[cho]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/262802_10151084460117515_1733551446_n.jpg

i drive a 2009 civic AT

i've driven for 43.7km and im already gone 3 bars of gas

normally i get about 380~km per tank

thats pretty garbage for a civic i would think, i drive pretty heavy but even so 380 still is pretty terrible

anybody have any tips on what i should do to see whats wrong?

i recently changed my stock air filter to get from 350->380, i have an sri coming in the mail, maybe that will change?

[HondaGuy]

Air filter replacement, check oil, check gas octane consumption, tires are inflated properly, spark plugs replacement if necessary, ease up on slamming brakes, driving habit needs to be changed, dont gas too hard, lighten up weight in car if trunk is full.
Posted via RS Mobile

[hchang]

How many liters does your tank hold?

Tires properly inflated?
Posted via RS Mobile

[cho]

on a pretty newish air filter, oil was changed 1600km ago, tires are at 34psi all around, not sure about spark plugs, driving habits do have to change, nothing in my trunk =\

[cho]

How many liters does your tank hold?

Tires properly inflated?
Posted via RS Mobile

40l tank, tires are properly inflated

[smoothie.]

driving habits and short drive distances man.

woudlnt hurt to borrow a friends scanner to see if any codes are almost tripped

[ree666]

drive more sensible.

seriously? complaining about civic gas mileage?

[mr_chin]

si or non si?

i have a honda accord so maybe i can relate.
here are some personal tips:

your a/c might be on and you don't know it... older 8th gen must use these hacks. forunately my 2011 accord doesn't need to. i can switch to defrost and turn a/c off and the a/c won't come on. but for older 8th gen, if you use defrost and have a/c off, a/c will still come on.

1) turn your ignition to on, so your air vent and radio works.
2) turn off your radio.
3) change your air vent setting to defrost
4) press a/c button on and off
5) listen if your air conditioner turns on
6) if so, follow these steps

Step 1: Turn the ignition switch to the ON position (you do NOT have to start the engine).

Step 2: Turn the fan knob to the OFF position.

Step 3: Switch to the FACE ONLY vent mode.

Step 4: Turn the temp knob to the COLDEST setting.

Step 5: Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position.

Step 6: Hold down the RECIRCULATION and A/C buttons simultaneously.

Step 7: While holding those two buttons, turn the ignition switch to the ON position again.

Step 8: Keep holding the buttons, and the yellow light on the RECIRCULATION button will begin to flash after a few seconds.

Step 9: Keep holding them down until the yellow light stops flashing/goes solid, then release them.

Step 10: Test it: Turn the fan back on. With the radio off and the fan on the lowest setting, switch to either DEFROST mode and listen carefully for the condenser fan to kick on. Now, push the A/C button. You should hear the condenser fan shut off, which means the hack was successful. If it doesn't shut off, then something wasn't done correctly.

a/c can reduce your km by 50 - 70km. i had a/c on before and didn't know and i was losing 60km on a full tank. now i keep my vent settings on face and leg only.

check if your gas cap's treading is still in good condition. air leaking from gas cap can evaporate fuel tremendously while driving and slowly while idle/parked.

if you have an mpg or 100km/L, use that to gauge your mileage instead. reason being because your fuel indicator could be faulty. most accurate way to get mileage is by doing the fill, and refill method since the mpg meter could also be faulty.

if your car is si, you should be using premium fuel (preferably without ethanol). higher octane fuel burn slower than lower octane.

i hope these helps.

[KO7]

OP does not have an Si (lights are blue, and Si doesn't come in AT).

I get 400 - 430kms in my Si with one bar remaining, and I even think my gas mileage is kinda disappointing (most of my afternoon weekly commute is bumper to bumper rush hour too).

Good luck with diagnosing the problem OP.

[mr_chin]

OP does not have an Si (lights are blue, and Si doesn't come in AT).

I get 400 - 430kms in my Si with one bar remaining, and I even think my gas mileage is kinda disappointing (most of my afternoon weekly commute is bumper to bumper rush hour too).

Good luck with diagnosing the problem OP.

stop and go always results in bad gas mileage.

[dared3vil0]

40l for ~400KM = 10l/100km Civic is supposed to average ~8.5L/100km, So a heavy foot can EASILY make up the 1.5L/100km.

[cho]

si or non si?

i have a honda accord so maybe i can relate.
here are some personal tips:

your a/c might be on and you don't know it... older 8th gen must use these hacks. forunately my 2011 accord doesn't need to. i can switch to defrost and turn a/c off and the a/c won't come on. but for older 8th gen, if you use defrost and have a/c off, a/c will still come on.

1) turn your ignition to on, so your air vent and radio works.
2) turn off your radio.
3) change your air vent setting to defrost
4) press a/c button on and off
5) listen if your air conditioner turns on
6) if so, follow these steps



a/c can reduce your km by 50 - 70km. i had a/c on before and didn't know and i was losing 60km on a full tank. now i keep my vent settings on face and leg only.

check if your gas cap's treading is still in good condition. air leaking from gas cap can evaporate fuel tremendously while driving and slowly while idle/parked.

if you have an mpg or 100km/L, use that to gauge your mileage instead. reason being because your fuel indicator could be faulty. most accurate way to get mileage is by doing the fill, and refill method since the mpg meter could also be faulty.

if your car is si, you should be using premium fuel (preferably without ethanol). higher octane fuel burn slower than lower octane.

i hope these helps.

ill check that out when i head out today thanks!

and will try to drive not like a d-bag thanks all for suggestions so far

[inv4zn]

Try and gently accelerate from stops, keep under 2.5~3k rpm, coast to stops as much as possible, etc.

If your car is in good shape maintenance wise, then it's most likely driving habit.

Unless your tire pressure gauge is wrong and your tires are actually at 24 psi =p

[dink]

how's the thermostat and o2 sensor?

[i-VTEC]

Where do you fill up your gas?

Full up only Chevron or Shell instead of other gas station

[bloodmack]

380 per tank!? i get 500-550 per tank with a 55L tank..

[Energy]

I had that car before and your fuel economy is pretty bad... I remember I used to get close to 500kms per tank and that's with all city driving and I didn't care about fuel economy back then.

Try adjusting your driving habits or doing the mechanical tune ups recommended by others.

[dn53]

Its all about the commute. I used to get 400km in just city driving and be pretty upset as I maintain my car pretty well. Now with a girlfriend in surrey and I commute for work to the northshore from south vancouver, I easily hit 5-550 on a 40l tank (always fill it to the top and check how many litres you put in). This is an 02 civic.

Then again now, I ride my ninja 250 and I get 225-50 per 10l :$ lady doesn't like the bike too much though haha.
Posted via RS Mobile

[cho]

how's the thermostat and o2 sensor?

kinda car noob, would i have to bring to a shop?

Where do you fill up your gas?

Full up only Chevron or Shell instead of other gas station

i almost always fill up at chevron

[i-vtecyo]

89 octane full fill up would get me 400-450kms.
try doing an fuel injection flush or pour fuel inject cleaner in a full tank of gas. do you idle the car a lot? do u wait till it warms up before driving?

[cho]

89 octane full fill up would get me 400-450kms.
try doing an fuel injection flush or pour fuel inject cleaner in a full tank of gas. do you idle the car a lot? do u wait till it warms up before driving?

idle maybe 2-5 mins before i leave

[IMASA]

Its all about the commute. [/i][/size]

Exactly, short trips use more gas, your ECU is in open loop. I used to have a civic and drive ~8km to school/work. The engine was still cold when I got there and I'd get 10L/100km. In my speed3, when I lived in eastern Richmond, mostly driving to work in Vancouver, I'd get around 12L/100km. People drive a faster pace ~80+km/h on No 5 Rd @ 7AM. Once I moved to western Richmond, I'd get around 10L/100km. People drive at a slower pace, ~50-60km/h on No2 Rd @ 7AM.

[drakeD]

I have the same civic. Its a 50L tank. City driving does bring the mileage down but its usually your driving habits. A lead foot burns up ALOT of gas. My only input would be to lighten up on the gas pedal

[smoothie.]

idle maybe 2-5 mins before i leave

idling doesnt use too much gas, but it definitely doesnt help.

5 mins of idling 3-4 times a day adds up FAST.

[fliptuner]

In this weather, idle 30 seconds then drive easy for the first 2-3 km. Unless you live close to a freeway or something, then warm it up a bit more. And don't use defrost, even blended, since the ac's turned on.

[mr_chin]

idle maybe 2-5 mins before i leave

many new cars (08 and up) don't even need to idle before driving off unless we're in the freezing winter of below 0.

in the winter time i get 60 - 100km less than i get in the summer.

[fliptuner]

Lol, what, you think it's fine to start your car and leave right away? hahaha. Oil still needs to circulate and get to a minimum temperature before a load gets put on it. Can you do without warmup? Of course. Is it any good for the longevity of the engine? Hell, no.

[TypeRNammer]

Is your car lowered?

If yes did you follow it up with an alignment?

If not then that's your problem with the fuel economy.

[cho]

Is your car lowered?

If yes did you follow it up with an alignment?

If not then that's your problem with the fuel economy.

yes, and no

...uh oh

[TypeRNammer]

yes, and no

...uh oh

I would do an alignment as soon as possible.

Then expect to gain about 40km to 80km of your fuel economy back.

[mr_chin]

Lol, what, you think it's fine to start your car and leave right away? hahaha. Oil still needs to circulate and get to a minimum temperature before a load gets put on it. Can you do without warmup? Of course. Is it any good for the longevity of the engine? Hell, no.

Do newer cars need to be warmed up? - Ask.cars.com (http://ask.cars.com/2007/04/do_newer_cars_n.html)

Do I Need To Warm Up My Car? (http://autos.aol.com/article/warm-up-car/)

Should I Let My Car Warm Up Each Morning? (http://www.motherearthnews.com/ask-our-experts/car-engine-warm-up.aspx)

How long should a car warm up before being driven? - Yahoo! Answers (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100209225950AAAjXYD)

electronic fuel injection bro.

in the summer time, idling is almost useless. it makes no difference but waste gas. i let my car sit for like 15 seconds before i start to go. get comfortable, put on seat belt, set my phone on the holder, etc etc.

in the winter time, i let my car sit for about 1 min. you can't warm up the engine to the operating temperature just by idling. you'll have to sit there for at least 15 - 20 min to get it warmed up (start to see the temperature needle move).

[GabAlmighty]

DO you have a turbo?

[fliptuner]

don't even need to idle before driving off.

electronic fuel injection bro.

i let my car sit for like 15 seconds before i start to go

Starting and driving off is different from starting and idling, while you plug your phone in and put your seatbelt on.

Like I said, it's about oil circulation and minimum temp., bro.

[HansonBoy]

Lol, what, you think it's fine to start your car and leave right away? hahaha. Oil still needs to circulate and get to a minimum temperature before a load gets put on it. Can you do without warmup? Of course. Is it any good for the longevity of the engine? Hell, no.

my uncle who is a 60yo old school mechanic basiclly told me that i could idle for a few min, then drive off, but try to stay below 40kph for awhile ie dont stress engine, should be ok..

[Manic!]

Where do you fill up your gas?

Full up only Chevron or Shell instead of other gas station

Explain?

[tofu1413]

wow... ur complaining about your mileage? seriously? :seriously: and I havent even yet.

[cho]

wow... ur complaining about your mileage? seriously? :seriously: and I havent even yet.

LICK MAH BALLS
and check your txt msg

[asr]

For my car, 280-320kms/ per tank of gas. :drunk:
peter, just get done the alignment. Don't you run another set of wider or bigger wheels than before?

[inv4zn]

my uncle who is a 60yo old school mechanic basiclly told me that i could idle for a few min, then drive off, but try to stay below 40kph for awhile ie dont stress engine, should be ok..

Not to say bad things about your uncle, but people who have been in any industry for a very long time tend to stick to what they know, and while it may have been completely valid 10~30 years ago, a lot has changed since then.

If he has been keeping up, then good on him and he's an excellent person to turn to for advice; On the other hand, a lot of old timers (again, no offense meant) tend to say "I've been doing this for the past xx years, and I'm not going to listen to anything anybody says to the contrary."

[cho]

For my car, 280-320kms/ per tank of gas. :drunk:
peter, just get done the alignment. Don't you run another set of wider or bigger wheels than before?

my stock wheels are 16, i have 17s on now, hmmm my winters are 16s maybe ill get an alignment for next summer?

[asr]

when was your last alignment?
Posted via RS Mobile

[TypeRNammer]

my stock wheels are 16, i have 17s on now, hmmm my winters are 16s maybe ill get an alignment for next summer?

Well just do one anyways and stick with it for a year.

Make sure you bring it to a good place too.

I cheaped out on an alignment once, it was a bad idea, my fuel economy dipped below the 400km mark.

After I brought it into a proper shop, my fuel economy went back to about 450km ish.

[murd0c]

I get 300km to a 70L tank. Now that's fricken sucks. I have a 97 4runner with 5"s of lift and 33's on steel rims tho lol
Posted via RS Mobile

[fliptuner]

my stock wheels are 16, i have 17s on now, hmmm my winters are 16s maybe ill get an alignment for next summer?

If you think it's off, get it done now. Good winter tires are soft as shit and if your alignment's off it'll wear through them pretty fast.

[mr_chin]

Starting and driving off is different from starting and idling, while you plug your phone in and put your seatbelt on.

Like I said, it's about oil circulation and minimum temp., bro.

Oil circulates seconds after you start your car. As for minimum temp, your car will reach that temp faster just by driving at 1k rpm or 20 - 30 km/hr.

I get 300km to a 70L tank. Now that's fricken sucks. I have a 97 4runner with 5"s of lift and 33's on steel rims tho lol
Posted via RS Mobile

i get about 450km in the summer on 70L and about 400km in the winter and i consider that pretty bad.

[jbsali]

40l tank, tires are properly inflated

you're vehicle should have a 13.2g/ 50l tank.
I had an 08 civic lx-sr (manual) and i would average around 600km per tank. 3/4 city driving.

I upgraded to a 11 civic si (manual) and average around 525km per tank. 3/4 city driving.

I highly doubt the auto trans. would fluctuate that much! I would maybe go to your local dealer and have them check it out. Your outside of your bumper to bumper warranty now but maybe they'll try and help you out. Worth trying.

[jlenko]

1) turn your ignition to on, so your air vent and radio works.
2) turn off your radio.
3) change your air vent setting to defrost
4) press a/c button on and off
5) listen if your air conditioner turns on
6) if so, follow these steps




Gah, reminds me of the Konami code.. :badpokerface:

[sdubfid]

OP- ecomodder.com is a good site

also stop measuring km vs bars of gas

fill up your tank everytime and reset the trip meter (also verify its working properly). Its the only repeatable way.

I record mine every time I fill up on my phone. Use L/100km as many people confuse mpg because there are 2 units of gallons.

Once you record then you can try changes and verify them.
I've currently down to 6.3l/100km from 7l/100km in a 4 door 4x4 suv that weighs 600lbs more than an 09 civic. I used the same driving patterns just modified parts.

[racerman88]

worse case, you can try running some seafoam through your gas tank to clean it out

[cho]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/430542_10151121383527515_1769201443_n.jpg


bump, went through a tank not driving like a dick, under 3500rpms almost the whole way, 90 percent city, 10 percent highway, 1 bottle of fuel injector cleaner

when i filled up i filled up for 38.25 L, what to dooooooooooooo? (or is this totally normal)

[Energy]

That's 10.77L/100kms which isn't too bad but your car is supposed to get 7.2L/100kms in the city.

It might be because of your driving style and a lot of stop and go city driving? If you really drive like the average person then that isn't normal.

[LP700-4]

355 kms on 38L of gas? Thats mileage i wish i could have.

46L for 330kms max for me. And its a 4 cylinder too :okay:

[RE-Jo]

I drive a 2006 Civic Sedan AT. I always get close to 500km with 50/50 city/hwy.

[TypeRNammer]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/430542_10151121383527515_1769201443_n.jpg


bump, went through a tank not driving like a dick, under 3500rpms almost the whole way, 90 percent city, 10 percent highway, 1 bottle of fuel injector cleaner

when i filled up i filled up for 38.25 L, what to dooooooooooooo? (or is this totally normal)

Did you do your alignment?
Posted via RS Mobile

[EvoFire]

Don't fret too much. Canadian mileage estimates are way off. Based on the EPA you should get 26mpg for city which is a bit more than 9l/100km. Plus you have wider tires and bigger wheels.

You saw the white manual sedan I drove for a while, I only got 8-9l/100km driving like a grandma.

BTW that's a lot better than my car..... I'm getting 11-12l/100km and that's on par or better than estimates.

[cho]

Did you do your alignment?
Posted via RS Mobile

derp, was gonna pick up coils then alignment, totally forgot about alignment =\

[cho]

Don't fret too much. Canadian mileage estimates are way off. Based on the EPA you should get 26mpg for city which is a bit more than 9l/100km. Plus you have wider tires and bigger wheels.

You saw the white manual sedan I drove for a while, I only got 8-9l/100km driving like a grandma.

BTW that's a lot better than my car..... I'm getting 11-12l/100km and that's on par or better than estimates.

dat turbo

[EvoFire]

dat turbo

dat turbo uses 45l of PREMIUM for 330km.

[TypeRNammer]

derp, was gonna pick up coils then alignment, totally forgot about alignment =\

Don't forget about it, it's really important!!

That's why your fuel economy is crap.
Posted via RS Mobile

[kunoman1]

dat turbo uses 45l of PREMIUM for 330km.

God I've got a 50L tank and it wants premium =.=

Only gets me 400 km, I thought small turbos are supposed to improve mileage
Posted via RS Mobile

[Santofu]

At least some of you guys are not getting bad mileage than mine
I'm getting 13.3L per 100km and I have 40L of regular. I'm still learning manual if anybody is curious.

[westopher]

380 per tank!? i get 500-550 per tank with a 55L tank.. 380 out of a 40 litter tank is exactly the same as that.:badpokerface:

[radioman]

450-500km 65L tank 91 :pokerface:

[westopher]

I get about 450 to 55L all city driving. Premium gas, stage 1 remap. It was closer to 400 before I flashed the car.

[Energy]

I get ~450kms out of a ~55L fill up on premium which is pretty good considering the power of my car.

Trip computer says I'm averaging 12.4L/100kms. Your Civic should be doing waaaaay better. Get an alignment, it really makes a difference.

[westopher]

What sort of power are you putting down with that? My trip computer is fucked. It says 11.2 and I get about the same as you, although I think I may have a larger reserve tank. I never pay attention to how much I fill anymore. It makes my wallet sad.

[Energy]

385hp and 415lb-ft on a chipped 335i. My fuel economy is pretty reasonable for that, I definitely don't expect Corolla levels of fuel economy. My driving style plus a manual transmission makes a lot of difference.

[mos_skeeto]

Do you drive uphill a lot? When I had my civic I lost so much gas driving up to SFU.

[freakshow]

my wife gets ~425 on 75L...

[broken_arrow]

I get 340-360 km (100%) city driving out of a 70L tank. I noticed that I get much better mileage on Chevron 94...

[kohei]

I think I get ~400km for 85L　tank on Chevron 94...