Honda Car Forum

Have a 2000 Civic, 1.6 5-spd. Been trying to get this thing to
achieve better fuel economy by all pratical methods - starting from
the simplistic and cheapest to implement first.

Taking out all the unecessary weight in the car. New tires inflated
to 40psi, alignment, no additional plastic wings, or add-ons for
increase air drag. Driving with shifting at low rpms, and staying
under 90mph on the interstates.

What engine/trans modifications are possible with this motor/trans
combo that will net a superior MPG figure? The car has 135,000 miles
on it. It used to get 40mpg, and now achieves about 32-34mpg.

Total engine rebuild/install is a last resort alternative; unless you
want to pay the dealer for that.

How about things such as disconnecting the wiring from 1 injector;
making the engine run on 3 cylinders? More fuel economy, or making
the situation worse?

Change the computer chip for another more economy-style one?

Goal: try to get this 135K 4 year old car to get around 45mpg.

I might have to go to a VW diesel to have those figures. 45-55mpg.

When is the last time your PCV valve was replaced.

I replaced my 91 Civic's PCV valve for the first time last year (140k miles) and
saw fuel mileage increase about 15-20%.

No more than around $20 for the part, then add 1/2 hour of labor.

"PTS-EXPRESS" <pts-express@excite.com> wrote
> Have a 2000 Civic, 1.6 5-spd. Been trying to get this thing to
> achieve better fuel economy by all pratical methods - starting from
> the simplistic and cheapest to implement first.
>
> Taking out all the unecessary weight in the car. New tires inflated
> to 40psi, alignment, no additional plastic wings, or add-ons for
> increase air drag. Driving with shifting at low rpms, and staying
> under 90mph on the interstates.
>
> What engine/trans modifications are possible with this motor/trans
> combo that will net a superior MPG figure? The car has 135,000 miles
> on it. It used to get 40mpg, and now achieves about 32-34mpg.
>
> Total engine rebuild/install is a last resort alternative; unless you
> want to pay the dealer for that.
>
> How about things such as disconnecting the wiring from 1 injector;
> making the engine run on 3 cylinders? More fuel economy, or making
> the situation worse?
>
> Change the computer chip for another more economy-style one?
>
> Goal: try to get this 135K 4 year old car to get around 45mpg.
>
> I might have to go to a VW diesel to have those figures. 45-55mpg.

On 26 Feb 2004 06:28:15 -0800, pts-express@excite.com (PTS-EXPRESS) wrote:

|Have a 2000 Civic, 1.6 5-spd. Been trying to get this thing to
|achieve better fuel economy by all pratical methods - starting from
|the simplistic and cheapest to implement first.
|
|Taking out all the unecessary weight in the car. New tires inflated
|to 40psi,

Some tires have less rolling resistance than others. Narrower is better, high
tread-wear rating means lower friction.

| alignment,

Specify zero toe

no additional plastic wings, or add-ons for
|increase air drag.

Front air dam, and or lowered front suspension

| Driving with shifting at low rpms, and staying
|under 90mph on the interstates.

Momentum, timing the lights and traffic. Don't give up any momentum
unneccessarily. brake sparingly

|What engine/trans modifications are possible with this motor/trans
|combo that will net a superior MPG figure? The car has 135,000 miles
|on it. It used to get 40mpg, and now achieves about 32-34mpg.

Get it checked by a shop that specializes in Hondas. Something is wrong

|Total engine rebuild/install is a last resort alternative; unless you
|want to pay the dealer for that.
|
|How about things such as disconnecting the wiring from 1 injector;
|making the engine run on 3 cylinders? More fuel economy, or making
|the situation worse?

Worse, the dead cylinder is a drag

|Change the computer chip for another more economy-style one?

Good luck finding one

|Goal: try to get this 135K 4 year old car to get around 45mpg.

If it started at 40, another 5 should be doable



Rex in Fort Worth

PTS-EXPRESS <pts-express@excite.com> wrote:
> Have a 2000 Civic, 1.6 5-spd. Been trying to get this thing to
> achieve better fuel economy by all pratical methods - starting from
> the simplistic and cheapest to implement first.

> Taking out all the unecessary weight in the car. New tires inflated
> to 40psi, alignment, no additional plastic wings, or add-ons for

The Honda Civic Hybrid has tires inflated to 30PSI, but they are special
low rolling resistance tires.

> increase air drag. Driving with shifting at low rpms, and staying
> under 90mph on the interstates.

Excessively low RPM might make the engine work harder.
I'm not sure that low RPMs and 90mph fit in the same sentence... looks like
a troll. Try staying under 60mph.

> How about things such as disconnecting the wiring from 1 injector;
> making the engine run on 3 cylinders? More fuel economy, or making
> the situation worse?

Most attempts to restrict fuel flow impact the power enough that you make
the engine work harder than it used to, and mileage goes down.

> I might have to go to a VW diesel to have those figures. 45-55mpg.

Or a Civic Hybrid. I have an automatic, where the mileage is claimed at
about the same as a manual. In practice, the automatic gets better
mileage than the stick. The VW TDI with automatic is 33mpg.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5

This may sound wierd but am in the import racing scene and we acutally get
better fuel milage with an aftermarked short ram intake. I have noticed
this on my 98 civic and my friends noticed it on his focus and mirage. You
can get one for about $60 at a race shop or check ebay. If you dojn't mind
buying on there they can be had for as little as $20. Don't ever run on a
dead cylinder. Starts a lot of problems. Honestly with the amount of miles
on your car your doin pretty good getting 32-34 a gallon.

Hope this helps.
Ryan

"PTS-EXPRESS" <pts-express@excite.com> wrote in message
news:4faaa48b.0402260628.102f604a@posting.google.c om...
> Have a 2000 Civic, 1.6 5-spd. Been trying to get this thing to
> achieve better fuel economy by all pratical methods - starting from
> the simplistic and cheapest to implement first.
>
> Taking out all the unecessary weight in the car. New tires inflated
> to 40psi, alignment, no additional plastic wings, or add-ons for
> increase air drag. Driving with shifting at low rpms, and staying
> under 90mph on the interstates.
>
> What engine/trans modifications are possible with this motor/trans
> combo that will net a superior MPG figure? The car has 135,000 miles
> on it. It used to get 40mpg, and now achieves about 32-34mpg.
>
> Total engine rebuild/install is a last resort alternative; unless you
> want to pay the dealer for that.
>
> How about things such as disconnecting the wiring from 1 injector;
> making the engine run on 3 cylinders? More fuel economy, or making
> the situation worse?
>
> Change the computer chip for another more economy-style one?
>
> Goal: try to get this 135K 4 year old car to get around 45mpg.
>
> I might have to go to a VW diesel to have those figures. 45-55mpg.

<dold@MOREXfuelX.usenet.us.com> wrote in message > > I might have to go to a
VW diesel to have those figures. 45-55mpg.
>
> Or a Civic Hybrid. I have an automatic, where the mileage is claimed at
> about the same as a manual. In practice, the automatic gets better
> mileage than the stick. The VW TDI with automatic is 33mpg.

The Civic Hybrid automatic is rated at (I think) 47/48 mpg. We've been
getting about 43 stop & go city and 50+ on the highway. With gas way over
$2 here (Los Angeles) and rising, this is a good way to go.

Alex

Best way to improve fuel economy is to slow down. Try sticking to the speed
limit. Next, replace plugs, rotor and cap.

The naturally espired 1995 VX Hatchback is rated at 56mpg on the
highway...

If you got the DX Tranny (standard), the best you'll be able to achieve
is about 40mpg. It's possible to get better then 40mpg if you had the
wind working for you and had the revs at around 1500rpm (approximately
50mph). So, if you ever plan on a long distance trip and you've got the
wind on your back, i'm sure you'll be able to make your target, assuming
you keep the speed down and you've got the lofty dx tranny.

Pars



PTS-EXPRESS wrote:

> Have a 2000 Civic, 1.6 5-spd. Been trying to get this thing to
> achieve better fuel economy by all pratical methods - starting from
> the simplistic and cheapest to implement first.
>
> Taking out all the unecessary weight in the car. New tires inflated
> to 40psi, alignment, no additional plastic wings, or add-ons for
> increase air drag. Driving with shifting at low rpms, and staying
> under 90mph on the interstates.
>
> What engine/trans modifications are possible with this motor/trans
> combo that will net a superior MPG figure? The car has 135,000 miles
> on it. It used to get 40mpg, and now achieves about 32-34mpg.
>
> Total engine rebuild/install is a last resort alternative; unless you
> want to pay the dealer for that.
>
> How about things such as disconnecting the wiring from 1 injector;
> making the engine run on 3 cylinders? More fuel economy, or making
> the situation worse?
>
> Change the computer chip for another more economy-style one?
>
> Goal: try to get this 135K 4 year old car to get around 45mpg.
>
> I might have to go to a VW diesel to have those figures. 45-55mpg.

At 160,000km, I'm getting 32-34 mpg on winter tires and moderate to agressive
driving.

Pars
98 DX Hatch



Ryan wrote:

> This may sound wierd but am in the import racing scene and we acutally get
> better fuel milage with an aftermarked short ram intake. I have noticed
> this on my 98 civic and my friends noticed it on his focus and mirage. You
> can get one for about $60 at a race shop or check ebay. If you dojn't mind
> buying on there they can be had for as little as $20. Don't ever run on a
> dead cylinder. Starts a lot of problems. Honestly with the amount of miles
> on your car your doin pretty good getting 32-34 a gallon.
>
> Hope this helps.
> Ryan
>
> "PTS-EXPRESS" <pts-express@excite.com> wrote in message
> news:4faaa48b.0402260628.102f604a@posting.google.c om...
> > Have a 2000 Civic, 1.6 5-spd. Been trying to get this thing to
> > achieve better fuel economy by all pratical methods - starting from
> > the simplistic and cheapest to implement first.
> >
> > Taking out all the unecessary weight in the car. New tires inflated
> > to 40psi, alignment, no additional plastic wings, or add-ons for
> > increase air drag. Driving with shifting at low rpms, and staying
> > under 90mph on the interstates.
> >
> > What engine/trans modifications are possible with this motor/trans
> > combo that will net a superior MPG figure? The car has 135,000 miles
> > on it. It used to get 40mpg, and now achieves about 32-34mpg.
> >
> > Total engine rebuild/install is a last resort alternative; unless you
> > want to pay the dealer for that.
> >
> > How about things such as disconnecting the wiring from 1 injector;
> > making the engine run on 3 cylinders? More fuel economy, or making
> > the situation worse?
> >
> > Change the computer chip for another more economy-style one?
> >
> > Goal: try to get this 135K 4 year old car to get around 45mpg.
> >
> > I might have to go to a VW diesel to have those figures. 45-55mpg.

"Ryan" <nothinfun@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:zLudnQ-n19_53qPd4p2dnA@comcast.com...
> This may sound wierd but am in the import racing scene and we acutally get
> better fuel milage with an aftermarked short ram intake. I have noticed
> this on my 98 civic and my friends noticed it on his focus and mirage.
You
> can get one for about $60 at a race shop or check ebay. If you dojn't
mind
> buying on there they can be had for as little as $20. Don't ever run on a
> dead cylinder. Starts a lot of problems. Honestly with the amount of
miles
> on your car your doin pretty good getting 32-34 a gallon.
>
> Hope this helps.
> Ryan

Ryan, I seriously doubt that. The short air intake should increase air flow
so since more air is coming in, more gas is being burned. Maybe your air
filter was dirty before you changed to short air intake so the car burned
much more gas since it didn't get enough air.

That's the only explanation possible I think (if you haven't messed with
other parts as well).

--Viktor

> "PTS-EXPRESS" <pts-express@excite.com> wrote in message
> news:4faaa48b.0402260628.102f604a@posting.google.c om...
> > Have a 2000 Civic, 1.6 5-spd. Been trying to get this thing to
> > achieve better fuel economy by all pratical methods - starting from
> > the simplistic and cheapest to implement first.
> >
> > Taking out all the unecessary weight in the car. New tires inflated
> > to 40psi, alignment, no additional plastic wings, or add-ons for
> > increase air drag. Driving with shifting at low rpms, and staying
> > under 90mph on the interstates.
> >
> > What engine/trans modifications are possible with this motor/trans
> > combo that will net a superior MPG figure? The car has 135,000 miles
> > on it. It used to get 40mpg, and now achieves about 32-34mpg.
> >
> > Total engine rebuild/install is a last resort alternative; unless you
> > want to pay the dealer for that.
> >
> > How about things such as disconnecting the wiring from 1 injector;
> > making the engine run on 3 cylinders? More fuel economy, or making
> > the situation worse?
> >
> > Change the computer chip for another more economy-style one?
> >
> > Goal: try to get this 135K 4 year old car to get around 45mpg.
> >
> > I might have to go to a VW diesel to have those figures. 45-55mpg.
>
>