1996 Skylark 3.1
 

I have a 1996 Buick Skylark 3.1. I've calculated im getting about 16-17MPG. Is that average for these cars? I drive like granny and I still can't get above 16MPG. What would you guys recomend to do for better fuel mileage? Also, what would you recomend to do for a tune up?

They should do much better than that. Plugs and wires are always a good start. What does the exhaust pipe in the rear look like? If heavy carbon may have a fuel pressure regulator that is sucking in gasoline through the vacuum line.

Would the engine be running rough if it was sucking fuel through a vacuum line? Also, what else could possibly be causing this?

Yes, it could.
New spark plugs, wires and air filter would be a good start.
Are you planning to do the work yourself?

Yes I plan on doing the work myself. Im a Jr. in high school and I go to tech school and also work in a power equipment shop and work on everything from weed wackers to big kubota tractors, so Im more than capeable of doing the work! Plus I love the feeling of doing it yourself knowing you saved lots and lots of $$$$ :D

My next question is what is the plug gap supposed to be set to?

My plan as of now is to do the following:

New Bosch Platinum #6241 Plugs

Bosch 09780 Wires

Oil Change "1000 Miles over due" (OOPS!!!)

Air Filter

Fuel Filter



Unrelaited but doing it when I do the rest:
Front Rotors and Pads

Replacing the busted grille that got broken due to somebody backing into my car with the forklift at the shop

I will post the plug gap info as soon as I get a chance to dig it out. There should be an underhood label on the strut tower with that info unless someone removed it.

Don't be fooled by a lot of hype out there !
Usually OEM stuff will do best. Not to poo, poo other aftermarket stuff, but over the years as you gain experience you will find original equipment manufacturers parts provide good and acceptable results , and you don't have to do the job over again.

The spark plug gap info you asked about, is 0.060. I never had any problems with original manuf plugs which were AC Delco. Some of the fancy plug offerings have multiple electrodes with still only one center electrode that gets rounded off just as quickly as the multiple electrode types. Try them and see how you like them.
Have a good one !
If you have never changed a fuel filter on a Buick before, don't forget to remove the pressure in the fuel line . One way is to pull the fuel pump fuse and let the engine run out of gas and the pressure is released and won't give you a gas bath when you disconnect the lines to the filter.