Honda Car Forum

I just bought a 94 honda civic dx 4 door sedan with 154k miles. I saw
on edmunds.com that they are supposed to get inbetween 35 and 40 mile
per gallon, but I get about 32 tops. I'm the only one who uses it - no
passengers, or other weight for that matter, the car is very clean
inside. I replaced the spark plugs with bosch platnum 2's (you don't
have to adjust them i heard - correct me if I'm wrong). I usually run
lower grade gas (87 or so). Tire pressure is fine. Other thoughts
are:
- new air filter (would probably get a K&N ram air - good idea?)
- new spark plug wires (the ones I've got are fine except I noticed a
small amount of oil on one which I cleaned off)
- bosch platnum 4's (any better than bp 2's?)
- change transmission fluid
- oil change

spend about $75 on fuel a week and bought this car because of gas
milage - help!

Crandall009.5 wrote:

> I just bought a 94 honda civic dx 4 door sedan with 154k miles. I saw
> on edmunds.com that they are supposed to get inbetween 35 and 40 mile
> per gallon, but I get about 32 tops. I'm the only one who uses it - no
> passengers, or other weight for that matter, the car is very clean
> inside. I replaced the spark plugs with bosch platnum 2's (you don't
> have to adjust them i heard - correct me if I'm wrong). I usually run
> lower grade gas (87 or so). Tire pressure is fine. Other thoughts
> are:
> - new air filter (would probably get a K&N ram air - good idea?)
> - new spark plug wires (the ones I've got are fine except I noticed a
> small amount of oil on one which I cleaned off)
> - bosch platnum 4's (any better than bp 2's?)
> - change transmission fluid
> - oil change
>
> spend about $75 on fuel a week and bought this car because of gas
> milage - help!

My thoughts:

Manual or auto tranny? On this version, the manual gets better mileage.

Are you a lead-foot driver? Aggressive driving hurts mileage.

I am skeptical of Bosch spark plugs. I would use OEM plugs (NGK or ND).

I would avoid K&N air filters. Some of these have been known to cause
problems with Toyotas. Not sure about how they would affect Hondas, but I
would just get an OEM air filter.

Is this all highway driving, or was there some city driving too?

If the weather is getting colder, that will decrease your mileage.

Crandall009.5@gmail.com wrote:
>
> I just bought a 94 honda civic dx 4 door sedan with 154k miles. I saw
> on edmunds.com that they are supposed to get inbetween 35 and 40 mile
> per gallon, but I get about 32 tops. I'm the only one who uses it - no
> passengers, or other weight for that matter, the car is very clean
> inside. I replaced the spark plugs with bosch platnum 2's (you don't
> have to adjust them i heard - correct me if I'm wrong). I usually run
> lower grade gas (87 or so). Tire pressure is fine. Other thoughts
> are:
> - new air filter (would probably get a K&N ram air - good idea?)
> - new spark plug wires (the ones I've got are fine except I noticed a
> small amount of oil on one which I cleaned off)
> - bosch platnum 4's (any better than bp 2's?)
> - change transmission fluid
> - oil change
>
> spend about $75 on fuel a week and bought this car because of gas
> milage - help!

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

The Bosch were a poor choice. . . Anyway,

It may seem obvious to most folks around here, but I'm still amazed that
people have a hard time figuring mileage. What method are you using for
your calculations? Please be very specific.

'Curly'

Like Curly said, cold weather may be playing a role. But two
other candidates for replacement for a car this age are the
PCV valve and the O2 sensor. While both may operate
satisfactorily after years and many miles, their operation
may not be optimal. Buy only OEM for each. Should run you no
more than about $25 for the PCV valve from your local dealer
and $80 for the O2 sensor from
https://www.automedicsupply.com/ . At a minimum, remove the
PCV valve, spray it with PB Blaster. Wipe down, replace it.
If you found significant waxy buildup in the PCV valve, then
just cleaning it may make a big difference.

I can't tell from your post: Do you have new ignition
wires? If they're old and you have a digital multimeter, do
a resistance check on the ignition wires and report back.
Are the wires OEM?

If you're getting oil in the spark plug tubes, say so. I
have a resource to help with this.

I don't think platinum plugs make a difference in fuel
mileage for this car, based on general reading as well as my
own experience with both in my 91 Civic.

Does the owner's manual okay Bosch plugs for your Civic? I
don't think mine does. I use NGKs.

Consider a new distributor cap and rotor, too.

Elle
Original owner, 1991 Civic LX, 172k miles, manual
transmission, no air conditioning, 40+ mpg for most of the
year.

--
Honda home studies: http://home.earthlink.net/~honda.lioness
--


<Crandall009.5@gmail.com> wrote
> I just bought a 94 honda civic dx 4 door sedan with 154k
miles. I saw
> on edmunds.com that they are supposed to get inbetween 35
and 40 mile
> per gallon, but I get about 32 tops. I'm the only one who
uses it - no
> passengers, or other weight for that matter, the car is
very clean
> inside. I replaced the spark plugs with bosch platnum 2's
(you don't
> have to adjust them i heard - correct me if I'm wrong). I
usually run
> lower grade gas (87 or so). Tire pressure is fine. Other
thoughts
> are:
> - new air filter (would probably get a K&N ram air - good
idea?)
> - new spark plug wires (the ones I've got are fine except
I noticed a
> small amount of oil on one which I cleaned off)
> - bosch platnum 4's (any better than bp 2's?)
> - change transmission fluid
> - oil change
>
> spend about $75 on fuel a week and bought this car because
of gas
> milage - help!
>

Consider also:

-- replacing the fuel filter

-- putting a bottle of Chevron Techron (an injector cleaner)
into the fuel tank, too, per the bottle's directions.

-- Doing an air purge of the coolant system and making sure
it's filled to the proper level. If time allows, change out
the coolant, unless you know it's new and OEM or orange
Dexcool.

On 18 Nov 2005 19:15:45 -0800, Crandall009.5@gmail.com wrote:

>I just bought a 94 honda civic dx 4 door sedan with 154k miles. I saw
>on edmunds.com that they are supposed to get inbetween 35 and 40 mile
>per gallon, but I get about 32 tops. I'm the only one who uses it - no
>passengers, or other weight for that matter, the car is very clean
>inside. I replaced the spark plugs with bosch platnum 2's (you don't
>have to adjust them i heard - correct me if I'm wrong). I usually run
>lower grade gas (87 or so). Tire pressure is fine. Other thoughts
>are:
>- new air filter (would probably get a K&N ram air - good idea?)
>- new spark plug wires (the ones I've got are fine except I noticed a
>small amount of oil on one which I cleaned off)
>- bosch platnum 4's (any better than bp 2's?)
>- change transmission fluid
>- oil change
>
>spend about $75 on fuel a week and bought this car because of gas
>milage - help!

First some perspective. If you were getting 37 mpg, you would be
spending about $65 per week. Significant savings, but not huge.

I would not use a K&N filter, they let a lot more dirt go by than
stock. A new stock filter might be in order if the old one looks
dirty. If the plug wires are original or aftermarket parts you might
want to replace them with Honda wires but don't expect any measurable
improvement in mpg. I would use the specified NGK plugs also. Change
the oil and transmission fluid if it is time, or if you don't know
when it was done last. None of this is likely to measurably affect
mpg, unless the car is not running well to start with.

You have to consider how you drive the car - city or highway, flat or
hilly, fast or slow, how much braking. Also, unless you live
somewhere close to the sun, the temperatures are getting cold now and
that will hurt milage. If you are driving 100% in a northern city,
heavy foot on gas and brake I would say 32mpg is pretty good. If you
are doing 90% highway miles at 60mph then 32 mpg would be mediocre but
not "very poor."

Crandall009.5@gmail.com wrote:
> I just bought a 94 honda civic dx 4 door sedan with 154k miles. I saw
> on edmunds.com that they are supposed to get inbetween 35 and 40 mile
> per gallon, but I get about 32 tops. I'm the only one who uses it - no

is it a 5spd? or automatic? the auto is rated 29/36, so 32 isnt bad.

my CX is rated 32/37 and i get about 32 regardless. i dont lose sleep
over it.

> passengers, or other weight for that matter, the car is very clean
> inside. I replaced the spark plugs with bosch platnum 2's (you don't
> have to adjust them i heard - correct me if I'm wrong). I usually run
> lower grade gas (87 or so). Tire pressure is fine. Other thoughts

does it have the same size tire on it that it came from the factory
with? check your door jamb sticker and compare to whats on there.

a taller, skinnier, harder compound tire would give better mileage.
thats why mine came with 175/70-14 from the factory. firestone FR680s.

i replaced em after 6 years, even though they had a lot of tread left.
got some 185/60-14s and it handles much better... but i lost an mpg or 2.

> are:
> - new air filter (would probably get a K&N ram air - good idea?)

more air needs more fuel to burn. people buy em to race or rice, not for
economy
> - new spark plug wires (the ones I've got are fine except I noticed a
> small amount of oil on one which I cleaned off)
> - bosch platnum 4's (any better than bp 2's?)

NGK or ND plugs wouldve been my first choices

> - change transmission fluid
> - oil change
>
> spend about $75 on fuel a week and bought this car because of gas
> milage - help!

if all you care about is mileage, a subaru justy or geo metro of that
era would have been a better choice. or a jetta or benz diesel.

hm... 75/$2.30=32.6
32.6*32=1043 miles/week
1043/5= 208.6miles/workday

if i was driving 200 miles to work and back 5 days a week, id be looking
for a job closer to home i love my honda, but i dont wanna spend 4
hours a day in it.

you DO realize thats 52,000 miles a year, right? how long do you think
that 154k mile civic is going to last?

On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 23:23:01 -0800, SoCalMike
<Mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>a taller, skinnier, harder compound tire would give better mileage.
>thats why mine came with 175/70-14 from the factory. firestone FR680s.
>
>i replaced em after 6 years, even though they had a lot of tread left.
>got some 185/60-14s and it handles much better... but i lost an mpg or 2.

Maybe more. Did you factor in odometer error? A smaller diameter
tire will register higher speeds and more miles than it is really
traveling.

Manual

Actually I just purchased bosch platnum 4's today (oops) oh well - no
harm done

mostly highway miles

I filled my tank (till the pump turns off) and then reset the trip.

When it is time to fill up I do the same, then divide the miles on the
trip odometer by how many gallons purchased on the recept - I do this
to the 1000th decimal place since that's how acurate the gas pumps are.
This should get a perfect reading.