question on accords mileage

Hi,

Just recently bought a 2004 Accord EXL w/navigation and was wondering
about hte mileage that it should provide? I live and drive mostly in
NYC (drive about 5 miles during the week) and maybe 200 miles on
weekends (usually out to long island). How much mileage do you guys
think a car like this should give me? I will put up my numbers after
some responses.

And how often should I get my oil changed? (sorry dont know much about
cars). And should I pay the extra money to go to a honda dealer, or
would a local station suffice? And any other regular maintenance tips
that anyone could recommend to me? I would much appreciate it. I
really want to try and take care of this beautiful car, as its my most
precious investment.

Help is much appreciated.

Thanks,

 

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If you're only putting on five miles a week, your mileage figures will
be TOTALLY DOWN THE TOILET because your engine never even gets warmed
up. Your car would be a very bad car to buy used, since you're hardly
ever operating the engine in the correct operating temperature range.
Your maint schedule is SEVERE, for sure (change oil often, based on
time, not mileage).


'Curly'
'Curly'

 

I get about 28 MPG in combined hwy and city driving, with the majority
of my time spent on the hwy. I commute 100+ miles per day to work via
the interstate. Of course I do exceed the speed limit most of the
time. I have a 1999 EX Accord 4cyl.

You don't say if your car is a 4cyl or 6cyl, but I would expect that
you get similar to a little better mileage with your car.

I would suggest you get the oil changed based on time, not mileage
since you drive few miles. Something like every 4 months or so.

I live in the south....but the local Honda dealership has a very
competitive price for oil changes so I see no savings. Local dealer
charges around $28.00 for an oil change. If you have a local shop
close to you and their price is reasonable I see no reason not to use
them. My Honda dealer is close to where I work so I can get other
things done there if I need to, at the same time.

 

Sorry, its a 4 cyl

I used to get my Corolla's oil changed every 3 mts. 4 mts is more
applicable to an accord?

I dont mind paying the extra $10, if indeed Honda dealerships can add
that extra "value" for the oil change. I've spend $18K on my car, and
40 more bucks a year wont hurt me too much. =) For my corolla I just
went to the local gas station (not to say I didn't like my corolla,
loved it in fact, but was no accord =). But for the accord I am just
wondering if its better?

Thanks for your response. Right now I am averaging about 20 mpg on
average (unless the trip computer is flawed). I did see that number
increase the one weekend I commuted out to Long Island which makes me
think its just the city driving thats guzzling up the gas. But thats
the price I suppose you pay for living in NYC!

Besides that do you recommend any other 'maintenance' for my car?
Right now I get a "M'nt reqd" everytime I turn on my car, which I am
assuming is to get an oil changed? (pls correct me if I am wrong). I
plan to get it changed on Saturday.

Advice is much appreciated. I am determined to keep this car in good
shape.. =)

 

-----------------------

Looks like you've found one of the best resources there is around. A
good idea I'd suggest: Keep the owner's manual at home, wherever your
reading room / throne room is. That way everybody will find out some of
the not-too obvious features about your car, like how to lock the doors
without the key or remote, or how to jack it up (and where to find the
jack). That MAINT light is covered in the manual too.

Hand washing and waxing is a good value-builder too, since you'll stay
on top of tiny paint chips and you'll be able to show the next owner the
kind of care you took of the paint. Waxed cars last longer and get
better fuel mileage too. They look WAY sexier in the rain too.

'Curly'

 

That "M'nt reqd" light is just a reminder to get your 20,000 mile
maintenance taken care of (it's in the owner's manual)
It's things like rotate the tires, check belts, replace air
filters...that sort of stuff. When a mechanic performs all the
scheduled maintenance, he then resets that light...it'll start coming
on again at near 30,000 miles. I find it kind of irritating.
My recent trip to the dealer to deal with the 30k light was a $270.
visit.
Mine is a 2003 4cyl Accord...
The throttle response and the 5 speed automatic are the best I've ever
encountered.. I'm amazed every time I drive the thing.
On long highway trips I usually get 32mpg.
City driving is in the upper twenties.


Cheers, --N

 

Thanks for your reply.

So when I go to the Honda dealership do I need to ask for a specific
kind of maintenance? Or just tell them that I get the "M'nt reqd"
light and they'll know what to do? And I presume it would be advisable
to go to a dealership for this and not my local gas station, right?

Yea.. I wish my car in city driving was in the upper twenties..
anything I can do about that? I use regular gas, could that be the
difference?

As always, help is much appreciated.

Thanks,

 

All the light means is that a predefined mileage clock has gone off. You
might need an oil change. Telling the dealer (or many other mechanics, for
that matter) to do whatever it needs is like saying "I'm stupid, please take
all my money." Get out the maintenance schedule that came with the car and
look at it. It tells you what should be done at various mileages and time
intervals . Don't fall for the maintenance special that most dealers offer.
It is usually a super rip-off.

The corner gas station is usually more than capable of doing an oil change
and performing any other checks that might be needed. You can reset the
light yourself (it's in the owners manual, as was previously mentioned).

 

3 months, 4 months, whatever. The oil change interval is driven by how
little you are driving, and the moisture from burning gas in a cold
engine turns the oil into acid. Literally. I suspect you mean you're
calling the garage, having it brought down once during the week, for a
5 mile trip. So that wouldn't be too bad on it & I'd go with 4 months.
The long weekend drives will help a lot to keep the oil in shape, and
your battery.

I'd personally pay a couple extra bucks to the Honda stealer for oil
changes. If the plug falls out, or the old gasket is left on, you're
in better shape to get a recovery than going to an oil change outfit.
They are ALL using the least experienced "Mechanic" to do this work
that they can find. Someone who doesn't know any more than you do, and
couldn't care less.

Besides, I'll bet you pay more for parking than you do for car
payments. What's a couple bucks more?

 

That's why I do my own oil changes.

 

one of those maintenance lights you can reset yourself... look in the
owners manual.

as far as maintenance... I change my oil around 4K miles, I change
the transmission fluid every 30K miles and rotate the tires around 7K
miles. Every now and then I have to get the throttle body cleaned,
but other than that ....your good. I don't follow the magic oil and
fuel additives, and I don't do the 30K and other services because I
don't see the benefit. By the way my car has 140K miles on it and
still running fine. Keep an eye on the air filter and you'll be fine.
Honda makes a great product, not a lot of service required.

 

Any mechanic will do it.
Check out the list...it's pretty simple stuff.
I didn't know you could switch off the light yourself...I didn't delve
deeply enough into the owner's manual.

Regular gas is fine.
Manhattan is the problem.
Jackrabbit starts are almost required there, or you will be mowed down
by the cabs. I used to go down to Manhattan to drive around just for
sport. It's about the most competitive driving you'll find. Listen for
all the mini-beeps from the cabs that let you know someone's coming up
fast on your right, or someone has staked a claim to the lane you're
coveting. You can almost drive with your eyes closed...just listen for
the bips...("use the force, Luke...") Anyways, it's always an
exhilerating experience, but it's murder on gas mileage.
The key to good city mpg is easy on the throttle...especially from a
standing start. Easier said than done in Manhattan.
Also, always always always let the car warm up a bit before you drive
it. I usually give it 30 seconds minimum before putting it in drive.

Cheers, --N

 

one of those maintenance lights you can reset yourself... look in the

where? I might have missed it, but didn't see the manual detailing
that part?

Thanks,

 

It's been in the manual since the 01 models, at least.