JKov240

The past couple of times I've filled up my '05 Civic sedan (non VTEC), I've noticed that I'm getting in the 24-25mpg range.....before I was getting right around 30mpg (more depending on how much I drove on the highway).


The car has about 100k miles on it (about to change the timing belt, etc.) and the spark plugs were changed about 20k miles ago. Most people would say my driving habits have changed, but as far as I can tell, I'm staying about the same. As far as the car goes, it appears to be running "perfect".

I work at an import auto repair shop, and while the car doesn't have any CEL's, I plugged in our scanner and checked the long term and short term fuel trims on the O2 sensors.......both of which were good.


Now, this is the only thing that I've realized that's changed.....while I was filling up the other day at the same gas station I always fill up at, I noticed on the pump a "Contains Ethanol" sticker, I've heard/read that a drop in fuel economy can occur when using gasoline that has ethanol in it.


Has anybody noticed any changes like this when using gasoline that contains ethanol?

husyk

Not sure about ethanol, I get my 05 EX Auto to average around 35 mpg (60 city/40 hwy). Driving habit is the biggest factor on your mpg, excess weight, tire pressure, tire size, air filter, etc.

theineffable

ethanol has lower energy content so you'll need more volume of fuel to produce the same amount of power.

the amount of ethanol in the gas depends on where you're located. i'm in canada and regular gas can contain up to 10% ethanol.

EM2_08

DANG!! i drive a auto non vtec and i don't get that much in the city haha...and i agree your driving habit has changed

TailZ

i think he meant 60% city and 40% highway

JuNiOr Ts

i noticed that when i pump at my Exxon/Mobil gas station its gasoline which "Contains Ethanol" made my car slightly weaker.. so i switched to Chevron techtron gas and it got better.

But definitly do a basic tune-up, check air filter, spark plugs, oil change, wheel alignment, tire pressure, and maybe a tranny fuild flush