Fuel Problem/ Poor Mileage

[bigmontana]

OK I'm having fuel issues with my wagon. Yesterday on my trip back from Fargo I got 15 mpg on one fill up and 17 on another and the third I did not fill it all the way so I did not check it. I'm sure it is running rich. Has anyone ever come accross this issue before and if so what did you do to fix it. This weekend I'm going to replace my fuel filter to see if that helps. In June I had my coolant temp sensor replaced and three to four weeks ago I had my MAF replaced. I did not have a CEL come on and it seems to run right just poor fuel economy. I use 91 octane only. I'm hoping someone has come accross this and if so can give me some ideas.
Thanks.

I'm going to change my fuel filter and my spark plugs this weekend
But I'm game for other ideas.
Thanks
Matt

[Roadhog]

probably a bad oxygen sensor or blue coolant temp sensor

[bigmontana]

I thought about my O2 sensor. I don't know what my blue coolant temp sensor is. I don't know what color it is. It was replaced in June.

[Roadhog]

I thought about my O2 sensor. I don't know what my blue coolant temp sensor is. I don't know what color it is. It was replaced in June.

uhh.. its blue... and its on the thermostat housing. did i mention its blue?

[bigmontana]

Well I'll look again but what does it being blue have to do with my poor mileage, and if it is the regular color then what? I'll scan it and see if the O2 sensor comes up.

[Dubber]

are your tires aired properly?? very important - make sure your air filter is not clogged up
have you replaced your fuel filter in a while?
oil change in a while??
we do still have winter gas - causes low mileage - are you keeping your foot out of the gas pedal , you dont have the lightest car and its a vr6 if im not mistaken...

[bigmontana]

Yeah my tires are good, my air filter is good but I'm getting a new one this weekend, I'm changing spark plugs this, weekend, and I'm getting a new fuel filter this weekend. I had the cruise set at 80 the whole way back to Billings. Thanks for the tips.

By the way for those of you who have changed spark plugs in your dub, (I did in my older ones and used oem). However I was wondering if you guys have used oem plugs or have you found better aftermarket ones.

I'll probably go oem but I just wanted to know what you guys thought.

[Roadhog]

Use OEM, they work the best in a vr6.

Also, the blue has to do with the color of the sensor (somtimes they may be black). But this sensor is like an 02 sensor, though it tells the engine how hot the coolant is. A lot of times they go bad, and the engine never gets out of cold start mode (really rich).

There's one for the gauge, and one for the ECU btw. Which one was replaced?

[FutureStage1]

By the way for those of you who have changed spark plugs in your dub, (I did in my older ones and used oem). However I was wondering if you guys have used oem plugs or have you found better aftermarket ones.

I'll probably go oem but I just wanted to know what you guys thought.

I went for some 'better' ones that just made my car run like shit. You can get the oem spec plugs at o'reilly's for way cheaper than at the dealership ($8 vs $21). The supposed 'better' ones melted lol.

[FutureStage1]

How can you tell if your coolant sensor has gone bad? My car seems to be running like shit lately. Just noticeably sluggish