Fuel range...wtf

Discuss your 2000-2005 Bonneville SE, SLE, SSEi, Buick Le Sabre 00-05 and Buick Park Avenue 97-05. Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.
Post Reply
01ssei
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:32 pm
Year and Trim: 2001 Pontiac Bonneville SSEI

Fuel range...wtf

Post by 01ssei »

So from full to gas light it works as what seems "normal" but once it gets down to 60 the gas light comes on as normal but then the range starts to climb? and I'm only averaging 18-19 mpg and I do mostly highway driving...
01bonneSC
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 4938
Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 5:18 pm
Year and Trim: 05 Chevy 'Hoe
1997 'maro (3.8L M5)
89 SkiDoo
Location: Sycamore, IL

Re: Fuel range...wtf

Post by 01bonneSC »

How long ago was your last tuneup? Any codes?
Image
00Beast wrote:Less off-topic than Lane's Heated Steering wheel, but yeah, back to the topic.
01bonneSC
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 4938
Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 5:18 pm
Year and Trim: 05 Chevy 'Hoe
1997 'maro (3.8L M5)
89 SkiDoo
Location: Sycamore, IL

Re: Fuel range...wtf

Post by 01bonneSC »

Also is this a calculated 18-19 or going by the instant mpg on the DIC?
Image
00Beast wrote:Less off-topic than Lane's Heated Steering wheel, but yeah, back to the topic.
User avatar
nos4blood70
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 9522
Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 6:11 pm
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
Location: Chicago, IL

Re: Fuel range...wtf

Post by nos4blood70 »

:withstupid:

The DIC can be very optimistic at times. Mine is routinely off by 1 to 1.5 MPG.
-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 250k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 101k miles
Image
User avatar
SSEiMan01
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 5766
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2010 6:17 pm
Year and Trim: .
92 SSE
92 Lumina Z34
99 Tahoe
03 PAU
Location: DeKalb, IL

Re: Fuel range...wtf

Post by SSEiMan01 »

Mine's usually off, but for the worse usually.
Will
91 Riviera | S2 L67 Swap/4T60E | 127K mi | Antelope Met. w/ Tan Int. | Saved From Death By Crusher
92 Bonneville SSE | L67/4T60E | 77K mi | Med Slate Grey w/ Two-Tone Grey Int. | Low Miles Time Capsule
92 Lumina Z34 | LQ1/4T60E | 177k mi | Torch Red w/Grey Int. | Rusty In Odd Spots
99 Tahoe LT | L31/4L65E | 276k mi | Spiral Grey Metallic w/Grey Int. | Truck for Truck Things and Portable Concert Hall
02 Bonneville SSEi | 171k mi | Black w/Neutral Int. | Backup and road trip car
03 Park Avenue Ultra | 212K mi | White Diamond Met. w/ Shale Int. | Southern Time Capsule
05 Acura RL | 165K mi | Carbon Grey Pearl w/Ebony Int. | The Super-Hooptie Daily

James May wrote:Hello.
LeSabre in Buffalo
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 3177
Joined: Fri May 23, 2008 1:15 am
Year and Trim: 2012 Eco
Location: Corning, NY

Re: Fuel range...wtf

Post by LeSabre in Buffalo »

Definitely a tuneup needed, and throw some good, expensive fuel system cleaner into the tank. You're running premium, right? That SSEi needs premium like a fish needs water. It's a false savings running regular since the engine will not run as well on regular as on premium.
2012 Chevrolet Cruze Eco - Current car
Image Image
1999 Buick LeSabre Custom - Former car

Learn from the mistakes of others, that way when you mess up you can do so in new and interesting ways.
01bonneSC
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 4938
Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 5:18 pm
Year and Trim: 05 Chevy 'Hoe
1997 'maro (3.8L M5)
89 SkiDoo
Location: Sycamore, IL

Re: Fuel range...wtf

Post by 01bonneSC »

LeSabre in Buffalo wrote:Definitely a tuneup needed, and throw some good, expensive fuel system cleaner into the tank. You're running premium, right? That SSEi needs premium like a fish needs water. It's a false savings running regular since the engine will not run as well on regular as on premium.
:btruestory:
Image
00Beast wrote:Less off-topic than Lane's Heated Steering wheel, but yeah, back to the topic.
00Beast
Retired Site Developer
Retired Site Developer
Posts: 20960
Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 10:30 pm
Year and Trim: '17 Silverado 1500
Location: MN/IA
Contact:

Re: Fuel range...wtf

Post by 00Beast »

Does your gas gauge move around too? Could be the infamous bad sender in the tank.
Bye Bye:
Image
RIP sandrock
Sirius wrote:Think about it. You’re tooling down the road in your Prius, knowing full-well that this thing being green is as big a sham as federally mandated ethanol-enriched gas, Russia pulling out of Ukraine, and Obamacare.
riktik
SE Member
SE Member
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:59 pm
Year and Trim: 2001 Bonneville SE

Re: Fuel range...wtf

Post by riktik »

ALWAYS RUN HIGH OCTANE ON HIGH COMPRESSION/FORCED INDUCTION MOTORS. 93 preferred but 92 works. Not only will it not run as well, if u get into it alot, especially at warmer ambient temps, u run the chance of detonation. Get det bad enough u could be tearing the block apart to replace a burnt/melted piston as well as all the cleanup associated.
Post Reply