Ricky Patel

Hey, whats happening ladies and gents? I just joined this forum as i recently purchased a used 97 3.2TL!

Well it has 170 000km on it which is a little high, but I picked it up for a steal. I have been driving the car for roughly 3 weeks, and have been finding myself at the the gas pumps A LOT! I have been monitoring my fuel consumption and i am only getting roughly 340km/per tank!!!! Its a 65 liter tank, therefore I would think I should get at least 400km. Anyways, you'r input would be greatly appriciated!

Thanks
Cheers!

TLBaller

most of us are here in the states and arent too familiar with km's. i can convert it but its too much work lol but from what you said and past experience, if you buy a used car that drinks gas like water...most likely its been into a huge accident.

the way i check to see if a cars been into an accident is by running my fingers along the ends of doors, trunks and hoods. if its smooth then its okay but if it feels rough then its been hit. good luck.

Ken1997TL

I dunno what to tell you. I must have a freak engine. I get up to 27 mpg on the highway consistently. 28 mpg is my record. On average I get 23.

Cornflake

I live in T.O. as well, I drive my car pretty hard, and I get between 350-400. If I take it easy, or have a lot of highway driving on that tank, I can get as high as 500 km's. But on average its around 375 with some hard driving. What gas do you run? My car has only seen supremem since I got it at 125000 KM's, and it now has 178000.

penguinflies

340km=211 miles

You should be gettting about 500 km=310miles per full tank (assuming the tank is a standard 14.3 gallon tank = 54.13 liter tank)

I would take it to get the engine cleaned and the car checked out.

Ricky Patel

Well I know it hasnt been in any accidents, the car has had one owner, and the paint is orginal I've been running Esso gas, but i have been cheaping out and using regular. So what you guys think? I'm going to start by changing the plugs, wires, fuel filter, and running some sort of a fuel system cleaner or getting my injectors flushed... Any thoughts?


Oh yeah, I've tried driving it lightly, and still I get poor milage. I do a LOT of driving in general and it just doesnt add it!

Thanks for the advice

Cornflake

I would definately step up to at least mid-grade fuel. You will see an improvement in gas mileage for sure. Engine is designed to run on Mid-Grade, so that is part of your problem. Plugs are expensive... $120 for a set so I would try the fuel upgrade first.

Ricky Patel

I got a friend at ErinMills Acura that can get me the parts reasonable cheap, how accessable are the plugs on the 3.2TL? Is it a driveway job? I have letting some ASS at the dealership work on my car and overcharge me for it... I will run the mid-grade fuel too, i figure my milege is getting to the point where some maintenance is needed anyways!

Thanks!!!

Cornflake

I would not run any of the commercially available injector cleaners. These will ruin the O2 sensors of your car, expensive to replace. Try running better fuel as they also have better detergents. My car barely passed emissions when I got it. Since I have had it for the past 2 years, I have used mobile 1 synthetic, Premium fuel and opccasionally beat the snot out of the car. I just had the emissions test done a month ago, and it barely read anything, car is running SUPER clean. I have never run any sort of injector cleaner through it. Running it hard once in a while helps to clean out the carbon as well, it's actually good for the car to have this done on a regular basis, SO LONG AS the car is properly maintained!!

Ricky Patel

I live in Mississauga, and drive to dwontown almost daily... After the traffic clears up... I beat the snot out of it alright.. lol... What can I say? I havent adjusted... I'm still driving it like drove my Talon tsi... lol

Cornflake

I know the feeling, had an Integra with NOS before this big bad boy...I'd kill for a Legend 6 spd manual in my TL......

Ricky Patel

I was looking for one before I purchased this. I don't know if you noticed, all the Legends in Ontario got SERIOUS rust! So i gave up the search and bought this, I got it for $8000 which i thought was steal.... So, can i do the plugs at home?

Cornflake

Yup, the Legend Coupe w/ 6 spd always one of my dream cars, but I have to agree, VERY hard to find one in good shape. I bought mine from my dad 2 years ago, so I got a pretty good deal too. I bought my plugs last fall, but still haven't had a chance to install them!!! SO I Honestly can't say how hard it is, but I'm hoping I'll be able to do it myself. Might have to remove a few things to get to them, as is usually the case with platinum plugs, that's why they use them cause they last so long for when it's a pain to change the plugs...

Ricky Patel

Hey man, next time your in the Mississauga area, we should hook up! We'll grab some beers and change the plugs on the badboys, they cant be that hard!

AC_DADDY

i thought you could only run premium in the 3.2?
my manual says 91 octane. well here in jersey its 87,89, and 93. so i always have to go for the expensive ****

Cornflake

You are supposed to run 91 minimum, but My dad ran mid0grade the whole time he owned it, and it ran pretty much ok, mind you he never really beat on it at all. I Only run 91 in mine, I have bought the mid-grade twice, when gas was at crazy rates and I was empty, and the car ran fine. But I'd stick with the premium IF you can. Just listen for Spark knock and pinging, if you hear that, move up to the Premium.

Cornflake

Sounds good Ricky, I'll let ya know, except unfortunately, as I just found out two weeks ago, I can never drink beer again. I know, sad isn't it? SOme stupid disease I just found out I have, Celiac disease, allergic to wheat, barley, oats, rye. Thank goodness for rum and cokes!!! HAHA! But I am gonna miss those Corona's.... :smackhead

Ricky Patel

Hmmm.. can't drink beer eh... Well then... Might have to spark one up.... lol

titanxboss

93 Super all the way never put regular 89 unless you have to.
I usally get 275 to 300 to a tank on regular driving otherwise on Highway I get 350 on a good drive with Cruise

WBroylesH

Nobody's mentioned some obvious things that effect gas mileage.

1.) Don't run the A/C full blast. But since you're in Canada I'm sure you're not doing that.
2.) Make sure your tires are inflated to the proper PSI.
3.) Don't drive with two feet. I know this may sound silly but I know some folks who do and they always wonder why they have bad breaks and bad mileage

And, of course, use high grade fuel.

Corby

i did my plugs a bit ago. I used ngk copper cheapies. they work great and it was the easiest change ive ever done.

very very straight forward, it says how to do em in the manual. you just need a sparkplug socket and a 6" extention.

98tlracer

Damn I think I have the worst mileage in this forum... average about 230/tank

Ken1997TL

I get over 400 miles per tank. I don't drive like a grandma either. Hmm...

Boarder.97.TL

Thats insane...do you have a 2.5 or a 3.2? I've only had my car long enough to fill it up once...but I dont think I made it quite to the 300 mile mark on the first tank. But I did put in 89 before I started driving it...didnt realize I needed premium so I use 91 now. Does anyone know if I find a station that sells 90 Octane Ethanol if that would be ok? Around here (ND) we have 87, 89 or 90 with Ethanol added (same price as the 87), and 91...sometimes I can find 93, but not very often.

DoUbLe0

haha 98TLracer dont feel alone im in that same boat i get around there too!!!

Ken1997TL

I have a 3.2 and yeah you can run 90 with ethanol. Just be careful not to use regular, you lose MPG that way. Also, keep in mind that cold weather KILLS fuel economy.

In the winter, I usually have to fill up around 330 to 350 miles.

Summer, I average around 26 mpg, somtimes up to 28 mpg on the highway. Winter I get about 22 and up to 25.

Boarder.97.TL

I'll probably use the 90 Ethanol in the winter months because of worry of freezing anyways (it gets really cold here sometimes, and for long periods of time, and the crappy part, it gets hot and humid in the summer too...why do I still live here) and 91 in the summer. Thats awesome milage though; new, the sticker said 19 in the city, and 25 on the highway I think right? I seem to be getting about 20. Just like the 2001 Bonneville I traded in for this car...this car is way more fun.

Ken1997TL

Yeah, for the 3.2 I think it was 19/24, the 2.5 was 20/25.

In my case, i keep the car at a steady 70 mph to get that kind of MPG. I keep the front tires at 36 psi and rear at 33. I put the car in neutral and coast down hills as often as a can. Its fun

Bigdaady

that's no fun

Ken1997TL

Sure it is. Its even more fun in a Civic Hybrid or Insight, it'll tell you minute by minute how much electricity you have left, your MPG etc etc. Its like a video game.

Bigdaady

ladies and gentleman... let's put our hands together in welcoming the newest member of the 3.2 tl club...... bigdaady.... or so they call me.
I just bought my 1997 3.2tl premium black from an old life ins. lady
200000kms and proud as phuck of it. practically stole it. can't drive it enough. gonna be throwin tints and dubs on it in the spring. what's best 18'' 19'' or 20'''s ?????
ive put 1300kms on it and I'm on my 2nd and a half tank...I suppose that's decent... eh? lemme know. peace. I'm gonna go chamois it again and bun me some trees fee smoke. ciao

Cornflake

That's better mileage than I get Big Daady. As for dubs, I would stick with 18's. I have 18's and with the roads in Ontarion, you're gonna even bang those up , nevermind 19"s or 20"s. I've gotta send two of mine in next week before I can put them back on the car. Gotta drive to New Jeersey tomorrow on winter stockers and snows. :'( But I suppose with the storm we just got that's probably the safest thing to do anyways....