1998 Buick Skylark gas mileage drop?

Question

I've had my Skylark for a little over a year now. Just had the brakes replaced three months ago, and the last oil change was in February. Mileage is around 145k. It has always gotten decent gas mileage for a car of its age (averaging 24-27 mpg with mostly highway driving). I filled up two weeks ago and have been mainly driving around town with fewer trips out on the highway. My gas mileage has dramatically dropped to 13-14 mpg. I was expecting less due to the switch to city driving, but this seems extreme.

I have no idea what to check or what could be wrong. The check engine light is on, but it's been on since I got the vehicle. I've had it checked before, and nothing turned it off. I've noticed lately that the ABS light and the ETS Off light have been coming on approximately 1 in every 3 driving cycles. A relative who works on cars told me it's probably moisture and to ignore it. Now I'm wondering if it means more than that. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

Check the air filter. A clogged/dirty air filter will drastically cut the gas mileage as it restricts the amount of air to the engine and causes it to run very rich. They're only a few bucks at the parts store and easy to replace. Basically just open the breather box, remove the old one and replace it with a new one.

Answer 2

Your Skylark seems to have had around one hundred sixty hp yet there have been different fwd GM engines in use around a similar time that had extra. From ninety one to ninety seven there substitute right into a three.4 that had 210- 215 hp. additionally from 00-05 the three.a million had a hundred and seventy-one hundred seventy five hp. it may in all possibility be ultimate to hit upon an entire areas automobile with wiring harness and transmission besides as engine. the three.4 ("LQ1")substitute into utilized in ninety one-ninety seven Lumina, Cutlass superb, Grand Prix, Monte Carlo. This substitute right into a DOHC engine. the three.a million("LG8") substitute into used 00-05 in Grand Prix, Century, Malibu, and Lumina this could be extra difficulty than that's nicely worth although that's achievable. i'm attentive to issues contained in the previous due eighty's with interchange on fwd automobiles and transmissions because of the fact the laptop had to be nicely matched with the two. this would have replaced via the ninety"s yet i'm unsure.

Answer 3

My ABS and ETS lights did the same thing. The ABS System Computer & Diagnostic Test indicated Sensor Failure which turned out was not the problem.

After paying $65 for the ABS & Diagnostic Test and $180 to replace the ABS Sensor the ABS and ETS lights continued to come on as before.

The problem was finally discovered to be a broken wire in a connector of the wiring harness connected to the ABS Sensor.

The garage reported to me that they have had to replace many of the original wiring harnesses for what appeared to be broken wires.

My wiring harness was replaced April 28, 2006 and the problem has not recurred.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO PAY THE PRICE TO REPLACE A PERFECTLY GOOD ABS SENSOR.

Answer 4

check for a dirty air filter---replace plugs if that style engine has them---check tire inflation soft tires eat gas-----run some fuel injector cleaner through the gas tank-----if all this fails --some one is sucking the gas out of your tank with a hose at night.---with gas prices as high as they are now---lots of thieves has resorted to syphoning gas tanks----get a locking gas cap for about 19 dollars.