Honda CR-V...Why getting less mileage?

Question

I have a 2003 Honda CR-V. Up until recently, I was averaging between 23Mpg and 26Mpg. Nothing has really changed in my driving style...I have even become a little less heavy footed since gas hit $5 in California. Recently, I have only been getting around 19Mpg...tops 20Mpg. The only thing that recently changed is I added a K & N Filter. The car has about 52,000 miles on it and I am not the original owner. The tire pressure is 35, the oil is changed frequently with Mobil One Synthetic. Does anybody have any ideas for the drop in mileage? Is it possible that the O2 sensor is bad? I have never changed this since owning it. Would this effect mileage?

Answer 1

dunno.  probably........

           1. Your car iz carrying 2 much load

            2. your car iznt cleen

           3. ur driving 2 fast w/ 2 much rapid braking (less accelaration & rapid braking = mor mileage)

           4. ur tires arent checked or r bad.

           5. sumthings rong w/ ur car.

Answer 2

Unless your car is bugging out. don't change the o2 sensor. Try a tune up spark plugs and wires. you might not be getting enough spark.

Look into Hydrogen tank installations. It will give you 45 to 50 MPG.

(fact). check this out.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fus...

Answer 3

A 20% drop in fuel economy is abnormal assuming your calculations and tracking are correct.  there is typically a small decrease in fuel economy with warmer weather but not 20%

there are a few factors to consider but the oxygen sensor is probably the least likely.  I wouldn't spend the money on that; rather I'd invest in a decent diagnosis first.  I honestly think you won't see any change in fuel economy by changing that sensor.

the first thing to consider is your driving conditions.  Take a stop watch with you on your drives.  Note the starting time for your trip so that you can measure 'elapsed time'.  then, each time you stop start your stopwatch.  when you start to go again, stop the stopwatch.  At the end of the trip. divide the total time at stops by the elapsed time of your trip to see the percentage of your driiving that you are at 0 mpg.  remember, if you're not moving your getting 0 miles per gallon.  that's wy hybrids get good city mileage--they shut the engines off at stops.

as for mechanical conditions--pay to have the exhaust gas analyzed.  it will tell you if the car is dumping fuel.  You can have the switching rate of the oxygen sensor tested.  if you've got a 20% loss in fuel economy then the cause would be something like a leaking fuel injector or possibly a vacuum leak that is causing the car to be commanded rich.  monitoring the O2 sensor will tell a technician were to look for the problem if there is one.  If the sensor is switching properly and the signal varies then there's no reason to replace the sensor and no indication of a mechanical problem and you'll have to look to the driving conditions as an explanation.

hope that helps

Answer 4

There are 2 major sensors that can cause this:

Bad O2 sensor (most likely)

Bad water (coolant) temp sensor (possibly)

Another thing that can cause this is the thermostat (but you usually see the affect mostly in winters)

Good luck...

Answer 5

Could have a bad O2 sensor, might be time for a tune up as well.

You could also put some additive into your gas tank to try and clean out your fuel lines.