3.1 Only get's 17mpg on the HWY

[SODAK]

2001 3.1 it runs good. No check engine lights but then I check the MPG and its only gets 17 mpg on the Hwy! The guy I bought it from said his shop told him to change out the vapor canister purge solenoid because he could smell some gas. I did that right away. The only thing I notice the tail pipe really black. Any Idea's anyone?

[Azrael]

The black exhaust soot means your engine is running very rich. Pull the vacuum line to the fuel pressure regulator and check for gas in the vacuum line. If there is then the regulator needs to be replaced. The primary oxygen sensor could also have gone bad and is skewing the fuel trim.

[SappySE107]

Spark plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter, O2 sensor. When was the last time they were replaced?

[SODAK]

I didnt see any gas in the vacuum line but I could really smell it, is it common problem for them to have a fuel pressure regulator to go out. As for the plugs wires etc I dont know because I just bought the car. Do you think its worth the money to get a new 02 sensor.

[pocket-rocket]

If you can smell fuel in the vacuum line (but not see it because if you see fuel in the vacuum line, it's shot for sure), the next step I would take (although I'm with Azrael in the thinking your FPR is shot) would be to get a hand vacuum pump and draw a vacuum on the FPR. If it holds, the fuel smell is coming from somewhere else. If it drops, the diaphragm in the FPR has a hole in it.

[SappySE107]

It is probably worth getting a new O2 after you find the real problem. I had to replace an injector, a FPR, and a coil pack on a 2.8 because it smelled like raw fuel out the exhaust. Cause it was:P He kept putting new O2s in but that only helped for a short period of time since a constant rich condition will ruin the O2.

[SODAK]

update I replace the FPR and now Im up to 20mpg on the hwy.Maybe next I should do plugs or o2 senor.Do you think maybe the MAF need to be cleaned?

[pocket-rocket]

If you clean the MAF (it certainly can't hurt), use the MAF sensor spray at the parts store. It doesn't leave behind any oils. Replacing the O2 and plugs couldn't hurt either, especially if you don't know the last time they were changed. I didn't mention O2 in my post because my thinking is why throw a new sensor in it if it's practically dumping fuel and it would foul out the new one in a week.