2000 EX coupe bad gas mileage / seems lacking in power
10-23-2017, 05:04 AM
#1
2000 EX coupe bad gas mileage / seems lacking in power
So background, I own two cars: A 2000 civic ex sedan and a 1996 subaru outback. Both cars have engines that are rated in the low 100s of horsepower. The civic is a d16y8 (1.6L SOHC VTEC) and the subaru is an EJ22 (2.2L, no variable valve timing, SOHC).
The both have similar mileage (240 and change on the civic, around 230 on the outback).
A minor shock is that the civic doesn't seem that much faster than the outback considering how much lighter it is. A major shock is that as I'm keeping track of my approximate gas mileage, the civic doesn't even do much better in that respect. My 3200 lb AWD station wagon with huge ground clearance gets 20-22 mpg, while my 2400 lb civic coupe gets... 22-25 mpg. Both significantly below their EPA rating, although places I go to find EPA ratings for the civic are confusing since there are so many different permutations (dx, ex, lx, hx, sedan, hatchback, coupe...).
Now there are two possibilites that come to mind:
1. Automatic transmissions suck, especially old ones. The civic is an automatic and the subie is a manual.
2. There's something wrong with the civic.
If there is something wrong with the civic, what is it likely to be? I've already replaced both O2 sensors, a previous owner put a new cat on it, I've had the valves adjusted, there's no head gasket leaks, no codes. The only thing I can think of that might be relevant is that the civic seems like it might be burning oil, and its oil turns black much more quickly than the outback's does.
Or is it not worth my time to even worry about it on such an old car?
The both have similar mileage (240 and change on the civic, around 230 on the outback).
A minor shock is that the civic doesn't seem that much faster than the outback considering how much lighter it is. A major shock is that as I'm keeping track of my approximate gas mileage, the civic doesn't even do much better in that respect. My 3200 lb AWD station wagon with huge ground clearance gets 20-22 mpg, while my 2400 lb civic coupe gets... 22-25 mpg. Both significantly below their EPA rating, although places I go to find EPA ratings for the civic are confusing since there are so many different permutations (dx, ex, lx, hx, sedan, hatchback, coupe...).
Now there are two possibilites that come to mind:
1. Automatic transmissions suck, especially old ones. The civic is an automatic and the subie is a manual.
2. There's something wrong with the civic.
If there is something wrong with the civic, what is it likely to be? I've already replaced both O2 sensors, a previous owner put a new cat on it, I've had the valves adjusted, there's no head gasket leaks, no codes. The only thing I can think of that might be relevant is that the civic seems like it might be burning oil, and its oil turns black much more quickly than the outback's does.
Or is it not worth my time to even worry about it on such an old car?
10-23-2017, 05:23 AM
#2
Honda-Tech Member
Re: 2000 EX coupe bad gas mileage / seems lacking in power
When was the last time the civic get a tune up? Has the injectors ever get professionally clean? My auto y7 (162k miles)gets 30mpg mix. Get better if im watching how im driving.
driving style also affect mpg.
driving style also affect mpg.
10-23-2017, 05:56 AM
#3
Re: 2000 EX coupe bad gas mileage / seems lacking in power
new spark plugs, wires, cap and rotor fairly recently (within the past 15k or so), dunno about the injectors. What would a professional cleaning entail?
10-23-2017, 06:01 AM
#4
Re: 2000 EX coupe bad gas mileage / seems lacking in power
Two things that will hurt the mpg without turning the check engine light on or having noticeable running badly are wrong spark timing and engine not warming up (thermostat stuck open).
10-23-2017, 06:21 AM
#5
Fish Twig
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Re: 2000 EX coupe bad gas mileage / seems lacking in power
So background, I own two cars: A 2000 civic ex sedan and a 1996 subaru outback. Both cars have engines that are rated in the low 100s of horsepower. The civic is a d16y8 (1.6L SOHC VTEC) and the subaru is an EJ22 (2.2L, no variable valve timing, SOHC).
The both have similar mileage (240 and change on the civic, around 230 on the outback).
A minor shock is that the civic doesn't seem that much faster than the outback considering how much lighter it is. A major shock is that as I'm keeping track of my approximate gas mileage, the civic doesn't even do much better in that respect. My 3200 lb AWD station wagon with huge ground clearance gets 20-22 mpg, while my 2400 lb civic coupe gets... 22-25 mpg. Both significantly below their EPA rating, although places I go to find EPA ratings for the civic are confusing since there are so many different permutations (dx, ex, lx, hx, sedan, hatchback, coupe...).
Now there are two possibilites that come to mind:
1. Automatic transmissions suck, especially old ones. The civic is an automatic and the subie is a manual.
2. There's something wrong with the civic.
If there is something wrong with the civic, what is it likely to be? I've already replaced both O2 sensors, a previous owner put a new cat on it, I've had the valves adjusted, there's no head gasket leaks, no codes. The only thing I can think of that might be relevant is that the civic seems like it might be burning oil, and its oil turns black much more quickly than the outback's does.
Or is it not worth my time to even worry about it on such an old car?
The both have similar mileage (240 and change on the civic, around 230 on the outback).
A minor shock is that the civic doesn't seem that much faster than the outback considering how much lighter it is. A major shock is that as I'm keeping track of my approximate gas mileage, the civic doesn't even do much better in that respect. My 3200 lb AWD station wagon with huge ground clearance gets 20-22 mpg, while my 2400 lb civic coupe gets... 22-25 mpg. Both significantly below their EPA rating, although places I go to find EPA ratings for the civic are confusing since there are so many different permutations (dx, ex, lx, hx, sedan, hatchback, coupe...).
Now there are two possibilites that come to mind:
1. Automatic transmissions suck, especially old ones. The civic is an automatic and the subie is a manual.
2. There's something wrong with the civic.
If there is something wrong with the civic, what is it likely to be? I've already replaced both O2 sensors, a previous owner put a new cat on it, I've had the valves adjusted, there's no head gasket leaks, no codes. The only thing I can think of that might be relevant is that the civic seems like it might be burning oil, and its oil turns black much more quickly than the outback's does.
Or is it not worth my time to even worry about it on such an old car?
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