I have a 2002 Tracker ZR-2 with the 2.0L and automatic (it has crappy power but the price was right so I went with the auto) which I recently purchased.

EPA says 23/26

I'm getting 19-20 at best both hwy and city.  I drive it nicely (not like my Eclipse--hehe) and at most have gotten 21.2.

I burn only Mobil and have tried both Super+ and Regular unleaded.

Anyone else seen anything like this?

Also it seems that when the engine/drivetrain is cold (like when it's 20 degrees outside) the thing is REALLY lazy in shifting... today at lunch, 35-degrees out, it took about a mile to shift from 3rd to OD.

My 90 gets around 18-20 mpg, but it has issues.  I drove a 2002 ZR-2 for two weeks and was getting 25 mpg with it on my expressway drive to work.  That was in October though so the temp may be a factor.

I'm getting 19-20 at best both hwy and city.  I drive it nicely (not like my Eclipse--hehe) and at most have gotten 21.2.

Anyone else seen anything like this?

Are your gas stations pumping "oxygenated" gasoline right now?  That translates to a 10% drop in mileage.  Aren't you glad?

Because I live "in the mountains", and we don't switch to oxygenated fuels, it's easy for me to compare.  Gas up in Denver with either Ethanol or MTBE enhanced fuel, and I get 28 MPG in my daily driver 4-door Sidekick.  Gas up in the mountains (driving the same routes every day) and I get 31 MPG.

Interesting... they may be.... makes me REALLY happy.

My Eclipse (which runs nothing but Mobil SUPER+) hasn't change appreciably.

Also anyone out there with an auto have any issues with crappy shifting?

The car has only 29,000 miles on it so I'm wondering if I should bring it back to the dealership and make a fuss.

I have a 2002 Tracker ZR-2 with the 2.0L and automatic (it has crappy power but the price was right so I went with the auto) which I recently purchased.

I burn only Mobil and have tried both Super+ and Regular unleaded.

Uh, what grade of oil are you running?  The 2.0 (and the 1.8, and the 2.5 V6) are VERY particular - if you run ANYTHING other than 5W30, regardless of what the owner's manual says, you will trash your timing chain tensioners every 40,000 miles, like clockwork.  And to replace the timing chain tensioners, you will be just one step away from having the engine completely torn down.  On the 2.5 V6, you even have to remove one of the Camshafts - not sure about the 1.8 and 2.0.

I just went from 25 mpg on my 97' 5 spd. Then I dropped the tire pressure to what the kick recommends. Though its only 23 lbs. which seems low. And I got a cone filter. Having done just those to things my last fillup I got alittle over 28 mpg. My goal is to be over 30 mpg consistently. I am not sure what to do next though, any ideas?

Lord Gme

That prompts my next question....

Anyone know of a cone filter kit or Warm Air Intake (Short Ram-type) kit for the 2.0L Vitara/Tracker?

Lored_gme, if you want better fuel mileage, don't drop the tire pressure. Generally, the higher the tire pressure the better the fuel mileage. The 23 psi recommendation seems low to me, too. I put at least 28 psi in the Tracker tires for highway use. I usually put around 30-32 psi in my other car, a VW diesel. My VW gets 50 mpg. I wish Suzuki offered a diesel in the Sidekick.

zookincustoms.com makes air intakes for the 2.0 engine.  i just ordered mine for my 01 zr2.

zookincustoms.com makes air intakes for the 2.0 engine.  i just ordered mine for my 01 zr2.

Thanks!

I burn only Mobil and have tried both Super+ and Regular unleaded.

I'm hoping not to insult you when I say this, but running super+ gasoline in a stock engine isn't going to do you any good.

The octane rating method is basically the amount of resistance/heat/pressure/timing that it takes upon that gasoline for it to ignite. If you run a higher octane in an engine that is built for common 87 octane, you will actually be burning off-time and risk damage to your valves and injectors, as well as get a nice ping to your engine.

A lot of people think the more expensive gas is more "pure" or "fast" and so they buy it, not realizing their engine isn't made to run it.

I found this out after I was running 89 octane in my '96 Bonneville and got a ping, only to have my girlfriend's father (mechanic) tell me that I should be running 87 in that engine as recommended in the users manual... I figured the 89 was better quality gas, and had run it for that purpose.

That said, running the proper octane should yield you better fuel efficiency than running higher octanes.

No insult taken.

I ATTEMPTED one tank of higher octane in the Tracker because of the problems...

However switching to Sunoco 87 octane has solved my problems.

My OTHER car, a 2000 Eclipse GT REQUIRES 92 or higher octane, and WILL ping, rattle, and do all kind of awful things (including get bad gas  mileage and run crappy) if I put less than 93 in it.

My OTHER car, a 2000 Eclipse GT REQUIRES 92 or higher octane, and WILL ping, rattle, and do all kind of awful things (including get bad gas  mileage and run crappy) if I put less than 93 in it.

That is interesting I have a 2001 Galant V6 with the same engine as your Eclipse.  If I use 93 octane I get slighly better performance, but I usually use 89 and have no problems with it.  It recommends 92 but says it will adjust for the lower octane of the cheap stuff.

I have an 03 with auto and before I moved back to the cold and snow I was getting about 24. Was getting 16-19 for the last couple of months. Now that it is starting to warm up I am getting 19-22. I use 87 octane.

Clay