Huge decrease in MPGs. What the...

[TridenT]

Just got 22.4 MPG. I drive a honda civic... I normally get between 28-32.

Drove to Seattle and back, got 32.3 MPG (Kinda disappointing to be honest. My car is rated to get 35 on the highway yet it has never even got above 33.3). The tank before I drove up to Seattle: 23.6... what the fuck?

Something is very wrong... Maybe my November driving is cursed?

 

[ShawnD1]

Hondas never break. Everyone knows this. It must be your driving.

 

[TridenT]

I can't see dah ignored post. Sux man.

 

[thescreensavers]

Air Filter? When was the last time spark plugs were changed?

Lead foot? How fast do your drive on the highway?

 

[MDE]

Lots of city or uphill driving?

 

[TridenT]

Air Filter? When was the last time spark plugs were changed?

Lead foot? How fast do your drive on the highway?

Changed air filter today, but it shouldn't have dropped off to 23MPG this quick... It should be like 27, 26, 25.. hey, there's a trend! Maybe I need to change my air filter! It shouldn't be like, "30MPG.... WHAT THE FUCK? 23MPG!?"

Lead foot, sorta, but no different than usual driving. I don't go high speeds. I'll accelerate fast to them though, but I've done way more aggressive driving and had better MPG.

Spark plugs changed about 12k miles ago.

 

[TridenT]

Lots of city or uphill driving?

Lots of city, but it shouldn't be this low. City MPG is rated at 28.

 

[mmntech]

It's been quite cold on the west coast lately. Check your tire pressure. Since cold air contracts, tires always need to be topped up at the beginning of winter.

Make sure your air filter and oil are good too.

33mpg average road/city mix is typical for a Civic BTW. That's what my '05 (non-SI) gets.

 

[TridenT]

It's been quite cold on the west coast lately. Check your tire pressure. Since cold air contracts, tires always need to be topped up at the beginning of winter.

Make sure your air filter and oil are good too.

33mpg average road/city mix is typical for a Civic BTW. That's what my '05 (non-SI) gets.

I get 33mpg tops on all highway. :/

 

[exdeath]

Hmm weather takes a nose dive cold and all these posts show up about MPG dropping...

*hint*

How are you calculating mpg? The only real way to do it accurately is fill your tank up at a known point (eg: when the low fuel light first comes on), count the gallons, and reset your trip meter.

If you got 22 mpg all highway then something is wrong. Best bet is going to be looking at a scanner that can show fuel trims, idle counts, coolant temp, o2 output, manifold pressure, air flow, etc. And if you have an auto make sure the fluid/filter are maintained and converter lockup is functioning. Other things I haven't mentioned like maladjusted parking brake will show up as abnormal engine load on the scanner.

 

[TridenT]

Hmm weather takes a nose dive cold and all these posts show up about MPG dropping...

*hint*

October was pretty cold too. January last year was cold too. (Snow/ice) Yet my car still managed to get much more MPG than this.

 

[coxmaster]

I get 33mpg tops on all highway. :/

So did you actually check your tire pressure like he suggested? Or did you ignore that part?

 

[TridenT]

So did you actually check your tire pressure like he suggested? Or did you ignore that part?

I have checked it. It's exactly as recommended. 30 in rear, 29 in front. (Or 30 in front, 29 in rear. I forget which way)

 

[coxmaster]

I have checked it. It's exactly as recommended. 30 in rear, 29 in front. (Or 30 in front, 29 in rear. I forget which way)

K. Just making sure since you didnt specify that you had done it.

 

[exdeath]

October was pretty cold too. January last year was cold too. (Snow/ice) Yet my car still managed to get much more MPG than this.

I added more -_-;

 

[TridenT]

I added more -_-;

I read. It's 22MPG mostly city types. It's hard to define since there isn't ever a space that goes more than a mile without a fully complete stop.

 

[exdeath]

I read. It's 22MPG mostly city types. It's hard to define since there isn't ever a space that goes more than a mile without a fully complete stop.

City mileage is always crap in the real world compared to EPA estimates.

 

[TridenT]

City mileage is always crap in the real world compared to EPA estimates.

I get much better than that though usually. I get 28-30 typically, even if I don't drive much/any freeway/highway at all.

 

[TridenT]

Aarghhh.. all my tire pressures are 30 or more. I don't get why I am getting such shitty MPG.

Any ways to figure it out? Maybe my fuel injectors are fucked or what?

 

[LTC8K6]

Odd tank of fuel?

 

[ShawnD1]

Odd tank of fuel?

Inside tank of fuel is not fuel but love above us there is nothing above but the stars above.

 

[KMc]

Most states switch to winter blend fuel formulations in October. Winter blend is notorious for degrading mpg compared to summer. It also has a tendency to get "mixed in" to exisiting inventories over a period of time, so you are likely to get a mix of summer/winter during the month and then all winter later in the month into November. Forgoing that, some of the other suggestions have been pretty good, so maybe it's something behind the steering wheel that was different between these few tanks?

 

[iversonyin]

The sample size is too little. If you are consistently getting 22-23 mpg highway, then I would say you might have a problem. I attempted to drive conservatively to save gas on my Celica once and that tank ended up doing only 22mpg, while I do 26 mpg most of the time on lead foot driving.

 

[Vette73]

I have checked it. It's exactly as recommended. 30 in rear, 29 in front. (Or 30 in front, 29 in rear. I forget which way)

Did you check them cold? The tire pressure ratings are for when the tires are cold. If you drove somewhere to check you need to add another 2-3 psi. Usually 34 in the front and 32 in the rear works well for most.


Also fuel filter, PCV valve, lazy O2 sensor, dirty MAF, etc...

What milage and year?

 

[mmntech]

Did you check them cold? The tire pressure ratings are for when the tires are cold. If you drove somewhere to check you need to add another 2-3 psi. Usually 34 in the front and 32 in the rear works well for most.


Also fuel filter, PCV valve, lazy O2 sensor, dirty MAF, etc...

What milage and year?

It will say in the door. I usually over inflate them a bit since they all naturally leak. Almost every vehicle on my lot has been complaining about low tire pressure since October. Of course I'm the only one that actually fills them.

You're not using snows are you? They get lower fuel economy than all-seasons.