2000 Accord lower gas mileage. Any explanations?

Hi,

I have a 2000 Accord EX (4dr) automatic w/ 88000 miles on it. A few
months ago, it was giving me around 23/24 mpg. I went out of the
country and the car was sitting there for 6 months. After I got back,
it was still giving me 23/24 for a month or two, but during the last
3-4 fills, its only been giving me 20 mpg.

My driving habits haven't changed apart from the fact that all my
driving is pretty much city around a 7-8 mile radius. Would that have
something to do with it?

I went to the dealer and they couldn't come up with anything. All they
said was to do a consumption test, which is a pretty non-technical way
to figure out the current gas mileage.

Any comments on what might be causing this? I did all the normal
stuff like check tire pressure, and dont accelerate too quickly from
lights... i am a pretty "good" driver when it comes to that..

any help would be appreciated.

thanks,
Kal.

 

Yes. City driving will always lead to a lower MPG than highway. Mixed
driving incorporates both. If you WERE doing a lot of mixed driving, and
are now doing only city, that would clearly explain the difference.

 

Try all the suggestions at
http://home.earthlink.net/~honda.lioness/id11.html

When was the car last given new plugs and ignition wires?

 

My '96 mileage went to hell, and I replaced the O2 sensor, and back up she
went.

My first steps would be run a few tanks of Shell Ultra through it to clean
it out. Maybe some Cheveron FI cleaner (available at Costco a lot cheaper
than the station). New Plugs as mentioned also.

Just a few things to try.

Before you realy jump the gun though, take a long trip in the car and check
the mileage. That's the only way to really know.

G-Man

 

with your mileage, it's probably time to have your O2 sensor
checked.
A bad O2 sensor will kill your gas mileage (when it goes bad, by
default they make engine run rich).
When was last time your plugs and spark plug wires were checked/
replaced?

there are a few things to consider. Small stuff would be your wheel
alignment, tire pressure and dirty fuel injectors.

Fuel injectors need to get cleaned every 20-25k miles (if you're good
about using clean fuel).
Fuel additives really don't help much, the best way to keep injectors
clean is to have them professionally cleaned.
Injector cleaning also cleans out your intake manifold, etc.

Dirty fuel injectors will also hurt gas mileage a lot, O2 sensors hurt
it the most.

hope this helps,

oskar

 

"fee-on-ix"??

 

4cyl oy 6 cyl?