2 problems, bad gas mileage + egg rotten smell

[mok]

Hey guys,
1. I have a 2004 mazda 3 gt.
and on a full tank of regular gas i'm getting 370kms. I'm pretty sure thats garbage.
What can i do to improve my mileage? all city driving plus not aggressive on the pedal.

2. My car smells like rotten eggs, I've seen couple of people on this forum have the same reason. Shell gas is used (regular) and I need it on shell because of the gas business credit card. So changing my cat will actually work?


Thanks

[cwp_sedan]

Rotten egg smell = bad gas and/or bad catalytic converter.

[loki]

Rotten egg smell = bad gas and/or bad catalytic converter.

agreed cat is probably toast.

but that wouldn't affect your gas mileage like that. Have a good mechanic check the car out.

[DumpInfo]

Sorry to break it to you but don't think you're mileage will ever get better. As for the cat problem I agree with the others.

[bluemazda3]

meow?

[TheMAN]

have you done a tune up lately?
if the motor runs like crap, it's going to give you crappy gas mileage and a bad smelling exhaust

[mazdabetty]

Hey guys,
1. I have a 2004 mazda 3 gt.
and on a full tank of regular gas i'm getting 370kms. I'm pretty sure thats garbage

Ugh me too.. 400km on a 2L :(

http://i354.photobucket.com/albums/r418/gabbygenier/e053b84f.jpg

Brutal!!! Already replaced my purge valve as my dealership figured that was the reason I was running rich, didn't work though... Getting my air filter checked, that may or may not contribute to bad mileage. Also probably going to get my o2 sensors cleaned. If all that doesn't help I'll probably try the fuel system cleaning for $80. If all that fails I'm gonna just have to suck it up until its time to sell it I think lol

[loki]

is the 2004 a disi engine?

if so maybe have your intake valves cleaned?

[mazdabetty]

is the 2004 a disi engine?

if so maybe have your intake valves cleaned?


Pretty sure disi engines are only on speed3s. lol

[TheMAN]

umm.... the only DISI engines we ever got here were in the mazdaspeed, cx7, and the new skyactiv

[loki]

umm.... the only DISI engines we ever got here were in the mazdaspeed, cx7, and the new skyactiv

:)

I gots nada

[mazdabetty]

What was that you were saying a couple of weeks ago how this forum sucked and we don't know anything about cars and only know how to "stretch our tires" or "post stupid cat videos"? Hrmmm...

[gabbygenier]

ZING!!!!!!

[loki]

What was that you were saying a couple of weeks ago how this forum sucked and we don't know anything about cars and only know how to "stretch our tires" or "post stupid cat videos"? Hrmmm...

not my "exact" words, you holding a grudge?

[sarujo]

You don't clean oxygen sensors..you replace them (if needed)

Many things to try/do:
-air filter
-new plugs
-Clean the throttle body
-Run some good fuel system cleaner (ie Redline SI-1 etc)
-Check O2 sensor(s)
-Check alignment & be sure brakes are not sticking


Ugh me too.. 400km on a 2L :(

Brutal!!! Already replaced my purge valve as my dealership figured that was the reason I was running rich, didn't work though... Getting my air filter checked, that may or may not contribute to bad mileage. Also probably going to get my o2 sensors cleaned. If all that doesn't help I'll probably try the fuel system cleaning for $80. If all that fails I'm gonna just have to suck it up until its time to sell it I think lol

[Flagrum_3]

You don't clean oxygen sensors..you replace them (if needed)

Many things to try/do:
-air filter
-new plugs
-Clean the throttle body
-Run some good fuel system cleaner (ie Redline SI-1 etc)
-Check O2 sensor(s)
-Check alignment & be sure brakes are not sticking

- You forgot the most common reason for excess fuel consumption; TIRE PRESSURE!

As for Mazdabetty; try a lighter foot, friggen speedfreak! ;-)

As for the OP, try using a different gas. A good clean gas is Shell. It'll probably releave the rotten egg smell anyways.


_3

[mazdabetty]

As for Mazdabetty; try a lighter foot, friggen speedfreak! ;-)
haha NOT EVEN!!! Who was following who to Ottawa?? lol jk :P



-Run some good fuel system cleaner (ie Redline SI-1 etc)
This I was thinking of trying... was looking at seafoam a while ago actually but I'm way too afraid to do it myself... haven't looked into Redline SI-1 yet though, will do that today. Thanks!

[rzapata]

When I had my old sedan, I did have bad mileage for a fair bit. When I changed the plugs, and seafoamed the thing, all went back to normal. The OP has got an 04' so these (which were in sarujo's and Flagrum_3's comments) are most likely the items to look out for.


... was looking at seafoam a while ago actually but I'm way too afraid to do it myself... ...

It's actually not that difficult.. You just have to be careful not to let the engine suck a huge gulp off the liquid. :) You'd get a CEL right after but you can just reset that. :)

[krimsalt]

You don't clean oxygen sensors..you replace them (if needed)

Many things to try/do:
-air filter
-new plugs
-Clean the throttle body
-Run some good fuel system cleaner (ie Redline SI-1 etc)
-Check O2 sensor(s)
-Check alignment & be sure brakes are not sticking

this is right. especially new plugs. also make sure you use synthetic oil (makes a difference).

[Flagrum_3]

haha NOT EVEN!!! Who was following who to Ottawa?? lol jk :P


This I was thinking of trying... was looking at seafoam a while ago actually but I'm way too afraid to do it myself... haven't looked into Redline SI-1 yet though, will do that today. Thanks!

Your first statement is correct but you got me in the Indy mood to start ;-P

Anyways on topic; If you can find the Redline SI-I (They don't carry it at CrappyTire anymore) use the whole bottle in one shot, if you haven't used a cleaner in a while.

I would assume you've done the simple things already like check tire pressure, cleaned your air-filter, made sure your not carrying anything heavy in the car. Also look at your exhaust pipe to see if she's running rich. It should be a grey colour, if black it's rich meaning many things but probably a good fuel system clean, especially the throttle body might be in order.

Oh did you change your plugs out at 120k or already?


_3

[TheMAN]

if you look really hard, Chevron's Techron cleaner works just as good as the redline... it might be a little cheaper too
alternatively, gumout regane works good... the high mileage one is the best... if you manage to find old stock of the huge bottles, that's even better

otherwise, if you feel like splurging, BG 44k is teh win

just remember, these "dump in tank miracle bottles" only work so well... you need to do an induction carbon cleaning (seafoam or better yet, GM top engine cleaner) first before adding anything into the gas tank to get best results