I definitely think the low mileage issue is something worth discussing at length with the Honda dealer over the phone. However, they may tell you that you need to reproduce the problem with several tanks of gas, just to make sure it isn't an aberration.

 

well that is an intersting question as well RonJ, can it just be an aberration? If so, what can cause this?

 

It's feasible, but 18 mpg is quite low mileage. I'll be interested to know what the Honda dealer tells you.

 

Do you think that something as simple as spark plugs or air filter could result in mileage that low? Now keep in mind, the tank is not empty, the fuel low light just came on, but still really bad.

Yeah, it will be intersting.. I am just waiting until tomorrow, all the while foaming at the mouth! lol

I am fairly confident that he will say to bring it in and they will have a look at it. I believe it is covered for 30 days anyway, still a pain in the butt. I will keep you posted.

Thank you so much for all your help

 

So you haven't yet refilled the tank with gas, and 13 gallons is your guestimate for how much was used? My tank holds about 12 gallons, and I think the low fuel indicator comes on when about two gallons are left in the tank, though I rarely let the level get that low. If what I am saying is correct, then you need to refill the tank and determine precisely how many gallons of gas you burned. For example, if you burned only 10 gallons instead of 13 gallons, then your mileage is about 25 mpg, which isn't great but is closer to a more normal range.

 

This will be the 2nd time I re-fill the tank. There was 1/4 tank when I picked it up, and I waited for the light to come on (just to test out if it was working!) and then filled up the tank completely. The problem is that I work about 3 miles from home, and when I left, there was just about 1/4 left, maybe just under. By the time I got to work, the fuel low light was on. That seems strange to me.... You don't think?

 

I definitely see a problem with your fuel gauge as well. it should not come on with a 1/4 tank. this should be easy to reproduce for the dealer to see. I'd explain to them that the fuel mileage is unacceptable. I minimally get 30 mpg even with city driving unless it's totally gridlock or stop and go.

 

Sounds like you might have tested the mpg wrong. Start from a full tank and write down the exact miles. The waste as much as possible and refill, the see how many miles you went and divide by the gallons needed to fill it up again. Thats the only real way to do it without guessing the numbers

 

I'm curious about this as well, I have an 05 dx, and my fuel economy is about the same as yours, I average about 400kms per fill up, and it's been going like that for awhile, but my car has an aftermarket intake, exhaust, headers, underdrive pulleys, so my economy should be higher than stock, but it's as bad as yours is now, and for me, I do reg. oil changes, every 5k-7k kms, my spark plugs have only about 15k kms on them (replaced for ignition performance testing and provided positive results of 1-2hp), but I'll be replacing them again, just for "preventative measures" as well as to see if they have a contributing factor in my mpg issues, I DO have a cel on though because I have cat-delete headers, and am awaiting my angled eliminator to gap out my 2nd 02 sensor (gives me proper readings as a 02 simulator would), as well as my next oil change is due next week (getting it done when my oil block adapter is installed), my fuel economy DID go up when the weather warmed up and the local gas stations stopped using their winterised gas, and it also went up a bit when I switched to a different gas station and their 94 octane gas (which I dont NEED, but is better on my engine, 94 octane plus better sparking plugs is making quite the difference in performance and economy) so, if I find anything that'll help you, I'll be sure to post my results

 

Well guys, it turned out not to be poor gas mileage, but rather a defective fuel gauge.

So they ended up changing the entire cluster, so the side effect is that the odometer is back to zero!

They put a sticker on the door though stating that the odometer has been changed and that the mileage at the time of the change was whatever.... But in my head I get to experience all the new car mileage milestones with a 4 year old car!

Do you think that this decreases the resale value of the car, or really makes no difference?