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From: wales@ucla-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Fuel efficiency // new car // super-unleaded gas
Message-ID: <544@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 25-Jul-84 12:50:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: ucla-cs.544
Posted: Wed Jul 25 12:50:22 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Jul-84 21:02:53 EDT
Organization: UCLA CS Dept.
Lines: 26

I have a 1984 Honda Accord LX Hatchback, which I bought about two months
ago.  The EPA fuel-efficiency rating of the car is 30 mpg, but I am get-
ting only around 22 mpg.

Yes, I know what they say -- "use this figure for comparison, your
actual mileage may differ, California mileage lower" -- but I'm still
curious and a bit concerned.

Can anyone out there suggest a reason for this seemingly wide discrep-
ancy?  Specifically:

(1) I have heard that a new engine will not get the rated mileage for a
    while, because the piston rings need time to seat properly.  If so,
    how long should I wait till I start noticing the gas mileage rise?

(2) The owner's manual advises the use of gasoline with a minimum octane
    rating (RON) of 91 -- which for practical purposes means "premium"
    or "super-unleaded" gas.  I have been using "just-plain-unleaded"
    gas with an octane rating of 87.  The engine seems to run fine (no
    problems with knocking, etc.), but would the difference in octane
    rating between "unleaded" and "super-unleaded" account for my low
    gas mileage?

-- Rich Wales
    wales@UCLA-LOCUS.ARPA
    ...!{ihnp4,ucbvax}!ucla-cs!wales