1994 Geo Prizm Excessive Fuel Consumption

1994 GEO PRIZM
117,000 MILES • 4 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
Avatar
BLUMONSTER
  • MEMBER
  • 46 POSTS
Hi,

I have 1994 model year Prizm (1.8 L engine, 4 speed auto transmission).


I do not ever remember riding more than 250 miles (highway/city mixed) on a full tank of gas.The previous owner installed a performance type exhaust/headers.The car failed emissions test the first time I took it there because of high NOx readings.

The car does not have an EGR system (factory original).

Failed test results:
HC 0.28 g/mi (13% greater than reference car)
CO 1.18 g/mi (73% less)
NOx 2.69 g/mi (135.8% greater than reference car)
1% Lean

The last passing test results:
HC 0.8 G/MI
CO 15 G/MI
NOx 2 G/MI

After adding some Lucas injector cleaner and with the help of tester (tried several times) it passed.

Since then I had a coolant flush done as a preventative measure.

What could cause this high NOx reading? What causes my poor gas mileage? Can both be related? What do you suggest I do to address the issue?

Thanks a lot :)
Jan 10, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
MMPRINCE4000
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 8,548 POSTS
Are you saying the EGR was removed? If a one wire O2 sensor the engine may not be going into closed loop, sinse the thin headers would not hold heat like the cast iron ones.

Perform a backpressure test to see if the CAT is clogged, but if the O2 sensor is not at 600 degrees F, then it will run rich and you wil get poor mileage.
Jan 11, 2009 at 7:10 AM