You guys have turned me into a freak [ Archive] - GasSavers.org - Helping You Save at the Pump

Hi Ya’ll. I’ve been looking at the site for a few weeks now and finally decided to join up. I am now possesed with getting better and better MPG's.

I have a 93 VX I bought from my uncle, who is the original owner. (This is my fourth Civic, I have one built for speed too.) The VX has 292k miles. I have replaced the timing belt, clutch, water pump and the $400.00 (ouch) O2 sensor. I am running P155/80R 13 tires. My best mileage was 53.6 MPG before I saw your site.

I went to my in-laws this weekend, and I thought I would try and see what I could do with some of the tips I found reading other posts.

I drove the VX this Saturday. We left at 4:30 in the morning and since My wife was sleeping (and I wasn’t in too big of a hurry anyway) I thought I would see if I could beat my 53.6 miles per gallon from before. The trip was from roughly Greenville, to Midway, Texas. Travel mostely on State Highways 69,19 and 21.

I filled up in Canton. I always fill up till the pump shuts off by itself and I do not top off after that. Same procedure every time.I drove VERY conservatively, trying to stay at close to or less than 50 miles an hour. I did not give any extra throttle going up hills, so I would slow to about 35 or 45, and I eased off the throttle going down hills or even coasted in neutral (motor running)to stay at the 50 – 55 level. Leaving a red light or stop sign, I shifted at 1500 RPM’s and took my time getting up to cruising speed.
Drove the same route coming back home.

Stopped back in Canton again to fill up…264.7 miles…3.8 gallons. I could not believe it when the pump cut off that early and, thinking it was messed up, I squeezed it again and only got .3 gallons more. That made it 4.1 gallons, or 64.56 MILES PER GALLON.

I had a headwind going down but that turned into a tail wind coming back. I drove the exact same route going down and back. Kept the windows up, did not run the A/C, lights on low beam only. Tire pressure was 42 front / 44 rear. Plus I’m running super skinny 155/80r -13 tires.

If I use the 3.8 gallons to compute, it comes out to 69.66 miles per gallon, but I’ll stick to the 4.1 and 64 MPG's.

That's awesome fred! Oh, and welcome to the site.

What would you say was the biggest contributing factor to your high mpg? Was it the coasting? Possibly the low speed?

I look forward to hearing more about your "freakiness" as you post more about yourself and your car.

very nice results!! thats nuts!! imagine what you can do with aero mods.....

Welcome!!

The only mods that helped you get to the new mpg was just the new tire pressures and the ultra ultra conservative driving?

If I use the 3.8 gallons to compute, it comes out to 69.66 miles per gallon, but I’ll stick to the 4.1 and 64 MPG's.


Fred,
Based on your description of the trip, I would be more inclined to believe the 69 MPG number. Great job! And welcome!

Ya rly, when you get to be engine off coasting like some of the wizards on here you'll be taking over the gaslog!

i find that different pumps will cut off at differnt times...
i always fill up until gas comes out of the nozzle for visual accuracy...

but that is truly amazing...
i never broke 58mpg in my vx...but i always filled the tank after below E

Thanks guys. I would say the biggest contributor would be taking FOREVER to accelerate. I mean, I would barely crack the throttle just enough to get the car moving, as little pressure on it as possible. There was nearly no traffic, being so early in the day.
My wife drives the car too (when I can talk her into NOT driving the Pathfinder) and she usually averages between 43-47 MPG. She was excited about the mileage but isn't bitten with it like I am.
The 53.6 was on stock tire size, driving to Dallas and back just taking my time. I really didn't think it would be so good. My uncle claimed 55 MPG when he owned it.
I am thinking next of fabbing some rear fender skirts. I'll probably be the only one to ride in it then. My daughter and wife just aren't going to be seen in a geeked out car.

Thanks guys. I would say the biggest contributor would be taking FOREVER to accelerate. I mean, I would barely crack the throttle just enough to get the car moving, as little pressure on it as possible. There was nearly no traffic, being so early in the day.
My wife drives the car too (when I can talk her into NOT driving the Pathfinder) and she usually averages between 43-47 MPG. She was excited about the mileage but isn't bitten with it like I am.
The 53.6 was on stock tire size, driving to Dallas and back just taking my time. I really didn't think it would be so good. My uncle claimed 55 MPG when he owned it.
I am thinking next of fabbing some rear fender skirts. I'll probably be the only one to ride in it then. My daughter and wife just aren't going to be seen in a geeked out car.

I think using fender skirts will make me the only driver of my car too :)

Just curious, did your "lean burn" light come one during this trip?

"Just curious, did your "lean burn" light come one during this trip?
"

I don't know what that is, but I don't think so.

"Just curious, did your "lean burn" light come one during this trip?
"

I don't know what that is, but I don't think so.

I believe that the VX has a "lean burn" light for when it enters into lean burn mode. It could be a light that a previous owner disconnected because they didn't like it always coming on.

"Just curious, did your "lean burn" light come one during this trip?
"

I don't know what that is, but I don't think so.

I believe that the VX has a "lean burn" light for when it enters into lean burn mode. It could be a light that a previous owner disconnected because they didn't like it always coming on.

Mine never had such a light.

I've never seen a light, but I can certainly feel when the car is in that mode. It's like suddenly running on two cylinders, only smooth. Any time during my trip that I felt it slip out of the lean burn, I immediately let off the throttle.

My feeling is that would be when vtec kicked in, having more power.

VTEC should hit between 2500-3000, depending on how you're driving.

When does your shift light come on?

I've never seen a light, but I can certainly feel when the car is in that mode. It's like suddenly running on two cylinders, only smooth. Any time during my trip that I felt it slip out of the lean burn, I immediately let off the throttle.

My feeling is that would be when vtec kicked in, having more power.

Very jealous. I want lean burn!

no leanburn light on the usdm vx...
maybe edm/pdm/jdm4...
i'm pretty sure it wasn't introduced until 96+ obd2

VTEC should hit between 2500-3000, depending on how you're driving.

When does your shift light come on?

Two different times, around 1500 RPM's and I'm not really sure about which RPM for the second time, but it is close to every ten miles an hour depending on which gear you are in. Example; 20 MPH for second, 30 mph for third.
You are correct on when vtec hits.

I just did a fill up again. Combined city and highway miles this time, using my "new" driving skills, 358.4 miles and 6.8 gallons for an average of 52.71 mpg.
I am pretty stoked. I know I can beat that because I got in a hurry a few times and had to wind out the motor a bit. I also hit 70 mph on a few stretches running late.

I just did a fill up again. Combined city and highway miles this time, using my "new" driving skills, 358.4 miles and 6.8 gallons for an average of 52.71 mpg.
I am pretty stoked. I know I can beat that because I got in a hurry a few times and had to wind out the motor a bit. I also hit 70 mph on a few stretches running late.


That's awesome. I can't wait to swap in my vx engine. :)

C'mon now fred, start logging your mileage and give the guys at the top of the gaslog a run for their money!!!

Anyway, there are lotsa fun little modifications you can do that'll get you up there in mileage, :)

the wiring diagram does not show a lean burn light for any of the years of the vx, and there is no space that I have found for one in the insterment cluster, it sounds like a good idea tho.

you said that your vx has 290,000 miles, right? mine only has 220,900 and had the same sticker shock with the o2 sensor,I've also found that some of the suspension bushing were wearing out, they only take a few minutes to removed the lower controle arm, $85 for new bushings and those weird fluted hardened bolts, and $40 to have all the bits pressed out, and new pressed in, and the front end is alot more stable, preatty reasonable I figure, I haven't taken it up to highway speeds yet, tuesday I head to work we'll see how much better it handles, but I had those bushing wear out both front and back, just jack up the car, grab the wheel to see if it moves a bit more then it should.

I'll need to check that. I have replaced lower control arms on another Civic my wife wrecked last year so I know exactly what you are talking about.
I rarely drive the car over 50 mph now. I drove my wife about 40 miles away last night and she almost went nuts with me driving slow. I coasted, motor off, into a fast food place and didn't quite make it all the way into the parking spot when the car stopped. I said something like "DARN" to myself when I had to start the car and pull the rest of the way in and she just atared at me and said "You're starting to scare me".

You should have seen her when I showed her pics of the fender skirts...She cussed.

..."You're starting to scare me".
You should have seen her when I showed her pics of the fender skirts...She cussed.

Yeah, I get the same reaction from my wife. "You used to drive 80 everywhere...what happened?" I just reply, "Gassavers". She'll get used to it over time...

..."You're starting to scare me".
You should have seen her when I showed her pics of the fender skirts...She cussed.

Yeah, I get the same reaction from my wife. "You used to drive 80 everywhere...what happened?" I just reply, "Gassavers". She'll get used to it over time...


Since I started obsessing about mpg, driving technique, FE mods, etc., my wife even suggested we look into developing aero mods and either selling kits, or publishing a pamphlet (for those who don't frequent the web). 8)

I'm still not even 18, and don't have a wife.

I'm still not even 18, and don't have a wife.

Well then, there's not much point in you persuing aero mods is there? After all satisfaction requires pissing off atleast one person. ;) (kidding)

Well then, there's not much point in you persuing aero mods is there? After all satisfaction requires pissing off atleast one person. ;) (kidding)

LOL!