Fuel Economy at 22mpg
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Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 7
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From: Georgia
Fuel Economy at 22mpg
Hello!
I bought a 1997 Honda del sol S Automatic about 2 months ago and I'm tryna to fix the multiple problems that the car has.
The guy I bought it from did all of this
There have been little things like sensors being bad or interior lighting which I've gotten taken care of. I put a catalytic converter on there and did a wheel alignment.
But the main problem is the Fuel Economy. I'm not sure what the guy did, but he KILLED the fuel economy. I've been told a del sol could get up to 30mpg and people getting 300+ miles out of a fuel tank. But, mine only gets around 250 miles.
I've done a tune-up, replaced the air filter and fuel filters, spark plugs, etc.
I'm thinking the guy messed up the tuning of the ECU but I wanted yall's opinion on what to do.
I bought a 1997 Honda del sol S Automatic about 2 months ago and I'm tryna to fix the multiple problems that the car has.
The guy I bought it from did all of this
Rare 1997 del sol in good overall shape, runs strong and drives good. This del sol has little to no rust, It has the SI model motor (D16Y8) with a full vtec conversion (ECU, harness, manifolds, etc.). Clean Title, needs minor things here and there but, it has had a lot of work recently. This was a project that ended up taking longer than expected so I bought something else.
It has had a rebuilt engine (New head gasket, belts, seals, bearings, and gaskets).
Transmission was rebuilt (Alto).
New tires.
New alternator.
New upper/lower control arms, inner/outer tie rods and ball joints.
Sound deadening was applied to the interior. (Not the cheap stuff)
Brand new pioneer sound system.
Heat and A/C work.
Rear window and defroster work. (most don't from the ones I've seen)
New VSS.
Has an aftermarket exhaust system.
I have a set of SI wheels that can go with it for $150.
Or rear disc brake conversion for $200.
Issues:
I live in a non emissions county.
General wear and tear.
Needs a wheel alignment.
It has had a rebuilt engine (New head gasket, belts, seals, bearings, and gaskets).
Transmission was rebuilt (Alto).
New tires.
New alternator.
New upper/lower control arms, inner/outer tie rods and ball joints.
Sound deadening was applied to the interior. (Not the cheap stuff)
Brand new pioneer sound system.
Heat and A/C work.
Rear window and defroster work. (most don't from the ones I've seen)
New VSS.
Has an aftermarket exhaust system.
I have a set of SI wheels that can go with it for $150.
Or rear disc brake conversion for $200.
Issues:
I live in a non emissions county.
General wear and tear.
Needs a wheel alignment.
But the main problem is the Fuel Economy. I'm not sure what the guy did, but he KILLED the fuel economy. I've been told a del sol could get up to 30mpg and people getting 300+ miles out of a fuel tank. But, mine only gets around 250 miles.
I've done a tune-up, replaced the air filter and fuel filters, spark plugs, etc.
I'm thinking the guy messed up the tuning of the ECU but I wanted yall's opinion on what to do.
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,421
Likes: 23
From: The South
Re: Fuel Economy at 22mpg
I would do a distributor cap and rotor, go with oem
If the spark plug wires are original, I would replace them
new air filter, I like the k&n drop-in filter in the stock box, take the baffle out of the bumper
proper tire air pressure
If the spark plug wires are original, I would replace them
new air filter, I like the k&n drop-in filter in the stock box, take the baffle out of the bumper
proper tire air pressure
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Re: Fuel Economy at 22mpg
We did the distributor cap and rotor while doing the tune up. It was a full tune up the only thing we didn’t mess with is the idle rpms.
air filter was brand new when I bought the car
tire pressure is at 30psi
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,421
Likes: 23
From: The South
Re: Fuel Economy at 22mpg
I tend to run around 35 psi on my civics and tegs depending on the tire size, but that will only get 1-2 mpg
Have you looked at the cat to see if its clogged ? you should be able to see light through it
what kind of spark plugs, I would only run the stock NGKs any brand I would replace
also as mentioned above makes sure cel works and no codes are being hidden
sorry I reread your original post and see the cat was replaced
Have you looked at the cat to see if its clogged ? you should be able to see light through it
what kind of spark plugs, I would only run the stock NGKs any brand I would replace
also as mentioned above makes sure cel works and no codes are being hidden
sorry I reread your original post and see the cat was replaced
Fish Twig
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 15,554
Likes: 309
From: Still hunting that foo up there
Re: Fuel Economy at 22mpg
I tend to run around 35 psi on my civics and tegs depending on the tire size, but that will only get 1-2 mpg
Have you looked at the cat to see if its clogged ? you should be able to see light through it
what kind of spark plugs, I would only run the stock NGKs any brand I would replace
also as mentioned above makes sure cel works and no codes are being hidden
sorry I reread your original post and see the cat was replaced
Have you looked at the cat to see if its clogged ? you should be able to see light through it
what kind of spark plugs, I would only run the stock NGKs any brand I would replace
also as mentioned above makes sure cel works and no codes are being hidden
sorry I reread your original post and see the cat was replaced
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Hysterically Calm
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,439
Likes: 597
Re: Fuel Economy at 22mpg
I would check the ECU, see what ECU it is. If it matches the motor, that's one thing, if it's an OBD1 ECU then it's chipped and then it could indeed be a tune for performance not midland performance/economy.
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