Bad fuel mileage - '00 SL1

I have noticed that the fuel mileage in my '00 SL1 has slowly been
deteriorating over the last few months. I am currently only getting aroun
22-24 MPG (dpending on how accurate my conversion is). I feel that I should
be getting better, especially since the pric of gas has increased so
dramatically...

The car is an automatic, and has been well maintained since new. It has
65,000 kms on it and I have owned it since 40,000. The air filter was
changed at 52,000 as were the tranny fluid and filter, and spark plugs. I
change the oil as soon as the light comes on.

I was told by someone that the O2 sensor May be the culprit, but I wanted to
ask some people in the know before I take it somewhere to have it looked at.

Any ideas or recommendations?

I had replaced my o2 sensor on mine. It wasn't reading right. The car was
getting to much fuel. You could actually smell it coming from the exhaust.
The car was warmed up, but with the sensor gone, the computer figured the
engine was still cold. Therefore sending out to much fuel.
The sensor was fairly cheap. $60 Aftermarket part(not from the dealer). It
took only minutes to put in. It cured my problem

Good luck
"Rincewind" > wrote in message
...
> I have noticed that the fuel mileage in my '00 SL1 has slowly been
> deteriorating over the last few months. I am currently only getting aroun
> 22-24 MPG (dpending on how accurate my conversion is). I feel that I
should
> be getting better, especially since the pric of gas has increased so
> dramatically...
>
> The car is an automatic, and has been well maintained since new. It has
> 65,000 kms on it and I have owned it since 40,000. The air filter was
> changed at 52,000 as were the tranny fluid and filter, and spark plugs. I
> change the oil as soon as the light comes on.
>
> I was told by someone that the O2 sensor May be the culprit, but I wanted
to
> ask some people in the know before I take it somewhere to have it looked
at.
>
> Any ideas or recommendations?
>
>

Isn't there two sensors? If so, which one did you swap (exhaust manifold)?

"Shawn" > wrote in message
...
> I had replaced my o2 sensor on mine. It wasn't reading right. The car was
> getting to much fuel. You could actually smell it coming from the exhaust.
> The car was warmed up, but with the sensor gone, the computer figured the
> engine was still cold. Therefore sending out to much fuel.
> The sensor was fairly cheap. $60 Aftermarket part(not from the dealer). It
> took only minutes to put in. It cured my problem
>
> Good luck
> "Rincewind" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have noticed that the fuel mileage in my '00 SL1 has slowly been
> > deteriorating over the last few months. I am currently only getting
aroun
> > 22-24 MPG (dpending on how accurate my conversion is). I feel that I
> should
> > be getting better, especially since the pric of gas has increased so
> > dramatically...
> >
> > The car is an automatic, and has been well maintained since new. It has
> > 65,000 kms on it and I have owned it since 40,000. The air filter was
> > changed at 52,000 as were the tranny fluid and filter, and spark plugs.
I
> > change the oil as soon as the light comes on.
> >
> > I was told by someone that the O2 sensor May be the culprit, but I
wanted
> to
> > ask some people in the know before I take it somewhere to have it looked
> at.
> >
> > Any ideas or recommendations?
> >
> >
>
>

I have a 2002 SL1 standard with over 74,000 Km already. I experienced a
significant drop in fuel economy a few months ago before having the
recommended emissions cleaning done by the dealer. The economy was
immediately restored. I just did some mostly highway travelling of over 1000
Kms in 4 days and used less than 2 tankfuls of gas (about $45 Cdn).

Also note I drive my car hard much of the time. I laugh at my friends who
spend a fortune on gas with their 2L standard 2002 Neon compared to my
Saturn.

Stuart


"Shawn" > wrote in message
...
> I had replaced my o2 sensor on mine. It wasn't reading right. The car was
> getting to much fuel. You could actually smell it coming from the exhaust.
> The car was warmed up, but with the sensor gone, the computer figured the
> engine was still cold. Therefore sending out to much fuel.
> The sensor was fairly cheap. $60 Aftermarket part(not from the dealer). It
> took only minutes to put in. It cured my problem
>
> Good luck
> "Rincewind" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have noticed that the fuel mileage in my '00 SL1 has slowly been
> > deteriorating over the last few months. I am currently only getting
aroun
> > 22-24 MPG (dpending on how accurate my conversion is). I feel that I
> should
> > be getting better, especially since the pric of gas has increased so
> > dramatically...
> >
> > The car is an automatic, and has been well maintained since new. It has
> > 65,000 kms on it and I have owned it since 40,000. The air filter was
> > changed at 52,000 as were the tranny fluid and filter, and spark plugs.
I
> > change the oil as soon as the light comes on.
> >
> > I was told by someone that the O2 sensor May be the culprit, but I
wanted
> to
> > ask some people in the know before I take it somewhere to have it looked
> at.
> >
> > Any ideas or recommendations?
> >
> >
>
>

I'd have a look at the ECTS. That's the coolant temp sensor screwed into
the cylinder head. Prior to 2002, they were made of plastic and had a
tendency to crack. The new ones are brass. Symptoms of a failed ECTS are
poor gas mileage, hard starting, and erratic temp gauge readings. They
won't throw any diagnostic codes when they go, however the O2 sensor
will.

"TC" > wrote in message
...
> I'd have a look at the ECTS. That's the coolant temp sensor screwed into
> the cylinder head. Prior to 2002, they were made of plastic and had a
> tendency to crack. The new ones are brass. Symptoms of a failed ECTS are
> poor gas mileage, hard starting, and erratic temp gauge readings. They
> won't throw any diagnostic codes when they go, however the O2 sensor
> will.

Thanks, I will look into that too. Sometimes, the car is a llittle hard to
start...