momo14

Hi, i have a Honda Civic (2006) DX model.
Bought few months ago...
last week, i took 23.4 liter fuel and i was able to drive 159 K.M local toronto area and downtown.

Do you think its okay? or it eat too much fuel? thanks in advanced.

MPR

That's 14.7L per 100kms. Which is 16mpg (US). Yikes. If it's automatic, that won't help and if it's all city driving, that won't help, and if it's colder outside, that doesn't help either. But still shouldn't be that bad. Should be closer to 8L/100km.

I get on average 7-7.5L/100km. (roughly 30-33mpg). Best I recorded was 6.4L/100km (37mpg).

momo14

Ahh! that's what i was thinking...

Do you know what should i do to fix it?

rick10

there is atons of things that can cause your car to have bad mileage

It could as simple as a tune up , or a dirty air filter. Or it could be as bad as a faulty engine

Most mechanics would recommend a tune up.

I would personally changed the air filter ( if you ve never done it) , its pretty simple and cheap , and it should improve your mileage a little bit.

You could also check your tire pressure.

MPR

How many kms on the car? Is the CEL on? Does it seem to be running normal and smooth?

momo14

its 63k now. and what is CEL? sorry i'm pretty newbie.

and yes it seems to be running normal and smooth.

The only problem i'm having.. it keep flashing last 6 days > Check Fuel Cap

and i had tire puncture 3 days ago, and it was 4 years old tire. So i took it to canadian tire, they told me it can't be repaired due to very old tire and skinny.

So i bought 2 tire and did alignment yesterday. hope now it improve a bit.

however, for Tune up and air filter, how much those cost and how much service charge, does anyone know? thanks

MPR

CEL is check engine light. (hover your curser over it )

The only reason they would not be able to repair a puncture is if it's in the side wall of the tire. If it's in the tread, they can patch it. That aside, I don't know how worn the tires are and it very well may be that you did need new tires. In that case it would make sense to install new tires than patch on old one. So I'll leave it at that. At 63k you shouldn't have needed an alignment, not unless you hit a large pot-hole and sustained damage or have been in an accident where the wheel was hit or you had a suspension component like a tie-rod end replaced.

Also, at 63k, you shouldn't need a tune-up just yet. Check your owners manual. It should list the recommended service intervals of things like spark plugs, wires, air filter, fuel filter etc...

I'd have them check the fuel cap and if it's bad, replace it. Gas evaporates at an alarming rate. If your fuel cap is allowing vapours to escape, I don't doubt that could be a contribution to your poor fuel economy.

Make sure all your tires are at ~35psi. It wont make a huge difference but is something else you can check.

momo14

Thanks for your Advice.

No my CEL is not on.

That Canadian tire guy told me if i install new tire, i have to do alignment, which cost me $98.

However, i will go not and check with Honda Dealer, why Check Fuel CAP flashing, its been more than 5 days now. thanks

MPR

If you have a new tire or tires installed, you do not need to have an alignment done. That's bs. Changing a tire has nothing to do with alignment.

Unless you mean "balanced". When you install a new tire, it must be balanced on the rim so that it rotates smoothly at high speed. But that alone does not cost $98. At best balancing even 4 tires should only cost about a half-our labour ($40-50).

If he told you you needed an alignment after installing new tires, he was lying. Wheel alignment is set by adjustments in the geometry of the suspension components and is unaffected by the tire itself.

*edit*

The mechanic may have seen that your tires were wearing excessively and abnormally. That is a symptom of the alignment being off. However, I still think at 63k, your alignment should still be fine. Though, I haven't seen the tires so I can't make the judgment. He may not have been lying, but the way you worded it, it sounds like he said "when you put new tires on, you must have an alignment done", which is not true.

momo14

ohh okay, thanks for the information. Next time i change tire, i wouldn't do the alignment.

by the way, my air filter was too dirty, so i bought a new one with $18 and replaced it.

D.T.P

A dirty filter would not cause such milage loss. Unless you idle the car for 40-50mins every morning, i would suggest going to a shop and getting the car checked out.

momo14

i think its because of air condition and heater.

i use heater last few days as it is cold. probably because of that high mileage.

MPR

Using the heater won't effect fuel consumption. If anything, only an extremely tiny amount (the draw of the heater fan/blower on the alternator).

nsxvtec

Maybe your gas cap is faulty or needs tightening properly, 4-5 clicks when you screw it on. Also your emergency brake could be seized or not fully released. A fuel leak?? It could be many things and almost any thing.
Either way your Check Engine Light should be on (little engine symbol light on the dash instrument cluster) Fuel consumption should not be that bad on a civic of that mileage and year. You really need to have the car checked by a competent mechanic. Look at the sponsors on here for a reputable place to have this done.

momo14

Well, thanks for the advice.

As i changed both front tire and put new air filter and did alignment couple of days ago. Now let me see, if mileage improve next few days. i will keep close eye on it.

If not i have to take it to mechanic to check whats wrong. thanks again.

i will report back in few days.

momo14

So Heater & Air condition doesn't related to fuel? ahh! i didn't know that.
thanks

MPR

^The heater not so much. The a/c does have a minor impact on fuel consumption because you're then running the blower (draws on the alternator) and the a/c compressor (driven directly by the engine via serpentine belt). Though it's not a huge difference.

rick10

true

but it could be a combination of things. Specially if the car hasnt received the proper maintanance in 4 years.

I also noticed bad mileage in the mazda 3 ,2 years ago ,now this a 2004 mazda 3 , only 4 years old. As it turned out whoever had it before did not do any maintanance to the car. As soon as I change the tires and air filter the mileage improved a bit, then after a tune up it also improved a bit more. It also had a leak in the exhaust which I had to fixed , which also help my mileage a bit.

So i went from 360 a tank in the winter , to about 450 a tank (roughly), just by doing all that.... It still sucks compare to a civic but then again is a mazda 3.

rick10

but taking it to a mechanic would be just best option !... And it is most of the time what really fixes your poblem.

D.T.P

Rick, your exhaust was the culprit for high fuel consumption. Too much back pressure created by that exhaust leak will lead to poor performance and higher gas consumption. Now filter/plugs/oil change, will all help the situation, but I mean when its eating gas as said above, those things won't matter unless the plugs are faulty. Air filter and properly aligned tires will help the situation to certain extent, and I mean very minor difference, unless toe is wayy out and/or the back end is out of line. But for such high mileage there is something else up with it. Could be a bad/slow o2 sensor, cat breaking up and causing a clog, crappy fuel, etc etc.
Again, without seeing or testing few things on the car, we can all just guess the million things that could be wrong with it, but in the end of the day its just guessing.