UPDATE: YACT: '92 Civic has bad mileage 21 vs 28

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
N

no0b

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2001
3,804
1
0
About 4 months ago I got the distributor: coil, wires, rotor, cap replaced after my car died. (It wouldn't start all the time and would stall quickly when no gas was applied)
Since then I've been getting 21 mpg versus 28 mpg
I went to a honda dealer and they wanted to replace every part thats not honda on the car even the
rolleye.gif
wires
rolleye.gif
!
I went back to the place I got the distributor replaced and they just did a timing which didn't fix the problem.
They also told me to replace the spark plugs which I did which did not help either.

So now the car has low mileage and it occasionaly seems to chug every now and then.

The car is a 92 honda civic EX

What could be wrong and what should I do; go back to the gas station I got the distributor from and complain or should I bend over and take it to the dealer?


Update
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
After inspecting and replacing the PCV valve the performance to the car increased significantly but I beleive the mileage is still off, is there something else I should replace that could have been damaged by a faulty PCV valve?
 
S

Sachmho

Golden Member
Dec 6, 2001
1,197
0
0
my car is a 96 accord and it only gets like 18 mpg... this isn't right from what i know about honda's, what's the deal also?
 
V

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
How many miles. 2 things you want to check are the O2 sensor and the fuel filter. If it has been more than 12-15K then replace the fuel filter. The O2 sensor should last any where from 60K -120K.

Also are all the plugs firing the same. i.e. are any of them more dark or white than the other Cyl's????
 
T

toph99

Diamond Member
Aug 25, 2000
5,505
0
0
will it run if you hold on the throttle? if so check your IAC(idle air control) valve.
 
N

no0b

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2001
3,804
1
0
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
How many miles. 2 things you want to check are the O2 sensor and the fuel filter. If it has been more than 12-15K then replace the fuel filter. The O2 sensor should last any where from 60K -120K.

Also are all the plugs firing the same. i.e. are any of them more dark or white than the other Cyl's????
Click to expand...

88k miles rather low mileage considering its 11 years old

When I replaced the spark plugs the plugs had normal wear on them not dark and not white.

I was thinking about the O2 sensors but I did some digging in the manual and the computer will light up a check engine light if the sensor is broken.
 
R

Rent

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2000
7,127
1
81
It occasionally chugs? Have you replaced the fuel filter or had it cleaned?
 
N

no0b

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2001
3,804
1
0
The fuel filter was recently replaced about 6 months ago. The air filter was replaced about 2 months ago also.
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
43
91
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
How many miles. 2 things you want to check are the O2 sensor and the fuel filter. If it has been more than 12-15K then replace the fuel filter. The O2 sensor should last any where from 60K -120K.

Also are all the plugs firing the same. i.e. are any of them more dark or white than the other Cyl's????
Click to expand...
Mileage usually drops by 2-3 mpg in the winter, but it should be picking back up by now and your change is too much for that.

Check what Marlin suggested. He's right on. :)

ZV
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
43
91
Originally posted by: no0b
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
How many miles. 2 things you want to check are the O2 sensor and the fuel filter. If it has been more than 12-15K then replace the fuel filter. The O2 sensor should last any where from 60K -120K.

Also are all the plugs firing the same. i.e. are any of them more dark or white than the other Cyl's????
Click to expand...
88k miles rather low mileage considering its 11 years old

When I replaced the spark plugs the plugs had normal wear on them not dark and not white.

I was thinking about the O2 sensors but I did some digging in the manual and the computer will light up a check engine light if the sensor is broken.
Click to expand...
Hmm, have you checked the PCV valve? That can cause some driveability problems.

ZV
 
N

no0b

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2001
3,804
1
0
Can the O2 sensor be off just enough that the computer wont recongize it and not display a check engine light yet cause a huge difference in mpg?
 
N

no0b

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2001
3,804
1
0
I've never heard of a PCV valve what is it what does it do and is it replaceable fixable etc...
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
43
91
Originally posted by: no0b
I've never heard of a PCV valve what is it what does it do and is it replaceable fixable etc...
Click to expand...
It's easy to fix and it's a cheap part. It vents crankcase gasses into the air intake as an emissions-control setup. The valve makes sure that the gasses only flow one way (i.e. out of the crankcase and not in). If the vavle fails, then the ECU can get weird vacuum readings and it can cause stumbling and poor mileage. If the valve failes shut, crankcase pressure can build and partially eject the oil dipstick, if your dipstick tends to pop out a little while driving then the PCV valve may need to be replaced.

ZV
 
N

no0b

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2001
3,804
1
0
Is there some way I can test the PCV valve or find out if thats whats wrong?

and where would it be located?


Bah sound like its time to get one of those Chiltons books.
 
T

toph99

Diamond Member
Aug 25, 2000
5,505
0
0
Originally posted by: no0b
Is there some way I can test the PCV valve or find out if thats whats wrong?

and where would it be located?


Bah sound like its time to get one of those Chiltons books.
Click to expand...

the PCV valve should be in the valve cover, it'll have a hose running from it to some part of the intake assembly. take it out(they just pull out) and shake it. if it rattles it's still good. If it doesn't rattle go to a parts store and get a new one for about $2
 
P

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
Originally posted by: no0b
Is there some way I can test the PCV valve or find out if thats whats wrong?

and where would it be located?


Bah sound like its time to get one of those Chiltons books.
Click to expand...

might be screwed into the intake manifold with a black hose coming out of the top of it. slip a socket over it and remove it if so, give it a shake. it should rattle.


put it back (or replace it) and leave the black hose off and start the car. the valve should be shut at idle and when you rev it (do it from the engine bay) the valve should open slightly then shut again. crankcase vapour should be coming out of the black hose.
 
P

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
Originally posted by: toph99
Originally posted by: no0b
Is there some way I can test the PCV valve or find out if thats whats wrong?

and where would it be located?


Bah sound like its time to get one of those Chiltons books.
Click to expand...

the PCV valve should be in the valve cover, it'll have a hose running from it to some part of the intake assembly. take it out(they just pull out) and shake it. if it rattles it's still good. If it doesn't rattle go to a parts store and get a new one for about $2
Click to expand...

honda PCV valves run from $5 - $25 depending on where you go.
 
A

alrocky

Golden Member
Jan 22, 2001
1,771
0
0
Ouch. My '85 Prelude was getting around 34 mpg before I gave it away to charity last year.
 
N

no0b

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2001
3,804
1
0
Update
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
After inspecting and replacing the PCV valve the performance to the car increased significantly but I beleive the mileage is still off, is there something else I should replace that could have been damaged by a faulty PCV valve?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom