Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ucla-cs.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!houxm!hogpc!houti!ariel!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!hplabs!sdcrdcf!sdcsvax!bmcg!cepu!ucla-cs!wales 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