Hey, everyone.

How's it going?

I recently changed my plugs in my '04 Stratus SXT. I put in some everday Delco's that I had sitting around for years which I never opened up.

Well, I'm not too happy with my mileage. I'm getting about 390 miles on a full tank. I don't use the air and it's all highway (except for about miles getting to the highway to and from work). I don't drive it on the weekends at all.

Oil's changed regularly.

I keep it locked in at 70 mph and rarely go above, maybe just to pass.

There was a time when I was getting around 440 or so on a full tank.
Oh, yeah...I'm in AZ so the gas does not change in the winter.

Sooo...what's a good brand/type of plug for ultimate mileage? What are all of you using out there?

Any recommendations will be greatly appreicated!

Thanks!

Nuff said.

olds_cool63

 

390 is still good.

On a side note. Doesn't matter if you live in Az, the gas does change. Everywhere it does. Companies don't make exceptions for certain zip codes. Those same zip codes have people that will drive their cars into colder climates and make sure that it is ok. Another thing you could look at is who's gas are you putting in. A lot of the bigger companies like Mobil, Chevron, Sunoco, etc haven't switched, but it has been approved that companies can now increase their ethynol percentage up to 20% from the normal 10%.

Away from the gas thing though, another thing that you could have looked at is, did you make sure that your plugs were gapped properly prior to installing them into the car? Even though plugs are "pregapped" for purchase, there is a lot of bouncing in shipping and can throw them off. I always have at least one out of a set I need to adjust. An incorrectly gapped plug can also throw your MPG's off. As far as your brand of choice. You could have done better, you could have done worse. The delco's are ok.

Now when you changed your plugs, did you change the wires as well? Again, here, go with a cheaper, higher resistance wire and you can effect your mpg's or if you did not change them at all and you have a wire that is going bad can also do the same.

and last but definately not least, is your air filter. When was the last time you changed it?

Your car as you have put it in your post appears to be running fine. Hence why my suggestions are normal everyday maintenance mistakes that some forget with a little knowledge on "gas". LOL!!!

 

Hey, KRZY.BMET.

Thanks for answering.

Yeah...we all know there's NO such thing as a pre-gapped plug. Gonna change during shipping, unloading, etc...

I just changed the oil and air filter about 2 months ago. Haven't changed the wires, yet.

I'm a hands on guy. Used to build and race cars way back when, so I'm no stranger to this. I do most work myself...I just hate other people messing up my car.

I'll get to the wires maybe this weekend and pick up some better plugs.

Oh, yeah...I try to keep the injectors spotless. Maybe I'll make a project of it and pull them out as well.

Anyway, thanks again, man.

Nuff said.

olds_cool63

 

Make sure the plugs are the proper reach and the proper heat range for your engine.