Hey everyone... I recently purchased a 2004 Neon SXT (No, I haven't posted pics, yet). I enjoy driving the car, but the mileage seems a bit low.... like at times less that 20MPG... is this normal during break-in periods? I am getting about 200-250 miles out of a tank of gas, and I am beginning to wonder if something is wrong. Any thoughts? I am just coming up on the first 1000 miles. I have not made any modiifications to the engine, but the K&N air filter with short ram intake is souinding like a easy and good modification.... (did I get all the terms right? I have been reading bunches of posts, so I could have misplaced or misunderstood some explanations)

Bud

 

It depends on how I drive. 20 mpg does seem a little low. I tend to step on it a little more than I should because I love to hear that air intake noise.[sm=smiley20.gif] But, generally I get upper 20s for mileage. I used to get over 300 miles/tank, but lately it has not been going as far, probably due to the heat and me stepping on it too much. I do most my driving in the city. If you're on the highway you should get really good mileage, around 35mpg range. It could be the break in period, but if I remember when my car had that few of miles on it I was still able to pull close to 300 miles/tank. Now my car has over 6000 miles on it. AHHHHH!![sm=smiley19.gif]

 

Most of my driving is in L.A. so alot of stop and go and I get crappy gas mileage, a little over 20. But when I drive on a nice clear highway I get way better gas mileage. But I did notice that after around 1500 miles, my gas mileage got a little better and I drive the same as when I got it. I did ask that question once here and I got an answer that possibly the computer holds back for a certain amount of miles for the break in. Because not only did my mileage get better the performance got a little better

 

Well, you may be only getting 200-250 miles because if you fill up when the gas light comes on you've only used approx. 9 gallons or so. The first warning gas light comes on in my car when I have about 3 gallons left, since its a 12.5 gallon tank thats about 9 gallons or so. I have gotten the second warning light before, that one comes on when there is about a gallon left, the gas light will blink and chime at that point. Thats when you should be running for the gas station. HEHE. I've only done that once.

 

I was wondering if there was a second warning. Usually when I fill up it is about 10 gallons. and I do the math and I get around 22 mpg's. but lately it has been around 25. Mostly because of the way I drive and in city traffic.

 

Yeah, if the gas light starts blinking, you better hope there is a gas station nearby. You only have about a gallon once it is blinking. When I had it blinking I had to put in almost 12 gallons to fill it up, which meant I had less than a gallon left.

 

Great! Thanks for all the replies -- I will keep an eye on the mileage. I guess I got used to my stratus that chimed when there was about a gallon left.

Another thing, I read in the owners manual that the car may use a little oil during the break in period. When I start my neon in the morning or after sitting in work all day, the engine is clicking pretty loud -- almost like it is low on oil. I haven't checked the level yet, but is this a normal sound for the neon engine? The clicking seems to stop within a minute. Is this something I should take to the dealer?

Bud

 

If it sounds like a diesel engine you got nothing to worry about, lol. I don't know that it sounds like a diesel engine, but it sounds different, anyways I doubt there is anything wrong with it. Won't hurt you to keep an eye on the oil level. Mine did eat a little oil until I got the oil changed. It has since stopped eating oil. Its a good thing because the mobil 1 I put in there costs about 4 bucks a quart.[sm=smiley5.gif] Oh well its good stuff.

 

Less than 20mpg with a new SXT?!? Are your sure someone isn't siphoning gas out of that little 12.5 gal tank! I too have a 2004 SXT with a 5 speed. I've replaced the factory air filter with an Airaid filter and installed a custom exhaust system that uses a MagnaFlow muffler. I have also removed the air intake resonator. If I behave myself I get between 31 and 32 mpg for mixed city and freeway driving with the air on. However, more often than not I pretend I'm driving my son's SRT-4 which costs about 2 mpg! It's hard not to use a little more right foot after installing the Eibach Pro Kit.

 

Hey NeonSXT04
How big a project was the installation of your Mopar short throw shifter?
Did you do any research before selecting it over the B&M unit and the one from Hurst? Hemi TT and I both have short throw shifters on our short list of things to do.