Hey guys,

My 94 Civic VX has been getting some silly gas mileage and I was wondering if anyone had any idea of what could be the prob or ideas to check. I have searched and haven't been able to find much about this model except for with the vtec-e engine, it is supposed to get around 50 mpg. The last 3 fill-ups went like this: 34mpg, 26 mpg, 36 mpg. Now I understand that a lot depends on how you drive, and I never take this thing over 2500 RPM's...wouldn't go anywhere anyway - slow as hell so I just take it easy.
It's all stock, it's running well and I have recently changed the oil/filter (5w-30), air filter, and checked the tire pressure.
I have noticed it is out of alignment but would this be the case to drop that much in mpg???
Anyone have any ideas that I should check out?

Thanks!
Justin

 

Winter gas took 8 mpg off my crx, hmm, alignment will hurt but no idea how much. Hmm, I dunno, hope you find some answers, I love mpg, gonna do the d15z1 swap into the rex eventually. Good luck.

 

Yeah, winter gas mileage is depressing, but the dense air is nice.

 

Check to see if you've done lately:

Plugs, wires, distributor cap, rotor, fuel filter.

Just some ideas and things to look at. As already stated, you're MPG will decerease during winter some.

 

If your alignment is out bad, yes it will affect your mileage by a noticeable amount because things aren't rolling smoothly. They are fighting against each other making the engine work harder.

You don't have any check engine lights do you?

 

i just bought a VX yesterday and its slow as hell. on the freeway 70-75mph i can barely keep it going in 5th. not sure on my gas mileage ill let you klnow by this weekend. im just used to my R i guess, i forgot how gay stock sohc are im going to post some pics this weekend of my build im going to start.

 

Not sure if the was mentioned but check tire pressures. They decrease by themselves as it gets colder out and can cause worse MPG.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Slow EJ8 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Not sure if the was mentioned but check tire pressures. They decrease by themselves as it gets colder out and can cause worse MPG. </TD></TR></TABLE> Tire pressure good

No check engine lights.

I know the wires are the stock ones so they could need some help. I just don't want to start replacing everything if it doesn't need it you know?

I'll check out what my plugs look like tomorrow.

Thanks for the input!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jay_Sensing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If your alignment is out bad, yes it will affect your mileage by a noticeable amount because things aren't rolling smoothly. They are fighting against each other making the engine work harder.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I know it hurts gas mileage...but this much of a difference? It's not out of alignment that bad

 

I use to have a VX and I changed the o2 after 60K and seen a little better mileage.

 

my gas milage would fluxuate like that when i had my VX engine. i noticed with certain fuels, it goes further. difference in cargo weight and environmental conditions changed performance and milage as well.

 

Well I'm not sure exactly how cold it is in Ft. Wayne, but if it's like here in WI, couldn't it add up everytime you start your car in the cold? It uses a whole lot of fuel at first, and then you run it for a good few minutes, couldn't that add up if you use your car a lot? I know it shouldn't be too much because it's just idling, but who knows?

 

actually, the VX runs crazy rich when it is at idle and not in the ultra-lean burn mode. the idle time adds up to quite a bit and will suck your gas. in AK, i went from 350 to 220 a tank.

 

Wow - well maybe that's it. I didn't know gas mileage fluxuated so much in the winter. At least I don't ever remember noticing with my other cars...although gas wasn't $2.40+ then either

I need to get that alignment taken care of and I'm sure that will help some and then unless something else comes up, I'll just hope it gets better when it warms up

 

does your tranny have long *** gears? my first goes to 40mph 2nd to 75mph. just seems long as hell and the car kinda bogs if you shift too soon. when im just crusing i have to shift at like 4000rpm or it bogs down to like 1500rpm its the wierdest **** ive ever driven. also where is the vtec-e cross over it sounds like 33-3400rpm?

 

vtec-e should end at 2500-3000, depending.

 

my Vx's Vtec-E seemed to end at 2k rpm....since that's when teh shift light light up. dont forget that if you have snow tires/steelies, you'll lose gas milage, the VX came with ultra-light rims and winter tires tend to be bulkier then summers. if you think added weigh makes a diffrence, try adding rotational mass.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EJtypeR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">does your tranny have long *** gears? my first goes to 40mph 2nd to 75mph. just seems long as hell and the car kinda bogs if you shift too soon. when im just crusing i have to shift at like 4000rpm or it bogs down to like 1500rpm its the wierdest **** ive ever driven. also where is the vtec-e cross over it sounds like 33-3400rpm?</TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL welcome to the VX club! Yes, long as hell, 2200 rpm in 5th at 80 mph = good mileage. My beef is with the ratios: there's a huge gap between 2nd and 3rd, but 3rd 4th and 5th are real close.

You'll get used to it...or you'll swap it real quick, one or the other.

According to the chart in Helms, vtec-e crossover is 2500-3200 rpm, depending on load condition.