15% reduction in MPG after 1st oil change

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Old Jun 26, 2006 | 02:16 PM
  #1  
Casper49's Avatar
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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?
 
Old Jun 26, 2006 | 02:50 PM
  #2  
leahbeatle's Avatar
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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.
 
Old Jun 26, 2006 | 03:05 PM
  #3  
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Default Re: 15% reduction in MPG after 1st oil change

New oil usualy increases mpg not lowers it.
 
Old Jun 26, 2006 | 03:15 PM
  #4  
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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.
 
Old Jun 26, 2006 | 07:27 PM
  #5  
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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?
 
Old Jun 27, 2006 | 07:25 AM
  #6  
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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
 
Old Jun 27, 2006 | 09:56 AM
  #7  
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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
 
Old Jun 28, 2006 | 10:57 AM
  #8  
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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,
 
Old Jun 28, 2006 | 02:46 PM
  #9  
06 HCH in Georgetown TX's Avatar
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From: Georgetown, Texas (Austin Area)
Default Re: 15% reduction in MPG after 1st oil change

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
 
Old Jun 30, 2006 | 08:40 AM
  #10  
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Default Re: 15% reduction in MPG after 1st oil change

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


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