20-22MPG for a 97 Honda Aocord 4 Banger

The fuel mileage on my Accord is terrible. I used to get 24-25 when
new. 56K miles later, I am lucky getting 22 mpg. I got 17mpg out of a
V8 Toyota. This is terrible.

I have checked the tire, new plug, new filter, new oil (only Mobil 1).
Premium gas will help to make it run smoother in the summer, but does
not improve the mileage much. What's wrong... to much oxgen in the
fuel?

 

How about new ignition wires, new distributor cap and distributor rotor, new air
filter, new fuel filter (maybe not on your particular Accord--check owner's
manual), and new (or clean up) the PCV valve.

Use OEM everything (or don't and gamble a bit).

 

where do you live? its probably the fuel. if your car was running that
badly, it would have set the check engine light by now.

 

I have a 96 Accord EX auto with 115k and I get 27-28mpg on freeway. I run
Mobil synthetic, change trans fluid with honda fluid as rec and tune-up as
needed.

CaptainKrunch

 

Honda 4 cylinder engines are designed to run on regular gas. Premium gas
can cause reduced mileage in a car that doesn't need it. If it is running
better on premium, that would be an indication that something is off.

You don't say which filter is new - air cleaner would be the one I'd check
first, then fuel filter, then see if the PCV & EGR valves are working. Its
probably not the O2 sensor or it would be setting the check-engine light.

What kind of plugs did you put in it? Hondas tend to not work right with
anything other than NGK.

Has your usage changed - more use of the AC, more city stop-and-go driving &
less highway, carrying around more weight in the car, etc.? All my cars do
2-3 miles per gallon better in the winter when the AC is off.

If this drop in mileage is a recent development, it might be the summer
blend gas. Try a different name brand and see if it makes a difference. My
car ('00 Acura TL) is currently going 50 miles further on a tank of Shell
than it will on Phillips 66 or Chevron. During the winter it had the same
difference using Chevron vs. the others.

 

I've seen the opposite! Best MPG's I've ever gotten were on HOT summer
days. Probably 1-2 MPG better than the same 460 mile trip taken during
Winter.

 

A BMW study tested a regular gas car run on premium gas.
Then tore down the engine. They could tell which engine used
premium gas from the increased engine wear.

His problem is not solved in the simple things like spark
plug wires. If wires were the problem, then car also would
not idle well. This is what the mechanic at a Honda dealer is
for. If your dealer has any integrity, then the mechanic will
have a few good 'usual' suspects immediately for your
particular type of engine. In my case, the massive reduction
in gas mileage was directly traceable to one gas station that
destroyed my fuel injectors. New injectors caused a 29%
increase in gas mileage - mileage fully restored. That does
not say your injectors are bad. It does say that if you are
replacing all those things in a hope of improving mileage that
much, then you better also replace the wiper blades also to
restore gas mileage.

My experience with Hondas is for best mileage on hot summer
nights where humidity is highest. On an Accord that averages
in summer about 32 MPG, I was able to obtain multiple
consecutive tanks of 37 to 39 MPG when doing only hot and
humid night driving.

 

Own a manual '92 Wagon 2.2, average fuel consumption (town and motorway) is 34
mpg. Take the lead out of your right boot ...

Bob

 

summer blend fuel, increased PSI in the tires due to heat, and having
the windows up/AC on can help.

 

I'd get the catalytic converter checked. Yep, it's early for that to fail,
but Honda had some problems with those years, and declining gas mileage is
one of the symptoms.

 

I lived in AZ. It's hot here. I can tell that the car run differently
with premium fuel when the ambient exceed the 100 degree mark. I can
get by with regular but the car just run rougher.

I don't think the wire and cap would give me problem at 56K miles.
Honda owned me a free tune up and cap/wire replacement( EPA penalty
settlement). I used regular NGK of course as Honda recommended.
Thinking switching to Iridium plug from NGK.com next time.

Everytime I put in new plug, the car run much better ..for at initial
5K.