New to the forum.. Just got a 2004 lancer sportback ralliart yellow. I've filled the tank 3 times and only got 250km to the tank. I think there is a problem. I took it to the dealer and they said that if their was a problem the check engine light would come on. That if they put the scanner on and there was no code there is nothing they can do! and they would charge me the $90.00 for there time even if the car still had warranty. does any one know if this is normal, if not anyone have any clues on how to pinpoint the problem. Help would be great. this is my first mits and I love it but the wife is pissed about the fuel and wants to get rid of it.The car only has 30 000 km on it. I dont even drive it hard. Its auto trans.

 

yea i have the same issue here but i have the 4 door ralliart and i only get about 320km to the tank.

 

First thing I would look at are your driving habits - mostly city/highway, spirited driving, use the cruise control, etc. Are you driving it to the light, or just under there's a 1/4 tank on the gauge?

Is the car modified at all?

 

Im driving it to the light. (Empty) no mods just city driving 10 min to and from work. no hard driving at all.
320km is alot better than 250km to a tank. been doing some asking around and people been getting any where from 380-500 to a tank no mods.

 

i guess reset the ecu...
just unplug battery wait 15 minutes and that plug it back and turn on the car... let her sit for another 15 minutes and drive it around... it takes up to 100km will the ecu learns...

but i might be wrong...

 

well i don't really gun my car, and shift at 3500 cruise at 75 ish and rpm around 3500 on high ways and i get 21 mpg, till the light comes on......about 220 miles. i've tried resetting the ecu, didn't seem to work for me, and i only have an injen CAI and custom axle back.

 

damn...i've never run mine or any car until the light comes on...lol..at 1/2 tank i refill...sometimes 3/4....i drive agressively and it eats gas but i don't notice too much since i get gas everyday

 

As mentioned above, try resetting your ECU and then let the car relearn. Also wouldn't hurt to clean the MAF element. You can buy spray MAF cleaner, or there's my prefered method to very gently wipe it with a cotton swab soaked in denatured alcohol.

 

Thanks for the info will try resetting the ecu.

 

Im with you Racman. Ive filled up 3 times in about the last week and a half. I drive mostly highway about 45 miles roundtrip. And when I filled up I got 24, 17, and 20 MPG. I really think its where you cruise at MPH wise. The 17 tank it was nicer out and traffic was moving a lot faster (maybe 80-85ish) , the 24 tank the weather was crappy so everyone was only going around 60-65.

 

there was one time that i got 160 on a full tank but ussually on a full tank i get 220 miles till the light goes on... mivec is killin mpg at a highway speed over 70 but what can you do...

 

im assuming you just bought this?

some things that effect gas mileage are easy to change / clean / fix.

ie :
Change / clean air filters,
Change oil etc.

but if you just bought this, I would imagine they changed the oil
and went over these things...
(but you still might want to take a look under the hood)

Otter is also pretty much jesus around these parts of the forum,
i dont think i have ever seen him wrong or point anyone in the wrong direction.
I would try the battery detachment first then go from there.

Sometimes i get a bad tank of gas myself, its usually this sunoco by my house too...
(I dont think our RA's like the 10% ethanol much...)
You do the conversion, but i usually will average 285mpt (miles per tank)...
but there have been times i have only received 240 mpt...

 

I have an Auto Ralliart with SRI, UDP, and Exhaust...and i drive 50/50 highway city, and i get about anywhere b/w 22-25 mpg. If im just highway i get 27.5mpg and i dont drive slow... But when i get gas at the red light it only takes 10.4 gallons to fill it up. We have 13.5 gallon tanks so you still have about 2-3 gallons left, but i do not advise driving on the red light.

 

Wait....Otter is Jesus? Can I be Moses?



Back On Topic....To add to the advice above, colder climates kill gas mileage and this is the time of year the "crappy" gas is sold.
Check tire pressures too and keep it out of Mivec when cruising on the highway (3500 or so RPM).
The short trips may be killing you.
Try not using the "idiot light" to tell you to fill up.

 

you get some red sea parting action, yeah im down with that...
just go easy on the burning bush.