engine breaking in, mileage results

[bogatyr]

Good morning ,
Granted, this is only one data point, but I believe my engine in my 2008 Civic Si sedan is starting to break in. I had a tank of 38.18 mpg yesterday on a ride to my home office in CT. Overall, my average is just over 35mpg for the 3400 miles I've got on the car, but things are starting to move along. Prior to the trip to CT, I changed the oil for the first time. Since it's still breaking in, I went with regular old Pennzoil 5w30. I'll probably put synthetic in once the temperatures get a little colder.
Thanks,
Bogatyr

[Funny]

Originally Posted by bogatyr

Good morning ,
Granted, this is only one data point, but I believe my engine in my 2008 Civic Si sedan is starting to break in. I had a tank of 38.18 mpg yesterday on a ride to my home office in CT. Overall, my average is just over 35mpg for the 3400 miles I've got on the car, but things are starting to move along. Prior to the trip to CT, I changed the oil for the first time. Since it's still breaking in, I went with regular old Pennzoil 5w30. I'll probably put synthetic in once the temperatures get a little colder.
Thanks,
Bogatyr

Never go by just one or two data points for your mileage, there are too many variables to accurately predict. But nice tank mileage though, you are within the top 3% of civic drivers that gets that kinda mileage if I may be so bold.

BTW, what's the odometer at? I break in engines with regular oil for the first 10,000 miles (change the oil at 1,000, 3,000, 6,000, and at 10,000 go synthetic.) My Corolla's at 130,000 and still runs like a top, no oil burning like most cars of this generation. Just my $0.02. Good luck.

[bogatyr]

Thanks Funny.

Yeah, I've just turned over 3600 miles, so right, we're on the same page as far as break in. I'm only thinking of using synth once it gets colder out as I drive about 4 miles in the morning to drop my daughter off at school, then back home since I work out of my house. Hopefully I'll be ready for another change come December or so.

Agreed on the single data point. Sure, one needs a bigger picture, but it was just nice to see the numbers on the way up.

My old 1996 Civic averaged 40 around town and got me as high as 45 on the highway. I'm not expecting those kind of numbers from the Si since it weighs so much more and has a 2.0 instead of a 1.6 for displacement. So if I could even approach those numbers I'd be very happy, given the fun-to-drive tradeoff.

Thanks

[Funny]

If you only drive 4 miles in the morning, and it gets too cold out, may I suggest a plug-in block heater? They are very effective for the electricity that you use, and the mileage benefits are well worth the hassel. This would also release the trapped moisture and VOCs left in the oil sooner, because the oil starts off warm, thus reducing the chances of premature engine wear and making the oil last longer.

BTW, VOCs are Volitile Organic Compounds.

[DifferentPointofView]

I went with regular old Pennzoil 5w30

You know that Pennzoil has been tested and proven to create more engine sludge, than a chipmunk does eat nuts.

I've seen engines that have ran Pennzoil all their life at regular engine oil intervals and man is it messy. My step dad is a mechanic (and has been for a LONG time) and hes said never to run Pennzoil, cause he's tired of having to rebuild sludged up engines that have ran on Pennzoil all their life. He says to go with a good dino oil at the least, and Pennzoil is NOT one of them.

[jazzie604]

do you have those pennzoil tests? I have all kinds of customers who use various oils, pennzoil being some of them, without many problems and I would like to give them warning if Pennzoil is really a culprit.

[taco]

i ahve 250k on my truck and have used pennzoil almost its entire life, minus 2 or 3 changes with mobil one. no problems.