Gas Mileage and Engine Temperature on 1998 Acura Integra- NEED HELP

My mileage has gone in the crapper too, I attribute it to slower/more stop and go traffic, and almost constant use of the defrost (and A/C) both due to the weather turning bad. I usually get close to 400 miles on a tank, last tank was barely 300 miles and that was just back 'n' forth to work.

nate

atbrice wrote in news:9bc3c15f-55a8-4d02-86f6- snipped-for-privacy@b1g2000pra.googlegroups.com:

That will happen in winter. Did you buy this car recently?

Your cooling system thermostat is old and in need of replacement. Bet your heater output is anemic as well.

Biggest problem I see is your temperature comment. If the temp isn't coming up to normal you may be wasting gas. The computer knows to give a cold engine more gas to keep it running smooth. Replace the thermostat with the factory temperature unit (the parts store may offer several different temps).

Second thing I would try is dumping the Bosch plugs and replacing the plugs with exactly what it came with from the factory. I'm sure plenty of people here love their stuff but the only thing I have ever bought for my car that was worse than a Bosch spark plug was a Bosch spark plug with a gimmick.

Third would depend on where you live. Most of the country is running winter blend fuel. Many report lower mileage on winter blend fuel (google will provide more info than you ever wanted to know). You also may be idling more than normal to warm up the car / melt ice off the windows and stuff like that.

Steve B.

If you noticed the drop in mileage after the switch to Bosh spark plugs I would say that is the cause. Bosh spark plugs are junk !! Try a quality set of plugs like NGK or ND.

Put the old brand of plugs back, and check your thermostat while you have the hood up.

If there is a sensor issue, it will probably set a code on the computer, even if it doesn't, a good code reader should allow you to check the sensor values so you know if they are reasonable or not. There is no reason to just go swapping parts out willy-nilly.

--scott

Well, your complaint is very common for folks that got suckered into that Bosch Platinum hype. Total con job, tons of engines just won't run on them.

'Every' engine that has come to me with tuning issues that has those plugs gets fixed instantly with a set of 'proper' and normal plugs.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail > I have a 1998 Acura Integra RS. In the past few months, I have

Bad thermostat can cause choke sensor to give an overrich mixture, but were the plugs you installed, the same heat range as the EOM type?

Alcohol in todays gas WILL definitely lower your mileage, depending on how much is in it. Alcohol only has around 2/3 the BTU content of straight gasoline. Cold weather exacerbates the issue.

Hi Andrew

You can use the following according to NGK.

1998 ACURA INTEGRA RS 1.8 L4 B18B1 FI DOHC

Spark Plug Part No. Stock No. Plug Gap Photo V-Power ZFR5F-11 # 2262 .044 G-Power ZFR5FGP 7098 .044 Laser Platinum PZFR5F-11 * 4363 .044 Iridium IX ZFR5FIX-11 2477 .044

• "Laser Series" Platinum center electrode, and Platinum pad ground electrode # Original Equipment Manufacturer, and/or Original Equipment Service Part ^ "Laser Series" Iridium center electrode, and Platinum pad ground electrode

Wire Set Part No. Stock No. Wire Set HE82 8041

Oxygen Sensor Part No. Location Note Photo Oxygen Sensor 24546 Downstream n/a Oxygen Sensor 24169 Upstream

You can get all your NGK Spark Plugs, Wire Sets and O2 Sensors at:

What the hell is a "choke sensor?" Don

Its a gizmo that measures how far out Daffy Duck's eyes bulge when Porky Pig pulls the "choke" handle on the dashboard....