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how to improve milage on 87 polo

hi there, am trying to improve my milage on my 1987 1050cc VW polo. from my odometer calculations i have been getting around 20mpg for the last 2 years.i can remember doing better than 35mpg for urban driving.observations so far:

-odometer: drove a bit behind a friends car.mine is 9% slower than his, but this translates to a incr of 2mpg only (i want 35mpg!!)

-spark plugs: mine (compared to the haynes color page on plugs) they are a nice tan brown, not black with carbon or oily.gapped ok

-air/oil filter: changed annually

-wheels: jacked car and spun each to see if they are binding.

-choke: rpm does actually go down from around 2000 to 900 after 1 minute

-ign timing: spot on with strobe

-distr cap & rotor: changd last year,no improvement.

-carb: cleaned out float bowl and jets this year.

-tyres:kept inflated correctly with my own pump

-boot: only spare tyre & jack. no junk

i am at loss of what to try before taking it to a garage. i am contemplating polishing exterior and removing mirrors to gain a few mpg !

also: i pulled each lead off one at a time with the engine running and each cylinder appeared to be contributing well. i have never had the ignition leads changed. do new leads give better mileage or is it either it works or it doesnt part?

thanks for patiently reading my post

Reply to
beerismygas
Loading thread data ...

When were they last changed? (# miles)

-Plug wires When were they last changed?

How many miles is that? What oil? Synthetic will help a little and don't use heaver oil that recommended in your owner's manual

Fuel filter?

How about a compression check?

Reply to
Joseph Meehan

have you tried being a bit more gentle on the gas pedal? ;)

Reply to
Nathan Lucas

After the checking that you have done, I would still wonder about the air filter, fuel filter (if present), and valve adjustments. Also, is the carb float properly adjusted (does it have a sight glass?).

What else? Tire alignment? Transmission oil to proper level? Do the hubs or wheel rims feel hot after driving with no more than moderate braking? -> drag from bearings or brakes...

Good luck, Rob in Calgary

Reply to
Robert Young

Hey...

Wow 20MPG for two years. You drive dangerously. :)

This isn't it.

Good but not the problem.

Good.

Good.

Good.

Good.

This isn't it.

Hmmm a carb. Depending on how many miles you have, you should have this rebuilt if you see leaking or have starting issues.

This isn't it.

It could be lack of oil changes like another poster said. Hahaha Just kidding since your engine is still running it must be getting oil changes.

Hey, these are better ideas than the other responses. :)

Changing the plug wires will help overall but not the main reason you have MPG problems.

My WAGuesses are that you have to check your PCV if you have a carb. Make sure that is clean and working. You also should have an O2 sensor before the CAT. I think it should only be a 1 wire O2 sensor and this is your problem. Change out the O2 sensor and your MPG should jump up. O2 sensors are chemical reactionary devices just like your CAT and they slowly break down and eventually go out of spec.

So my WAG is the O2 sensor. If you have one. If not do I get to guess again? :-)

BTW, what year and tranny is your Polo?

Reply to
Peter Parker

Ooops. The post was so long I forgot you mentioned the year 1987. That should have an O2. See previous response.

Reply to
Peter Parker

Sorry to butt in with off-topic question... does 1986 Jetta (automatic, gas) have O2 sensor?

Reply to
William Park

A 1.05 liter polo would not be US spec, I don't think catalytic converters and O2 sensors were required in Europe in 1987.

beerismygas: I have a service manual that covers the 1.05 l car engine. If you post a valid e-mail address I'll send the carb chapter to you (it's only about 775 KB).

Reply to
Randolph

i think i found it. while pumping the throttle manually to test mixture screw experiment i noticed some fuel collecting under the Pierburg 2E3 accellorator pump. i took it out and observed fuel leak stains on the lower diaphram and on the carb casing (photos) which i couldnt even wipe away with a cloth.

thanks for all advice and support

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Reply to
beerismygas

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