Honda Car Forum

I have 450 miles on my 2003 civic automatic 4 cyl
my last tank I got 26 miles to the gallon mostly city driving
as the car breaks in will I get better gas milage? if so when
should I start to see something closer to 30 miles to the gallan like Honda
claims

Depending on your driving style, the mileage can vary a lot. And don't
think a feather touch will always give you the best mileage BTW, it's more
complicated than that.
Also consider how much weight/passengers are in the car.
Anyhow, after about 1000-3000 miles should should be fully broken in and
getting closer to the EPA estimates, which I believe are 32-38MPG for most
of the trim levels. You didn't mention which trim level you have though.
The Si and EX are a little different I think.


"Dave Thompson" <dthomp@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:NIM6b.23698$Mb2.844102@twister.tampabay.rr.co m...
> I have 450 miles on my 2003 civic automatic 4 cyl
> my last tank I got 26 miles to the gallon mostly city driving
> as the car breaks in will I get better gas milage? if so when
> should I start to see something closer to 30 miles to the gallan like
Honda
> claims
>
>

Probably on your next tank of gas. Mine was in the 600-mile range. Also,
make sure you are using 87 octane (not 85, 89, 91, 92 or 93).

On Sun, 07 Sep 2003 20:40:13 GMT, "Dave Thompson" <dthomp@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>I have 450 miles on my 2003 civic automatic 4 cyl
>my last tank I got 26 miles to the gallon mostly city driving
>as the car breaks in will I get better gas milage? if so when
>should I start to see something closer to 30 miles to the gallan like Honda
>claims
>


I wouldn't expect the fuel mileage to normalize until you hit about
5000 miles. These engines need to be broken in.

"etwqeggqjqd324234@etwqeggqjq.com" <etwqeggqjqd324234> spoke these words
in news:t9tbP2xWUnUyhFtrVj6VbauQzMXS@4ax.com on 07 Sep 2003:

> On Sun, 07 Sep 2003 20:40:13 GMT, "Dave Thompson" <dthomp@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>I have 450 miles on my 2003 civic automatic 4 cyl
>>my last tank I got 26 miles to the gallon mostly city driving
>>as the car breaks in will I get better gas milage? if so when
>>should I start to see something closer to 30 miles to the gallan like
>>Honda claims
>>
>
>
> I wouldn't expect the fuel mileage to normalize until you hit about
> 5000 miles. These engines need to be broken in.
>

Agreed. My gas mileage only got really good in the second summer of
ownership. I did around 7000-8000 in the first summer (winter driving
always results in lower gas mileage) and this summer it's been over
34mpg almost every tank (city driving) and pushing 40mpg on long trips.



--
My thoughts are mine, and mine alone.
--Dave

I Agree, don't expect the gas mileage to get better until next summer.
26 mpg seems like a good start on an automatic tranny on a new engine.

Pars

> >
> >>I have 450 miles on my 2003 civic automatic 4 cyl
> >>my last tank I got 26 miles to the gallon mostly city driving
> >>as the car breaks in will I get better gas milage? if so when
> >>should I start to see something closer to 30 miles to the gallan like
> >>Honda claims
> >>
> >
> >
> > I wouldn't expect the fuel mileage to normalize until you hit about
> > 5000 miles. These engines need to be broken in.
> >
>
> Agreed. My gas mileage only got really good in the second summer of
> ownership. I did around 7000-8000 in the first summer (winter driving
> always results in lower gas mileage) and this summer it's been over
> 34mpg almost every tank (city driving) and pushing 40mpg on long trips.
>
> --
> My thoughts are mine, and mine alone.
> --Dave

I have a 2003 EX model and I got 33 mpg from the outset.15000 miles
later,I am getting 34mpg.The only thing I find disconcerting about this
vehicle is the puny 10.8 gallon fuel tank.
I took a trip following a Chrysler LeBaron on a 420 mile trip.Even
though I got the better mileage,34 vs. the LeBaron's 23mpg,I STILL had
to refuel my vehicle first because the LeBaron had a 16 gallon fuel tank
and could go farther.They should put a bigger tank in that car.

"Pars" <"sdaro(hotmail)"@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:415DE120.2FC45365@hotmail.com...
> I Agree, don't expect the gas mileage to get better until next summer.
> 26 mpg seems like a good start on an automatic tranny on a new engine.
>
> Pars
>
> > >
> > >>I have 450 miles on my 2003 civic automatic 4 cyl
> > >>my last tank I got 26 miles to the gallon mostly city driving
> > >>as the car breaks in will I get better gas milage? if so when
> > >>should I start to see something closer to 30 miles to the gallan like
> > >>Honda claims
> > >>
We have a 03 Civic LX 5 spd as a 3rd car -- trip mileage runs around 37 and
around town right at 33. Even my Prelude gets 25-27 around town.


> > >
> > >
> > > I wouldn't expect the fuel mileage to normalize until you hit about
> > > 5000 miles. These engines need to be broken in.
> > >
> >
> > Agreed. My gas mileage only got really good in the second summer of
> > ownership. I did around 7000-8000 in the first summer (winter driving
> > always results in lower gas mileage) and this summer it's been over
> > 34mpg almost every tank (city driving) and pushing 40mpg on long trips.
> >
> > --
> > My thoughts are mine, and mine alone.
> > --Dave