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Honda: How to Maximize Your MPG

There's no doubt that keeping your car finely tuned and maintained promotes more efficient fuel economy. But a large part of how much fuel you save (or don't) boils down to one factor: you.

March 11, 2015

This article applies to the Honda Civic and Accord (1900-2000).

Both the Honda Civic and the Accord from this era are well loved for their their lightness and small engines. Because they're super light and low displacement, they've earned a reputation for miserly fuel consumption. Even a tuned Civic driven with a heavy foot will net the MPG well into the thirties. That said, there are ways to squeeze even more mileage out of tank. These small changes to your driving style will help make the most out of a tank of gas. Read on to learn what you can do to go the extra mile.

Drive More Efficiently

Driving efficiently means driving smoothly, but it doesn't necessarily mean driving slowly. Hard acceleration will burn more fuel quickly than a slow steady acceleration at a similar speed. While these cars do love to rev, running them to the red line at every green light is not the best way to save fuel. Braking smoothly is also a gas saver. When the car is decelerating and in gear, it's not burning fuel. The momentum of the drivetrain keeps the engine moving. While sitting still, however, the car has to burn gas to maintain idle.

Figure 1. Accelerating to the red line in every gear is not efficient driving.

Drive More Slowly

Observing the speed limit will keep fuel efficiency high as well. The faster a car goes, the more power it needs to maintain that speed. Your miles per gallon takes a big hit after 50 mph.

Figure 2. Drive the speed limit for optimal fuel efficiency.

Stay on Top of Maintenance

A lot of Civics from this era have suffered from neglect. While a dirty air filter alone might not make that big of an impact on fuel efficiency, the effect stacks when multiple maintenance items are neglected. Stay on top of oil changes, spark plugs, air filters and tire pressure. Not only will this keep your gas in its tank, but it'll keep your wallet happy too. Skipping out on the simple stuff will lead to expensive repairs down the road.

Figure 2. Dirty air filters will block air flow to the engine, reducing power and fuel efficiency.

Avoid Driving with Excess Weight or Drag

The Civic and the Accord are both low-powered vehicles, so this should be a no-brainer. The more weight that's in the car, the more gas will be burnt trying to move it. The same principle applies to things like roof racks. While light, they disrupt the aerodynamics of the car and create extra drag. The higher the speed, the more drag there is. The more drag there is, the more gas the car will burn trying to push through it.

Figure 3. The motorcycle causes both weight and drag.

MPG Related Modifications

If getting high miles per gallon is more of a hobby than it is a necessity, there are some actual modifications that will help. A front air dam will reduce lift and drag by stopping air from flowing beneath the car. Skinny, low-rolling resistance tires will also increase fuel efficiency by making the wheels easier to turn. Covering the rear wheels with a flat sheet (like on the original Honda Insight) will also help reduce drag considerably.

Figure 4. Honda Civic modified for hypermiling (104 mpg average).

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