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Sudden loss of gas mileage


daveskitz

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My '96 civic EX that has been getting around 325-350 miles per tank full for as long as I can remember but all of a sudden in the last month or two I barely get 250. Driving habits have not really changed and was wondering what are some typical reasons (other than driving habits) that can cause a sudden loss in gas mileage?

 

Thanks!

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The oil pan leak has been slight and there for quite a while but did not ever appear to affect the gas mileage. The valve cover leak however was recently pointed out to me during an oil change. Forgive the stupid questions but how do these problems affect the gas mileage?

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lol they prolly don't have anything to do with your mileage.....

 

I reread the thing that Mycarsux wrote, and I seriously hope he is just kidding, that was the dumbest thing I've ever heard......

 

check the usual things, filters and such, tire pressure, make sure your brakes aren't dragging, um.... oh and make sure your speedo is accurate. lol

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I'm thinking like air/fuel mixture can seep through the leak.

 

lol i'm just messin with ya. possibly, but highly unlikely.

 

could be too much blow by causing an excess of crank case pressure which causes the leak-> poor compression and poor fuel mileage.

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1. Take the wheels off and check the brakes to make sure that a pad or shoe isn't hanging up or sticking to the rotors or drums.

2. Get someone to pace you and see if the speeds match for both of you.

3. Too much blow is going Tony Montana with a kilo.

4. A crankcase is exactly that. A case that holds the crankshaft. The oil pan bolts up to the bottom of it.

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1. Take the wheels off and check the brakes to make sure that a pad or shoe isn't hanging up or sticking to the rotors or drums.

3. Too much blow is going Tony Montana with a kilo.

 

1. just jack the car up and spin the tires. it would be the rears if anything....Ebrake.

 

3. LOL that was a good one.... blow by is when your rings are shot, and pressure from combustion blows past the rings, and into the crankcase (engine block). too much pressure could cause an oil leak.

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  • 4 weeks later...

I'm still getting the same low gas mileage. :help:

 

I did a major tune up including fuel filter but minus the pcv valve, which I will replace with next oil change.

 

I checked and fixed tire pressure, which was a little low 25 vs 30 fronts and 25 vs 29 on rears.

 

The 02 sensor was replaced this past summer.

 

I do not smell fuel and had garage check for fuel leaks and to see if the rear brakes were dragging; found no fuel leak and no dragging.

 

The car is still leaking oil but I'm not sure from where exactly but after steam cleaning the engine last week, I see oil under the valve cover and distributor.

 

BTW...I did notice that when idling the car sometimes idles with a bit of a rough vibration. It kind of feels like when A/C would kick on but I'm not running A/C this time of year :crazy:

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are u running your defrost? cause that runs of the same compresser.

 

but yea man i got a 96 ex too and my car started doing the same thing. during the summer i was getting around 315 to a full tank and now im getting 275 if im lucky. i did a tune up and all but it didnt help so if you find something out let me know

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are u running your defrost? cause that runs of the same compresser.

 

but yea man i got a 96 ex too and my car started doing the same thing. during the summer i was getting around 315 to a full tank and now im getting 275 if im lucky. i did a tune up and all but it didnt help so if you find something out let me know

Catalytic converter may be starting to stop up a little bit.

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