Passat (B5) :: 2002 - Changed Spark Plugs But Gas Mileage Dropped To 24 MPG?
Mar 19, 2011
As far as I know, my Passat has never had any other spark plugs other than OEM. I could also swear that those OEM plugs always had 3 grounds. My gas mileage historically averages about 27MPG in a mixed city/highway environment.
Recently, my spark plugs were replaced and now my gas mileage has dropped to 24MPG. I had a similar problem once with my previous car (1998 Jetta GLI) and it was due to going from a three ground spark plug to a single ground plug. Putting in three ground spark plugs instantly restored the gas mileage to previous levels.
I've read repeatedly that the NKG PFR6Q is the OEM plug but it only has a single ground. I realize that my memory could be faulty, but this is driving me nuts.
Alas I can't be sure what was there before versus what's there now, but I know my previous mechanic was a stickler for OEM parts. Would switching from a multi-ground to a single-ground cause a 10%+ drop in mileage?
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I don't have a torque wrench. I just have a spark plug wrench. I changed my own spark plugs. I don't like taking them out and putting them back in. I'm not sure if I got the torque right. What should I do?
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Just got done changing the plugs on my new to me 2008 Prius. They were in there a little tight and the crunching noise they make at first is a little disconcerting, but I'm thinking it has something to do with the coating NGK puts on their plugs.
Anyway, everything went smooth and I took my time and used tips I read about here. I've worked on cars since I was 16 and have rebuilt motors and completely restored a 1956 Chevy, but this Prius is a different animal. I think in the end though we are going to be friends...
Here are some pics of the old plugs. The gaps were a little out of range, and there was some wear, but 148k on spark plugs and the car still runs good?
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Im noticing my mpg dropping in the past couple of months. I usually get 19 or 20 in town, and up to 23 on the highway. Now im lucking if I get 16 or 17mpg.
I have a 2001 escape XLT. 6cyl 4x4.
I changed the spark plugs, coils and fuel filter about 3 years ago (almost 40k miles ago).
The car starts fine, seems to idle fine, seems to accelerate ok. The only thing that is off is the MPG.
I dont just want to throw money at parts. Which one should I replace?
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I am changing my own spark plugs for the first time. I have a spark plug wrench, dielectric grease, anti-seize compound etc.
I have a Haynes manual for my 2002 Toyota Corolla. The book was written before Irridium plugs were used. Should I tighten the spark plugs to the same torque specifications as regular plugs? The book says 158 inch pounds. How do I know I have tightened them to the right amount?
How do I avoid cross threading the spark plugs? What happens if you cross thread the spark plugs (assuming the car seems to be running fine)? Would I need a new engine or expensive repair when it is time to replace the spark plugs again?
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Here's the run down:
-bought 6 months ago for cheap because it wouldn't pass smog test
-changed Purge Control Valve (PCV) and it passed
-filled with gas, heard popping noises like a backfire, and coded it read the same "Bank 1 and Bank 2 running lean, like it did before the PCV and then also "Cylinder 3 Misfire" appeared.
-At this point the car started running rough, at idle, and through acceleration...sputtering uphill, and when climbing through the gears.
-Changed the plugs & wires
-NOW, it's cylinder 5 misfiring, and not nearly as bad. It's idling and running rough, acceleration has somewhat come back, but it's definitely not 100%.
Should I start with the PCV again, since it's not starting after I fill the tank, and climbing gears slow? Is there anything else I should be checking?
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I changed my spark plugs now I got a miss and rough idle .#2 and 6 seem to be the ones that miss the idle don't change when I unplug the coil , I take coil off and put it next to the motor it sparks ! I put everything 3 plugs and got about 200 miles on them and 3 out of 8 had melt downs and left me on the side of the hwy. I got autolights in it now but it got a miss and rough idle ! Did I not do something right ?
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I have 60k on a 2010 Prius III. my mileage is slowing dropping, i am thinking about installing new plugs.?
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I have rough idle problem after changing spark plugs, fuel filter and battery. There was no rough idle problem before this work was done. What could be wrong. Once the speed is above 20 mph it seem to run fine but at stops it vibrates and seem like it may stall!
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I have a 2002 Ford Focus coming up on 150k... still drives fine, but when I went to change the plugs today, I found all four of them submerged in oil. What's going on?
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I was thinking about change my spark plugs on friday so today I went to check the ones the car have open the hood took the engine cover out and the ones on the sides, I see 6 wires 4 going to the left side(air intake side) and 2 going to the right side (where the oil fil cap is) so I say think this should be the spark plugs wires. I take one of the left side wires out and is cover in oil so I keep taking the other out one by one and all of them have a lot of oil I can't even see the sparks plugs. All the wires have numbers on top 1 to 6. I say this have to be the wires cause I don't see any other place where the plugs can be located at. The car is a 99 v6 fwd...
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I recently replaced the spark plugs on my 2002 Camry SE V6 (Gen 5). Let me just say that it was INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT to reach the rear 3 plugs as they sit underneath the intake manifold, way to the rear of the engine compartment. To reach those, I had to unplug some wires reaching on top of the engine, then loosen the intake manifold.
Along the way I broke a tiny air valve that sits underneath intake manifold, and replaced it right away, before starting the car.
When everything was put back together, the car started wonderfully, only to notice the engine light come on. I had the codes checked at the dealer and they indicated a malfunctioning Catalytic Converter and A/F Sensor and some other emissions stuff. Later that day, the VCS/TRAC OFF light came on as well. The service guy at the dealer said those typically come on together with the Check Engine light, which sounds like something he pulled out of somewhere!
The car drives well, no hesitation, no weird behavior, but has no traction control, naturally. While loosening the manifold I had to use a little force to flex it out of place. My guess is that it I may have yanked something out place: may be a wire issue, or a sensor.
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Today I ran into a problem while i was changing my spark plugs ...two of the plugs were completely covered in oil. I mean oil was literally dripping off those plugs. I have a Passat 1999 2.8L V6. What could be wrong.
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Changed the plugs, wires, cap and rotor. I can't seem to pinpoint what causes the failure to start to occur. The starter engages and the motor turns. Letting it sit for an hour seems to solve the problem.
I have not replaced the distributor yet.
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I have a 2013 Hyundai Sonata GLS with 55,000 miles. I was told to replace the plugs and battery by my local automotive shop. I decided to do it myself to save a couple of dollars just this past week. I filled up the car today and noticed the MPG dropped significantly. Normally a full the tank shows I have 420 miles to go. Today it showed 370 a difference of 50 miles.
I have two ideas why this happened:
1) Replacing the battery has caused the computer to reset and as a result it is showing the wrong mileage. After a week or two of running the correct mileage will show. I drove the car about 150 miles after changing the battery and thought this would of been enough time for the computer to figure out the MPG if this was the problem.
2) I caused damage to the Iridium plugs when I gapped them and did not notice it. I used Autolite XP6203 model and gapped them at .044. Autolites do not come pre-gapped I was told. The car is not hesitating and runs smooth. I am thinking this is the problem but not 100% certain.
Is my idea about the computer valid and I should give it some time to recalculate MPG? I am thinking to give it a couple of tanks of gas and see if the car fixes itself
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2011 Prius for wife. Mileage has always been upper 40s to low 50s until the last week or so, now she is seeing 35 mpg displayed.
I have asked for a check at fill up. I just pulled the car out to wash it and noticed the engine came on right away, same when I put it back into the garage. In the past we would get part way down the driveway before the engine came on. Also did a code check and no codes found
What are the approximate outside air temps? 40s am 70s pm.
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We recently got back from a 2800 mile trip. Our v now has 10,600 miles on it. We have been averaging 41 mpg until the last two tank fuls. For some strange reason we got 34.5 displayed on our last tank, 32 actual, and right now after 90 miles we are showing 30.5 displayed. My wife drives the car 98% of the time, but even when I use hypermiling techniques the car is not yielding the past displayed results. We are about to take it in for the 10,000 oil change.
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I've had my car going at 45 mpg the past 2 years. I just hit my 45k mileage mark. I drive mostly on the highway to work so getting 45 mpg is pretty good for me. This last few fill ups, I noticed my gas mileage has gone down to 40 mpg. I thought it was a mistake if it was just once but the last 7 fill ups has been that way. It just went down all of a sudden and has stayed that way.
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I have an 05 Prius that I bought used. It has 59K miles on it. Recently I took it to the dealer for an oil change. They told me it didn't need an oil change, but did need an air filter. Afterwards, the mileage dropped from about 47 around town to about 42. Had the oil changed a week later, and the mileage is now about 40 around town. The dipstick when cold shows a little above the full mark.
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The last few days with snow and temps dipping below, my mileage has dropped significantly to high 20s/low 30s. I understand that (a) I park my car outside, (b) warm-up my car during the time I clean the snow, (c) no EBH, (d) no grill blocking, and (e) my drive to work is only ~15 miles round trip, but still mileage in the high 20s/low 30s is lousy, even lower than my break-in mileage (30s) that occurred in Jan. Even, my 1995 Corolla with 150k miles also gives about mid-20s during the winter with identical driving styles and conditions. So what's with the Prius?
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I have 2600 miles on my 2012 mdl II. A month old. I have been averaging 47.5mpg since day one based on miles driven and gas put back in tank at each fill up. I have used only Mobil bottom 87 oct gas.Last fill up got me 48.2, very nice, then I filled up with mid grade 89 oct as it was all I could get then. The next day I was in the dealer for my 1000 mile checkup. when I got out my battery was down to 25%, okay no biggie. Then from there on out I notice my mpg changed alot. The comps used to read 49.1-50.1. Now it reads 42.2-44.1. I drive the same way and my 85 mile round trip to work hasn't changed. My first fill up since the dealer, got me 45.0 mpg. wow a big drop off.
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