Honda Car Forum

I'm interested in getting the best mileage possible from my '04 Civic.
I'm only really into my third tank of gas since buying the car. The car
has not yet delivered 29 MPG. It's only reached about 24 MPG so far.

I seem to recall advice from the 70s during the "energy crisis" that
shifting to neutral at a red light helps conserve gasoline. Is there
any truth to this? I also recall that it's wise to shut the car off if
you're going to be idle for more than a minute. Personally, I can't see
myself shutting the car off at every light -- I don't. But I do turn it
off at RR crossings when the trains come.

I'm just interested in maximizing my gas mileage.

GK

Hi,
If you really want to maximize gas mileage, install a dash vacuum gauge.
Keep the vacuum level as high as you can at all times. It'll also help
you learn shifting patterns.
Tony

gbsmith wrote:
> I'm interested in getting the best mileage possible from my '04 Civic.
> I'm only really into my third tank of gas since buying the car. The car
> has not yet delivered 29 MPG. It's only reached about 24 MPG so far.
>
> I seem to recall advice from the 70s during the "energy crisis" that
> shifting to neutral at a red light helps conserve gasoline. Is there
> any truth to this? I also recall that it's wise to shut the car off if
> you're going to be idle for more than a minute. Personally, I can't see
> myself shutting the car off at every light -- I don't. But I do turn it
> off at RR crossings when the trains come.
>
> I'm just interested in maximizing my gas mileage.
>
> GK
>

> I seem to recall advice from the 70s during the "energy crisis" that
> shifting to neutral at a red light helps conserve gasoline. Is there
> any truth to this?

Assuming you have an automatic, yes. When you are standing still with
the car in drive the engine is working against the torque converter,
basically wasting energy heating up the oil. That said, newer Hondas
have torque converters that are very "loose" (even on small inclines
with the car in drive you will roll back unless you step on the brakes).
This means that the fuel you waste by not shifting to neutral is very
limited compared to cars in the 70's.

Fuel economy is why Honda makes the torque converters that loose. During
normal driving a mechanical lock-up clutch bypasses the torque
converter, so you don't loose power in a loose torque converter.

Phillip Weston wrote:

> On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 22:40:55 GMT, Tony Hwang <dragon40@shaw.ca>
> scribbled:
>
>
>>Hi,
>>If you really want to maximize gas mileage, install a dash vacuum gauge.
>>Keep the vacuum level as high as you can at all times. It'll also help
>>you learn shifting patterns.
>
>
> I think he has an automatic transmission.
>
>
> --
> Phillip Weston
> Taumarunui, New Zealand
>
> Remove the obvious spamblock to reply via e-mail.

Hi,
Same rule applies.
Tony

On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 22:40:55 GMT, Tony Hwang <dragon40@shaw.ca>
scribbled:

>Hi,
>If you really want to maximize gas mileage, install a dash vacuum gauge.
>Keep the vacuum level as high as you can at all times. It'll also help
>you learn shifting patterns.

I think he has an automatic transmission.


--
Phillip Weston
Taumarunui, New Zealand

Remove the obvious spamblock to reply via e-mail.

There is a difference, you just can't measure it. bob

gbsmith wrote:

> Is there any truth to this?

Chevy Malibus from the 1980's had a "Mileage Meter" on the dash that was
just a vacuum gauge.

"Phillip Weston" <phillip.weston@quicksilver.net.nz> wrote in message
news:l93orvobbee2agp2t0gm3o56h6ombs8smu@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 22:40:55 GMT, Tony Hwang <dragon40@shaw.ca>
> scribbled:
>
> >Hi,
> >If you really want to maximize gas mileage, install a dash vacuum gauge.
> >Keep the vacuum level as high as you can at all times. It'll also help
> >you learn shifting patterns.
>
> I think he has an automatic transmission.
>
>
> --
> Phillip Weston
> Taumarunui, New Zealand
>
> Remove the obvious spamblock to reply via e-mail.

gbsmith wrote:
>
> I seem to recall advice from the 70s during the "energy crisis" that
> shifting to neutral at a red light helps conserve gasoline. Is there
> any truth to this? I also recall that it's wise to shut the car off if
> you're going to be idle for more than a minute. Personally, I can't see
> myself shutting the car off at every light -- I don't. But I do turn it
> off at RR crossings when the trains come.
>

A new car (or an old one with a new engine) should not be allowed to idle
excessively. I don't have a precise definition of what excessive actually
is, but I wouldn't let it sit at idle for more than about 5 minutes.

Eric

I never sit longer than 2 minutes at a light. If at a RR crossing, I
shut the engine off.

I'm still concerned because the car, an '04 Civic, still only gets 22.5
MPG. Granted it only has 640 miles on it, but I'd like better
performance than that. I'm so light on the gas. I know I don't have a
heavy foot when driving.

Eric wrote:
> gbsmith wrote:
>
>>I seem to recall advice from the 70s during the "energy crisis" that
>>shifting to neutral at a red light helps conserve gasoline. Is there
>>any truth to this? I also recall that it's wise to shut the car off if
>>you're going to be idle for more than a minute. Personally, I can't see
>>myself shutting the car off at every light -- I don't. But I do turn it
>>off at RR crossings when the trains come.
>>
>
>
> A new car (or an old one with a new engine) should not be allowed to idle
> excessively. I don't have a precise definition of what excessive actually
> is, but I wouldn't let it sit at idle for more than about 5 minutes.
>
> Eric

640 miles isn't even close to being broken in. The rings need to seat yet.
Just keep driving it gently, don't idle for more than a few minutes, and
don't hold the engine at one speed for an extended time (i.e. highway
driving).

"gbsmith" <gbsmith@kazaa.com> wrote in message
news:ss4wb.5015$aw2.1512041@newssrv26.news.prodigy .com...
> I never sit longer than 2 minutes at a light. If at a RR crossing, I
> shut the engine off.
>
> I'm still concerned because the car, an '04 Civic, still only gets 22.5
> MPG. Granted it only has 640 miles on it, but I'd like better
> performance than that. I'm so light on the gas. I know I don't have a
> heavy foot when driving.
>
> Eric wrote:
> > gbsmith wrote:
> >
> >>I seem to recall advice from the 70s during the "energy crisis" that
> >>shifting to neutral at a red light helps conserve gasoline. Is there
> >>any truth to this? I also recall that it's wise to shut the car off if
> >>you're going to be idle for more than a minute. Personally, I can't see
> >>myself shutting the car off at every light -- I don't. But I do turn it
> >>off at RR crossings when the trains come.
> >>
> >
> >
> > A new car (or an old one with a new engine) should not be allowed to
idle
> > excessively. I don't have a precise definition of what excessive
actually
> > is, but I wouldn't let it sit at idle for more than about 5 minutes.
> >
> > Eric
>