Hi everyone



Just joined up and have a story to tell!



Ok I bought my 2001 Oldsmobile alero in October of 2007, I bought it from a
gentleman in Naples Maine, he had bought it from a friend that had needed the
cash, the guy who sold it to me never even drive it (Well maybe once) as he
already had cars of his own.



When I had it looked over by a mechanic not far from his house, the mechanic
asked me "is that ***** ***** car", of course I said yes and he said
"ill take it in but its wasting money, I have done ALL the work o that car
since it was born, the only thing I ever replaced was an abs pump"



Well he did it anyway, no codes, excellent body, no rust, no tire issues,
flawless car, so I bought it at 123,000 miles and had me a new car (I paid 2500
btw)



Shortly after I got my new ride I took it on a trip to Maryland (now im coming
from a Pontiac grand prix mind you, and aleros cant hold a candle to that car)
and was stumped at the low mileage I got on this car, I didn’t really sweat it
at the time since gas was still 2.60 or so, but it still bothered me.



As you can already tell this problem got WORSE, here is what has been done



new air filter (one that is washable and supposedly INCREASES air flow)

oil changes most regularly

mechanics have put "ES Blankets" (these are white cloth blankets with
tie straps, they clip them to your gas tank and then if gas hits these things
they turn bright BLUE,) they used these overnight, and then again on a drive
down the road to test for MOVING leaks



NADA



the diagnostics come back clean

the tire pressure and oil pressure is completely on the money

the engine is running smooth, no misses, transmission shifts flawlessly



as you can see many things have been done now let me give you the CURRENT specs
on the car as is



the car has a 15.0 gallon tank



the STATED economy according to
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymod...1_Oldsmobile_A lero.shtml



is 19 city- 27 highway



so we take



15x

27

= 405 miles (running the tank dry)



now we take



405 miles (stated)

-

220 miles (actual)

= 185 miles lost to the tank



so when it gets real fun is when you do the gas math



185

\

27

= 6.85 gallons

x

4.12 a gallon

= 28.22 (being wasted in each fill up)



WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Ok the car is a 4 cyl- 2.4 auto, nothing seems to be wrong with this car, but
the tank can get me from Baltimore to Middleton Connecticut (roughly 240 miles)
that’s all HIGHWAY with cruise (no stop and go)



there is something seriously wrong with this, I have noticed that the gauge
falls faster at the top the bottom, might be the shape of the tank as well, I
know 5 others who drive aleros (roughly the same or near yeared model cars) and
they get 31-34 routinely!



I’m selling this car needless to say outright, it will take a sticker tomorrow
no problem, it now has 138k on the car, and I travel highway ALOT, I am
currently using it to do a pizza delivery job part time, as you can imagine
thati s no fun at the pump. FYI, I own a lexus RX330 (I own an IT company full
time) and I get better mileage with THAT! Lol





Other whacked out ideas have been the following for your enjoyment



1. The odometer is off, and im actually traveling 2 miles for every one I see,
hmmmm) its a digital odometer in that car so anything’s possible)



2. That cars are geared differently depending on where they were to be sold, so
if that car was destined for Texas (Where its all flat) and needed up here
where we have hills and tough terrain, then it wouldn’t get the proper mileage!



Anything’s possible I guess, last but not least in the time I have owned the
car I have NEVER changed the fuel filter, though the mechanics don’t believe that’s
the real issue,



I hope you all are interested and will lend me some tips or suggestions
(besides getting rid of it) I plan to sell it for 3500 cash, it has everything
new, runs like a champ, just the one gremlin! lol



thanks for listening!

 

Yeah you got something wrong with it. I have a 2001 with the 3400 V6 and get an avage of 24-25mpg mostly city. I can get over 300 miles to a tank also.


Alero''s are know to have problems with the fuel gauge, the sending units are junk.

 

hey everyone

while i don''t know if this could be it

i had a friend look at this car the other night (hes a mechanic) while checking under the hood he found out the following

the spark plugs "gap" were at . 90 or .9000 or something, but they are supposed to be at 50 or whatever

he said that would cuase fuel to go into the engine but not detonate and be wasted,

so know we see if its changing with the next fillup

wish me luck

 

Yeah having the plugs at the right gap will help.


Gap for the 2001 2.4l is 0.050.


Hope it helps with the mpg.Edited by: rustyballs_69

 

 

REMINDER: if your car is getting poor mileage, check the plugs on your engine, and try to drive under 3k rpms, youll be amazed at what it could do for your car and your wallet!</span>


ok im back everyone

just wanted to say thanks to rustyballs for the thoughts,

heres the report

fuel light is on and the tank is reading 270 miles

15.0 gallons X 19 mpg (city of alero)
= 285 miles

so if this tank has been driven on ALL CITY (As it was except for like 13 miles in spurts on highways) then that means im at the threshold of the tank now.

I should also note that i tried VERY HARD not to go over 3k on the rpms, and for the most part was 98% successful, i took it slower, pissed alot of others off, lots of people went around me, but they are wasting fuel not me

as for the alero run though, i''''m about done guys, this car is no longer made probably for a good reason, it would seem the gap in the plugs was the issue (that and my crazy driving) after all, i can sell it to someone with a good conscience. Im headed back to the world of dodge for a while (funny i think thats a company STILL in the auto business hmmm)

thanks everyone

Jay





Edited by: oldsalerohelp

 

Yeah driving under 3K rpm helps alot with the fuel. I went through a tank of gas in 168 miles one week, but that was my fault, how I drove.


As far as the car not being made anymore, I don''t think it had anything to do with the Alero per say. The Alero was the highest selling Oldsmobile ever. The car and the company failed becasue General Motors made a stupid decision. I know some people expect more out of a car then other and that has a big part in a decision to keep or sell it.


I like Dodge also and own one, 99 Ram 2500. If you buy a new one you get one hell of a warrenty.

 

rsuty

wasnt going to comment but had to jump back in, im not saying alero was the downfall of the company, as in fact it was one of the BETTER newer olds cars, funny how the doors and whatnot fit on a grand am 200 or better ,lol, interchangeable, seems like they followed a good design then madei t less (space machine like) you know how on the grand ams of 200 or better they had those ground eefects to make then look hotter, and they WERE sharp looking cars.

as for the decision to sell it was based on other things, im 6-5 and i bought the alero out of necessity not want, its a good car and will continue to be a reliable car, but i need a big car (like the intrepid) for more reasons then that, im about ready to undertake a huge project, and will need the trunks space and the cabin space and power that an alero cannot provide.

i loved my alero and will be sad to see it go, i had many good times with that car,

thanks again!