Honda Civic 1.8 2009, losing MPG!!
Discussion
First time posting so please be gentle. I'll start by saying I don't know a lot about cars. Hence this post. So the problem I have is that my car has recently starting losing MPG like nobodies business. I've had my Civic for 3 years now and she's been amazing! She had a full set of brand new tyres in July, they're budget tyres but I got tyres that were rated "C" for fuel economy. (Not sure if that actually helps or is just a gimmick.) I've just changed the oil filter and air filter and that hasn't solved the problem. I've used Reddex and I've also used STP fuel system cleaner and the STP fuel injector cleaner and that hasn't seemed to make much of a difference either. My tyre pressures are 30psi as it states they should be. From a full tank of fuel, I was getting just over 400 miles, driving sensibly and using my cruise control. My MPG was between 40-42. Now I'm getting about 330 miles and my MPG is anywhere from 32-37.
I was going to pay for my car to be carbon cleaned but the fella who I contacted said that a carbon clean wouldn't do anything to benefit my MPG.
I'm hoping someone out there will have some ideas?
Cheers.
I was going to pay for my car to be carbon cleaned but the fella who I contacted said that a carbon clean wouldn't do anything to benefit my MPG.
I'm hoping someone out there will have some ideas?
Cheers.
I am going to say it's a sticking (possibly more than 1) brake caliper. I don't know what it is about Hondas but the brake calipers seem to start sticking for fun. My family have owned three Civic Type S and all of them have suffered from multiple sticking brake calipers.
My one had brand new calipers, pads and discs fitted at a main dealer by the previous owner. A mere three years later I have an MOT advisory for both front calipers sticking.
The pistons corrode and get stuck in the caliper, you can buy rebuild kits on eBay for about £20 per caliper.
Could also be caused by the colder weather, are you driving the exact same route as you were before so you have consistent runs?
My one had brand new calipers, pads and discs fitted at a main dealer by the previous owner. A mere three years later I have an MOT advisory for both front calipers sticking.
The pistons corrode and get stuck in the caliper, you can buy rebuild kits on eBay for about £20 per caliper.
Could also be caused by the colder weather, are you driving the exact same route as you were before so you have consistent runs?
Joey Deacon said:
I am going to say it's a sticking (possibly more than 1) brake caliper. I don't know what it is about Hondas but the brake calipers seem to start sticking for fun. My family have owned three Civic Type S and all of them have suffered from multiple sticking brake calipers.
My one had brand new calipers, pads and discs fitted at a main dealer by the previous owner. A mere three years later I have an MOT advisory for both front calipers sticking.
The pistons corrode and get stuck in the caliper, you can buy rebuild kits on eBay for about £20 per caliper.
Could also be caused by the colder weather, are you driving the exact same route as you were before so you have consistent runs?
I changed the front disks and pads over Christmas and my mate helping me didn't notice anything wrong with the calipers! The brakes were a nightmare to get off but they were just rusted on!My one had brand new calipers, pads and discs fitted at a main dealer by the previous owner. A mere three years later I have an MOT advisory for both front calipers sticking.
The pistons corrode and get stuck in the caliper, you can buy rebuild kits on eBay for about £20 per caliper.
Could also be caused by the colder weather, are you driving the exact same route as you were before so you have consistent runs?
TickTickBoon said:
Joey Deacon said:
I am going to say it's a sticking (possibly more than 1) brake caliper. I don't know what it is about Hondas but the brake calipers seem to start sticking for fun. My family have owned three Civic Type S and all of them have suffered from multiple sticking brake calipers.
My one had brand new calipers, pads and discs fitted at a main dealer by the previous owner. A mere three years later I have an MOT advisory for both front calipers sticking.
The pistons corrode and get stuck in the caliper, you can buy rebuild kits on eBay for about £20 per caliper.
Could also be caused by the colder weather, are you driving the exact same route as you were before so you have consistent runs?
I changed the front disks and pads over Christmas and my mate helping me didn't notice anything wrong with the calipers! The brakes were a nightmare to get off but they were just rusted on!My one had brand new calipers, pads and discs fitted at a main dealer by the previous owner. A mere three years later I have an MOT advisory for both front calipers sticking.
The pistons corrode and get stuck in the caliper, you can buy rebuild kits on eBay for about £20 per caliper.
Could also be caused by the colder weather, are you driving the exact same route as you were before so you have consistent runs?
mw88 said:
TickTickBoon said:
Joey Deacon said:
I am going to say it's a sticking (possibly more than 1) brake caliper. I don't know what it is about Hondas but the brake calipers seem to start sticking for fun. My family have owned three Civic Type S and all of them have suffered from multiple sticking brake calipers.
My one had brand new calipers, pads and discs fitted at a main dealer by the previous owner. A mere three years later I have an MOT advisory for both front calipers sticking.
The pistons corrode and get stuck in the caliper, you can buy rebuild kits on eBay for about £20 per caliper.
Could also be caused by the colder weather, are you driving the exact same route as you were before so you have consistent runs?
I changed the front disks and pads over Christmas and my mate helping me didn't notice anything wrong with the calipers! The brakes were a nightmare to get off but they were just rusted on!My one had brand new calipers, pads and discs fitted at a main dealer by the previous owner. A mere three years later I have an MOT advisory for both front calipers sticking.
The pistons corrode and get stuck in the caliper, you can buy rebuild kits on eBay for about £20 per caliper.
Could also be caused by the colder weather, are you driving the exact same route as you were before so you have consistent runs?
stargazer30 said:
My old 1.8 civic used to get about 37mpg too. It could be a simple as the temp has dropped a fair bit lately. I know my focus ST has dropped from 26mpg to 23mpg over the last 2 to 3 weeks as the temp here is almost 10 Degrees colder.
I was told that the weather could do it, but it gets to 37 if I'm lucky and I'm driving the same route and my driving style hasn't changed because I'm a tight b**tard!TickTickBoon said:
No, in all honesty we didn't check the rears at all because the disks were alright! I'll get this looked into as well!
You don't need to dismantle anything to know whether you've got a dragging rear caliper.....simply put the back of your hand near each rear wheel after a decent run....you'll be able to feel the heat and even smell the pads. In bad cases, the entire wheel will be hot to the touch and you'll be able to feel the car 'sit' down at the rear when pulling away, as if the hand brake is left on, on one side.As mentioned above, Honda's have a tendency for rear calipers to the stick.....but in many cases, IT IS NOT the caliper piston seizing, as many people suspect. It is in fact corrosion underneath the brake pad shoulders, which from the factory should be fitted with a very thin stainless steel plate, which the calipers should sit & slide. If you do find you have hot rear wheel, may I suggest you remove the caliper and then the carrier.....and use a dremel or wire brush attachment on a drill to 'grind' back the area under the pad slider plate, back to bare, flat metal. Treat with some smooth hammerite or similar, then once cured, rebuild, ideally using genuine honda pads, which come with a new stainless plate & correct grade of anti seize grease.
I've had 3 x different generation of civics, 1 x accord and 2 x CRVs and they have ALL had 'sticking' rear calipers at one time or another. Only once was it actually a seized caliper piston, but that was on my civic aerodeck at 175k miles & 17 years of age. All other times, it was due to corrosion under the slider plate.
Garages love to tell you its a sticking piston as it's really easy money for them.
MattyD803 said:
TickTickBoon said:
No, in all honesty we didn't check the rears at all because the disks were alright! I'll get this looked into as well!
You don't need to dismantle anything to know whether you've got a dragging rear caliper.....simply put the back of your hand near each rear wheel after a decent run....you'll be able to feel the heat and even smell the pads. In bad cases, the entire wheel will be hot to the touch and you'll be able to feel the car 'sit' down at the rear when pulling away, as if the hand brake is left on, on one side.As mentioned above, Honda's have a tendency for rear calipers to the stick.....but in many cases, IT IS NOT the caliper piston seizing, as many people suspect. It is in fact corrosion underneath the brake pad shoulders, which from the factory should be fitted with a very thin stainless steel plate, which the calipers should sit & slide. If you do find you have hot rear wheel, may I suggest you remove the caliper and then the carrier.....and use a dremel or wire brush attachment on a drill to 'grind' back the area under the pad slider plate, back to bare, flat metal. Treat with some smooth hammerite or similar, then once cured, rebuild, ideally using genuine honda pads, which come with a new stainless plate & correct grade of anti seize grease.
I've had 3 x different generation of civics, 1 x accord and 2 x CRVs and they have ALL had 'sticking' rear calipers at one time or another. Only once was it actually a seized caliper piston, but that was on my civic aerodeck at 175k miles & 17 years of age. All other times, it was due to corrosion under the slider plate.
Garages love to tell you its a sticking piston as it's really easy money for them.
Another vote for the traditional Honda sticky rear brakes.
I tend to think that the geniuses who work in the engine department brought their simple cousins along to work in the "rear brake", "front headlight" and "rustproofing" departments at Honda. Perhaps it was a condition of employment.
I tend to think that the geniuses who work in the engine department brought their simple cousins along to work in the "rear brake", "front headlight" and "rustproofing" departments at Honda. Perhaps it was a condition of employment.
Usget said:
Another vote for the traditional Honda sticky rear brakes.
I tend to think that the geniuses who work in the engine department brought their simple cousins along to work in the "rear brake", "front headlight" and "rustproofing" departments at Honda. Perhaps it was a condition of employment.
Totally agree, it is why I will never own another one (or any Japanese car). Brilliant unburstable engine, doesn't leak any coolant or oil although a bit too high revs on the motorway and poor on fuel for my liking.I tend to think that the geniuses who work in the engine department brought their simple cousins along to work in the "rear brake", "front headlight" and "rustproofing" departments at Honda. Perhaps it was a condition of employment.
As for the rest of the car, sticking calipers, headlights that constantly need a polish, and rust as you say. As you have found out, every single bolt underneath will be rusted on and the rear arches and any seams underneath will be rusty.
Inside, every single button and feature will work, but the interior will feel incredibly low rent. Not really a fan to be honest, I don't understand the appeal, especially as I hate revvy cars with no low down torque you need to thrash.
Forgot about the front suspension knocks every time you hit a bump which no matter how many suspension components you replace you can never fix.
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