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I need advice to get better gas mileage in my 1992 Honda Accord Automatic.

Hello from another new member who drove a 1991 Accord Auto for 17 years. I'm assuming your car is a 4 cylinder (I don't recall when V6s were first used in Accords).
I found that many of the basic methods widely discussed in this forum can be adapted to your car.

Some I will mention, in no particular order:
1. Make sure car is tuned up -plugs, filters, 5W-30 oil,etc.
2. Keep tires inflated to whatever is comfortable - 30 psi cold min.
3. The automatic has a lock-up torque converter which should engage around 50 mph under light throttle -- ease up on the gas to coax it to lock-up and watch the rpms drop.
4. Avoid using the A/C on long hills. It really loads the motor so you use more gas. (I even used the A/C to retard the car going down long grades -- almost like a down-shift).
5. If the oxygen sensor is malfunctioning this will be a real gas waster and the engine will run rough.

As a guide my car got around 23-24 mpg in town and 33-34 on the open highway at speeds up to 70 mph. This was without using the special techniques discussed in this forum.

I replaced the Accord with an '08 Civic Hybrid which I'm really enjoying. Like many others, I had terrific service from the Accord. It was almost a part of the family.

Hope the many idea available here produce the results you're looking for.

Cheers,

Roger

Welcome to Cleanmpg! I'm relatively new here too. I have a 2002 Honda Accord Automatic, so I know where you're coming from.

First thin, if you haven't already, read 'beating the epa"

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1510

Hopefully I dd the link correctly, if not, it's on the home page on the right hand side at the top.

some of the pro's will chime in here, I'm sure, and will be able to add more, but you'll want to find the EPA estimate on your Accord so you know what your starting point is.

Also, air up your tires to at or near the max listed on the sidewall.

I've gone from 22-23mpg in my Accord to 31.8 in two tanks, and working on more. You can definately do this too!

Hey Backup

I'm a newbie too...so much fun and what a challenge to beat estimated mpg.
Im in a 2007 civic lx 4dr automatic, my first automatic since 18...left foot is still getting used to inactivity.

Go to the glossary so you know what all the meanings are of ab's, as they are used all the time. Use search for honda, automatic, and read the articles on hypermiling and increasing your mileage.

Heres what I'm doing....
I'm at psi 40, mfg psi level is on your tire, check tires bi- weekly.

Be aware of what is around you in your typical daily travel...speed limit, lights, stop signs, turns.

I'm now backing into my drive way to avoid the pull in, rev, stop, forward. When parking, I park on highest level, with my car facing out so I can just pull out of space.

start slow until car warms up, slow down with foot off accel rather than braking, slowing down for turns, slowing down before stop signs, foot off gas peddle and coast to sign, the game is to not use brakes hard, or at all if you can.

For red lights, if you know where they are, and if they are long, like 2min some cut their engines, I'm still chicken to do that. My engine is in neutral, if stopping at a yellow. if light is already tripped by someone, foot off gas, and coast to light, try to time so you wont have to brake and still have some mph to roll and slow accelerate.

use brakes at 15-20 to slow to 1o mph, and keep some speed when going through stop. I usually brake at 10' before sign, to 5mph,.. if there is another car on left or right, I come to complete stop, if there is no one, I cruise through at 5mph.

checking rpm gauge to find sweet rpm drop, mine are around 26, 37, and 52.

On hwy travel, I'm in right lane get my car up to speed where rpm drops down to 1250 to 1500 and cruise along with speed increasing to 55 or so,I let off gas, decreasing, only down as far as safe driving, and lower speeds only if no one is around and staying under 60mph.

I move at the posted speed limit around town and on hwy I drive 50-55mph...even in the 65 areas and people are passing me on left and cutting in on right, so leave good space infront of you for those ding dongs in the hummers and huge suv's.

Benefits, I'm on time more often, driving is more fun and I feel I pay attention more, I'm less stressed, and improved gas mileage to boot. I've only got about 4400 miles so I'm still braking in engine. And on my second tank since joinging. First tank I drove 367.7 on 11.7 gallons for 31.4mpg with mixed 90% around town and 10% hwy. With this current tank, and info I've learned, have gone past 367.7 with gauge I think at 1/4 tank so I'll be excited to fill up soon and see what I've reached this time!

best of luck!