Kudos for not caving at high-pressure sales

Dear Bob: Last month I went to a local Ford dealer to price a new F250 Super Crew 4X4 with a 5.4-liter engine and six-speed manual transmission. The sales manager told my salesman that the manual transmission would not pass the Massachusetts state emissions requirements, which are the same as California’s.

I know that the engine has to pass emissions, but I don’t understand what that has to do with the transmission. I told the salesman that I’d have to think about my next step.

Then he said that, since I couldn’t get the F250 the way I wanted it, maybe I’d consider an F150 with an automatic transmission. He followed me to the door, trying to make a deal right then.

When I talked to the salesman originally, I had asked him to give me his best price and told him that I would be going to another dealer to compare. As I left to go to work, he said that he would drop the price by $1,000 if I bought it today. So I guess he didn’t give me his best price after all.

Upon thinking about it, I believe that they were simply trying to sell the vehicles they had on the lot. What is your opinion?

I always read your column and find it very informative.

— R.V., Methuen, Mass.

A: OK, let’s think about this a bit. Would a dealer sell any new vehicle that did not meet emissions standards, California’s or otherwise?

Because California is the biggest automobile market in the United States, manufacturers virtually always comply with its emissions requirements, and for simplicity’s sake many states mimic California’s rules. A vehicle that wasn’t equipped to meet California’s standards — which, according to the dealer’s own statement, would also meet the Massachusetts requirements — would be unlawful to market in much of the country. The manual transmission probably wouldn’t be offered with the F250 if doing so would exclude the truck from so large a chunk of the auto market.

Even if that weren’t so, however, what would be the benefit to the manufacturer in shipping any car to Massachusetts or to any state in which it wouldn’t be equipped to meet that particular state’s emissions standards? After all, that would essentially render it unsellable.

I believe that your suspicions are right on target: Because the dealership didn’t have the particular vehicle in stock that you had requested, the salesman was trying to use high-pressure sales techniques to get you to buy one that the dealership did have.

Kudos to you for sticking to your guns, and I hope that you’ll find your ideal truck … at another dealer.

Dear Bob: My question is about my 1999 Chevy Silverado 1500 pickup and the change in gas mileage I’ve recently experienced, both around town and on the highway.

The engine is a 4800 Vortec V8 with only 46,000 miles. I was getting about 15 mpg/city and 18 mpg/highway. Last month I noticed a sudden change in my gas mileage to 12.5 mpg/city and 15 mpg/highway. The tire pressure is good, and the truck was not in four-wheel drive - all my driving has been under normal conditions.

A mechanic recommended a good fuel-system cleaner to see if it helps. Assuming that it doesn’t improve the gas mileage, do you have any suggestions? I’ve never had this problem before.

— Z., via e-mail.

A: At only 46,000 miles, I doubt if the fuel-system cleaner will make much difference, especially if you’ve been using a quality gasoline to start with.

Whenever a vehicle experiences a sudden decrease in fuel economy, one of three sensors is likely to be the culprit.

First, an oxygen sensor gone haywire can cause a sudden and dramatic decrease in fuel economy.

Second, the coolant-temperature sensor may be out of whack. If this sensor malfunctions, the result will be similar to that of a bad O2 sensor, a sharp decrease in fuel economy.

Third, a failing EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve causes the engine to burn more gas than is necessary. More gas burned to travel the same distance equals, yes, a decrease in fuel economy.

Other sensors that may play a part in the fuel-economy equation include the throttle-position sensor and the EGR-position sensor. But my money says that it’s one of the first three that is causing your sudden decrease in MPGs.

AMERICAN DRIVERS FIGHT BACK

Here’s a tip that will help you get better gas mileage while fighting terrorism and cutting our nation’s dependence on Mideastern oil:

Ideally a vehicle should start with the first turn of the key. If it doesn’t, however, don’t let the starter grind away. Remove the key, wait a moment and try again.

Grinding away on the starter isn’t good for either the car or its fuel economy, not to mention the battery and the starter motor. When you grind the starter, gasoline is continually dumped into the engine but doesn’t burn. Some of this wasted gasoline finds its way into the upper cylinder area of the engine, where it washes away vital lubricant protection that the oil pump is striving to supply.

If your car won’t start without your grinding away on the starter, it’s a sure sign that the engine needs attention. Take it to a mechanic as soon as possible, for the sake of your engine and your fuel economy alike.