So originally, my parents and I knew their (my parents') LX to be highly fuel efficient. Like i'm talking maybe 13-16 mpg on varying terrain and driving patterns. We'd start a trip on a full tank and 6 hours in (high speeding, abrupt acceleration and braking, generally rough/track driving) we'd be at half or quarter tank. But then some years ago they took it to a mechanic where the car sat at their (the mechanic's) shop for a while. When we came to get the car, there were peanut shells everywhere in the car (guess the mechanic found a nice spot to chill), and there was a strong, lingering fuel smell in the car. And immediately on the way home, we all realized the car's fuel economy was way worse, it was doing maybe 5-8 mpg? We'd go on the same road trip with the exact same driving conditions and we'd re-fuel every 3 hours seeing as the fuel gauge was hanging above Empty. Is there a carburetor somewhere that they could have removed/changed/tampered with? The car's fumes don't smell rich. I can't say if there's been a change in how it drives as I never drove it before this problem arose. Any advice is much appreciated!
2004 LX470 Sudden Spike In Fuel Consumption? (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Chibu
- Start date
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did you try removing the peanut shells
- Thread starter
- #5
Yeah, we did the ol' rodeo about 120 miles ago? Changed engine oil and filter, changed air filter, changed center diff fluid (well i think that's what it was lol), checked all spark plugs and the entire fuel system from pump to relays and everything was good except the pump relay which fried and was replaced, all injectors good, the throttle body was functioning top notch and was cleaned with some (i forgot the name but it was some adhesive-type pressurized spray that can make you go blind upon eye contact). It was a year ago but the car has been barely used since then. Mostly just Sunday runs to church (less than 4 miles commute to and fro) and grocery shopping (same 4 miles to and fro) about once to twice a week. I take it for a mini-joyride sometimes and floor it, it redlines perfectly with 0 odd noises except the occasional serpentine belt squealing which is a new thing that started like 2 months ago. So yeah engine is firing perfectly. Keep in mind tho, this fuel issue has been on the car for like 4 years now? It went to the mechanic workshop because the splines in the flange and on the CV axle driver side were worn and the car wouldn't move unless with CDL engaged but they never fixed the issue (at least not properly) and yeah they seemed to have just toyed with the fuel system somehow. I think they might have swapped out the original pump? I mean the day we went to get the car from them a fuel stench was lingering inside the car AF. So maybe they switched the pump? Could an aftermarket or refurbished pump cause worse mileage?
CloudCity
LuxCruisers
The shells and fuel smell would make me think you had rodent ingress, maybe chewed some lines or connectors.
- Thread starter
- #8
Yeah, I thought rats could have chewed something but I checked all fuel lines (last night actually) and they all seem to be fine, at least in the engine bay, and there doesn't seem to be any leakages under the car. Also, upon further inspection the car DOES seem to be running rich. You can smell it each time the car is started up, I'm not an expert on this but is there a way to change how much is delivered by the fuel injectors outside of ECU settings?
ramangain
Clarksonian disciple
May be a good idea to look at short and long term fuel trims while starting and driving.
