MPG issues for a 2000S

[husker boxster]

My old 01S got 19 city and 26 hwy. I think that's pretty typical.

[saaber]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

My old 01S got 19 city and 26 hwy. I think that's pretty typical.

This is what my 2000 S gets. As others have said, making sure maintenance is up to snuff can make a big diff.

Have replaced an 02 sensor in a honda one time and mileage improved by 10 mpg, so the point about checking the sensors as well as MAF is well taken.

In regards to oil, if you are using M1 0W40 it is probably already sheared to a 30 weight (thin) so oil is probably not going to make much of a diff. in mpg. I switched to redline 5W40 for hopefully improved protection and less shear. The car is noticably quieter and smoother but have not checked mpg. I have also noiced it seems to crank faster when starting which is encouraging. No noticable change in power or oil consumption.

[John V]

Something is amiss if you're getting 19MPG combined. I drive with a pretty heavy foot and average 21MPG in mostly city driving and have gotten 26-28MPG on long freeway slogs.

I'd do the usual fluids / filters / plugs / MAF cleaning and see where that gets you.

O2 sensors have a service life, usually 50-60,000 miles. So it isn't out of the question for them to have gone bad.

[racer_d]

Your car has 96K miles an no known maintenance history. Time to baseline the car.

1) Fresh oil change
2) Fresh oil filter
3) New Air filter
4) Tire pressures? make sure they are up to snuff
5) Might consider MAF/O2 sensor changes/cleanings/replacements
6) You don't mention driving style. My non-S got good highway mileage.. maybe 25-28 but man, it was really bad on the track or AXs .. How you drive will greatly impact mileage returned.
7) Might try some additives to clean out fuel injectors
8) Gasoline... Many folks experience a drop in fuel mileage in the winter time due to oxygenated fuels. It seems in the NE and Mid-Adlantic, MTBE (an oxyginator) has been replaced with ETHANOL blends.. up to 10-15% ethanol added. ETHANOL doesn't have as much energy as gasoline and therefore hurts your mileage. Many states require posting of ETHANOL blends in gasoline so check the pump next time.
9) Catalytic converters get cogged over time as well... something to consider I guess.

Beyond that? not sure what else to suggest.

[Kurt W]

I agree with Husker, Frodo and others. I get around the same in my 2004 S, 19 city, 25 to 27 hwy.

Im kinda anal about it, so I track it. I find it helpful for noting changes either worse or better than normal.

Here is a screen shot of my data, FWIW:

[CJ_Boxster]

You big a$$ picture didnt load, i think the site is still having attachment issues, you'll have to load it to photobucket and post the img code.

[saaber]

Kurt W, Awesome data. Can you please shrink the size of the image in a photo editor and edit your original post with the smaller photo? Thanks.