Maybe not a maintenance question, but wondering what kind of gas mileage on average I can expect with a 97 Accord, SE, 4DR, automatic, 2.2 liter engine, 152K miles.

Did just change the air filter, cap, rotor, plugs.

Also someone mentioned that you get better gas mileage on the Accords when using 91 octane gas. Not sure about that.

Any thoughts?

 

BTW 18 & 26 MPG

Lower octane is better for low compression engines ..... more power, more MPG, less $

 

For my 2cents worth. I've got a 2001 Accord (4 cyl, 5 speed) with almost 200K, change the oil about every 5000-7500, just did the dist. rotor, plugs, belts thing. I use midgrade/plus and I get 30-32 HWY, 99% of my driving is HWY driving. 110mile commute for work.

 

^^^ you'd be better off with regular.

 

Yeah, I get the 87 octane at either Shell of BP. No problems, and I average 28-29mpgon my 2002 Accord 4cylinder.


If you're really ballsy, I do have a few ideas you can do to get good gas mileage and both aren't for the average car person. You would need to know your car, know your driving habits, and how to operate the vehicle precise with the changes. If not, it could result in a major problem, but the extra mileage is worth the time and effort.

I will say, I have not done the changes, but the talk and theory behind I've explored.

 

I am only getting about 20 mpg just driving around town.....seems like I should do a little better than that.

JM

 

I am averaging 27 to 29mpg city/highway combined with about 70 miles commute roundtrip daily and speed of no more than 72mph in the morning to work and speed of 70mph from work; 3/4 of the trip is on the interstate rolling on Michelin Destiny tires 205/65/15. Smooth ride.

I was averaging about 26 to 27 mpg when rolling on Conti tires 215/40/17.


1998 Accord LX 4dr auto with 274k miles

 

I average 27mpg on a 40 mile round trip commute w/ about 70% freeway. I drive 60 mph on freeway and mostly 30-35 on other roads. Highway (rare) will easily do better than 30mpg. My 94 EX has 222K miles.

good luck

 

I use 87 in my 97 accord 5spd. I have 185K on mine. If I drive at 63 - 65 mph I can get up to 37mpg....average at 34.

 

Last weekend I installed all new timing belt components because of a startup squeal (see my thread on this subject, much too long a tale to get into here). I checked alignment of the crankshaft and camshaft sprocket before starting and they were very close, but not perfect, perhaps 2-3 degrees off (less than one sprocket on crankshaft sprocket).

After re-installation checks, the alignment was I thought similar, not perfect but very close.

After driving, I thought the engine felt peppier and absolutely started easier. Sometimes started the instant ignition switch started rotating the engine.

My first gas refill was today, and I got 30 mpg, better by ~3 mpg than I have ever done before. I had recently improved from 25-26 to 27-28 by slowing down to 60 mph, but can only account for this dramatic improvement w/ improved timing. Problem is I don't know how it's better. I could potentially have changed the relative crankshaft-camshaft timing by perhaps 5-6 degrees total relative position. The distributor would probably compensate the sparktiming for such achange (it has reference sensors). Only difference I can see is possible camshaft timing change.

It does suggest that it may be worth being very particular when aligning the crankshaft and camshaft. I've always felt that ~1/2 sprocket width was close enough. It's very difficult to get spot on w/o removing the camshaft sprocket and rotating the camshaft to get "perfect alignment". This is a PIA to do as restraining the camshaft to loosen the sprocket retaining bolt is difficult w/o a special tool. I used a nylon strap wrench w/ success last week to remove the sprocket to allow water pump installation. I didn't bother to try to get perfect alignment. I know it was off slightly, but which way?

regards