How to get better gas mileage and more power out of EK
 

I have a stock 96 civic w/ single cam stock sohc motor. I commute about 160 miles per day, 6 days a week. I get about 32-35mpg right now. I have to climb some steep hills at times and my car will only go about 60 mph going up the hill unless i downshift into 4th gear.

My question is, how can increase gas mileage and perhaps even increase more power from my stock engine. The more important thing is to increase gas mileage because of these ridiculous gas prices in California right now.

Thanks for you replies,
ian

Increasing HP by a noticable amount and getting better MPG usually don't go together.

I'd kill for 32-35mpg. I'm only getting about 22-25mpg http://images.honda-tech.com/set1//smile/emcrook.gif

32-35 is pretty good... I think thats probably close to the best you can get... Also, like eL said, more hp and better gas mileage dont really go together.

Re: (numbnuts22715)
 

dont u get better gas mileage with a turbo? i wouldnt though cuz my foot would always be on the throttle

Re: How to get better gas mileage and more power out of EK (sokdo321)
 

I pretty much knew that +horsepower does not go with +gas mileage. Just was wondering because these gas prices are killing me but I hate being behind the BIG RIG trucks on the uphills.

My car looks like it should be going 85-90 because of its appearance but being in the slow lane crawling up the hill is embarrassing. I'd switch over to 4th gear, but that shit eats gas like crazy when i do that https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...es/emsmile.gif

Re: (93blkej1)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 93blkej1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">dont u get better gas mileage with a turbo? i wouldnt though cuz my foot would always be on the throttle</TD></TR></TABLE>

Under boost you'd be using more fuel.

I'm sure if you really wanted to, you could sell your current motor buy a cx motor, and get about 40 mpg https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif

Re: How to get better gas mileage and more power out of EK (sokdo321)
 

There is a way to increase both the power and the peformance, but there’s still a downside. What ever you’ll save on gas, you’ll spend that and more on the upgrade parts.

K&N filter element, stock size. $40.00 (more air)
KGN iridium spark plugs $30.00 (better burn)
Better fuel injectors $200.00-300.00 (better fuel atomization)
Thinner tires (175/65-14 or smaller) less friction = better mpg

This combination would increase both your power and mpg, and it would be totally reversible.
Unfortunately, the gain to price ratio would be very unfavorable.
It would cost you around $500 to get 1-2 more mpg and around 5 extra hp.

Re: How to get better gas mileage and more power out of EK (d16rice)
 

Weight also has alot to do with it.

last summer i drove the the beach and back on one tank of gas (11.9g). the trip odo read almost 400 miles when i got home and it was on empty.
i have a 97 ex coupe, i have no ac, and at the time i had a greddy 15g kit and rc440's w/ an afc. i had two suitcases in the trunk and it was just me and my girl.
i even messed around a bit a tthe beach :-)

i took a picture on the cluster, but i dont know where it went

Re: (sohcmasta)
 

hmm... i would take out my rear seats... but they weigh like 5lbs prolly. I am getting a set of hx wheels to help with weight reduction and inflate the tires to couple pounds under max pressure to reduce friction.

Re: (sokdo321)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sokdo321 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hmm... i would take out my rear seats... but they weigh like 5lbs prolly. I am getting a set of hx wheels to help with weight reduction and inflate the tires to couple pounds under max pressure to reduce friction. </TD></TR></TABLE>

^^^

what he said and i'll add:

1. If you have a manual tranny, coast on neutral going down hills if they are not too steep.
2. switch to a lighter weight oil. synthetic is best.
3. draft behind the big trucks. not recommended cause they throw up alot of junk.
4. install a super low front lip.
5. windows up no AC.

Re: (eL)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by eL &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Increasing HP by a noticable amount and getting better MPG usually don't go together.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

WORD!!! https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...es/emsmile.gif

Re: (ZeRo AsSault)
 

he will probably get less milage with a cx if he has to climb hills

becuase i only get 22mph avg with my cx on mointain roads

Re: (komat)
 

thanks for all the info. I think i don't want to do anything drastic to the car ie switching engines and such. I bought this car as a commuter car and my 01 integra is sitting in the garage resting for the day i don't have to commute anymore. I calculated that I drive almost 4500 miles per month. Wow... that is incredible. I can only wish that gas prices in Ca will go down sometime soon. I miss the days when gas used to be about $1.15 for 87 Octane. Oh yes... those were the days!!! Bring down the cost of gas you fawkers!!! https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif Thank you

Re: (sokdo321)
 

Just an FYI, motor condition and driving habbits greatly effect MPG. I have an EG (stripped to the bone weight wise) with a JDM B16A, AEM CAS, UR under-drive pulleys, NO A/C (still has PS), Apex'i VAFC II pushin some aight fuel, more than stock, p30 ECU and if I drive "nicely" I can still get 32 MPG. My shit has plenty of power. I have a few other mods such as clutch and shit but they wont effect MPG much if at all. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...es/emsmile.gif Oh yeah forgot, I always run AT LEAST 93 octane, there are some gas stations around here with race gas ranging from 100 octane up to 108. But that shit is like $4 a gallon. OUCH!!!

Re: (Laserjock)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Laserjock &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
1. If you have a manual tranny, coast on neutral going down hills if they are not too steep.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm not too sure about that. If u put it in neutral while you are coasting, u are actuallying wasting gas cuz the engine still uses a little gas to keep the engine idling. However, if you coast in gear, the engine shuts off the injectors because it does not need any gas to slow the engine down, right?

Re: (Jedi_Sol)
 

how would your engine idle if it has no fuel http://images.honda-tech.com/set1//smile/emcrook.gif

Re: How to get better gas mileage and more power out of EK (sokdo321)
 

I have a 97 EX and I get similar mileage and I am very happy. I get about 32 mpg going about 75 mph /w cruise. That's also with 205 tires. It is in FL however where the land is as flat as a 10 year old girl's chest.

Re: (Jedi_Sol)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jedi_Sol &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I'm not too sure about that. If u put it in neutral while you are coasting, u are actuallying wasting gas cuz the engine still uses a little gas to keep the engine idling. However, if you coast in gear, the engine shuts off the injectors because it does not need any gas to slow the engine down, right?</TD></TR></TABLE>

You are correct... For those with Autos, you can put it in 2nd or 3rd the same, but I think 3rd would be enough drag on hills for the most part from my experience.

Re: (CooBlueDAB)
 

Hi, I have an auto, and I was wondering, is it just the fuel injectors that shut off, or is it the fuel pump as well?

Re: (CooBlueDAB)
 

If its strictly a commuter car, I'd just get a 4th gen DX hatch, strip it bare, give the motor a good once-over, then enjoy the better mpg's. Based on the cheapest stuff in Wisconsin (89oct@$2), that'd be ~$250 saved in 6 months assuming you could get 39 mpg. If you were to sell the 96 and put an obd1 motor in the older hatch, there's little reason why it couldn't get that good of milage. Even more so if you put taller & narrower tires (say 165/80R15's) on such a light car to reduce the final drive (assuming it has power to spare after gutting). You'd also have more cash to spend on your weekend ride. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif

The other option, oddly enough, would be for a torquier motor. With my 94 CX HB and a 95 B18B1 I would get 32 mpg doing 80 on the freeway and 'spirited' accelleration half the time. The CX motor would slow to under 60mph (from 80mph) in 5th going up one of the hills on my commute, now I can accellerate to the top in 5th. Torque+Honda= https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif

Re: (eL)
 

me too the gas prices are really getting out of control, i just put all my stock things back on (intake) lost hp noticeably and only got about 1-2mpg more than with the intake

Re: How to get better gas mileage and more power out of EK (sokdo321)
 

Like as has already been said
1) Clean K&N air filter
2) Synthethic oil
3) Skinny tires--check air pressure regularly
4) Lower windows rather than use AC
5) Don't use cruise if roads are hilly
6) Warm up engine while driving
7) Stay below V-Tec especially if engine is cold
8) Shift at low rpm 3500
9) Keep oil level below 1/2 way between full and add. Some engines connecting rods/crankshafts slap the oil in the pan when full, this is inefficient.
10) Slow down if strong headwind

Re: (eL)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by eL &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Increasing HP by a noticable amount and getting better MPG usually don't go together.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I would have to disagree with this statement, since increasing an engines efficiency will ALWAYS increase it's power and fuel economy.

I can remember buying my first brand new car back in 1988 which was a Z24 and it would constantly average 22mpg around town and about 30mpg on the highway when it was new and totally stock. I kept that car for 10 years and over that time I bored and stroked it out to a 3.2L from the stock 2.8L. I had a cam in it, ported and polished heads, even nitrous and a ton of other stuff and at 10 years of age that car consistently got 25mpg around town and 35mpg on the highway.

I have worked on a number of vehicles over the years and they've all shown a decent improvement in fuel economy when modifying them. The key is your right foot, most people always have their foot into it trying to experience the extra power from the modifications. In return the fuel economy suffers and they associate performance with a loss in economy.