What causes horrible MPG in my 1981 Toyota Tercel?

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johny

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I have a 1981, 5 speed manual toyota tercel with 140k miles. I got it about 9 months ago and it had 130k miles.

Here is the work I've done on it since I've gotten it

Brand new tires, alignment, wheel balance

Rebuilt the head

Brand new exhaust and catalytic converter

Brand new water pump, timing belt, distributor cap and rotor, new spark plugs and wires all around

new air filter

brand new Vacuum Advance Unit

And I had the carburetor adjusted before I took it in for a smog, it passed with flying colors.


However, I am only getting 25 MPG with mostly highway driving. In the manual it says I should get 32mpg city 47mpg highway. But that was back in 1981 those figures are a bit off.

But I do hear a lot of 1981 Tercel owners regularly getting 35+MPG and some that claim they'll get 45+MPG if they drive 55mph on the highway with no traffic.

Any advice is appreciate.


I drive slow and steady, I shift at the appropriate time and I don't do jackrabbit starts, I have no idea why I'm getting 25mpg.
 
free up the air intake.......and shed as much weight as possible out of the car.....

and do the REST of a basic tune-up....meaning change ALL the filters and fluids on the car......bet the trans fluid is original...and possibly the brake fluid as well....either of which WILL be causing major drag on the drive line....
 
check the vacuum line to the valve in the air intake, i had one break in my toyota and i was getting only 6 mpg , i don't remember what the valve is called
 
free up the air intake.......and shed as much weight as possible out of the car.....

and do the REST of a basic tune-up....meaning change ALL the filters and fluids on the car......bet the trans fluid is original...and possibly the brake fluid as well....either of which WILL be causing major drag on the drive line....
 
check the vacuum line to the valve in the air intake, i had one break in my toyota and i was getting only 6 mpg , i don't remember what the valve is called
 
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