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Buick LeSabre: Real World MPG

19 messages,  Last post on Dec 12, 2008 at 7:14 PM

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What is this discussion about? Buick LeSabre, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Sedan

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#2 of 19 Gas Guzzler ! 95 LeSabre by luvjoy Apr 10, 2006 (1:12 pm)
Hello People: Two months ago, bought used 1995 LeSabre with Dynaride. Everything about the car ride, etc. is perfect, as far as I can tell. The MPG Are HORRENDOUS! Around town, like 10 or 11. Long trip, maybe and I say maybe 15 or 16! I CAN LITERALLY SEE THE NEEDLE MOVE! I asked the Dealer I got it from what he thought it might be and he said he doesnt know what is causing it and the warranty has run out. HE DID PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER FOR ME TOO...... UGH   Ok, Im a woman and really dont know what to do next, except maybe trade her in. I dont think its the engine, everything sounds fine. If anyone has any thoughts, please let me know. Thanks Y'all. Joyce Replies to this message: 53rocket (Apr 10, 2006 5:04 pm) luvjoy (Jul 22, 2006 10:45 am)
#3 of 19 Re: Gas Guzzler ! 95 LeSabre [luvjoy] by 53rocket Apr 10, 2006 (5:04 pm)
Replying to: luvjoy (Apr 10, 2006 1:12 pm) I think your trouble shooting process is pretty easy. My '95 gets 25 and 26 mpg highway.   Obviously your using fuel. Could be;   Dried out gas line leaking, any smell of gas under the car?   Your fuel pressure regualtor is bad and it is letting too much fuel into the engine. Check your oil level and see if it is overfull or smells like gas. Too much gas could be leaking past your piston rings and into your oil pan.   Is your fuel gauge accurate? Does it accept 12 gallons to fill it when it is registering 1/4 tank? Replies to this message: luvjoy (Jul 22, 2006 10:45 am)
#4 of 19 Re: Gas Guzzler ! 95 LeSabre [53rocket] by luvjoy Jul 22, 2006 (10:45 am)
Replying to: 53rocket (Apr 10, 2006 5:04 pm) Hiya, Sorry I couldnt get back sooner. Been a long time, but Ive been sick and hospitalized a few times. I just last week had a local mechanic do a tune up and he said things were bad, still the same original wires, etc. BTW the car is a 98 LeSabre, not 95! LOL I checked it twice and gas mileage is the same. Not sure what to do next. Thanks for you help, I just read your post and I will follow thru on those things. Joyce
#5 of 19 Lesabre Engine Diagnostics by cookie98 Nov 24, 2006 (2:24 pm)
I have a 2001 Lesabre with 66654 miles on it. My car was cutting off and then if I sit for 15 minutes it would restart. I took it and had them run a diagnostics test. The mechanic tells me that I have an upper intake leak which is going to run me about $700.00 to get fix. The part is only $163.00 without the labor and other things he want to do. Have any one have this problem and if so what is the price range to get it fix? Replies to this message: imidazol97 (Nov 25, 2006 5:35 am)
#6 of 19 Re: Lesabre Engine Diagnostics [cookie98] by imidazol97 Nov 25, 2006 (5:35 am)
Replying to: cookie98 (Nov 24, 2006 2:24 pm) Did he explain how the "leak" would cause th car to cut off, I assume you mean it died, and then the car would restart later? Did he explain results of his diagnosis?   I'd find a second, qualified, mechanic to evaluate the car. I'd even pay to have a dealer check it--at one with a good reputation.   Upper intake manifolds were redesigned in 1999 when the failures became common. 2000 models on the failures have been rare. Perhaps the mechanic has a boat payment due or is wanting to increase Christmas spending this year.   The upper intake replacement requires removing the injectors and rails and the throttle body. These are quick and easy for mechanics who have done them before. The upper intake manifold comes off with 6-10 bolts and needs to be excamined when off to deetermine what really happened.   Many afficianadoes of 3800s would suggest removing a few more bolts on the lower intake manifold (metal) and replacing the lower intake seal--on 2000 models I don't know if that's necessary or not--on earlier models it's become a necessity. The bolts sometimes are loose and the original gasket has been redesigned by GM for the lower.   To help with self evaluation of his diagnosis: do you see steam out the tailpipe when the car is first started especially on cool mornings compared to other cars in your area. That could be coolant getting into cylinders from a leaking gasket.   do you have a change in the level of the coolant when the car is parked on the same level after cooling overnight? The coolant has to be dropping if there's a leak letting it go into the motor.   do you have a rough running motor when first started due to coolant affecting the mixture and the plugs?   do you have a milky look to the oil on the dip stick? This is the most dangerous symptom if you have it because that's coolant getting into the oil instead of being burned and the coolants damage the bearings quickly when they are in the oil.   Also--there was a recall for that car to change the gasket where the throttle body bolts to the end of the upper intake manifold AND to change the bolts holding it on for a better seal there. Hot coolant flows through the upper intake manifold and into the throttle body to warm up the air coming into the motor quicker and there were some problems with leakage there--not in other parts of the manifold as in earlier 3800s.   The recall also added pellets of an organic stop leak which used to be added at the factory (factories-probably most makers use it) to seal up tiny seeps. The pellets are ground walnut shells or something like that. I add them to mine each time I drain and refill my Dexcool. I put in two crushed up into the hot coolant and drive the car for 30 minutes to circulate the stuff. This recall was done on 2000-2003 models if I recall correctly.   Your Dexcool should be flushed and drained every two years just like every other coolant. I do my own in the driveway.   Your car is about to the point where plugs need to be changed and wires also. They're supposed to go 100k but I replace anywhere from 60-80K. The mechanic may be wanting to change those and the water pump or some other things while he has the car.
#7 of 19 Lesabre Engine Diagnostics by cookie98 Nov 27, 2006 (6:15 am)
His explain that this is common in 2001 buick. I have to check my records because I think I remember taking my vehicle back for that recall. No I don't see any more steam coming out of the tail pipe on cold mornings then any other cars. I will have to check my coolant level after I park the car and in the morning. No my motor do not run rough starting first thing in the morning. Just had my oil change last month and no milky look was on the stick. I am going to have another mechanic look at it and get the wires and plugs change. Will post if this helps. Replies to this message: imidazol97 (Jan 25, 2007 9:34 am)
#8 of 19 Le Sabre MPG rating by jorgec Jan 25, 2007 (7:59 am)
Last August my wife, my son and myself took her car a 2004 Buick Le Sabre to Virginia Beach, Va, we live in Northern NJ so this trip is more than 400 miles we filled the tank the night before now remember the Le Sabre takes about 18 Gallons of fuel, it was my son my wife and myself plus luggage the same day we were leaving I had to go to my job to leave a key that is a distance of about 15 miles then turn around go back home because we forgot something that is 30 miles in total, then we couldn't find the turnpike right away when we finally did my speed did not go below 85 miles and hour at any time when we got to Virginia Beach we still enough fuel left to drive the car around the city and sight see so our car is extremely fuel efficient
#9 of 19 Re: Lesabre Engine Diagnostics [cookie98] by imidazol97 Jan 25, 2007 (9:34 am)
Replying to: cookie98 (Nov 27, 2006 6:15 am) >His explain that this is common in 2001 buick.   If he claimed that Upper Intake Manifold seeping or leaks area common in 2001 3800s, run don't walk to a real mechanic who's not trying to sell something.   The recall involving UIM was actually the throttle body where it is pressed onto the end of the UIM by 4 bolts/screws and they replaced those with larger washers under the screw to spread the pressure out more and they changed the gasket around the contact and they put antileak pellets that have ground up pepper or walnut shells or something organic into the coolant.   The hot coolant comes up through the UIM and goes into the throttle body assembly to heat it for better performance quickly when the car is started. Apparently because they quit putting sealant into the motors at the factory, a few gaskets had seeped. That's an exterior seep in most cases. And it was rare.   The UIM leaks on the prior version of the manifolds up to 99 were caused by seeps around the UIM gasket to the outside or from the part next to the EGR internal HOT tube deteriorates the plastic and allows seepage from the coolant passages to the throttle body.
#10 of 19 2000 Buick LeSabre by tkcolorado Jan 29, 2008 (4:22 pm)
Right now we are using gas with ethanol in it.   85 Octane 18mpg City, 29 Hwy (Foothills) 31 (Flat) Car does NOT like this gas, it runs really rough on cold mornings with this fuel. 88 Octane 21mpg City, 31 Hwy (Foothills) 34(Flat). Car runs much smoother with this octane gas, and cold morning starts aren't as harsh.

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