Honda Car Forum

So here's the case.I've got a Honda Civic Ex 2000 and I feel like i'm runnin a lot less mileage than it's supposed to do. I did a little research online and found out that the average MPG is supposed to be about 31 32ish. After doing the caculation. it's supposed to run about 308 miles for about 9.5G. But my actual mileage before the gas light comes on is about 200~215. I've been keepin track of this for the last 6 times i've filled up my tank so this should be fairly accurate. Before I got my car, it had been sittin there for about 3 years without any proper preservation so that may be the problem... I'm wonderin if there's any way I can fix that if anyone knows? I'm totally ignorant when it comes to car stuff... So if you guys can please help me out that'll be great. If necessary, I can post up a picture of the engine so you guys can see what's up. Person providing the most useful information will get chosen. Thanks!!!Thanks for the quick replys. I just searched online and found out that the MPG for city is 28 and 35 for highway. Combined MPG would be 30. So my estimation for the mileage should be correct. As far as driving habbit goes, sometimes i do take some heavy steps to rush through traffic, causing RPM to go above 3 and the fuel meter decrease (which eventually increases back). Is that possibly the reason why im gettin less miles? Also, does constantly switchin from neutral to D2 affect my mileage or harm my engine in anyway?

My guess is that you drive alot in the city. You will get less miles per gallon in the city as opposed to the highway. The mileage ratings you talked about were probably the highway ratings.Edit:Your driving habits have ALOT to do with it. If you accelerate quickly, you WON'T get good gas mileage.Also, I don't know why you would switch between Neutral and Drive. There is no need to, so don't bother with it. It won't help or hurt it, so just leave it in Drive. Put it in "D" or "D4" (whichever one you have) "D2" won't let the transmission shift past 2nd gear, which would cause bad gas mileage.

depends on driving habits for one like in the city it will be lower by 5 to 10 mpg and if your foot was born with lead in it you can add another 5 mpg loss. as for a check up i would do it soon cause if the air filter and other filter parts of the intake are not changed you could be running with a collapsed filter which will in turn damage the seals and gaskets in your intake system. all not good for the home team. i would go get a 60k tune up which will cover everything you need to insure your car is in tip top condition and they will be able to tell you if something else is wrong. money well spent!! Good luck and Smoke a 350Z for me!!!!

you say it has been sitting for a while well you are going to want to get a power flush for your oil you might have sledge in it. you could have dirty fuel injectors, change your air filter, your tranny fluid, and have your alignment checked, If your car's tires are out of alignment you will have drag on your engine, also under inflation so put air in your tires. and another bug thing, if it is cold out side (below 50*) you will want to warm your car up before you drive more so in the city (a commute less than 10 miles), if your engine is cold than your car will run as if you have the "choke" on when you car warmes up it will return to normal but if you drive w/ the car cold you will cut your milage in half.

On many Honda models, esp the civic's, your fuel light comes on WAY early because they do not want you running out of gas. I had a 1999 Civic EX coupe and my milage varied based on where I was going. Long raod trips I have gotten just over 550 miles out of a tank of fuel, where in town with a little freeway here and there, I have gotten 2I50. I live in CA in CA and with all these environmental additves they add to fuel, it seems like it effects fuel milage. I have been getting horrible milage lately and have been for quite a few months now. I maintain my car to the max so it makes me believe it's the fuel. Having a vehicle sit for that long, 3 years is NOT good. I would contact a dealer service dept and see what they have to say. It's a good place to start.