fliplyricist1

For god knows how long (probably within the past few months) I've been receiving absolutely horrific gas milage on my 3.0. It's a 97 and only has about 117k on the clock. Driven like a grandma pretty much year round since I'm so slammed on 18's.

Here's the dillemma. I've been keeping track of my fillups, and have calculated it out to about 12-13mpg average all city driving. All highway goes up considerably, however, I barely do any highway driving (unfortunately )

Just for reference, I'm getting about 130 to 140 miles out of about 10 gallons of either plus or regular (tried both, no difference)

A little info on the car. Engine is stock, just a short ram intake (filter probably could be replaced soon). Had the comprehensive 100k service done by acura at around 103k, so that should have taken care of the 'major stuff.' Did a sea-foam treatment about 2k miles ago. Thought it would increase my mpg, but didn't appear to. Oil is changed every 3k miles (and done most recently about 1k miles ago). Didnt use synthetic though...not sure if that makes a significant difference.

Did not change the plugs or distributor after seafoaming either, so not sure if that would play a huge impact in gas milage. Tire pressure is always at a constant 38-40psi.

Again, I drive like a grandma.

Only other things I can really think of are

1)change plugs wires and distributor
2)change sr air filter (or I might just put back my stock box and see where that lands me)
3)change pcv valve maybe?
4) ????


Any other comments/suggestions are welcomed. I noticed in the mpg thread that there was typically a huge disparity between mpg from 2.2's to 3.0s (understandably), but I still think 12-13mpg is pretty damn unreasonable for a well-maintained v6 (more like v8 territory numbers). So something definitely feels wrong.


Thanks people

DoubleSh0t

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, you're definitely off. I get around 16-20 MPG (which I still consider off for a 3.0, but whatever...). I would definitely do plug wires and distributor cap/rotor to start off. It's reasonably cheap, and if they're the original parts, they're definitely due for replacement.

Shadoh

iTrader: (1)

Check the CAT? Mine was horrible and cleaned it out... now it runs a little better. Let me know if that Dist. C/R helps at all i might do likewise.

fliplyricist1

thanks for the suggestions! regarding the cat, highly doubt that, since I JUST passed emissions about a month ago with flying colors (no problems whatsoever). Could need a mild cleaning, but I doubt anything severe...

DjXtC34

the extra weight from the rims are holding you back. i had 19's and i went to stock and ever since i get amazing gas mileage, you know how they say that its better to have your tire pressure checked because it makes a diffrenece on gas mileage. well im preety sure this is ur promblem

Project_CLean

iTrader: (2)

def change your plugs,wires,and try a fuel system cleaner like chevron techron(good shiz) ..weight could be causin ur bad gas mileage..but shudnt affect it as bad as that..
i get 400 miles to a tankful with mostly city and some highway..and 300 miles all city..i have the stock 16's and 2 12's..thats all. sure urs is a v6 but the difference shouldn't be that much.
good luc

fliplyricist1

thanks guys

yeah it's quite purplexing to me. I know my rims are 18's, but they're forged 3 pieces and quite honestly may even weigh less than my stock 16's (I believe each of my 18's weighs about 17 pounds)

I always make sure my tire pressure is at 38psi....so that's not an issue. But yeah, wow...I just filled up with almost 12 gallons and here I am with 120 miles on the clock and the tank is nearing the E mark. wtf seriously

DjXtC34

damn, does your car have factory injectors or aftermarket ? cuz maybe your car is spitting lots of gas

peters_sweet_CL

How do you guys get 300-400 miles a tank? Mine is a 3.0 with 89k miles on it. Stock, just a little K&N Filter. I got the spark plugs, timing belt, fuel system clean, EGR, tires, EVERYTHING! The only thing is the axle parts have to be changed, but I get between 19-22 only. Is that normal? I do about 60% city, 40% highway (depends), but still? 400 miles a tank?

rudeboim3

Try sunoco gas vs shell....

Blazin Si

I'd also suggest cap and rotor along with plugs and wires. I've done this once in the past on another Honda I had owned and gained almost 6 mpg.

Also, I know your slammed but I'm not familiar with the rest of your suspension mods. If your toe is out that could also cause a loss in gas mileage along with excessive tire wear.

Blazin Si

I doubt anyone with a 3.0 gets up to 400 miles to the tank unless they're driving all highway at 60 mph. The 4 cylinders can get over 400. I used to get roughly 420 miles out of a tank before I moved to the city. Now I get 380 if I'm lucky.

davzilla

I've been getting about 500kms to 55L lately. just cleaned the K&N for possibly the first time in way too long, so it should make a difference.

97 3.0 about 323,750kms on it now. i drive city and rural, no highway. i'm never crusing above 2300rpms

davzilla

the first couple tanks after teh tranny rebuild on the 3.0 i could get 400miles or 640kms, but that would mean sucking it dry as it's a 64L tank.

my stock f22a in the accord got over 800kms to a tank crusing up north once or twice. the built one could probly hit 575-600kms a tank if i took it easy.

fliplyricist1

full alignment on the car was done about 2 months ago, -4.8 camber up front but toe and caster all within spec. you know, I never thought about it, but the excessive tranny slipping could also be a huge contributor. Because I notice that my tranny shifts a whole fuckin lot, and often goes to 4th gear way too prematurely, and revs high when it doesnt need to. If so, fml.


I'll definitely try cap and rotor though, if my memory serves me correctly that's free for us 97 3.0's through the service recall anyways...

davzilla

have you had teh pvc update done to the manifold?

fliplyricist1

pvc update? Are you referring to just replacing the pcv valve? Or is this some kind of recall?

WineRed2.2CL

man that sucks. My 2.2 sips on it.

TexasHonda

Oversize tires mean the odometer reads lower miles than actually traveled. You can go online and build a "correction factor" (multiplier) to account for oversized tires. It could be ~10% or more correction.

good luck

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Glad someone else sees similar numbers, several people on here tell me I'm lying when I say I get or was getting 400 Miles per tank in my 3.0, Flip's numbers are way off

I would def do the cap, rotor, plugs and wires. That will def help, I use NGK Iridium IX plugs, you def should change out that crap after a seafoam. Also the tranny fucking up will def hurt the gas mileage as well

davzilla

it's an update/recall. my mechanic drilled out the hole on the manifold, then sunk a sleeve down into it. i guess so it doesn't get clogged up?

98JDMCL

I was getting crazy horrible mileage when I had my intake on it...I changed my sparkplugs and there wasnt any difference so i put the stock intake back on and now I get about 215-220 Km to half a tank and then I fill back up and thats all city...try putting your old airbox back on.

davzilla

i don't think that's his problem, those tires are stretched so far they might almost but too small now, lol.

i run a 225/45 on my 17x7.5's so there's lots of tire, but the overall diameter is only out by less than a percent.

flip's running 18's staggered, 8" in the front and 9" in the back iirc. tires are mad stretched.

davzilla

2nd that actually. i'm running a k&n drop in factory airbox with the resonator removed, cheapest cold air ever.

98JDMCL

Do some trail and error man and you'll probably find your answer!

fliplyricist1

awesome advice. Actually I was already debating doing this, since ever since I installed my intake a long time ago I've noticed nothing but lost acceleration and general decrease in performance. I will definitely give this a shot and report back.

Dave: thanks for the info man do you happen to have any pictures of the drilled hole location? Not really sure if it's already been done to my car or not.

You guys are the best

davzilla

iirc he took the top of the intake manifold off an flipped it over. so not anywhere easily visible.

SupraManAG

fuel filter? robs gas. dont know if you got that with your acura tune
if you want original gas mileage or close it means the car has to be as close as possible to stock.

bRunCL

iTrader: (1)

had mine changed out and car does run better. def worth a shot

davzilla

dude, i totally got confused on this. it was an egr update, not the pcv. still might help though.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Fuel filter is definitely worth it, even though it's not a serviceable item according to honda

davzilla

lol, just like the filter screen in the auto fail, i mean transmission.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

fliplyricist1

lol ok guys...well 2 days ago I put back the stock intake and removed the shitty old short ram.

all I can say is OH MY GOD. I didnt realize exactly the magnitude to how shitty my car was driving SOLELY due to the short ram. Literally, when I first fired up the car it idled like it was brand new. Then I took it for a spin and jaw literally dropped. The 'tranny slipping like a motherfucker and jerking hard' issue basically is 95% eliminated, and the car pulls way harder. What got me is how much smoother the car shifts now...I honestly thought my tranny had been on its last leg these past 2 years, but now I see that this might have mainly been due to the short ram from egay. When braking to a stop from around 40 mph, previously the car would seriously slam down and slip gears multiple times before coming to a complete stop. Now I barely even feel the blip of the downshifts and there's no jerking whatsoever. I honestly am kicking myself for not having the it stock from day one.

Oh, and best part...I'm at 120 miles on an 11 gallon fillup, and the needle is right at the halfway mark. Compare and contrast that to my last fillup with exactly 11 gallons...two which my needle was hovering right under the bottom hash on E at this same point.

98T, I love you man, no homosapien. Love the rest of you as well. I'll continue to keep an eye on it and keep you guys posted to my final mileage results. Remember, this is all city driving, no highway. Dave, thanks for the clarification bruh...I'll check out that egr issue. Oh, and I replaced my fuel filter myself about 7k miles ago, so that should still be good.

Thanks again

DoubleSh0t

iTrader: (1)

What kind of filter did you have on the intake?

fliplyricist1

it was the typical no name 3inch cone filter that came stock on it. got it off ebay for like 15 bucks shipped for both the short ram and filter. in essence, 15 bucks more than it was worth

I think what I might end up doing is putting a k&n drop in filter in the stock box for added performance without sacrafice in power. We'll see though, so far stock seems like the way to go. Car is much quieter too now

f22vtec

how many miles does a 2.2 get on a full tank??

davzilla

i was talking with my mechanic today, he's pretty sure the oem filter flow better than the k&n's. he's usually right too, it's almost annoying sometimes, lol.

LLWesMan

I get about 400.

fliplyricist1

just wanted to update this again...the car is running like its basically brand new. I don't even think I have a transmission issue at all. I've just had this short ram installed for almost 2 years ever since I took over ownership of the car. The car did start out with a noticeable decrease in performance, but over time it just got progressively worse. Severe lack of accelleration and performance at any rpm range....jerking when shifting....slipping gears like a motherfucker. Ironically once I went back to stock the car really does feel like it's perfect. I was always curious why my tranny hadn't detonated since it's been slipping for several years now, but it appears it wasnt even my tranny at fault. Car upshifts and downshifts like butter, when decellerating I cant even tell the car is shifting anymore. This is total win.

Just a headsup for all you guys with gas mileage trying to find the root of an issue. Try your intake first.

I'll report back with my total mileage for this 11 gallon fillup.