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Comments
To stay on topic, since the topic is mpg,
1. I would keep to changing the oil close to what the OLM or the oem recommended OCI's.
2. After the first OCI (10,000 miles), I switched to (synthetic ) Mobil One 0w20, 5w20. The gain in mpg was immediate.
3. While I would NOT recommend violating your warranty, I started to run 20,000 miles OCI's, after the very meager 3 years/36,000 miles warranty period. .
4. Another is to accelerate briskly - to slightly aggressively (75% to 85% of redline) to your optimum speed/s. We do that by feeling, as we do not have a tachometer. If you have one, all the more easier.
4b. All these low speed recommendations are really for stuff like tires, brake rotors, pads, suspension ,steering bearings , etc to groove into each other. Tires really take 200-500 miles to groove in correctly.
5. I would put the high speed PSI recommendation ( in my case 35 psi), in the tires.
6. The best is to run your vehicle at least one hour continuously.
I perceive there are a lot of folks that try very hard to get good mpg and wind up actually putting a lot more wear stress on the machine than they should. They also get much lower mpg!? I have 67,000 miles, and in a 27 mile one way commute we get 38-42 mpg. We really do not make an fuel savings efforts. Looking at a pretty big population survey we understand that app 95-98% of Civic owners do NOT get this mileage. (msg #1416) Interstate travel @ 75-80 mph yields app 40-42 mpg. . All the best!
At this time it looks like my mileage has topped out:
1st fill-up: 35.68mpg
2nd fill-up: 36.85mpg
3rd fill-up: 38.58mpg
4th fill-up: 38.70mpg
5th fill-up: 39.71mpg
6th fill-up: 41.96mpg
7th fill-up: 40.8mpg
I would say 40+ is not bad. However I was able to get 44mpg on a highway run years ago---out of my 1981 Datsun 310GX
...kl...
Best Regards,
Shipo
Best Regards,
Shipo
You can get the same effects @ lower speeds by using one less gear than what you have been using. Another state trooper might not be as understanding or see the logic in your break in speeds.
While what you did was logical to me, it probably needs to be said the first 500 miles needs to be down at between 40-55 mph to let the tires groove in correctly. I can fast forward to 66,000 miles and the oem tires look to need replacing at 70-80k. This does NOT mean you can not rev the engine as it should be revved firmly to slightly aggressively (75% of redline to redline). You just need to use 1 to 2 or even three less gears. So for example you can be doing pretty close to 75% of red line but still be going under 55 mph.
The next thing one wants to do correctly is to bed in the brake pads and rotors. This is really important for the longer term. Unless one is a brake rider, (some folks are either advertently or inadvertently) there is really no reason why folks should not be able to get 100k miles out of the rears. Finally, steering, handling and braking input should be gentle up to app 5,000 miles. After than you are cleared for take off! :shades: I realize most pros look at 1k as the normal length of break in period.
We were loaded down and using the ac,cruise control through the mountains. Our speed averaged 60-75.
41.8 mpg!!!
The result was 31.5 mpg.
All of this driving was 90% city, 10% freeway.
First tank was 36.3, then 36.7, then 38.4, then 37.89, then 31mpg...HOWEVER I WAS TOWING A 500 pound ATV when I got 31mpg!!!! I was going between 58-65mph.I live in PA in the endless mountain range. I would say 90% highway and 10% city
Other techniques seem appropriate for hybrid users only.
Are there sources of information on milder hypermiling techniques, things that folks like me, with a Civic sedan with automatic transmission, can practice?
Personally, my new used 2007 Civic LX has beaten my expectation with 32 mpg in 90% city driving. I've also learned that I don't have to drive inside a freezer--driving without the AC on in the morning is perfectly fine. I'm beginning to prefer not having the AC on all of the time. And I'm finding lots of road time when I don't have someone behind me so that I can accelerate slowly and coast until a red light turns green. Easy stuff. It's also enjoyable, being frugal.
I baby the civic and the AC was off for 75% of the time...mph varied between 58-64 and it was for only 39 mile stretches at a time...not one big highway trip
FWIW, I got my license just before Tricky Dick lowered the speed limit to 55 back in the 1970s, and then shortly after that I drove from Detroit to San Diego, and I've gotta tell ya, 55 is painful for long haul driving. That said, even before the 55 mph mandate was aboloished by Ronnie in the 1980s, speeds were inching their way up to the point where most traffic was moving at at least 70.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I maintained a speed of about 80 to 85 MPH the entire way, a 136-mile journey. I used no heat or A/C, no fan at all. Just windows down and radio going, and I left on a full tank. When I reached Bangor, I filled my car back up--with only 2.183 gallons. If you calculate that out, 136/2.183 is 62.3 MPG. SIXTY-TWO MILES PER GALLON. I was and still remain completely astonished. I'm in love with this car. It's a blessing.
The only way to calculate your mileage with any accuracy is if you do it over a period of tanks, and by that I mean at least four of five.
Best Regards,
Shipo
P.S.
I'm not saying that your car isn't getting good mileage, I'm just saying that I find it highly unlikely that you're getting even as much as 40 mpg at "80 to 85 MPH".
Makes me wonder what would happen if Honda simply added a mild hybrid to the Civic.
Any thoughts? Is the Hybrid worth the premium?
I tend to agree with your thoughts. And with sebring95.
Keeping in mind, there are those that are able and willing to go "Green" at any cost. I admire them. I can't. So looking strictly at the $$$:
According to the reported real world mileage on, http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ , the Civic hybrids are besting the standard Civics by about 35%. Civic averages for the AT are 31-32 mpg, while the hybrids are 42-44 mpg averages. Some folks are bettering those averages by quite a bit, and some are not. So "averages" are what we must consider.
Using 43 mpg and 32 mpg respectively for the comparisons, for a 15K mile annual driver, with gas at $4, the Hybred would consume $1395 in fuel, while the non Hybred would consume $1875, . Therefore the Hybred would be about $500 less expensive to drive, considering fuel only. At $5 per gallon, the Hybred would burn $1745 in fuel and the non Hybred would cost $2343. About a $600 dollar savings in favor of the Hybred. Over a 5 year period the Hybred would save $2500-$3000 in fuel cost, depending on the per gallon cost of fuel.
If the Hybred "Premium" is in the $3K range, it would take the average driver (12K-15K miles yearly) at $5 fuel, 5-6 1/2 years and 75K miles for the break even point. Then it may be time for battery replacement. I have heard , but not verified, the replacement would be $2K to $4K. (seems high) If that is the case, the Hybred driver is back in the hole again.
Considerations:
How much is the premium for the Hybred in a comparably equipped car.
How much more or less is the cost for an extended warranty? Is it more for the Hybred because of the extra hardware involved with the batteries, electric motor, and so forth.
How long do the batteries last, what type of warranty do they carry, and what is the replacement cost?
Consider that we want to sell or trade a 5 year old Hybred with 75K miles on the clock. Are the batteries getting close to the replacement stage? How will that affect the trade-in or resale value?
Still considering 5 years away, will those Hybrids have "Home" plug in capabilities and "Super" batteries that would render the car we bought today somewhat obsolete?
Before purchasing a Hybred I would research the above.
Kip
(If Civic had a turbo diesel model I would have bought the turbo diesel model)
The Civic Hybrid while 5,000 cheaper than the Prius, was 7,436 more expensive than the Civic. 12,436/7436 EVEN at today's RUG prices (4.39 corner store) buys 2833/1694 gals of fuel. The Civic gets 38-42 mpg in daily commute, and even at the minimum that gets 107,654/ 64,366 commute miles. So while I would recommend doing full spread sheets to include ALL those vehicles under consideration, you see the results of a quick and dirty result on just the acquisition costs difference. Right now a very unexpected spin off is the vehicle with 70,000 miles can be sold for app the same price it was bought new.
Indeed a look back snapshot puts it @ 3.98% per year (15.89% total/4 years)
45mph on the highway here would get you killed. In most cars, I don't see a major economy hit until crossing beyond 70mph. My TDI was more like 90mph before mpg dropped enough to really measure. My '07 Civic seemed to do fine as long as it was kept below 75.
so far: 1st tank=31 mpg
2nd tank=35 mpg