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  #1 (permalink)  
Old 06-26-2006, 02:16 PM
Casper49 Casper49 is offline
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Default 15% reduction in MPG after 1st oil change

I just had my oil changed. Cost was $45+ tax. (They wanted $40 for Tire Rotation, but I passed on this).

I was working on 47mpg tank, but at oil change, my trip meter was reset (by product of clearing service wrench?).

The second half of the tank after oil change, I averaged 41mpg over ~200miles. The drop in mileage doesn't compute with me - Maybe breaking in new oil causes mileage drop...

Anyway, I am on a new tank and am back to 46mpg. Maybe it was just an anomoly.

Did anyone else experience something like this?
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Old 06-26-2006, 02:50 PM
leahbeatle leahbeatle is offline
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Real Name: Leah
Location: Chicago area
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Default Re: 15% reduction in MPG after 1st oil change

Nope. Didn't happen to me, and I've never heard that. Maybe you were driving a bit differently, or in slightly different conditions? Could anything else have changed? If anything, it's counterintuitive that the mileage would drop after an oil change.
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Old 06-26-2006, 03:05 PM
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tbaleno tbaleno is offline
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Real Name: Tom Baleno
Location: Chicago, IL
Hybrids: 2003 - Honda Civic Hybrid CVT
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Default Re: 15% reduction in MPG after 1st oil change

New oil usualy increases mpg not lowers it.

.



My hydroponics experiment

You ever notice how hard it is to lip read cartoon characters?
"Crazy is what the sane call Delta Flyer"
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Old 06-26-2006, 03:15 PM
Casper49 Casper49 is offline
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Default Re: 15% reduction in MPG after 1st oil change

I thought it was strange, too. Same driving pattern - if anything I spent more time on Freeway.

I even checked tire pressure to see if the mechanic had lower it to spec, but that wasn't the case.

Anyway, back to normal.
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Old 06-26-2006, 07:27 PM
birchman2 birchman2 is offline
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Real Name: James
Location: Southern California
Hybrids: 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid
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Default Re: 15% reduction in MPG after 1st oil change

Where did you have your oil changed maybe they used the wrong viscosity?

.

James


Best MPG tank: 57.7 calculated
Best Trip: 73.8mpg displayed(Palmdale"LACR" to LAX)

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Old 06-27-2006, 07:25 AM
rrunyan rrunyan is offline
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Hybrids: 06 HCH-II Opal Silver Blue
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Default Re: 15% reduction in MPG after 1st oil change

Actually, I also noticed a slight drop for the first tank following the oil change. And I did the change myself so I know it was done right.

Like you, after a few hundred miles it was back to normal. Several tanks since and I now have an improvement in mileage. But that's because I'm still learning how to drive this dang thing. It's more fickle than my wife.

Ron in SoCal

.

Saving the Dinosaurs . . .

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Old 06-27-2006, 09:56 AM
Casper49 Casper49 is offline
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Default Re: 15% reduction in MPG after 1st oil change

I got it done at Honda dealer in Silicon Valley (Can I name the dealership?)

After 300 miles, my mileage is better than average (48mpg - 50miles into tank).

Maybe, draining oil and refilling leave some spots that doesn't get lubricated for awhile?

Here is my observation:
6 miles - 8400 miles -- 44-45mpg
~8200 - 8400 miles -- 46mpg
~8400-8650 miles -- 41mpg
8650 - 8700 miles -- 48mpg..

Interesting....

BTW, I will be making a road trip to Long Beach, CA from San Jose next week.
I'll report afterwards.

John
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Old 06-28-2006, 10:57 AM
hawkGT647 hawkGT647 is offline
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Default Re: 15% reduction in MPG after 1st oil change

Have you checked the oil level? Make sure they didn't overfill it.
That will hurt your FE.

Just a thought.

Regards,
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Old 06-28-2006, 02:46 PM
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06 HCH in Georgetown TX 06 HCH in Georgetown TX is offline
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Real Name: Bob
Location: Georgetown, Texas (Austin Area)
Hybrids: Honda Civic
Posts: 65
Default Re: 15% reduction in MPG after 1st oil change

Quote:
Originally Posted by Casper49
I just had my oil changed. Cost was $45+ tax. (They wanted $40 for Tire Rotation, but I passed on this).

I was working on 47mpg tank, but at oil change, my trip meter was reset (by product of clearing service wrench?).

The second half of the tank after oil change, I averaged 41mpg over ~200miles. The drop in mileage doesn't compute with me - Maybe breaking in new oil causes mileage drop...

Anyway, I am on a new tank and am back to 46mpg. Maybe it was just an anomoly.

Did anyone else experience something like this?
I also had a large reduction in mileage after my first oil change, but it has not returned. I watched the dealer do the oil change, and used the correct Honda 0-20 oil. They did not do anything else except rotate the tires from front to back. I was averaging about 49 mpg (looking for 50+), and now I am limping along at 46 for the last 2 tanks, worse than even the very first tank. I can't see that my driving has changed at all. I have made some changes including changing the AC levels from 73 to 75, and no AC in the morning commute. Tire pressure remains around 38.

I did read in the manual that the AC will make a dramatic difference in mileage, but have been running the AC all along here in Texas since March, when summer arrives. Guess window tinting comes next.

Bob

.

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Old 06-30-2006, 08:40 AM
birchman2 birchman2 is offline
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Real Name: James
Location: Southern California
Hybrids: 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid
Posts: 148
Default Re: 15% reduction in MPG after 1st oil change

The key sounds like to make sure you don't change your oil.

.

James


Best MPG tank: 57.7 calculated
Best Trip: 73.8mpg displayed(Palmdale"LACR" to LAX)

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