First off happy new year all honda-tech fans. I have a big question and I do not expect a 100% result just need some input. I have a 98 honda prelude manual base. I live in Raleigh NC which is pretty flat area and drive 20mins to work everyday (interstate). I drive about 70-80 for 15 mins of the drive and then drive city the rest of the way. I seem to be getting really bad gas millage. I use prem gas and I just filled up and now that I am half way I am only getting 150 miles on the half way mark. I average 280-300 miles per tank. Is this normal? When I idle sometimes I smell a hot burning of oil and my check engine light came on but went off and it has done that for a while. It has been off for 7 days now though. Is there some things I should check when its off? Any advice would help, thanks guys

-Logan

 

Performing basic maintence will help increase MPG. There are some h22 that get about 400 miles plus on a full tank, highway miles.

Your car is not permoring great for gas mileage, but also its not bad as well. Heres a list of stuff you can do to help.

1. Change 02 sensor
2. Oil change
3. Transmission Fluid change(saw in thread earlier today that this helps, IDK thought)
4. Change your Plugs
5. Wires
6. Dump some Octane booster in the fuel tank

 

Dont judge mileage by miles per tank, it's not accurate at all. When you fill up, reset your trip odometer. The next time u fill up, take the miles traveled and divide them by the amount of gas you put in. I get ~150 per half tank but my actual mileage is ~22-23 mainly city driving

 

don't drive that fast. you'll save alot more gas than that

 

So mabey he should drive 50 mph in second gear down the highway instead, that makes sense.

You get better gas miliage in higher gears, hence highway mpg are always higher than city mpg

 

where did i say he should stop shifting at 2nd? and if you travel 60-65 in FIFTH GEAR you'll pull better gas mileage out.

 

Your saying you'r getting a CEL right? Check your codes and get a tune up.

 

I brought it to advanced auto and they could not point exactly what the code said but it was something to do with fuel and air. If its my o2 sensor that is causing this would i smell of oil when i stop? I dont think the trans oil has been changed since its been purchased, 104,000 on the car. What o2 sensor should I change their is 2? How do I tell which one is bad without bringing it to a shop? If I change tranmission oil is that hard and do I need a lift? I live in a apartment complex so the only way I can get it done is to sneak it off the side of the road with my jack to do quick repairs.

-Thanks
-Logan

 

Oh I had my timing belt, water pump, all belts, seals, spark plugs, wires, k&n air filter, fuel filter, changed 2 months ago.

-Logan

 

Well, all i can say is start searchin

itll answer all your questions

 

woot woot ruff raleigh in the house. lol. i go to nc state. but o2 sensor could be bad which can cause bad gas mileage but that would throw a cel. it could be a number of things. hit me up and ill take a look at it for ya when i get back from break

 

cool thanks, hey do you know anyone that does side work that charges less then the average price around here, $70 per hour. Man thats crazy back at my old home it was like $45. I need my trans oil changed, lower ball join replaced + o2 if it throws a cel some day, it always comes on but then shuts right back off.

-Logan

 

you can change your trans fluid , its on the passenger side (you can see a square hole on the side of the trans), it takes no socket, just the 1/2" drive from your rachet wrench, best way to do it is right after driving, drain it out, its like 2 quarts or so, then fill it again through the tranny dip stick (you need one of those long skinny funnels), with honda manual trans fluid only. Get it from the parts dept at a honda dealership. then drive it once more to collect any left over fluid or grime, and then drain and fill. Thats what my mechanic does....

 

whats the cel code? id find out what the code is before changing parts out because it adds up. you can rent a scanner from autozone by depositing ~$180 and youll get it back when you return it.

 

manual trans has a dip stick?

-Logan

 

Nope.
-You have to take off the air intake.
-Jack the car up.
-Then take a ratchet and loose the tranny fluid filler bolt.
-Set the car down.
-Reach in from the top and with your fingers remove the bolt.
- Stick your finger in the hole to see if it has fluid
-Top it off with oil or MT fluid
-Stick bolt back in
-put it on hand tight
-jack car up
-torque bolt on 16lbs I think
-reinstall air intake


you fill the tranny fluid up on flat ground, and fill it up to the top of the tranny fluid bolt.

 

damn...too bad I dont have a cold air induction. I have a stock so I have to take off the entire box and filter? Do I fill it up to the top until it almost overflows?

Thanks sorry for newb questions.

-Logan

 

I always over fill it and let it drain out whats needed on its own.

 

k cool,

thanks
-Logan