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185 Miles To a Full Tank

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Old Aug 23, 2003
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185 Miles To a Full Tank

OK This is crazy.. I have read almost all the threads about gas mileage but this is bad really bad. My friends truck get more miles to the gallon. This means that I am getting 14 miles to the gallon. HOW THE F&)(&))&) Does my honda civic get 14 miles to the gallon. I know my fuel gauge is messed up But I just filled up 12 gallons. I have a cat back exhaust and intake. I dunno what to do this is crazy.
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Old Aug 23, 2003
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wow you should take it in....i get way more than that. well over 365 and thats driving hard as hell.
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Old Aug 23, 2003
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Damn, that's pretty bad. I know a guy that has that same problem. He has a stick too and it burns gas like crazy. Maybe it's the fuel injector, cuz my sis last car had that problem and it burn up a bunch of gas. I get like 25-30 miles a gallon on city and it's an auto. So you really should take it in for a check.
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Old Aug 23, 2003
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i got my car about 2weeks ago..
my fuel is about 17~20% remaining from what i see on the gauge..
and my odometer shows 250..
is this normal for a new car?
my friends run more than 350 per tank..
i kno my car is new so it will take time to get an stable mileage..
but like 100 per tank is not really needed..imo..
also i never drive my car over 3.3k rpm
oh yeh..she is 03 civic coupe ex mt
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Old Aug 23, 2003
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dude.... not even the SF Turbo civic gets 185 miles per tank!

I usually run at least 330 miles before the light turns on. I've gotten up to 430 miles driving extreme grandma style...

I wrote some minor tips for gas efficiency here:
http://www.7thgencivic.com/forums/sh...hreadid=110816
(scroll down to my replies in bold)

Hope that helps,
ak
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Old Aug 23, 2003
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My '02 LX A/T gets me about 330 city driving w/freeway commuting.
When I first got it, I only got 310 miles, same driving.
Tank filled up at most 11.8 gallons. Always afraid to take it any farther.
Ever hear the saying "30 miles on E?" After the light turns on, I drive no more than 10, and then start to freak out and get gas.

How are some of you getting >350 miles/tank? Are you pushing to a dry tank, driving more freeway, or am I missing a vital point?
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Old Aug 23, 2003
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Light on - technically you have 2.1 gallons left

That's at least 50 miles. Oh yea I've tried it many times and do not recommend it. You're sucking the dirt build up from the bottom of the tank....bad bad bad!
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Old Aug 23, 2003
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nearly all of my miles are freeway miles (look where i live) but around town i can still get 350 on a tank and the very minimum. ps - im really in to weight reduction, i dont carry a spare, and i change all the fuilds religiously. oh s check your air pressure, you'd be surprised what a differance it can make.
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Old Aug 23, 2003
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My light usually comes on around 280. Thats all city- driving moderately- above 3k but most of the time below 4.5k. I do have 17's and an intake.

Im going to change my spark plugs and maybe that will help. (not to sound like a total newbie, but can that screw up my warranty??)
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Old Aug 23, 2003
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I don't think it should. If it's time to change them, and it's required maintenance, why should that void it? I dont' think EVERYTHING has to be done by a Honda professional. If you use original Honda parts (if...) and something goes wrong, how would they know that someone "professional" didn't do it?
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Old Aug 23, 2003
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OK , I realy don`t drive very fast , I get any where from 32 ~ 38 mpg.
But every now and then you just have to floor it , even if it`s just to make sure
that the tach still works LOL.
But , even with AC , I can still get 200 + on a half a tank.
The most I`ve gone , until my light came on was 405 miles ,
still had 2 gal`s left in the tank.
Now that will drop when winter comes , Honda`s hate cols weather (so do I )
O-Well , I think even the dealer would be shocked at 14 mpg.
Best of luck !
jedi
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Old Aug 24, 2003
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I dunno what to do I think they are gonna bust me for all my mods
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Old Aug 24, 2003
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Who's "they"? And what would they bust you for?

I don't think they would care unless a specific mod directly affected whatever could be wrong. Besides, it's not like you're going to sue them for anything, so they can't really use it against you, right?
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Old Aug 24, 2003
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Originally posted by ak
Light on - technically you have 2.1 gallons left

That's at least 50 miles. Oh yea I've tried it many times and do not recommend it. You're sucking the dirt build up from the bottom of the tank....bad bad bad!
AK, this i have to ABSOLUTELY disagree with you on. This "sucking the dirt from the bottom of the tank" is an absolute MYTH. Two reasons...

1) Any "dirt" on the bototm of the tank wouldnt even reach your motor because the fuel is filtered. And even then, there shouldnt be any because the gas is obviously filtered by the gas companies.

2) Imagine if you will, a cup of water... throw some dirt in it... now... get another cup with maybe a 1/4" of water, and throw in the same amount of dirt in it, do you honestly think the cup full of water has a less chance of having dirt on the bottom? The dirt would be on the bottom regardless of how much liquid you had in the cup.

I used to follow this same myth until the car gurus from "cartalk.com" cleared this myth up. My dad had taught me this myth growing up and I believed it.

Anyway back ont he subject, I get 200-240 miles per tank.. anywhere from 18-24 mpg. no higher (unless i do highway driving which i get 33 mpg)
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Old Aug 24, 2003
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Taken from cartalk.com...


My wife hounds me constantly to keep the gas tank above half-full because (1) sediment which builds up at the bottom of the tank will be sucked up into the carburetor and cause engine trouble and/or (2) water will condense inside the tank and that will cause engine trouble. Are either of her arguments valid? Ralph

Ray: Not really, Ralph, and she probably knows that. She's just too nice to tell you that you're getting absent minded in your old age, and you're going to run out of gas and strand yourself.

Tom: Filling the tank doesn't protect you against sediment at the bottom of the tank. No matter how full it is, gasoline is ALWAYS being drawn from the bottom of your tank. Think about it. If the pick up tube (which sits in the gas tank and sucks out the gas) were at the TOP of the tank, as soon as the tank dropped to, say, three quarters full, you'd be out of gas!

Ray: So the best way to protect your fuel system from sediment is to change your fuel filter on a regular basis. And we recommend changing it every 15,000 miles.

Tom: As for condensation, your wife is right that moisture in the air can condense inside the gas tank--more likely where it gets warm during the day and cold at night--but fuels in those areas of the country are blended with some amount of gas line antifreeze which absorbs the water. So there's little chance that the water would cause any engine trouble.

Ray: The bigger concern is that condensation will eventually cause the inside of the fuel tank to rust. But unfortunately, there's not much you can do about that. You can't keep the tank full all the time, unless you don't drive the car.

Tom: That's what I do. I fill up my '63 Dodge Dart, and park all winter, just to keep the gas tank from rusting.

Ray: Nice try. He parks it all winter because he can't start it.
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Old Aug 25, 2003
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thats pretty bad, last year with my stock vic i get 380miles on a full tank, now with the mods and stuff lil over 300
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Old Aug 25, 2003
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So the best way to protect your fuel system from sediment is to change your fuel filter on a regular basis
so there is dirt sediment, but you're right on that one
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Old Aug 25, 2003
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I'm not so sure about their recommendation on changing the fuel filter every 15,000 miles ... man, that seems kinda excessive. For some people with high mileage, that might be twice a year... way too often, IMO. And the fuel filters on our cars are not that easy to change either.
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Old Aug 26, 2003
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OUCH that's extremely LOW!! Even for a Honda. Definitely take it in to Honda and have them check it out. Your mods to the car shouldn't make a difference.

P.S. I've gotten up to 470 miles a tank before filling up! I'm catching up to Honda's Insight!
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Old Aug 27, 2003
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Unhappy

My 02civic EX auto just can get 150 miles on a half of tank....
and light on when it's 280miles...... =_______="
Do u guys think this is normal???
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Old Aug 27, 2003
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My car is stock
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Old Aug 28, 2003
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That's about what I got when I first got my car. Seems normal to me. Although later on, I guess my car got more "broken in" and the gas mileage went up. Almost 175 for a half tank, about 310 for light on. Maybe I'm just lucky? About 335/tank.
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Old Aug 28, 2003
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hmm ... I shift at 3k ... hardly ever use ac ...

1/2 tank at 220 .. light on at 350 ... completely gone at ~400

slkt: check your tire pressure ...
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Old Aug 28, 2003
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Originally posted by aznboysrfr
hmm ... I shift at 3k ... hardly ever use ac ...

1/2 tank at 220 .. light on at 350 ... completely gone at ~400

slkt: check your tire pressure ...
Thx
And beside tire pressure do u know any more reasons that will cause that result?
(Hope u understand my english...)
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Old Aug 28, 2003
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Several factors include:
Using your air conditioner and/or rear window defroster. These apparently use up energy that could be reserved for other "driving" usages.

Driving with windows down. This creates wind drag and your car has to work harder to go the same speed.

Excess weight is also a factor. This also makes the engine work harder to get to the same speed. So lose weight, don't give rides to friends (unless they give gas money ) and get rid of that dead body in the trunk .

Last edited by biohazard; Aug 28, 2003 at 03:32 PM.
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Old Aug 29, 2003
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Originally posted by biohazard
Several factors include:
Using your air conditioner and/or rear window defroster. These apparently use up energy that could be reserved for other "driving" usages.

Driving with windows down. This creates wind drag and your car has to work harder to go the same speed.

Excess weight is also a factor. This also makes the engine work harder to get to the same speed. So lose weight, don't give rides to friends (unless they give gas money ) and get rid of that dead body in the trunk .
that means I can't turn on the A/C and open the window....=________="
Just kiddin'

I always have one passenger who is my gf
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Old Aug 30, 2003
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My Civic gets 10 rods to the Hogs Head
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Old Sep 5, 2003
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Originally posted by CivicRookie
OUCH that's extremely LOW!! Even for a Honda. Definitely take it in to Honda and have them check it out. Your mods to the car shouldn't make a difference.

P.S. I've gotten up to 470 miles a tank before filling up! I'm catching up to Honda's Insight!

How the hell do you get 470 miles???

I drive 23+ freeway miles and I get to 410-415 miles, stock car, have injen SAI and that's it... +iridium spark plugs

By the way, what type of gas do you guys fill with???
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Old Sep 6, 2003
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Mine is bad, too. Usually I've been getting 20mpg, but now it's starting to drop even lower. I only drove 180 miles and already it's almost on empty. The gas gauge is very inaccurate, but I measure from how much gas I fill up with.
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Old Sep 10, 2003
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Hey is it a bad thing or a good thing that my 03 EX only gose 210 mi. fr a full tank????
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