make sure the ransmission is shifting properly and not slipping.