Fuel consumption problem on Shadow

CitronPresse · 08-25-2008, 10:01 AM

Hello Mopar lovers !First of all, sorry for my poor english, I live in Quebec and I speak french...I have a consumption problem with my 1990 Dodge Shadow...It’s previous owner was an old man who bought it new in 1990 and sale to me after 18 years.My Shadow have the 4cyl 2.5 100hp engine (no turbo).It consumes 18.8 mpg (12.5 liters/100kilometers) in summer and 12.7 mpg (18.5 liters/100 kilometers) in winter (the Quebec is cold)...Is it normal? In the automotive guides, I see the Shadow must consumes 35 mpg...Is it possible my engine not working properly? Is it possible to repair it for reduce the consumption?Thank you!

CitronPressePs: a pic of my little Shadow

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challenger · 08-25-2008, 06:55 PM

First off Welcome and sweet looking shadow , always liked them cars ... im pretty sure you should be getting alot more miles to the gallon then you are getting but i dont think you will get 35 mpg but have you did a tune up on the car when you bought it and i would check everything from the airfilter down to the fuel filter and do a complete tune up

you should be atleast getting 25 / 28 mpg i would think

Doc · 08-25-2008, 09:47 PM

Hi CP ... how long has it been doing this? .... and are these reading city or hwy driving ?

Commando · 08-26-2008, 05:15 AM

Have you tried any of the fuel injector cleaners, the kind that treat the fuel? Sometimes they help with a little bump in the mpg if it is really gummed up.

CitronPresse · 08-26-2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by challenger

First off Welcome and sweet looking shadow , always liked them cars ... im pretty sure you should be getting alot more miles to the gallon then you are getting but i dont think you will get 35 mpg but have you did a tune up on the car when you bought it and i would check everything from the airfilter down to the fuel filter and do a complete tune up

you should be atleast getting 25 / 28 mpg i would think

Thank you for the welcome

me too I have always liked this model

all the elements from the airfilter to the fuel filter are in good condition, the foam in the airfilter is new, the fuel filter has changed too...

in effect, what elements should I tune up?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc

Hi CP ... how long has it been doing this? .... and are these reading city or hwy driving ?

It works just 5 or 6 days/week, littles rides of 2/3 miles in city...so it's normal it consumes more but mine to 20 mpg...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Commando

Have you tried any of the fuel injector cleaners, the kind that treat the fuel? Sometimes they help with a little bump in the mpg if it is really gummed up.

Do you want say a little fuel filter to place on a fuel hose?

Thank you everybody for your replies!

CitronPresse

Doc · 08-26-2008, 05:01 PM

So you don't really drive it so it really warms up ?

Commando · 08-26-2008, 07:37 PM

Do you see an increase in mpg when you take longer trips?

challenger · 08-27-2008, 04:56 PM

CP - what is the mileage on the shadow and how are the tires

CitronPresse · 08-28-2008, 11:18 AM

Hello and sorry for my late!

Doc » the engine have not really the time to warms up but even after 6 miles, the engine are not hot, the hose between the radiator and the engine block is not yet hot...

Commando » on a longer highway trip at the average speed of 55 miles per hour (because the engine strap was time-worn), my Shadow consumes approximately 24 mpg

challenger » my Shadow have only 90,000km (56,000 miles) and the winter tires are new

the summer tires are threadbare but even in winter, it consumes 12.7 mpg...

Thank you for your replies

CitronPresse

Commando · 08-28-2008, 12:50 PM

Hey Doc, do you think a block heater would help, or can you even install that in this? Also I saw a radiator hose attachment that heats the coolant perhaps that could work as well.

Doc · 08-28-2008, 09:20 PM

CP ..... not allowing the motor to ever get UP to operating temp is ROUGH on the motor. It is no time to "burn off" any contaminates. I hope that you are changing oil REAL often !! C ... a block heater would help on a start-up ... but not getting the oil up-to-temp.

Commando · 08-29-2008, 05:06 AM

Thats true Doc, just trying to think of helping the engine get up to temp faster. I assume there is some carbon buildup as well.

Doc · 08-30-2008, 02:50 AM

C-guy .... since the "choke" is on alot ... all this stop-and-go driving is hurting the 02 sensor and the cat ! CP ... it would probably be best to take it out at least once a week to warm it up good.

CitronPresse · 08-30-2008, 11:25 AM

Ok thank you

I will check the O2 sensor

Doc · 08-31-2008, 01:35 AM

A TONGUE and a WINK ? ... ?? ... LOL

CitronPresse · 08-31-2008, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc

A TONGUE and a WINK ? ... ?? ... LOL

Oops maybe in english it has not the same signification?

In french, the tongue smily means just "I am happy" and the wink means "thank you"

Doc · 09-01-2008, 02:29 AM

Cool !

08-25-2008, 10:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
CitronPresse Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5	Fuel consumption problem on Shadow Hello Mopar lovers !First of all, sorry for my poor english, I live in Quebec and I speak french...I have a consumption problem with my 1990 Dodge Shadow...It’s previous owner was an old man who bought it new in 1990 and sale to me after 18 years.My Shadow have the 4cyl 2.5 100hp engine (no turbo).It consumes 18.8 mpg (12.5 liters/100kilometers) in summer and 12.7 mpg (18.5 liters/100 kilometers) in winter (the Quebec is cold)...Is it normal? In the automotive guides, I see the Shadow must consumes 35 mpg...Is it possible my engine not working properly? Is it possible to repair it for reduce the consumption?Thank you! CitronPressePs: a pic of my little Shadow</p> Last edited by CitronPresse : 08-25-2008 at 10:03 AM.

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08-25-2008, 06:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
challenger Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: MICHIGAN Posts: 427	First off Welcome and sweet looking shadow , always liked them cars ... im pretty sure you should be getting alot more miles to the gallon then you are getting but i dont think you will get 35 mpg but have you did a tune up on the car when you bought it and i would check everything from the airfilter down to the fuel filter and do a complete tune up you should be atleast getting 25 / 28 mpg i would think

08-25-2008, 09:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
Doc MasterDebater Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nw lower Meeeechigan Posts: 673	Hi CP ... how long has it been doing this? .... and are these reading city or hwy driving ?

08-26-2008, 05:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
Commando Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 404	Have you tried any of the fuel injector cleaners, the kind that treat the fuel? Sometimes they help with a little bump in the mpg if it is really gummed up.

08-26-2008, 05:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
Doc MasterDebater Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nw lower Meeeechigan Posts: 673	So you don't really drive it so it really warms up ?

08-26-2008, 07:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
Commando Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 404	Do you see an increase in mpg when you take longer trips?

08-27-2008, 04:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
challenger Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: MICHIGAN Posts: 427	CP - what is the mileage on the shadow and how are the tires

08-28-2008, 11:18 AM	#9 (permalink)
CitronPresse Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5	Hello and sorry for my late! Doc » the engine have not really the time to warms up but even after 6 miles, the engine are not hot, the hose between the radiator and the engine block is not yet hot... Commando » on a longer highway trip at the average speed of 55 miles per hour (because the engine strap was time-worn), my Shadow consumes approximately 24 mpg challenger » my Shadow have only 90,000km (56,000 miles) and the winter tires are new the summer tires are threadbare but even in winter, it consumes 12.7 mpg... Thank you for your replies CitronPresse

08-28-2008, 12:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
Commando Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 404	Hey Doc, do you think a block heater would help, or can you even install that in this? Also I saw a radiator hose attachment that heats the coolant perhaps that could work as well.

08-28-2008, 09:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
Doc MasterDebater Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nw lower Meeeechigan Posts: 673	CP ..... not allowing the motor to ever get UP to operating temp is ROUGH on the motor. It is no time to "burn off" any contaminates. I hope that you are changing oil REAL often !! C ... a block heater would help on a start-up ... but not getting the oil up-to-temp.

08-29-2008, 05:06 AM	#12 (permalink)
Commando Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 404	Thats true Doc, just trying to think of helping the engine get up to temp faster. I assume there is some carbon buildup as well.

08-30-2008, 02:50 AM	#13 (permalink)
Doc MasterDebater Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nw lower Meeeechigan Posts: 673	C-guy .... since the "choke" is on alot ... all this stop-and-go driving is hurting the 02 sensor and the cat ! CP ... it would probably be best to take it out at least once a week to warm it up good.

08-30-2008, 11:25 AM	#14 (permalink)
CitronPresse Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5	Ok thank you I will check the O2 sensor

08-31-2008, 01:35 AM	#15 (permalink)
Doc MasterDebater Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nw lower Meeeechigan Posts: 673	A TONGUE and a WINK ? ... ?? ... LOL

09-01-2008, 02:29 AM	#17 (permalink)
Doc MasterDebater Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nw lower Meeeechigan Posts: 673	Cool !