hi all, i just bought a midori green 1996 civic hatchback Dx with 140k. to me it seems as if the gas mileage isnt reaching maximum potential, Right now im at a little less than 1/4 and only have 240 miles on the trip odo. is that normal or should i be checking if something is wrong?

 

That's about normal, depending on driving habits.

 

thanks i havent hit empty yet so we'll see how much MPG i will be getting, should it be around 30?

 

whats the history of the cars tune up have you done one yet?

These things will improve your gas mileage drasticly

Spark Plugs NGK Copper (Recommended)
NGK/Denso Spark Plug Wires (Recommended)
Distributor Cap and Rotor OEM (Recommended)
BG44K in the gas tank for one fuel tank (Not Needed but will clear up the injectors and some crud trust me it works great)
After using BG44K New Fuel filter (you should replace it anyway)
Air filter (K&N) Drop in is great and you can clean it everytime
Change Oil (Recommended)
Oil Filter (Recommended)
Clean the throttle body (Recommended)
Check ignition timing (Recommended)
PCV Valve OEM (Recommended)

All these things should improve your gas mileage if you are not drving like a mad man and shifting before 3k and use cruise control on the freeway you should be sitting somewhere between 40-50+ MPG

 

X2 what wrona said,my dx coupe goes 400-500 miles between fill ups. Drive slower, keep the shifts under 2k and don't exceed 65mph. 5th gear is your friend and gas saver, be in it even when cruising at 35mph. If you're a lead foot then you can expect the mileage your getting. Also while in gear if you take your foot off the gas the car is running on no gas, look ahead and cruise into stops or when you see the light ahead is red.

 

Just like to add the OEM wires are as good or better than the NGK ones

 

definitely depends on driving habits. i usually get around 25mpg (only maybe 10%-20% highway) and when i started shifting around 2k-3k RPMs and just giving it a little bit of gas (most of the time) to get to the next shift point i got 31mpg. and as another member said, even when you're going 35mph put it in 5th gear. just keep the RPMs down and you'll notice a change.

edit: my car is an EJ8 with I/H/E and lowered to no wheel to fender gap.

 

Thanks for all the helpful replies, i really like how people on this forum try to help instead of just saying," Use the search" THANKS EVERYONE!

 

You don't know whether you have a gas mileage problem until you actually calculate the gas mileage and find that it is very low.

 

When you say you've got a quarter tank left...are you going by the fuel gauge needle or an electronic gauge, cuz those fuel gauges for 6th gen Hondas (and I'm assuming older ones) are kinda inaccurate after a while because the fuel tanks don't have baffles, causing the needle to fluctuate pretty badly when taking turns. (confirmed on mine that the halfway point on my gauge is closer to 1/3 of a tankful)

So....you might actually have more gas in there than ya think!
Only way to know for certain is to fill'er up!