O2 Sensor Cleaning For Fuel Economy?
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 935
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From: Nationwide, USA
Year: 89
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Renix 4.0
Drove the ‘96 2-door all winter, getting this one back on the road for the summer and revisiting this issue, which really hasn’t changed since the O2 sensor and new injectors were installed.
Additional symptoms include intermittently taking about twice as long or more to start as it should, usually when “cold”, fuel smell from the engine compartment.
I noticed the rubber elbow for the vacuum line attached to the fuel pressure regulator was deteriorating and smelled of gasoline. Regulator was not holding vacuum.
I replaced regulator and elbow, now it seems to start right up as it should. I imagine a vacuum leak here could accound for poor mileage, coupled with a bad regulator.
Question: could unregulated fuel pressure also contribute to excessive fuel consumption?
Thanks!
Additional symptoms include intermittently taking about twice as long or more to start as it should, usually when “cold”, fuel smell from the engine compartment.
I noticed the rubber elbow for the vacuum line attached to the fuel pressure regulator was deteriorating and smelled of gasoline. Regulator was not holding vacuum.
I replaced regulator and elbow, now it seems to start right up as it should. I imagine a vacuum leak here could accound for poor mileage, coupled with a bad regulator.
Question: could unregulated fuel pressure also contribute to excessive fuel consumption?
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 935
Likes: 49
From: Nationwide, USA
Year: 89
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Renix 4.0
Okay, doing some actual testing.
Fuel pressure reads near zero on original fuel pump prime when engine is cold, not running. Second prime of pump brings it up to 10-15psi, and it drops down to zero within a few seconds. Again, cold not running. Fired up fine and pressure while running is at 45psi. I removed the vacuum line from the FPR, pressure went up to 55psi. Applied full vacuum to FPR, dropped down to 45psi. Cut engine and pressure nearly immediately dropped to zero.
What do these symptoms indicate?
Thank you.
Fuel pressure reads near zero on original fuel pump prime when engine is cold, not running. Second prime of pump brings it up to 10-15psi, and it drops down to zero within a few seconds. Again, cold not running. Fired up fine and pressure while running is at 45psi. I removed the vacuum line from the FPR, pressure went up to 55psi. Applied full vacuum to FPR, dropped down to 45psi. Cut engine and pressure nearly immediately dropped to zero.
What do these symptoms indicate?
Thank you.
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43,971
Likes: 1,578
From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Okay, doing some actual testing.
Fuel pressure reads near zero on original fuel pump prime when engine is cold, not running. Second prime of pump brings it up to 10-15psi, and it drops down to zero within a few seconds. Again, cold not running. Fired up fine and pressure while running is at 45psi. I removed the vacuum line from the FPR, pressure went up to 55psi. Applied full vacuum to FPR, dropped down to 45psi. Cut engine and pressure nearly immediately dropped to zero.
What do these symptoms indicate?
Thank you.
Fuel pressure reads near zero on original fuel pump prime when engine is cold, not running. Second prime of pump brings it up to 10-15psi, and it drops down to zero within a few seconds. Again, cold not running. Fired up fine and pressure while running is at 45psi. I removed the vacuum line from the FPR, pressure went up to 55psi. Applied full vacuum to FPR, dropped down to 45psi. Cut engine and pressure nearly immediately dropped to zero.
What do these symptoms indicate?
Thank you.
Hose in tank from pump to outlet has a hole or is loose?
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 935
Likes: 49
From: Nationwide, USA
Year: 89
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Renix 4.0
Is my initial 10-15psi indicated pump prime pressure a sign of something obvious?
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43,971
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From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
There's a test in the manual where you clamp the return line and see if the pressure drops. I'm not totally familiar with it and I'm on my first cup of coffee......
A 91 you don't have to drop the tank BTW.
I think for now it would be best to separate the 2 symptoms as fuel economy can be affected by so many things.
You have a FSM?
A 91 you don't have to drop the tank BTW.
I think for now it would be best to separate the 2 symptoms as fuel economy can be affected by so many things.
You have a FSM?
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 935
Likes: 49
From: Nationwide, USA
Year: 89
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Renix 4.0
There's a test in the manual where you clamp the return line and see if the pressure drops. I'm not totally familiar with it and I'm on my first cup of coffee......
A 91 you don't have to drop the tank BTW.
I think for now it would be best to separate the 2 symptoms as fuel economy can be affected by so many things.
You have a FSM?
A 91 you don't have to drop the tank BTW.
I think for now it would be best to separate the 2 symptoms as fuel economy can be affected by so many things.
You have a FSM?
No FSM.
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43,971
Likes: 1,578
From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 935
Likes: 49
From: Nationwide, USA
Year: 89
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Renix 4.0
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43,971
Likes: 1,578
From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 935
Likes: 49
From: Nationwide, USA
Year: 89
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Renix 4.0
Once again, thank you Cruiser! As I mentioned before, I'm hesitant to pinch that return line as it appears to be hard plastic. Also, I did replace that fuel pressure regulator last weekend, and the pressure drops to zero nearly immediately after shutting off engine.
I'm going to put the gauge back on it today and at least double check my observations and see if I can perform that leak down test without damaging the fuel line.
I'm going to put the gauge back on it today and at least double check my observations and see if I can perform that leak down test without damaging the fuel line.


