..."Question. How often do you guys change the air filter? I saw today on Good Morning America that you should change it at every oil change. They said it improves gas mileage by 15%"...
I think this MIGHT have been true when the majority of cars used carburetors.
(whole technical explanation here: short version, EFI now have MAF's... SO the emphasis is (but has ALWAYS been) on CLEAN AIR)
On Honda Civic specifically:, oem recommendation is @ 30,000 miles. I did it @ 60,000 miles. I will do it again at the next 60,000 miles interval @ 120,000 miles by the speedometer. :shades:
You will NOT see this written in the technical data (shop manual)....BUT...
When you do the R/R, DO NOT undo the air box to "CHECK" the condition of the air filter UNTIL the NEXT change!! . When you do that, you so called unseat the seal/s and increase the chances that the area/s around the seals will leak dusty "dirty" air to the clean side. The only valid "check" is the ppm silicon reading (aka dirt/sand) on a UOA and you can not "SEE" that. Also MOST folks do not do UOA's. A clean air filter is DESIGNED to get dirty.!!!???? So what is surprising about seeing an air filter dirty?...its just doing its job, boss!!!
To make a long story short, on our daily commute BEFORE air filter change; 38-42 mpg, AFTER air filter change:38-42 mpg.
(Using the 15% improvement metric, it shoul have been between 43.7 to 48.3 mpg...NOT! )
Counter intuitively because of the MAF (emphasis on CLEAN air) a filter that is slightly to moderately "used" actually filters BETTER than when new. When new, it actually lets in more harmful particles than when "used"
As ruking indicated, it is absolutely, positively impossible for a modern car to get measurably better fuel economy by changing your air filter (or even removing it all together for that matter) unless the filter was all but completely clogged (but then the engine wouldn't start either so you'd actually be getting pretty good mileage). Regarding the 15% claim, whoever said that should be given a nice big Moe Howard slap (nyuk, nyuk, nyuk).
While many folks and even some filter manufacturers would like you to believe that a cleaner or less restrictive filter will improve fuel economy, that simply isn't the case. Why? Simple, all fuel injected engines weigh the intake air (or more specifically they measure the density of the intake air), and adjust the fuel injection system to meter out exactly the precise amount of gasoline required for the current power requirements, no more, no less. If your filter is dirty and restrictive, and limiting the amount of intake air, the fuel injection system simply cuts back on the fuel injected. The net result isn't that your engine runs richer; it's that your engine will be able to develop less power at wide open throttle.
Looked at another way, lets say that at half throttle with a clean filter your engine is able to ingest say 200 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air. Assuming that's the case, and assuming that your engine runs slightly richer that stoichiometric, the engine computer will meter out just enough gasoline to create an intake charge with ~14.5 parts of air (by weight) to 1 part of fuel (also by weight). Let's now say that you've driven that engine say 100,000 miles without changing the airfilter, and now at half throttle, the atmosphere is only able to shove in 100 cubic feet of air per minute. Under this scenario, you might need to apply three quarters throttle (or more) to allow your engine the full 200 CFM of air you need for any given amount of acceleration.
The important thing here is that regardless of the throttle setting, your engine computer is simply looking at the weight of the air in the intake plenum and is simply metering out the proper amount of fuel for the air present. Long story short, regardless of whether you're using half throttle or wide open throttle to get any given amount of air into your engine, the fuel injection system will meter out the proper amount of fuel, and your fuel economy won't change one bit.
I've been averaging 28-30mpg with mostly highway and rural driving, not much city driving maybe 10%. The car hasn't had it's first oil change. Plus we have had winter fuel. I swapped out the winter tires Nokian WRG2's for the all season Michelins that come with the car, the mileage dropped to 29 mpg on the highway. Once the stock tires are burned up I'll probably run the Nokian all seasons year round they feel really good in all conditions and have 50k mile warranty. Better economy. So far the fuel economy is on par with the new EPA figures and I drive about 75-80 mph on the highway.
Last fill after the normal commute (38-42 mpg) yielded 44 mpg!!!! Vehicle was next driven app 225 miles R/T at app 80 mph (some city, swag 10-15%, after hitting the destination) for 42 mpg!!!
I average about 35. I never get lower than 32 and I've gotten up to 39.7. This is all with an aftermarket Yakima roof rack. I need to take the rack off so I can break 40.
I live in oil country (Louisiana) and even our prices are in the 3.60's. I almost want to feel sorry for all those people driving new trucks and SUVs, but they knew this was coming.
I have owned a 2008 Honda Civic EX 2-dr coupe manual transmission since April 22 and have filled it up 3 times so far:
1st fill-up: 35.68mpg (was on gas from the dealership) 2nd fill-up: 36.85mpg (premium) 3rd fill-up: 38.58mpg (premium)
Not bad for a car that's supposed to do 34 highway according to the EPA.
My daily commute is about 35 miles each way, probably 80% highway. I generally do 75+% highway. I have been using the Civic's cruise control as much as I can when at speed (*I* get it to speed with a light foot), not on hill climbs, and only when there's relatively light traffic.
I have found that I needed to "learn" how to drive for best fuel economy. I recently had an Acura TSX loaner for a day, and it had a trip computer with "Instant Fuel Economy" and "Average MPG". I found that if I was light on the pedal, sticking to the speed limits, feathering it on the highway and not being in a rush to get it up to speed around town or when merging onto the highway, the average fuel economy for the TSX read 34-35mpg. I was SHOCKED! Since the Civic doesn't have a trip computer (booooo!!! :frown:), I have purchased a ScanGaugeII, which--hopefully--will continue to "train" me how to drive for best fuel economy. (The ScanGauge should give me the same information as the TSX's trip computer.)
I expected the Civic to get 34-37mpg (I owned a '95 Integra prior to this, and it got 30-32mpg despite my slightly less fuel conscious driving habits and highway EPA estimates of 28-29mpg). I was happily surprised to see 38+mpg on my last fill-up with the Civic. But please note that part of this is due to my "re-training" and rethinking how I drive, the fact that I do a lot of highway, warmer weather (springtime), and *maybe* my use of good premium gas (which many people say is a waste of money...well, my last car had 255,000 miles on it with premium gas, regular maintenance at the dealership, and DuraLube, so I know where I stand :-) ).
Oh...The BIG digital speedometer that EVERYONE around me can see does help keep me honest about driving more sanely. :-) Hey, if that saves me a few bucks at the pump or lets me go a few more miles before tanking up, I'm all for it!
Total waste for this car. Would be interesting to see if you get the same results with regular 87 octane. I would think the engineers who built the car know a little more than most of the general public about which fuel is optimal for their cars. Also tried Duralube years ago when it was popular on those infomercials and didn't do much at all. my mechanic said next time just give him the $ instead of wasting it on additives with dubious claims. But to each his own...but you should really do a test to see if what your routine is really has the validity that you claim.
I'm going to go a step further than sandman; using Premium in any Civic that isn't an Si is likely to reduce your fuel economy; talk about a double waste of money.
Regarding Duralube, saying that you believe in it because your last car went 255,000 miles with it is kind of like saying because my Grandfather took a single shot of Jack Daniels every day (even during prohibition, -he bought many cases before that silly law ever took affect-) and lived to something over 110 (nobody was ever able to prove when he was born), that that's was made him live so long. Sorry, not buying.
Due to the weather warming up a little, I'm not using the 10% Ethanol gas. With the 87 octane regular gas, I made a long hwy trip and I got 39.7 MPG. I drove around 70 and used the Cruise Control. This car goes so far on a tank of gas, it's hard for me to decide what I'd get on a full tank of gas thats pure HWY but I'm sure it would be over 40 using cruise control. I also got 35.7 on a short trip that used only half a tank. The worse I have ever got was 29 mixed when it was brand new (first tank). I am relieved that this car can get 40 MPG, it only has 3,000 miles. Everyone should be getting over 35 HWY if they drive sensibly. I love big SUV's, but, aside from fuel savings, I strangely feel great knowing that I am doing my part to reduce emissions.
Also tried Duralube years ago when it was popular on those infomercials and didn't do much at all. my mechanic said next time just give him the $ instead of wasting it on additives with dubious claims.
I like Duralube but not for my engine. I use it instead of WD40 which is just fish oil. They sell it in a spray can and it really works miles better than WD40. I'd never put it in my engine as an additive but on hinges or squeaky rusty things it's fantastic! :shades:
I'm getting outstanding mileage from my 05 Coupe VP 5spd manual. I have 33k on it and drive very 'tenderly, coasting on hills, driving 70mph or less. I got it new.
My last three fill ups: 47.7mpg 41.4mpg 49.5mpg
All are with AC (I live in AZ).
The 49.5 is a real fluke probably but I've seen many in the 45s.
My historical number has improved significantly in the past year when I "slowed down" but the car is still getting better! Last six months I've averaged 43/44mpg in all driving.
Anyone else out there doing this well or have I found a real jewel? I'm taking it into service next week to see what the techs think....I just had the plugs replaced and I swear it's made a huge different.
In the movie "Thunder Road" ,from days of yore, Robert Mitchum had just out run some cops again while hauling a load of Moon Shine whiskey. He pulled into the point of destination and told the guy to unload the whisky and check the car for damage but "Don't touch that Motor" !
You might want to tell Honda the same thing. Your mileage is excellent.
Just filled up the wifes 2008 Civic EX-L Coupe. She went 390 miles on 8.8 gallons of good old 87 octane. That works out to 44.3 mpg! We just bought this car new two weeks ago. Let's just say this car is a keeper!
Driving 90% highway very gently I get between 38 mpg in winter and up to 48.5 mpg in spring driving (cruise set to 56 mph, no A/C needed gentle acceleration). Big 2 to 3 mpg increase in spring and it goes down for winter (. Have 115,000 miles and commute about 55 miles daily. I wish more people drove this class of cars (Civics, focuses, Corollas). Had a $900 problem with the suspension at 100 K, but everything else is good. Running 5w-20 synthetic and have tires at 32 psi. Thinking about going to 34 psi as my Yokohama Touring AVID tires has a max of 35 psi recommended. Don't want to increase mpg and eat up tire life. These tires give me the same mpg as my Goodyear Integrity tires. Hope to get another few to several years out of this car- before I give it to someone in my family.
"Driving 90% highway very gently I get between 38 mpg in winter and up to 48.5 mpg in spring driving (cruise set to 56 mph, no A/C needed gentle acceleration). Big 2 to 3 mpg increase in spring and it goes down for winter (. Have 115,000 miles and commute about 55 miles daily. I wish more people drove this class of cars (Civics, focuses, Corollas). Had a $900 problem with the suspension at 100 K, but everything else is good. Running 5w-20 synthetic and have tires at 32 psi. Thinking about going to 34 psi as my Yokohama Touring AVID tires has a max of 35 psi recommended. Don't want to increase mpg and eat up tire life. These tires give me the same mpg as my Goodyear Integrity tires. Hope to get another few to several years out of this car- before I give it to someone in my family. "
"This class of car" is a minority position of the passenger vehicle fleet @ less than 25%. However it may rise as a result of record prices for Rug to PUG. The official statistics will take 1-2 years to hit publication. I would not hesitate to do what you are thinking. I run 35 psi, the high speed psi recommendation in the owners manual. On another car I run 38 psi and the tire is approaching 107,000 miles and the tread wear is dead even across the width. All the best.
i envy you guys getting over 40mpg. my 07ex manual will usually give me 38-40 on my 27 (one way) mile commute. i use e85 almost exclusively and rarely go over 55-60mph. in the winter, though, 30-35 is the normal mpg. civics don't like the cold weather!
Hmmm, you use E85? Ummm, the last time I checked, the 8th Generation Civic DX, LX, EX were NOT Flex-Fuel/E85 compatible. If you continue using it, be prepared for some expensive fuel system repairs.
I'm impressed the durn thing starts and runs decent, particularly in the cold. One of the key changes to E85 flex-vehicles is in the fuel management programming.
I looking to purchase a 08 or early 09 EX coupe and Si for my son. Just a thought, in the winter if I'm not mistaken all fuel station use reformulated fuel for the winter vs. the warmer months. This might be the reason for the difference. Check in to it. Also depending on your city ozone status, the fuel could be formulated differently as well. Check in to it. Needles to say I'm looking to by two within the year. Thank's for you comments vs. the others.....
i'll reiterate what others have said: NEVER use e85 in your Honda. It's *not* a FlexFuel vehicle! Our cars have hoses which will slowly (but very surely) be eaten away by the high concentration of ethanol in e85. Switch back to regular unleaded as soon as you can.
That said, you can use Regular gasoline with up to 10% ethanol (which is what most regular gasoline is now anyways).
By switching away from e85 and back to regular gasoline you should get an mpg boost (particularly in the winter) as your car gets used to the regular fuel again.
Yes, I appreciate that you might not appreciate the E85 comments on the Civic application. Whatever you decide, just remember that we appreciate it is YOUR nickel, and if you keep burning E85 probably sooner than necessary, many more nickels. We are just in the camp of why spent and speed up spending repair nickels when you do not have to, bias. I will be quiet now.
My first four tanks on 08 EX Sedan automatic: 38, 37.8, 38.2, 40.9. Last tank went 487 miles on 11.9 gallons. 75% highway keeping the mph below 70. Great car.
My first three mpg tests on my 2008 Honda Civic EX auto-
#1 26 mpg - 3 gallons to full #2 25 mpg - 4 gallons to full #3 24 mpg - 7 gallons to full
Mostly all city driving with a jump on the highway for a few miles each day. Of course my car only has 350 miles on it.
I must admit my 2000 Honda Civic LE auto gets slightly better mileage at 27 mpg consistently on the same route-back and forth to work and grocery store.
Will be anxiously awaiting a road trip to see the better numbers. :shades:
I'm still averaging 35-36MPG on my fillups for my 5pd stick. But I got about 37.5 MPG the last tank and I drove it harder than usual too. Is my mileage suffering a tad if I grandma it?
2008 Honda Civic EX 5spdAT Went on 600 mile trip over Memorial Day--Kept precise mileage and gas purchase figures. Got gas just before road trip and filled up when we got home. MPG was 39.12 miles per gallon for the trip. Used cruise set at 69 MPH on freeways and went the speed limit on any side roads. My son has a 2007 Civic LX 5spdAT and he gets the same figures as I do. I know that we both drive without jack rabbit starts and let up on the gas well before stop signs and red lights. I also use the cruise a good bit on side streets. I accelerate gently from dead stops. These driving habits are easy and result in what I consider pretty decent MPG figures.
My 2001 EX 5speed has been averaging 36.5 over the last 2 months here in Iowa. Last tank (usually fill up with 11-12 gal) came in at 38.4 mpg. Highest I've seen so far is 39.4mpg, last month. 106,000 miles on the clock.
I drive mixed highway and city (70%/30%) and avg 74mph on the highway. I'm not what you'd call a gentle shifter, usually hitting 4000-4500 at shift points below 4th.
Used to be lucky to get 35.5 mpg max during the hottest week in the summer until I changed tires. Had Michelin X Radials installed last Nov and immediately gained 10% in MPG. Had used Firestone Infinity in the winter and Kumho Ecxtas in the summer for the last 3 years.
I have a '07 Civic EX Coupe A/T with over 8K on the clock, and I have consistently gotten 32-33 mpg. I do 90% of suburban driving mainly. I live out in the country so I'm always in that 40-60 mph range. I did do a 200 mile round trip one time with the cruise set at 70 mph and no a/c and only managed 34 mpg. I always check my air pressure in the tires (32 p.s.i.), but have not been able to do any better. I've been reading a lot of these posts and I am shocked to see people getting 36-40 on the highway.
The question is your speed and terrain. I have an '07 Civic EX AT sedan with 5,500 miles. I driving about 250 miles a week with 80% on the Interstate. The other 20% is city driving. Right now we average between 35-37 mpg. My sister has a '07 Civic EX AT and her best mileage is highway at 40 mpg.
In my experience cruise control is only good when the terrain is flat. I can do a much better job in dealing with hills controlling the gas myself. In most cases I can avoid the downshift and stay in OD. Cruise control can't anticipate hills or back off the gas to avoid a downshift. That's why I noted that your terrain might have an effect when using cruise control. Lots of downshifting out of OD will be detrimental to your mileage. I also try when starting to keep the shift points of the AT to 3000 rpm or below. This is the sweet spot for maximum mpg when starting up.
I just got a new 2008 LX Automatic and my first (not full tank) fill up I got 36.6 mpg. I only added 5.39 gallons so my next fill up I drove about 85% highway with the A/C on and through mountainous highways (I live in the endless mountain range area) and about 15% city. I got 36.3 mpg. I am very happy with that as my terrain is not very flat!
I live NW Ohio where it is flat terrain, and like I stated I drive mainly between 40-60 mph. I've noticed that when I run into people at stores, gas stations etc. that have Civics, and I ask them what they are getting for mileage and 90% of them don't even know how to figure fuel mileage. They will tell you "I fill up once every two weeks so I get around 40 mpg".
Exactly! I asked a Civic owner (daughters boyfriend) this question a couple of weeks ago and got this same answer. I guess if you don't drive much, and don't care, it isn't an issue; I've always been the curious sort, and track mileage on all of my cars.
#1622(Karen S)-2006 Civic EX auto,Chicago to Lafayette IN:With much effort,top spd 60 with cruise obtained 41.5 mpg each way.Suggest improve your mpg with slight speed reduction-imagine55mph even better! Try it out sometime.
Yes, it is well known that fuel economy improves with speed reduction but it becomes unsafe to drive on ANY turnpike or interstate in the country at much less (10 mph or more) than the posted speed limits e.g 55 mph on roads posted at 65-75 mph. Traffic is rolling faster than the limit in most cases and for someone to try to drive 55 mph or 60 even in the slow lane can be inviting an accident. While improving fuel economy is great it isn't worth risking my life to gain a few mpg. I now try to drive at the posted limit here in Pa where the max is 65 mph..used to drive at 70-72 mph. I get passed a lot but traffic seems to have slowed a bit..except for single occupant (the driver) large SUV's and pickups who still roll merrily along @75-80 and up. Oh, and Prius drivers who mostly roll at the same speeds BUT are probably getting 40 mpg doing it...
I am one of those guilty as charged slow drivers(trying to conserve for mpg's)...I am driving at 58-59 mph in a 65. I think you have a valid point about the dangers of driving slow. I am going to drive at the speed limit of 65 and then at 55 I will do 58! I am however in STRONG favor of reducing our interstate speeds to 55mph to conserve fuel untill we get a handle on this energy fiasco.
Oh geez, Richard M. Nixon's double nickle all over again. Been there, done that, got the tee-shirt. No thank you.
FWIW, I believe that the high fuel prices we're experiencing are a self correcting problem and has less to do with the speeds that folks drive, and more to do with what they're driving. Keep the fuel prices high and a six-thousand pound SUV will cease to be Très Chic, if for no other reason than the social backlash.
Also, the current high cost of fuel is encouraging accelerated development in alternative fuel technologies, and that ain't a bad thing, errr, IMHO.
So, to sum it all up, keep the fuel costs high, and let folks drive what they want and as fast as they want to drive it.
'08 EX Auto. 354.8 miles Tripmeter (358 Odometer). 10.659 Gal @$3.849. 33.29 MPG if dealer actually filled the tank at time of delivery. About 60/40 Highway/City. Driven at the speedlimit, some with sunroof open, even some with windows down. Looking forward to 40 MPG after break in period.
As a general comment, to me, proper break-in (less than 5,000 to 10,000 miles) has the higher priority.
One increases the probability of less than optimum performance (over the life of the vehicle) if the vehicle is not properly broken in. Of course if the car is leased or you do not plan to keep it long, it doesn't matter much or is at worst, someone else's problem.
Comments
I think this MIGHT have been true when the majority of cars used carburetors.
(whole technical explanation here: short version, EFI now have MAF's... SO the emphasis is (but has ALWAYS been) on CLEAN AIR)
On Honda Civic specifically:, oem recommendation is @ 30,000 miles. I did it @ 60,000 miles. I will do it again at the next 60,000 miles interval @ 120,000 miles by the speedometer. :shades:
You will NOT see this written in the technical data (shop manual)....BUT...
When you do the R/R, DO NOT undo the air box to "CHECK" the condition of the air filter UNTIL the NEXT change!! . When you do that, you so called unseat the seal/s and increase the chances that the area/s around the seals will leak dusty "dirty" air to the clean side. The only valid "check" is the ppm silicon reading (aka dirt/sand) on a UOA and you can not "SEE" that. Also MOST folks do not do UOA's. A clean air filter is DESIGNED to get dirty.!!!???? So what is surprising about seeing an air filter dirty?...its just doing its job, boss!!!
To make a long story short, on our daily commute BEFORE air filter change; 38-42 mpg, AFTER air filter change:38-42 mpg.
(Using the 15% improvement metric, it shoul have been between 43.7 to 48.3 mpg...NOT! )
Counter intuitively because of the MAF (emphasis on CLEAN air) a filter that is slightly to moderately "used" actually filters BETTER than when new. When new, it actually lets in more harmful particles than when "used"
While many folks and even some filter manufacturers would like you to believe that a cleaner or less restrictive filter will improve fuel economy, that simply isn't the case. Why? Simple, all fuel injected engines weigh the intake air (or more specifically they measure the density of the intake air), and adjust the fuel injection system to meter out exactly the precise amount of gasoline required for the current power requirements, no more, no less. If your filter is dirty and restrictive, and limiting the amount of intake air, the fuel injection system simply cuts back on the fuel injected. The net result isn't that your engine runs richer; it's that your engine will be able to develop less power at wide open throttle.
Looked at another way, lets say that at half throttle with a clean filter your engine is able to ingest say 200 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air. Assuming that's the case, and assuming that your engine runs slightly richer that stoichiometric, the engine computer will meter out just enough gasoline to create an intake charge with ~14.5 parts of air (by weight) to 1 part of fuel (also by weight). Let's now say that you've driven that engine say 100,000 miles without changing the airfilter, and now at half throttle, the atmosphere is only able to shove in 100 cubic feet of air per minute. Under this scenario, you might need to apply three quarters throttle (or more) to allow your engine the full 200 CFM of air you need for any given amount of acceleration.
The important thing here is that regardless of the throttle setting, your engine computer is simply looking at the weight of the air in the intake plenum and is simply metering out the proper amount of fuel for the air present. Long story short, regardless of whether you're using half throttle or wide open throttle to get any given amount of air into your engine, the fuel injection system will meter out the proper amount of fuel, and your fuel economy won't change one bit.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Well that seals the deal. I will stick with what the manual says. Thanks!
The car hasn't had it's first oil change. Plus we have had winter fuel. I swapped out the winter tires Nokian WRG2's for the all season Michelins that come with the car, the mileage dropped to 29 mpg on the highway. Once the stock tires are burned up I'll probably run the Nokian all seasons year round they feel really good in all conditions and have 50k mile warranty.
Better economy. So far the fuel economy is on par with the new EPA figures and I drive about 75-80 mph on the highway.
I live in oil country (Louisiana) and even our prices are in the 3.60's. I almost want to feel sorry for all those people driving new trucks and SUVs, but they knew this was coming.
Be that as it may, I consider the Honda LX with 5 spd manual, one of the quintessential economy cars. (gasser)
1st fill-up: 35.68mpg (was on gas from the dealership)
2nd fill-up: 36.85mpg (premium)
3rd fill-up: 38.58mpg (premium)
Not bad for a car that's supposed to do 34 highway according to the EPA.
My daily commute is about 35 miles each way, probably 80% highway. I generally do 75+% highway. I have been using the Civic's cruise control as much as I can when at speed (*I* get it to speed with a light foot), not on hill climbs, and only when there's relatively light traffic.
I have found that I needed to "learn" how to drive for best fuel economy. I recently had an Acura TSX loaner for a day, and it had a trip computer with "Instant Fuel Economy" and "Average MPG". I found that if I was light on the pedal, sticking to the speed limits, feathering it on the highway and not being in a rush to get it up to speed around town or when merging onto the highway, the average fuel economy for the TSX read 34-35mpg. I was SHOCKED! Since the Civic doesn't have a trip computer (booooo!!! :frown:), I have purchased a ScanGaugeII, which--hopefully--will continue to "train" me how to drive for best fuel economy. (The ScanGauge should give me the same information as the TSX's trip computer.)
I expected the Civic to get 34-37mpg (I owned a '95 Integra prior to this, and it got 30-32mpg despite my slightly less fuel conscious driving habits and highway EPA estimates of 28-29mpg). I was happily surprised to see 38+mpg on my last fill-up with the Civic. But please note that part of this is due to my "re-training" and rethinking how I drive, the fact that I do a lot of highway, warmer weather (springtime), and *maybe* my use of good premium gas (which many people say is a waste of money...well, my last car had 255,000 miles on it with premium gas, regular maintenance at the dealership, and DuraLube, so I know where I stand :-) ).
Oh...The BIG digital speedometer that EVERYONE around me can see does help keep me honest about driving more sanely. :-) Hey, if that saves me a few bucks at the pump or lets me go a few more miles before tanking up, I'm all for it!
...kl...
But to each his own...but you should really do a test to see if what your routine is really has the validity that you claim.
The Sandman
Regarding Duralube, saying that you believe in it because your last car went 255,000 miles with it is kind of like saying because my Grandfather took a single shot of Jack Daniels every day (even during prohibition, -he bought many cases before that silly law ever took affect-) and lived to something over 110 (nobody was ever able to prove when he was born), that that's was made him live so long. Sorry, not buying.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Good to see since I haven't driven it in a year and the mpg hasn't changed.
Great car. The Drive by wire is lame though.
I like Duralube but not for my engine. I use it instead of WD40 which is just fish oil.
They sell it in a spray can and it really works miles better than WD40. I'd never put it in my engine as an additive but on hinges or squeaky rusty things it's fantastic! :shades:
Best Regards,
Shipo
Civic 06 ex auto
My last three fill ups:
47.7mpg
41.4mpg
49.5mpg
All are with AC (I live in AZ).
The 49.5 is a real fluke probably but I've seen many in the 45s.
My historical number has improved significantly in the past year when I "slowed down" but the car is still getting better! Last six months I've averaged 43/44mpg in all driving.
Anyone else out there doing this well or have I found a real jewel? I'm taking it into service next week to see what the techs think....I just had the plugs replaced and I swear it's made a huge different.
You might want to tell Honda the same thing. Your mileage is excellent.
Kip
"This class of car" is a minority position of the passenger vehicle fleet @ less than 25%. However it may rise as a result of record prices for Rug to PUG. The official statistics will take 1-2 years to hit publication. I would not hesitate to do what you are thinking. I run 35 psi, the high speed psi recommendation in the owners manual. On another car I run 38 psi and the tire is approaching 107,000 miles and the tread wear is dead even across the width. All the best.
Best Regards,
Shipo
That said, you can use Regular gasoline with up to 10% ethanol (which is what most regular gasoline is now anyways).
By switching away from e85 and back to regular gasoline you should get an mpg boost (particularly in the winter) as your car gets used to the regular fuel again.
#1 26 mpg - 3 gallons to full
#2 25 mpg - 4 gallons to full
#3 24 mpg - 7 gallons to full
Mostly all city driving with a jump on the highway for a few miles each day. Of course my car only has 350 miles on it.
I must admit my 2000 Honda Civic LE auto gets slightly better mileage at 27 mpg consistently on the same route-back and forth to work and grocery store.
Will be anxiously awaiting a road trip to see the better numbers. :shades:
I drive mixed highway and city (70%/30%) and avg 74mph on the highway. I'm not what you'd call a gentle shifter, usually hitting 4000-4500 at shift points below 4th.
Used to be lucky to get 35.5 mpg max during the hottest week in the summer until I changed tires. Had Michelin X Radials installed last Nov and immediately gained 10% in MPG. Had used Firestone Infinity in the winter and Kumho Ecxtas in the summer for the last 3 years.
In my experience cruise control is only good when the terrain is flat. I can do a much better job in dealing with hills controlling the gas myself. In most cases I can avoid the downshift and stay in OD. Cruise control can't anticipate hills or back off the gas to avoid a downshift. That's why I noted that your terrain might have an effect when using cruise control. Lots of downshifting out of OD will be detrimental to your mileage. I also try when starting to keep the shift points of the AT to 3000 rpm or below. This is the sweet spot for maximum mpg when starting up.
I only added 5.39 gallons so my next fill up I drove about 85% highway with the A/C on and through mountainous highways (I live in the endless mountain range area) and about 15% city. I got 36.3 mpg. I am very happy with that as my terrain is not very flat!
Try it out sometime.
FWIW, I believe that the high fuel prices we're experiencing are a self correcting problem and has less to do with the speeds that folks drive, and more to do with what they're driving. Keep the fuel prices high and a six-thousand pound SUV will cease to be Très Chic, if for no other reason than the social backlash.
Also, the current high cost of fuel is encouraging accelerated development in alternative fuel technologies, and that ain't a bad thing, errr, IMHO.
So, to sum it all up, keep the fuel costs high, and let folks drive what they want and as fast as they want to drive it.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Drilling the oil at our back doors, that maybe they will sell to us at inflated prices. :sick:
Kip
link title
Filled up for the first time last night.
374.6 @ 10.2 gallons = 36.7 mpg (not bad at all).
Alot of the driving was the trip back on 95 driving between 65-75 mph
interested to see what I get locally.
Usual 25 mile commutes sometimes @ 75 MPH and other times bumper to bumper traffic.32mph so far with these driving conditions seems fine to me.
CIVIC EX automatic gas using regular.
One increases the probability of less than optimum performance (over the life of the vehicle) if the vehicle is not properly broken in. Of course if the car is leased or you do not plan to keep it long, it doesn't matter much or is at worst, someone else's problem.