We are about to head off on a "Griswald" style family vacation but the ol family van is getting BAD MPG, this past weekend we got about 200 miles to a half tank of gas on the wifes 2001 Caravan, we use to get close to 260-275 per half tank....its only got 98.xxx miles, we replaced the plugs last year, maybe 1.5 years ago, pulled front 3 and they looked great, i have though about taking it to a garage to get the "fuel injection" cleaned, but is that worth it? would a over the counter cleaner be just the same? please let me know as i dont want to spend all the family $$ on gas.
Thanks folks!!
Colin

anyone? or wrong forum?

Fuel and air filters fresh?

Low tires?

I would not rely on your fuel gauge. How its "accuracy" lately? Have ever established real mpg baseline before this problem? Hold off cleaning fuel injectors by anyone. Do "Top Tier Gasoline" search. Some car manufactures do recommend certain gas because of addtives for their fuel system. Not all gas is the same.

Has the Air Filter, Fuel Filter, PCV valve, and upper O2 sensor been replaced?

on a modern EFI engine
the air filter condition will not affect
part throttle fuel economy
like in normal driving

a partially clogged fuel filter
will reduce fuel flow per second
but the fuel trims memory registers
the PCM computer keeps internally
can adjust for this up to plus or minus 30%
so the fuel filter would need to be nearly blocked

A hint that either the fuel filter is clogged or something else in the fuel system is malfunctioning,
is that the trip computer MPG
is way off the hand calculated MPG.
Fuel pressure must be at spec and
fuel injectors must be spraying normally
for the two MPG reading to match.

Yamaha Ring Free
Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus (Plus is important)
Gummout Regaine (honey colored)
Official Chrysler Fuel Injection cleaner

... are all worthwhile in-the-tank FI cleaners, and will also clean off tarry deposits on the backside of intake valves that disturb the air to fuel ratio in that particular cylinder

O2 sensor should be your main suspect if fuel economy is much worse than a few thousand miles ago,
but also keep in mind
nearly blocked catalytic converter,
which Chrysler has had past problems with

I'm of the opinion you can't "clean" the fuel injection.
If the problem is with the fuel injection, then something is broken.
If it's broken, it has to be replaced.
A fuel injection cleaning done by a shop is simply a can of tiger pizz into the fuel tank with a 1000% markup.
So, IF it's the F.I. (and only if) it's replacement time for the injectors...




Do your due diligence with your basics first before you jump to conclusions.

Ya i have replaced all the above except the O2 sensor. i thank you all for letting me know where to look. Thanks again!!

Colin

huh this guy doesn't know what he is talking about! He lives on a farm! Don't give him advice! Worthless. Wont listen!...............................................................................................................................................Bout dang time ya started posting on here! Time to get off that FB and onto a real internet "getogether" Incase ya guys didn't know he's my "little" brother!

On a real note. What are the tires and alignment like? Gravel road filling up the air filter? That injector cleaner I used on the olds worked for the 1st couple of tank fills but has resorted back to the same issues I had b4. Have ya asked Jason?

Have fun see ya the end of the month!
corey

best way? take them out and let a shop that cleans and rebuilds injectors