Okay, here's the facts...

1. A sudden drop in MPG
2. No other noticable signs
3. A sleuth who recently had MPG problems and somebody suggested tire pressure

So, when I saw a sudden drop on our MPG... I checked the tires. I found we had a tire leaking. When I took it to the shop... they found not one but TWO nails in it.

The lowered MPG was my warning sign that there was something wrong with the car. I wouldn't have noticed it because not that much air was out.

 

Wow, good thing you checked those tires. I hope fixing that not only helps improve your safety, but your mpg as well.

The things we discover in our quest for higher mpg...
I received an air compressor for Christmas ( I actually asked for one). Today I was checking the tire air pressures on my HCH and my old car, which is now my daughter's. I decided to check those silly "donut" spare tires while I was at it, and it's a good thing I did. The older car's spare had nearly "0 psi" in it (we probably never checked it since we bought the car in 1991!), and the Honda's spare had half the recommended psi in it. So I fixed that situation. People, check your spare tires as time goes on, or they might not be very useful in an emergency.

 

According to the owner's manual, when the tire pressure is low, a warning should display on the front panel. Did you ever see that warning? I am wondering if that gauge really works.

 

Bobrady I am so unobservant the light could have been flashing in my face and I would have missed it, but NO neither my husband or I saw a warning light.

Thanks for the info. I'll look in the owners manual and see where the light should have been.

At what pressure does it come on? The tire was low but not flat.

 

The light Bobrady is referring too looks like a tire and a break. It is not a name warning. It tells that at least on of the tires are low. I have not seen it yet but from what I read it seems very sensitive and comes on easily when even a small amount is lost.

 

Last week we had the tire warning light come on. It's a yellow circular icon.

We checked and found one tire at 27 psi and the others at 32.

Interestingly we had to fill all the tires to 35 and run the car over 16 MPH for several miles before the light would reset.

 

Wow... I'm going to guess we had it pop on and never noticed it... because we were down to 20 PSI when we checked the tire.

 

Next time you're at the dealer, have them test the TPMS system to make sure it works. Sometimes it saves lives!

Good to hear you got your MPG back!!!