Bad mileage from the beginning

Tiny
SACRAMENTO2009
  • MEMBER
  • 2009 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 1,560 MILES
Hi there,

My car consumes 16 city and 24 highway with normal driving and cruise control on highways. It does not matter how carefully I drive the car it just consumes a lot of gas.
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Sunday, January 11th, 2009 AT 4:51 PM

32 Replies

Tiny
TTRAN
  • MEMBER
  • 45 POSTS
What you have is not true!
It could be that you have pushed on the gas pedal too deep that makes the 16 valves work too hard to burn the gas.
Mine is also a 2009, 4 cylinders. It consumes 420 miles with 16 galons to fill up, and I drive both city and the freeway everyday.
Remember the MPG base on 55 MPH on the freeway only!

Tony
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Thursday, January 15th, 2009 AT 12:17 PM
Tiny
SGOYAL
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • 2007 HONDA ACCORD
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 50,000 MILES
This car is EPA rated 21/31/25. I had been getting 25 mpg in the summer and about 22 mpg in the winter in about 90% city driving. Last winter, the car got 15 mpg with similar driving. I took the car to the Honda dealer and they could not find anything that would contribute to the low winter mileage. This summer the car was back to 25 mpg but it's already at about 19-20 mpg and I'm certain it's headed to 15 mpg as winter approaches. Please help.
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
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It could have something to do with the quality of the fuel and the percentage of Ethanol they are putting in as they switch formulas in the fuel for summer and winter. They are also very erratic on the amount of Ethanol they put in.
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SGOYAL
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  • 5 POSTS
Would the percentage of Ethanol affect every car? How can I be certain that this is causing the mileage drop? I tried different gas stations last winter but saw no difference in the mileage.
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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All I can do is offer possible causes. I can't know where your mileage went over the Internet.
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SGOYAL
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  • 5 POSTS
That's fair. Can you think of anything else and will anyone else at your end weigh in on this? Thanks.
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PAWSAR71
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2003 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 51,000 MILES
I had to have my car jump-started 3 weeks ago. Ever since, there has been a noticeable lack of power, loss of fuel economy, and it seems to idle around 500-600 rpm, lower than normal. When I jumped it, there was corrosion around the battery terminals, which I scraped off, and it hasnt needed a jump since. Could the corrosion be causing the performance issues?
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
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To a certain degree, yes. But not entirely. The corrosion definitely is the problem why you need a jump start. Terminal corrosion to a battery is a cancer to a human body. Scraping helps, but it will come back. Here is what you should do. Treat the problem before it spreads.

If you have the EX model, find out what the anti-theft code to the radio. It is usually on the glove compartment, if you can't find it, call your "friendly" Honda technician for one. Or you can call 800-999-1009 and ask them for it. Have you VIN ready. If you have other models, disregard.

In a container(that you don't need anymore) make a solution of water and baking soda. Remove your battery terminals (one at a time) and soak the terminal into the solution. You will see bubbling, wait until it stops, and clean the terminal with a clean rag. You should have an almost brand new terminal now. Attach terminals back onto the battery. Once done, go to an auto part store and have your battery tested to make sure that the battery is still good. Depending on the condition of the battery, usually factory battery is good for about 3-4 years.

If you still have performance problem after that, then we'll trouble shoot more.
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
THIS IS MIKE
  • MECHANIC
  • 686 POSTS
According to the U.S. Department of Energy:

E10 and E15 are blends of ethanol and gasoline†the number after the "E" indicates the percentage of ethanol by volume.

Most of the gasoline sold in the U.S. Contains up to 10% ethanol†the amount varies by region†and all auto manufacturers approve blends up to E10 in their gasoline vehicles.

As of 2011, EPA began allowing the use of E15 in model year 2001 and newer gasoline vehicles.2 Pumps dispensing E15 must be labeled (see example). The vehicle owner's manual may indicate the manufacturer's maximum recommended ethanol content.

Since ethanol contains about two-thirds as much energy as gasoline, vehicles will typically go 3% to 4% fewer miles per gallon on E10 and 4% to 5% fewer on E15 than on 100% gasoline.
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,758 POSTS
I recently went to a fuel system training class and they spent a lot of time talking about lean codes that could not be resolved that the engineers traced back to fuel that tested to have much more ethanol that claimed.

They tested samples from a number of local stations and the results were all over the board.
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CRAUNICO
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2003 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 105,000 MILES
Car has no noises and runs smoothly with decent acceleration but only gets about 17 mpg mostlly highway driving.

Could plugs and air cleaner, fuel filter be the cause of this as the have not been replaced

Thanks
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Hi craunico,

Those items mentioned are the basics of tune ups and would affect the fuel consumption.

Is the Check Engine Light showing?
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CRAUNICO
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The valves have always made a slight pecking noise at idle most noticible but have been told that was normal

The engine light is not on

thanks for your reply
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Minimal valve noise is acceptable but it would be good to heve thnm checked if you are going to perform a tune-up to check the fuel economy issues.

Without the CEL showing, there should be no engine mamangement problem so the tune up should be able to increase the fuel economy.
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JYD1234
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Hi there, I am having the same issues. I have less KMs (I'm in Canada) but I'm getting very poor fuel economy.

I've tried to do stuff myself - changed the air filter, changed the spark plugs (used OEM NGKs)

I can't change the fuel filter since I heard the fuel filter cannot really be changed with this model of Accord.

The check engine light isnt on, but I'm wondering if its time to change the 02 sensor? Anything else you can recommend to inspect / change?
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Hi jyd1234,

Was anything done prior to the increase in consumption?

The fuel filter is located intank with the fuel pump and replacement is required if the fuel pressure falls below the minimum requirements.

If performance is decreased from previous, it would increase the fuel consumption and apart from the maintenance items replaced, the tires and wheel bearings should be checked.

If it is possible to get onto a diagnostic machime, you would be able to check if the O2 sensors are working correctly.
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AL JAWHARA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 95,600 MILES
My 2003 accord consumes fuel alot, I have changed the nuzzels, plugs, air filter, oil filter, engine oil and serviced the injector but the pick up is still slow
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JYD1234
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  • 2 POSTS
Nothing was done prior to the increase in consumption.

After we noticed the increase consumption, along with changing the air filter and spark plugs, We did change the tires. We put on brand new H rated tires.

How much do you think it would cost to inspect and get the fuel filter replaced on a 2003 Accord?

Thanks for the tip on the 02 sensor. A friend told me that if the check engine light hasn't come on yet (which it hasn't) then there is no need to check it. But some say a 02 sensor change could increase fuel consumption up to 15%. Is this true?
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Do you have a check engine light On and when was last tune-up?

This could be anything from wheel alignment, brakes, suspension, transmission etc-engine performance

Probable causes of an engine running rich are as follows:

1. Excessive fuel pressure can be cause by restricted fuel return line
2. Defective Oxygen Sensors.
3. Leaking injectors and fuel pressure regulator.
4. Coolant temperature sensor out of calibration.
5. Restricted air intake system
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Replacement of the fuel fi;ter is listed at 1.3 hours and the list price of filter is $32.63.

Yes, inaccurate O2 sensor can cause higher fuel consumption.

Others items that you can check are :

1. Idling system, throttle body, IAC and other clogging of air passage can affect the fuel economy.

2. Valve clearance. Improper clearance is a possible cause.
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 2:05 PM (Merged)

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