33 mpg 2004 Civic

I had some spare time to add up mileage logs from last year-
15156 miles on 456 gallons.
Summer is about 2 miles better, winter 2 miles lower.
Less highway driving in winter and 15% ethanol gasoline.
I suspect cold may be a factor too.

 

The ethanol in the gas would drop your mileage down by about 4.5% or
about 1.5 mpg.

 

Just got back from an 1800 mile road trip in my 07 Accord V6 EX-L sedan.
Mostly all interstate driving, got 32.3...not too shabby for a fine-handling
car that powerful and comfortable...

 

So what is the seceret of your excellent mileage? The car is only rated
18/26 by EPA and Consumer Reports only managed 30 mpg in their highway
driving (there highway driving is at relatively slow speeds).

Ed

 

I can't speak for "nullity", but I my secret is cruise control. My '01
EX-V6 that currently has 197,00 miles on it, in summer driving, consistently
gets around 29MPG on my 170 mile round trip commute (mostly highway).

From Fishkill, NY, I-84 west, I-87 south, NJ/RT-17 south, some back roads to
NJ/RT-3 east to office in Secaucus, NJ. Reverse to get home.

On I-87 cruise is set to ~72. On I-84 cruise is set to ~62. On NJ/RT-17
just going with traffic. No hard starts or stops, just take it easy. Tires
inflated a bit on the highside.

 

Hey, don't knock it! My 07 EX-L V6 6MT averaged 33 MPG on 6 trips from
Louisiana to Florida between February 07 and May 07, which was a tad bit
above sticker. Of course in October 07 it was declared a total loss and
I wasn't about to pay sticker price and wait 3 months to take delivery
of a 2008 EX-L V6 6MT coupe. Don't get me wrong, Honda makes a great
car, but I NEVER pay sticker price for a vehicle.

 

2 PSI high on cold tire inflation, gentle starts, steady foot on throttle
with cruise control when possible, anticipate slow downs so avoid needless
braking, no extra junk in trunk...plus clean living and never raise my voice
towards my wife....

 

I try to keep my weight down, too. That increase fuel efficiency because
the car does not have to do as much work.

Jeff

 

My Civic is now 5 years old and since new is averaging 37 mpg (45mpg
UK gallon). This local (rural not urban) and motorway use.

Most important factors, light foot, keep speed to posted limits (70
mph motorway). At £1.03/litre (US$7.7/gallon) economy is paramount!

 

Keeping your weight down is always a good idea. I tend to leave my wife at
home whenever possible. ;-)

 

That's an even better idea.

Jeff

 

Hmmm...excess baggage..lol

 

I found my original del sol window sticker it says 40mpg hwy but I've
never logged it officially. I also removed the spare tired never been
used and the jack to save a few pounds for extra mileage gains.I was
considering getting a 350z but gas prices are high. I'll stick with my
93 civic del sol for now only 60k orig miles, this car still turns
heads. Could be because I drive naked with a sign on my head that says
stare at me. But I really think its my OEM wing.Yeah baby I don't get it
either just go with it.

 

Gee, that's just stupid. You will eventually get a flat. They you are
going to SOL.

Unless they're laughing, I don't think so.

 

In the summer I get 40 mpg highway.
I just did a long road trip last weekend at an average
temperature of -17C (0F) and got 37 mpg. 15% ethanol.

 

How much ethanol in the summer? The ethanol should have dropped the
mileage down 4.5% or 2 mpg. Engines don't run as efficiently in the
winter, in part because they take longer to warm up. Of course, the air
conditioner usually isn't running nor is the sun roof down. And the gas
is denser in the winter, because liquids contract in the cold.

Jeff

 

From: (Jeff)

I'll be del SOL ..hah ,anyways,You could be right,but since the spare
hasn't been used or needed since 1993 (that's 15 years btw),it's flat
and worthless right now so I said what the hell I'll remove it along
with the jack. When I get new rims/tires I'm gonna use the stock full
size as a spare, but for now if I get a flat,it'll be cell phone or fix
a flat for the remedy. Hey....why is that group of drivers laughing at
me?

The only time I ever got a flat was on both right side tires, the one
spare would've been useless. Cell phone to the rescue.

 

If you have a flat spare, you can add air to it (tow trucks often have a
tank of air) or a compressor.

If you have a spare in your home, you can't use it.

A cell phone doesn't do much good. Sure, you could try to stick the
antenna in the hole, but it won't do much good. And if the tire has a
tear, the people who come to help you will have to put a new tire on the
rim before you can use the car.

Fix a flat may not work either.

Do whatever you want.

 

From: (Jeff)

Air compressors are everywhere and easy to find that's not an issue.
What is an issue is my spare tire is (15) years old I'm not trusting a
15 yr old spare with my life @40-50+ mph. I'll get the spare replaced
with a new one first before I refill the old one. But since I've never
used or needed the spare in the last 15 years, yes I did say 15 years,
you got that memorized,15 years, thank you, anyways I'll just use my
full size alloy stock rim/tire when I get new replacement rim/tire set
this year as a spare.
And yes fix a flat is hit or miss , it didn't work when I got the double
flat tires on the right side. I was going to use fix a flat on one tire
and use the spare tire for the other but fix a flat didn't work . So I
called my friend ,he picked me up I got new tires and went about my
way.What saved me here in this instance? Cell phone, bingo.

 

Gas is denser in winter and this contributes to fuel economy? I judge
you missed out on 'science 101'.