[Randy3463]

2018 Traverse LT 109,464 miles. Sorry for the long read in advance 😅.

Feels like my MPG has went down on my wife’s Traverse. I used it for work for about a 10 months, and it didn’t seem like it used that much gas to me. But I never paid attention. Not sure if something is wrong, or if it’s driving habits? She complained about it going through a lot of gaze. Maybe there’s more ethanol in the gas in the last 6 months than before? She will remote start the car, twice before going anywhere in cold weather so it’s not cold. It’s had the Purge Valve changed 3 times. Once I did myself. A second time at an auto shop, and warranty 2 days later as the light came back on and the one they got was bad. Third time I did and had to change the hose going to it, as it broke on removal. JB Weld wasn’t cutting it. Light came back on immediately so I replaced it. Air Filter changed with every oil change. MAF Sensor changed about 1 month ago when I did plugs (NGK Iridium) and coils. I accidentally broke it 🙄.

Has Firestone Tires about 11/32 about 3-4 months old. And air pressure cold sitting at 36psi. Gets it’s free alignment at FS Complete Autocare every 6k miles, because I did the one time pay premium alignment never pay again deal. 5w30 Full Syn Mobil 1 when the oil life indicator gets below 20%, and never under 10. It does consume about 1 quart in between each change. But my Mother in Law’s 2019 Equinox goes through about 2. So I was assuming it was just a common thing for modern GM motors and Synthetic Oils. My 2014 Cruze did about 1-1.5 quarts as well when I had it. Gets Motorkote added on every change since I’ve owned it at 21 miles. Just like all my vehicles have for 15 years. No lights or codes. Had the OEM Y Pipe leak at the bracket, and cut and replaced with flex pipe. Wasn’t paying 1100 to the stealership to replace everything because “it’s all one piece”.

It’s Average reads out as 14.4MPG and just seems low to me. Online says it would get 20 city and 26 highway. I bought ATS additive CRO-505 combo pack. Will be adding the oil additive tomorrow and changing it.

Penny for your thoughts on what the issue did? Lazy O2 sensor not coding? Gasoline motors not my strong suit, especially with all the newer electronic everyone ones. But I don’t have a spare $200 to drop at the dealer for “maybes”. We don’t have any well reputable dealers or shops my area.

 

[rbarrios]

Lazy oxygen sensors comes to mind.

 

[Watthour]

If you have a scanner available, run a datastream on the "Sensor 1" input. There should be fairly regular O² sensor swings from around 100mV to around 900mV at warm idle:

http://www.wwdsltd.com/files/231V6O-SensorActivity.jpg

 

[srwa]

Scuze my ignertz, but what is a "lazy" oxygen sensor?

Have a 15 LS with 80k on it, get an average 17.5mpg. That really TIC's me.

 

[repairman54]

O2 sensors closest to the engine, O2 sensors in position 1, can get slow reacting and affect mileage as they help control fuel mixture yet not be bad enough to set a failure code. I change my sensors when I change spark plugs.
I don't have any pics handy but many have pulled them out on any make/brand and seen the cage around the sensor melted and deformed with or without codes being set and running OK.
I did them on my '11 Tahoe 5.3 with a plug change at 90k and picked up 2 mpg highway. 2 is a lot on something that only gets 19 highway.
Consider them a maintenance item like plugs.

 

[rbarrios]

Yup like repiarman said. They react slow.... probably slow enough to maybe reduce the life of cats a little.
I also replace the oxygen sensors at 100,000 when i replace plugs.
Just sold my 2010 with 194k, got a 2023.
I was still getting 22 to 24 mpg on my weekly tank. Street and hwy combined.

 

[srwa]

Will change the oxygen sensors. Will try anything to boost mileage.

 

[Watthour]

It is really only necessary to change the sensor(s) upstream of the catalytic converter. They have the primary control over fuel mixture (short term/immediate fuel offsets). The sensors downstream of the cats primary purpose is to monitor effectiveness of the converters' function and contribute to fuel control algorithm only if the main (upstream) sensors "go stupid" to the point where the PCM has to ignore them. That can be from poor/degraded sensor output, disconnection, wiring faults, or anything that creates a signal input out of the allowable range.

Don't be afraid to be generous with anti-seize compound on the sensor threads and gasket washer surfaces when installing the new ones - You may find out why when getting the original sensors out. However, be very careful to keep the compound off the sensor tip and shell since it can spoil a new sensor quickly. I like to apply a stupid amount of anti-seize to the OLD sensor once it is removed and run that in and out of the sensor bung a couple of times to be sure the fresh compound is worked into the threads well, and only THEN install the new sensor with a more reasonable coating of compound.

 

[Watthour]

Another consideration is that the long periods of idle (remote starts) and primarily in-town driving may not be getting the exhaust temperature to sustain at a level which is beneficial to get the sensors and cats to full performance. An occasional road trip can be a good thing to "clean out" the entire exhaust side of the power station. If you were ever to monitor the fuel trims while driving (HEY! Keep your eyes on the road, Mister!) it may be educational to see how they change after a bit of highway operation.

 

[srwa]

Am 1-1/2 mile off I-20, drive between 75 & 80 at least 10 miles to get to town. Had 44+k miles on it when I bought back in 18. Mileage then was between 18-1/2 and 19 1/2. Been steadily decreasing.

Appreciate the info.

 

[Kaguirre]

2018 Traverse LT 109,464 miles. Sorry for the long read in advance 😅.

Feels like my MPG has went down on my wife’s Traverse. I used it for work for about a 10 months, and it didn’t seem like it used that much gas to me. But I never paid attention. Not sure if something is wrong, or if it’s driving habits? She complained about it going through a lot of gaze. Maybe there’s more ethanol in the gas in the last 6 months than before? She will remote start the car, twice before going anywhere in cold weather so it’s not cold. It’s had the Purge Valve changed 3 times. Once I did myself. A second time at an auto shop, and warranty 2 days later as the light came back on and the one they got was bad. Third time I did and had to change the hose going to it, as it broke on removal. JB Weld wasn’t cutting it. Light came back on immediately so I replaced it. Air Filter changed with every oil change. MAF Sensor changed about 1 month ago when I did plugs (NGK Iridium) and coils. I accidentally broke it 🙄.

Has Firestone Tires about 11/32 about 3-4 months old. And air pressure cold sitting at 36psi. Gets it’s free alignment at FS Complete Autocare every 6k miles, because I did the one time pay premium alignment never pay again deal. 5w30 Full Syn Mobil 1 when the oil life indicator gets below 20%, and never under 10. It does consume about 1 quart in between each change. But my Mother in Law’s 2019 Equinox goes through about 2. So I was assuming it was just a common thing for modern GM motors and Synthetic Oils. My 2014 Cruze did about 1-1.5 quarts as well when I had it. Gets Motorkote added on every change since I’ve owned it at 21 miles. Just like all my vehicles have for 15 years. No lights or codes. Had the OEM Y Pipe leak at the bracket, and cut and replaced with flex pipe. Wasn’t paying 1100 to the stealership to replace everything because “it’s all one piece”.

It’s Average reads out as 14.4MPG and just seems low to me. Online says it would get 20 city and 26 highway. I bought ATS additive CRO-505 combo pack. Will be adding the oil additive tomorrow and changing it.

Penny for your thoughts on what the issue did? Lazy O2 sensor not coding? Gasoline motors not my strong suit, especially with all the newer electronic everyone ones. But I don’t have a spare $200 to drop at the dealer for “maybes”. We don’t have any well reputable dealers or shops my area.

Try cleaning the valve. Because it's direct injected the vavles isn't getting cleaned by the injectors. There's alot of options out there to clean them I personally use amsoil powerform. You should be able to get better gas mileage and better performance.

2018 Traverse LT 109,464 miles. Sorry for the long read in advance 😅.

Feels like my MPG has went down on my wife’s Traverse. I used it for work for about a 10 months, and it didn’t seem like it used that much gas to me. But I never paid attention. Not sure if something is wrong, or if it’s driving habits? She complained about it going through a lot of gaze. Maybe there’s more ethanol in the gas in the last 6 months than before? She will remote start the car, twice before going anywhere in cold weather so it’s not cold. It’s had the Purge Valve changed 3 times. Once I did myself. A second time at an auto shop, and warranty 2 days later as the light came back on and the one they got was bad. Third time I did and had to change the hose going to it, as it broke on removal. JB Weld wasn’t cutting it. Light came back on immediately so I replaced it. Air Filter changed with every oil change. MAF Sensor changed about 1 month ago when I did plugs (NGK Iridium) and coils. I accidentally broke it 🙄.

Has Firestone Tires about 11/32 about 3-4 months old. And air pressure cold sitting at 36psi. Gets it’s free alignment at FS Complete Autocare every 6k miles, because I did the one time pay premium alignment never pay again deal. 5w30 Full Syn Mobil 1 when the oil life indicator gets below 20%, and never under 10. It does consume about 1 quart in between each change. But my Mother in Law’s 2019 Equinox goes through about 2. So I was assuming it was just a common thing for modern GM motors and Synthetic Oils. My 2014 Cruze did about 1-1.5 quarts as well when I had it. Gets Motorkote added on every change since I’ve owned it at 21 miles. Just like all my vehicles have for 15 years. No lights or codes. Had the OEM Y Pipe leak at the bracket, and cut and replaced with flex pipe. Wasn’t paying 1100 to the stealership to replace everything because “it’s all one piece”.

It’s Average reads out as 14.4MPG and just seems low to me. Online says it would get 20 city and 26 highway. I bought ATS additive CRO-505 combo pack. Will be adding the oil additive tomorrow and changing it.

Penny for your thoughts on what the issue did? Lazy O2 sensor not coding? Gasoline motors not my strong suit, especially with all the newer electronic everyone ones. But I don’t have a spare $200 to drop at the dealer for “maybes”. We don’t have any well reputable dealers or shops my area.

Try cleaning the valve. Because it's direct injected the vavles isn't getting cleaned by the injectors. There's alot of options out there to clean them I personally use amsoil powerform. You should be able to get better gas mileage and better performance.

 

[WALI4VR]

Try cleaning the valve. Because it's direct injected the vavles isn't getting cleaned by the injectors. There's alot of options out there to clean them I personally use amsoil powerform. You should be able to get better gas mileage and better performance.
Try cleaning the valve. Because it's direct injected the vavles isn't getting cleaned by the injectors. There's alot of options out there to clean them I personally use amsoil powerform. You should be able to get better gas mileage and better performance.

I can't find amsoil powerform. Did you mean power foam?

 

[Watthour]

That, or GM top cylinder cleaner. That's been around forever.

 

[Kaguirre]

I can't find amsoil powerform. Did you mean power foam?

Yes that's what I meant sorry