Rusty94cx

So I got my rustfree gem of a vx. the o2 Is shoot and upon further inspection the cat has been hollowed out? Is she gonna run right without it? The cat that is? Will the new o2 function without the cat heat? Help. Or should I just get a chipped ecu running p07 maps and 02 delete? Help I need 50 mpg I drive to many miles.

EsotericImage

iTrader: (8)

your O2 is probably shot either before the hollowing or after..

to get 50 MPG you better get a hybrid cuz no civic will get those numbers.

Either way.. get a new cat, replace the sensor(s) and hope for the best MPG's u can get.

do a full tune up of plugs, wires, rotor, cap, properly inflated tires, and lightening the car will all help your MPG quest.

turbociviccoupe

I also have a vx and not getting the ops asking of 50mpg but its very possible. The Vx civic can get wonders for mpg. Mines gets an average of 42-45 mpg. But I take care of the car its all stock minus a cat. When I first got it it was doing horrible. Drilled out and cleaned egr ports for smog. I did a valve adjustment(ticking pretty bad). New plugs, wires, cap,o2 sensor, rotor and air filter. Cleaned fuel system. Stock vx 13inch wheels. Like he said op everything matters to get the best mpg.

Rusty94cx

Well being a vx if you knew it is EPA rated at combined mpg of 50. The 02 is less than a year old but some off brand. Replaced before me. Heck my crusty cx get 42. So study your mpg ratings. There are guys driving vxs that can get 60+ mpg. The vx is the lightest civic in the eg lineup. Heck even allumnium motor mounts. Every ounce counts. I got the vx cause don't want the cost of a hybrid or battery replacement. There have been real world tests and heck it beat some hybrids and TDI's.

turbociviccoupe

I pump the cheapest gas and blast the ac all the time. Even at night I have the ac on to defrost the windows. Just make sure your car is running in prime condition you should be fine. To answer your question I dont have a cat. What mpg are you getting now?

Rusty94cx

Don't know as the 02 is bad and the 5 wire is 250$ so if it not going to work without the cat I'll get a chipped and socketed ecu with 02 delete. Oh and the vx cat is like 350 or you do the ex Mani and then a different cat so I'm still out $$$. I'm probably getting 30 35. But the d15z1 can do much better but it is picky. I'm looking for the most budget minded answer.

Rusty94cx

So wait you got no cat and no check engine light? So I guess that answers the question. And I'm all country roads driving so long stechches of no traffic. I need the wheels it's all the car Is missing. Rolling on 13 stealies right now. Please help need vx wheels.

turbociviccoupe

wheels are very light. Make sure you have the vx motor and transmission. transmission matters alot it stays at very low rpms in 5th gear

Rusty94cx

I'm pretty sure it's the cx vx trans my cx deffenitly has the right trans. I'm at about 1900 rpm at 60. 13 wheels 5 th gear sound right. I know it's running rich as the check engine light is on and the o2 is quite sooty.

92egdxhatch

my old DX got 40mpg with a CX trans. I'd say to keep the car running efficiently why not just run the proper cat and o2 sensors?

turbociviccoupe

hollowed cat wont throw cel so change o2 it. dont believe what people say. change it yourself so you know. Check you header for cracks. had to change my exhaust manifold cat to a z6 header due to the cat being too expensive to change. Did it for smog but took cat because I borrowed it lol

Rusty94cx

No cracks in Manni already checked that I've got a code 41 and 48. The fsm fault tracing says it's the ecu already put in another one it's the 02 Im on a budget. 250$ 02 400$ cat. It also need axles and trans seals. So $$$ I need to logically fix it budget like I will eventually get a cat either vx style or ex style. I don't want to put the 02 in and ruin it and still have a light because it doesnt get hot enough because it doesn't have the residual cat heat. I have kids a house a couple of cars not alot of disposable income to throw at a car. So turbo civic you got the y6 Manni and your 02 wires extended down under car? And you get lean burn? You can feel it engage? 42- 45 isn't bad round town with ac blasting and just driving. What Rpms are you turning at 65mph?

turbociviccoupe

around 65 freeway im well below 3k ill have to check but sure im well below. you dont need to extend o2 its at the same spot

KCHC

lol who actually pays 400$ for a cat??? just get a magnaflow high flow cat of ebay and get a collector flange and another flange to match the other side of your exhaust and have someone weld it for you. im sure you can save at least 200$ that way. i would just buy a test pipe and call it a day.

Rusty94cx

If you want to keep th car close to stock that's what they run and look the way your talking it's still 200$ and I still news the 200$ 02. The vx cx manifolds are like a turbo setup short runners and the cat is right there between the motor and radiator. Not to mention what is the long term reliability of some aftermarket cats? I've seen some fail in like 2 years.

CO671

iTrader: (1)

If you don't have any emission testings/regulations where you live then do the spark plug non-fouler trick (~$20 at most will be spent). If you have a CEL for the O2 sensor/Catalytic Converter like P0420, then the spark plug non-fouler trick may be of assistance. The catalytic converter is like a cigarette filter, the lit end of the cigarette is the engines exhaust and the tailpipe is your mouth, without it, toxic chemicals/gasses will shoot out.

I had a CEL on my car for the o2 sensor/cat (P0420) for over a year, I then finally gutted the cat and replaced both O2 sensors, which didn't do the trick.

I followed these steps. With this trick, it's a type of spacer for the O2 sensor, far enough but also close enough to just take a whip/taste of the exhaust gasses and seem like the exhaust is 'filtered'.
http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=296791

Installed in less than 5 minutes, pulled the negative battery cable to reset the ECU, and much better MPG and no CEL since.

cvcrcr99

The VX cat is built into the manifold unlike the rest of the 92-95 Civics, correct? Couldn't the OP just find a 96-00 non EX/SI manifold, plug the secondary o2 sensor hole and then be good to go?

My VX back in the day had the cat built into the manifold. It used to buck and jump under 3k because the o2 sensor was bad, but not throwing a CEL. Replaced the 5 wire o2 sensor and BOOM, it was golden from that point on.

Rusty94cx

No I have a 41 and a 48 code it's obd1 car. No the fouler trick wont work the sensor throws the code as soon as it checks the circuit. Also that trick is for a obd2 car rear 02 sensor As soon as the srs light goes out the check engine light is on. Yes the cat is well it's not part of the exhaust Mani but it's right there. I've thought about the conversion but the car needs other things. So priorities. So I guess the vote is to fix the 02 and not go the chipped ecu route. So why a 96-00 non ex ai Manni? What advantage. It a 92 d15z1 we're talking about here?

cvcrcr99

What do you mean. It is the same thing as what you have. You need a replacement on the current vehicle. So, why not?

The only difference (from what I can think of) is that the 96-00 has a secondary o2 sensor at the bottom, or after the cat. You can plug that with any M18x1.5 bolt.

Rusty94cx

No it's a one piece unit isn't it. And it's prone to cracking. Yeah I got some 02 bungs so not a problem.

cvcrcr99

Yes.

92-95 VX manifold has cat as one piece (1 o2 sensor)
96-00 CX/DX/LX/HX manifold has cat as one piece (2 o2 sensors)

Simply block one and you should be good.

Yes, they are prone to cracking, but you are not going to get away from that unless you convert to a different style cat/manifold.

ExplicitJDM

At first when seeing this thread I thought "why would someone asks if he needs a cat on a honda forum -.- ..?"