92 VX bad milage

[theholycow]

Theoretically a plugged catalytic converter could cause a major decrease in fuel economy. It happened on my 2008 Volkswagen and my fuel economy did NOT decrease much. As the blockage got worse, power decreased so severely that it almost couldn't be driven.

[imzjustplayin]

Originally Posted by theholycow

Theoretically a plugged catalytic converter could cause a major decrease in fuel economy. It happened on my 2008 Volkswagen and my fuel economy did NOT decrease much. As the blockage got worse, power decreased so severely that it almost couldn't be driven.

you had a plugged cat on a 2008 VW? how'd that happen?

[noender]

alright ill go with the tune up first and also will exhaust leaks make the smog fail? one thing i forgot to mention was that when i start the car in the mornings (cold start) i get a strong smell of gas like running rich thats what made me check the spark plug but they were normal.

to do list

*spark plugs* ngk ZFR4F-11 @.o44
spark plug wire
fuel filter
*pcv valve*
distri cap
distri rotor
alignment
tire pressure
ground wires

what more to do? also do the wire set has to be ngk or can i use bosh?

[noender]

another thing i forgot to ask whats the stock idle for a vx 750rpm? because mine is at around 300-400 it looks really low on the tach unless the tach isnt reading right...

[msweatherhead]

vx is very similar to hx civic both lean burn 5 wire o2,egr ports get plugged up and affect gas mpg,i know it did on my hx,Majestic honda.com has 30% off on honda parts it's ware i go for mine,I clean the egr ports every 100k or so,cover is under fuel rail.361,200mi and counting.msweatherhead

[vxdude]

thats where mine is at, after the valve adjustment i could drive on flat surfaces at 500-600rpms with no sputtering..

[imzjustplayin]

Originally Posted by noender

alright ill go with the tune up first and also will exhaust leaks make the smog fail? one thing i forgot to mention was that when i start the car in the mornings (cold start) i get a strong smell of gas like running rich thats what made me check the spark plug but they were normal.

to do list

*spark plugs* ngk ZFR4F-11 @.o44
spark plug wire
fuel filter
*pcv valve*
distri cap
distri rotor
alignment
tire pressure
ground wires

what more to do? also do the wire set has to be ngk or can i use bosh?

only use OEM recommendations... so if it's NGK and denso, stick with that.. use the exact sparkplugs they recommend and nothing else. Civics HATE it when you use anything but oem recommended parts.

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by *************

you had a plugged cat on a 2008 VW? how'd that happen?

It may have been coincidence, or it may have been because of some experimentation I was doing with trying to rig up a kill switch.

Originally Posted by noender

alright ill go with the tune up first and also will exhaust leaks make the smog fail? one thing i forgot to mention was that when i start the car in the mornings (cold start) i get a strong smell of gas like running rich thats what made me check the spark plug but they were normal.

An exhaust leak could make smog fail, but a noticeably rich smell will definitely make smog fail...you're smelling hydrocarbon emissions and the smog test is checking for that first.

[imzjustplayin]

Op, check to see if your manifold is cracked.. in all likelihood, it's cracked, letting out gasses and either not letting the o2 sensor do it job or letting it do its job poorly.

[noender]

so i was fixing my front toe and i notice i have a second cat converter im thinking its a cat since it says "CATCO" .what do you guys think?