Code P0430 and losing mpg

[XLT]

Well i have been searching on here for while becuase i have a little issue with my truck. I have a P0430 code popping up and it seems the three things to check are the catyltic converter, the bank 2 sensor 2 O2 sensor, or the camshift position sensor. But i thought the threads i mainly read on the camshift sensor were related to the v8. I had the check engine light about a month ago for this code and just cleared it. Well my last tank of gas saw about a 4mpg drop then what i usually get. I usually see 15mpg year around but it dropped to 11mpg which is by far the lowest i have ever seen in 3 winters of owning the truck. So i scanned my truck and the P0430 code came up once more even though no CEL was on. The cats on my truck are probably orginal and have about 125,x.. on them. I figured i will take a look at the camshift sensor and continue down the list. Does the drop in milage point to a possibe suspect? Otherwise my truck has been running normal and purs at idle. Just looking for any input.

 

[XLT]

Alright i have some new info. Not sure if this matters much or not but i am looking for a quick answer. I check my 02 sensor on bank 2 sensor 2 and found it loose enough that i could turn it by hand. I would say i turned about 1-1.25 turns before it was tight. Since it was loose could that be enough to trigger the code??? Any input is appreciated.

 

[1998Exp]

AFAIK secondary sensors are 'not in the loop', and are for monitoring purpoose only. So perhaps the loose O2 sensor could explain the P0430, but not the poor MPG.

I mistakenly called those 'Bank 2 Sensors' in this post, but Bank 1 and Bank 2 are just two halves of the engine. The secondary (post-cat) sensors are Bank1 Sensor 2, and Bank 2 Sensor 2. Sorry about the confusion!

 

[XLT]

Hmm. Well thank you for the info. I am hoping that will solve the code issue. I will have to wait and see then how my next tank of gas goes. I did remember going out for a little cruise one night after we got about 4" or 5" of snow which probably didnt help my gas milage much.