Recently I've been getting really poor mileage on my car. I've also noticed the car isn't as warm as it used to be now that winter is here in Cleveland.

Searching around on the web, I found this car talk article:

http://cartalk.cars.com/Radio/Puzzle...34/answer.html

Describing how a broken thermostat will lead to crappy gas mileage in the winter (and no heat). Sure enough, replaced the theromstat - my car is back to getting 350 miles between fillups instead of 225!!! *AND* it's warm again inside. Not that it wasn't before - I just noticed that I was setting the temp at like 80 when previous winters 70 felt fine.

 

hrmm but how would it greak to begin with, im not getting that bad of gas milage, but really did it go that much? did you change your driving habit, speeding, etc....?

what did it run ya?

 

wow...how much does it cost to do this?
and how do u do this?
cuz im getting like 200 some miles on full tanks..although i only go local

 

see poor gas milage is mostly due to in town driving and a lead foot, these both lead to lots of gas and lots of $$$ i know from this town where i live to be a college town only, you hardly leave out of town no unless to go to the mall

 

Yea, how much did the new one cost?

 

well shit..i'm getting 250 miles between fillups- that normal for you all?

 

At the dealer, $20.85 for the part and $67.20 in labor. The labor was mostly for their 'diagnosis'. I didn't pay cus it's still under an extended warranty.

 

thermostats are real easy to change. They are only like 10-15 bucks at autozone. pep boys, whatever. If you follow the hose that comes from your radiator to your engine block, there will be a connection that is held on to the block by two bolts. Take the two bolts off and there is the thermostat. Make sure you buy a new gasket with it. It is usually recommended to do a complete radiator flush when you do that also.

 

hey guys, i just wanna revive this cause i think i have this problem. everyone elses car seems nice and toasty at 68 and i remember setting mine at 70 last winter, but now im setting it at 78 or so

also, after a while the heat will just kinda.....stop coming on...on long trips

its odd, i think i have to get it fixed, thanks for the heads up though

 

i am all city driving, stop and go, lead foot and I alway get at least 280 so if you only get 200 you must have a problem

EDIT: forgot to add that I havent let the gas indicator light turn on yet so 280 isnt a full tank, i have no idea what i would get on a full tank