10-06-2006, 12:40 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 52
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Civic fuel consumption, again
Is anyone keeping an accurate record of fuel consumption in their 2006 model
Civic?
My fuel consumption is way off the mark and I'm wondering if there is
something wrong or if the fuel mileage of the '06 Civic really is that much
worse than advertised.
Perhaps it's the damn city traffic.
Anyway, just want to compare notes.
Steve
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10-06-2006, 01:47 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 154
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Civic fuel consumption, again
"Steve Mackie" <smackie@eastlink.ca> wrote in message
news:OazVg.4022$H7.19@edtnps82...
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Is anyone keeping an accurate record of fuel consumption in their 2006 model Civic? My fuel consumption is way off the mark and I'm wondering if there is something wrong or if the fuel mileage of the '06 Civic really is that much worse than advertised. Perhaps it's the damn city traffic.
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A) yeah, city traffic can be brutal to mileage, especially if you punch it
when the light turns green.
B) do you have enough miles on it to start being concerned with mileage?
Typically it's not fully broken in till around 10K.
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10-06-2006, 04:12 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 52
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Civic fuel consumption, again
> > Is anyone keeping an accurate record of fuel consumption in their 2006
Quote:
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model Civic? My fuel consumption is way off the mark and I'm wondering if there is something wrong or if the fuel mileage of the '06 Civic really is that much worse than advertised. Perhaps it's the damn city traffic. A) yeah, city traffic can be brutal to mileage, especially if you punch it when the light turns green. B) do you have enough miles on it to start being concerned with mileage? Typically it's not fully broken in till around 10K.
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http://users.eastlink.ca/~smackie/f...on_20061006.pdf
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10-06-2006, 05:10 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 4
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Civic fuel consumption, again
"Steve Mackie" <smackie@eastlink.ca> wrote in message
news:OazVg.4022$H7.19@edtnps82...
Quote:
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Is anyone keeping an accurate record of fuel consumption in their 2006 model Civic? My fuel consumption is way off the mark and I'm wondering if there is something wrong or if the fuel mileage of the '06 Civic really is that much worse than advertised. Perhaps it's the damn city traffic. Anyway, just want to compare notes. Steve
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EPA mileage estimates are determined through dynamometer testing in a
laboratory, and among the factors reducing actual gas mileage that are not
considered in these tests are rolling resistance of unpowered wheels/tires,
aerodynamic drag, non-productive operation (engine running with no forward
progress, as occurs at traffic controls or in stop-and-go traffic), ambient
temperature (affecting intake air density), and altitude (also affecting
intake air density). City and Highway mileage ratings determined in the
laboratory are adjusted downward by 10 and 22 percent, respectively, in an
attempt to compensate for these and other factors, but Consumer Reports have
consistently determined, using their own mileage testing protocol, that the
EPA mileage estimates posted by automakers for new vehicles are optimistic,
sometimes by as much as 30-40 percent.
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10-06-2006, 06:49 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,897
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Civic fuel consumption, again
mpwilliams wrote:
Quote:
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EPA mileage estimates are determined through dynamometer testing in a laboratory, and among the factors reducing actual gas mileage that are not considered in these tests are rolling resistance of unpowered wheels/tires, aerodynamic drag, non-productive operation (engine running with no forward progress, as occurs at traffic controls or in stop-and-go traffic), ambient temperature (affecting intake air density), and altitude (also affecting intake air density). City and Highway mileage ratings determined in the laboratory are adjusted downward by 10 and 22 percent, respectively, in an attempt to compensate for these and other factors, but Consumer Reports have consistently determined, using their own mileage testing protocol, that the EPA mileage estimates posted by automakers for new vehicles are optimistic, sometimes by as much as 30-40 percent.
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And yet, my '93 Accord consistently got 10-20% above EPA estimates on the
highway. Go figure.
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10-06-2006, 07:09 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 4
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Civic fuel consumption, again
"High Tech Misfit" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:eoqasmcovw1b$.dlg@hightech.misfit...
Quote:
mpwilliams wrote:
Quote:
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EPA mileage estimates are determined through dynamometer testing in a laboratory, and among the factors reducing actual gas mileage that are not considered in these tests are rolling resistance of unpowered wheels/tires, aerodynamic drag, non-productive operation (engine running with no forward progress, as occurs at traffic controls or in stop-and-go traffic), ambient temperature (affecting intake air density), and altitude (also affecting intake air density). City and Highway mileage ratings determined in the laboratory are adjusted downward by 10 and 22 percent, respectively, in an attempt to compensate for these and other factors, but Consumer Reports have consistently determined, using their own mileage testing protocol, that the EPA mileage estimates posted by automakers for new vehicles are optimistic, sometimes by as much as 30-40 percent.
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And yet, my '93 Accord consistently got 10-20% above EPA estimates on the highway. Go figure.
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This may seem like an asinine question, but what is your process for
calculating actual fuel mileage? Also, what is the elevation and range of
mean daytime temperatures where you live? I ask the latter because lower
elevations and lower mean ambient temperatures, in comparison to the
location of the automaker's test facility, will result in comparative
mileage improvements, ceteris paribus, due to more dense fuel/air mixtures
prior to combustion.
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10-06-2006, 07:48 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,897
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Civic fuel consumption, again
mpwilliams wrote:
Quote:
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And yet, my '93 Accord consistently got 10-20% above EPA estimates on the highway. Go figure. This may seem like an asinine question, but what is your process for calculating actual fuel mileage? Also, what is the elevation and range of mean daytime temperatures where you live? I ask the latter because lower elevations and lower mean ambient temperatures, in comparison to the location of the automaker's test facility, will result in comparative mileage improvements, ceteris paribus, due to more dense fuel/air mixtures prior to combustion.
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I calculate my mileage the old-fashioned way. Start with a full tank (not
overfilled), drive the trip, fill up again, take note of how much gas I put
in at the end of the trip and how far I travelled, and do the calculations.
I live in southern Ontario (Canada), where spring and fall temperatures
range anywhere from 5-15 Celsius (41-59 Fahrenheit) and summer temperatures
range from 20-30 Celsius (68-86 Fahrenheit). The elevation is somewhat flat
with moderate hills in places.
EPA rated the '93 Accord automatic at 28mpg on the highway. My car
consistently averaged 32-34mpg on the highway under normal conditions. In
fact, it even got 36mpg on one occasion a few years ago. And BTW, those are
U.S. gallons in my mileage figures, not Imperial gallons.
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10-06-2006, 10:22 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 36
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Civic fuel consumption, again
On Fri, 06 Oct 2006 20:40:14 GMT, Steve Mackie wrote:
Quote:
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Is anyone keeping an accurate record of fuel consumption in their 2006 model Civic? My fuel consumption is way off the mark and I'm wondering if there is something wrong or if the fuel mileage of the '06 Civic really is that much worse than advertised. Perhaps it's the damn city traffic. Anyway, just want to compare notes.
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I have an Si, and it is pretty close. I get an average of about 27,
overall driving. The EPA rating is 23/31, so this is about right. When I
drive mostly highway, I sometimes do better than 31...
--
Joseph M. LaVigne
jlavigne@hits-buffalo.com
http://www.thelavignefamily.us/MyPipePages/ - 10/7/2006 2:21:48 AM
Tobacconist Brick and Mortar Database: http://bam.tobaccocellar.org/
A pipe gives a wise man time to think and a fool something to stick in
his mouth. -- Anonymous
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10-08-2006, 05:11 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 10
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Civic fuel consumption, again
High Tech Misfit wrote:
Quote:
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EPA rated the '93 Accord automatic at 28mpg on the highway. My car consistently averaged 32-34mpg on the highway under normal conditions. In fact, it even got 36mpg on one occasion a few years ago. And BTW, those are U.S. gallons in my mileage figures, not Imperial gallons.
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Sorry, Steve, you should have bought a ~13 year old Accord! 
(92 5-spd wagon, averaging over 33 overall since purchase in Feb. 36+
tootling along two lane roads at 50~60)
You might try a new O2 sensor in your Civic. I suppose it's possible
that your unit is not working quite right. Check the O2 wiring
connectors and harness - maybe a connection itn't quite snug. Have you
looked at the plugs? They might indicate an out-of-spec mixture or
other problem. Apart from that, I duunow.... Cam timing belt off a
notch? Ignition timing wrong? Nerfed exhaust gasket blocking airflow?
Dead squirrel in airbox?
Looking at your spreadsheet, you seem to do OK on the big road trips.
What sort of highway speeds to you cuise at? If you have the time, try
cutting your speed by 10KPH on your next big trip and see what happens.
As for city, just try to anticipate traffic and don't be afraid to ease
off early when you see slow traffic ahead. Every time you use the
brakes, you are burning gas. When accelerating, the consensus seems to
be that moderate acceleration at low RPM is probably ideal. The engine
will burn fuel more efficiently near 75% throttle than when tiptoeing
about at 30%. (An automatic transmission may complicate things by
downshifting unneccessarily.)
-Greg
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10-08-2006, 05:22 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 52
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Civic fuel consumption, again
> You might try a new O2 sensor in your Civic. I suppose it's possible
Quote:
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that your unit is not working quite right. Check the O2 wiring connectors and harness - maybe a connection itn't quite snug. Have you looked at the plugs? They might indicate an out-of-spec mixture or other problem. Apart from that, I duunow.... Cam timing belt off a notch? Ignition timing wrong? Nerfed exhaust gasket blocking airflow? Dead squirrel in airbox?
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I hope none of those things are wrong with my 5 month old Civic.
Steve
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