Hello,

I drive a 2000 Honda Civic Dx-vp, automatic.

I have been trying to search for ways to improve gas mileage in addition to improved driving habits and regular maintenance.

Right now everything under the hood is stock.

Is there parts I can replace with more efficient ones? Or modifications that will also create results?

Thanks,
David

 

Basic bolt on's such as cold air intake, exhaust header, and exhaust will improve gas milage; however, if you floor it alot you won't get better mpg

 

buy a K+N drop in air filter,clean your iacv(idle air control valve) replace your fuel filter.

 

Cool,
Starting a list of the things I can start to play with.

I see the suggestion around sometimes to use air conditioning less. I have also seen claims that the A/C does not have much effect on gas usage.

Does the A/C have much effect?
And if so- if I were to cycle it on and off as needed (maybe turning it on the off two or three times on a twenty minute drive), would it help, or would turning it on so often cause it to even out to being just as bad?

 

A/C kills MPG. Especially in small engines. My ac was broken I would get 32+ city. I fixed it and now I get 25. So use it only when you need it.

 

Yeah I never use AC. I can feel it big time in my little D15.

 

To me the convenience of not having to sweat my *** off is worth the 3-4 mpg I'm giving up

 

Get an alignment, and make sure your tires are adequately inflated. What constitutes "adequately" is somewhat debatable.

When you get new tires, get a harder compound. Softer tires offer more rolling resistance and therefore negatively affect mileage.

Remove excess weight from the car. Whether this means "cleaning out your trunk" or "gutting everything" is entirely up to you.

Fix aerodynamic problems. Remove the rear spoiler (if you have one). Block the front grill (but leave a small opening so some air can get to the radiator). Rig up something so that the rear bumper doesn't act as a parachute (Home Depot FTW). Etc...

Engine management. Most cars run a little rich anyway. Invest in something decent and tunable and lean it out a bit. If you aren't 100% sure what you're doing, then find a tuner and have them do it for you.

 

Here's 100 tips.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/EM-...g.php

My car has a stock spoiler and stock moonroof visor. I have no diffuser for the rear (as mentioned) or covered the front grille. No tuning done to the car.

The car needs an alignment fairly badly. I haven't upgraded my exhaust or intake or manifold or anything like that. I haven't ever cleaned my IACV in five years of ownership. I have a reusable air filter and replaced my fuel filter about three years ago. The car's A/C doesn't work (bad compressor).

I usually travel alone and keep the trunk totally empty save for the spare and stock equipment.

The biggest thing I've done is changed my driving habits. I usually drive the speed limit. If I speed, I see the result in worse gas mileage.

I also track my gas mileage on http://www.gassavers.org, which has really helped to keep my driving in check. Before I started tracking it and watching how I drive, I was getting about 28mpg in my '98 EX coupe (5MT). Now I get 35-38mpg.

I'm not saying the other things can't help, but the biggest thing to do is definitely change your driving habits, which tracking your gas mileage will help this a lot.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NOFX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The biggest thing I've done is changed my driving habits. I usually drive the speed limit. If I speed, I see the result in worse gas mileage.</TD></TR></TABLE>

My room mate is currently averaging 46 mpg (up from about 33-34) in a '00 EX coupe (also 5MT). He's using an interesting combination of EOC and P&G techniques. I regularly hit 40 in my '95 CX. When the new motor goes in and gets tuned I hope to regularly hit 50. We'll see...

 

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

My room mate is currently averaging 46 mpg (up from about 33-34) in a '00 EX coupe (also 5MT). He's using an interesting combination of EOC and P&G techniques. I regularly hit 40 in my '95 CX. When the new motor goes in and gets tuned I hope to regularly hit 50. We'll see...</TD></TR></TABLE>

wow, thats pretty good. My gf's old 98 civic ex AT was averaging barely 31-32mpg, i replaced her spark plugs, ecu, dizzy, and resonator but still it wasn't getting good mpg. My 99 civic with a semi stock y8 (integra stock intake/apexi ws2) gets roughly 35-40mpg depending on a/c usage.

 

I used AC in my 97 hatchback and my mileage wasn't bad at all. The little y7 took it like a champ.

I usually got an alignment, tires are well inflated all around. Drive slow within speed limits and you'll be fine.

 

Kendall and NOFX posted good tips.

A ScanGauge (about $175) gives a real time readout of mpg plus four other engine status readouts simultaneously. It plugs into the OBDII reader port on '96 and later cars. Not cheap but I can't see why that information isn't standard on all instrument clusters these days.

 

96 DX D16Y7 MT, regular maintenance, no AC, hard compound all season tires @ 50 psi.

Pulse-and-glide, neutral coasting etc etc etc - 36 mpg average (driving mostly under 35 mph).

Getting superb mpg depends a lot on driving behavior.