Increase gas mileage? Efficiency performance!

[A20A1]

What type of engine oil are you running?

[Sh4d0w]

Moble1 5/30 full syn with 1 qt Lucas Oil full syn additive

[pressed001]

Thanks for all the responses guys.
I have questioned my math, and it could be wrong only if the odometer/speedometer is off. With that in mind, I have gone by a few laser speed warning signs. You know, the ones that show how fast you're going. Anyway, they all said that I was going "63" when my speedometer said 70. I've got stock wheels and stock size tires that are properly inflated so I don't know what it is exactly. Unless the cops in Missouri set those things low so they can get you later. What I know for sure is when I am at bone damn empty and put 2 gallons in I always go 80 miles before I'm bone damn empty again.

As for "hypermiling", dude, that's exactly how I drive. I know that the biggest loss of energy is durring accelleration/braking so I always try to keep moving, including coasting in neutral quite a bit. I think that is particularly funny because people always fly by me and cut me off just to get up to a red light a little faster! Obviously they're not worried about mpg!

I really dig this car. Even with the bit of rust it has on the fenders. It's got power windows/locks, cruise control, those awsome flip up headlights that after 21 years still freeking work! Bad ass car. I really want to get rid of this body rust but I know it will cost me some pretty serious cash as all four fenders are rusted. Anyway, it's a slow process I know, and I can't wait to get started. Any car that runs like this that is 21 years old deserves to be treated well!

[2oodoor]

Yeah!! I HATE people who take off way too damn slow from stops and use their Cruse Control at 70 in the fast lane... I'm gonna start getting pissed....

I do that alot only because the right lane is beat to hell rough as john wayne toilet paper rough as hell and takes no shit off anybody

[Sh4d0w]

Glad to see yet another person who appreciates the awesomeness of this particular car. Not too many cars out there still kick as much tailpipe after 21+ years. Treat it right, and it will do the same for you, for many, many miles to come. At 154k, you're just getting warmed up! I had nearly double that when I had to do my first swap, and that was only because of my stupidity in driving it too hard.

Enjoy!

[Bass Man]

John Wayne TP... haha!

[kentwat]

30 mpg is the best I have gotten from my 86 LXi with 283k and a 5 speed. I've tried short shifting and below 3k and it hasn't really given any better mpg.

[2ndGenGuy]

I think the only way to accurately calculate mileage is to do a top off of the tank, drive so many miles, then top off again. Even that's probably only 98% accurate due to variances in when the fillers cut off, how much you've topped off the tank... etc, but it's the only way to know how much gas you've used. The needle on the gauge, IMO isn't accurate enough to say "ok it's in this same spot, I know I have X gallons left." I only say this because my gas light can come on, and I can put in anywhere between 12-14 gallons. I'd say the gas light would probably be more consistent than using a point on your gas gauge where the needle is pointing.

[Civic Accord Honda]

thats how ive calculated mine and when i top off i fill it to the top of the filler neck lol

[gtmst3]

i have an 86 lx with an air intake and a comp cams stage 2 and a 150 pounds of subs in the trunk and i get about 26-28 driving like a normal person

[cygnus x-1]

I think the only way to accurately calculate mileage is to do a top off of the tank, drive so many miles, then top off again. Even that's probably only 98% accurate due to variances in when the fillers cut off, how much you've topped off the tank... etc, but it's the only way to know how much gas you've used. The needle on the gauge, IMO isn't accurate enough to say "ok it's in this same spot, I know I have X gallons left." I only say this because my gas light can come on, and I can put in anywhere between 12-14 gallons. I'd say the gas light would probably be more consistent than using a point on your gas gauge where the needle is pointing.

+1. This is the most accurate way to do it. Best is to use the same pump all the time too. You should also check your odometer against a GPS too. The speedometer doesn't matter because you don't use it to calculate mileage, and it can be off from the odometer. The gas gauge is totally useless for figuring fuel mileage. The light will be better but still not very accurate.

C|

[cygnus x-1]

As for "hypermiling", dude, that's exactly how I drive. I know that the biggest loss of energy is durring accelleration/braking so I always try to keep moving, including coasting in neutral quite a bit. I think that is particularly funny because people always fly by me and cut me off just to get up to a red light a little faster! Obviously they're not worried about mpg!

People like that crack me up. I understand it's fun to drive fast (especially if you have a fast car) but if you drive a truck most of the time and have to put $50 in it every fill up it starts to suck after awhile. I would have driven my Prelude more over the summer if it wasn't down for engine work (and the roads weren't so unbelievably bad).

I guess I need to get the engine rebuilt on my diesel Sami' so I can drive it again. Even with a shot engine blowing smoke like George Burns it still got +32MPG. With a good engine it should do 40+. And then if I can start running it on waste oil...

C|

[LxAcc510]

yeah...i did not pass 30 mpg on my fuel injected car...any weight reduction helps...also take off stuff you dont need like ac and ps...that just creates a drag on the engine.

i dont think you've gotten past 24mpg in your car Jesse lol

And 76 gas is good eh? My next tank is gonna be from 76. I usually pump at valero, shell, or chevron

[pressed001]

I think the only way to accurately calculate mileage is to do a top off of the tank, drive so many miles, then top off again. Even that's probably only 98% accurate due to variances in when the fillers cut off, how much you've topped off the tank... etc, but it's the only way to know how much gas you've used. The needle on the gauge, IMO isn't accurate enough to say "ok it's in this same spot, I know I have X gallons left." I only say this because my gas light can come on, and I can put in anywhere between 12-14 gallons. I'd say the gas light would probably be more consistent than using a point on your gas gauge where the needle is pointing.

Great point. I will do this next time I'm at the pump and post the results.

[2ndGenGuy]

Great point. I will do this next time I'm at the pump and post the results.

[stat1K]

i am maticulous about checking my mpg that's why i don't believe most of these people. i calculate the miles and then divide the gallons. i do this everytime i get gas in both cars. you take x (miles driven since last fill up) and y (gallons put in). do this over a course of many weeks and then avg those numbers, that will be your true mixed mpg. going 80 miles then filling only 2 is close but my guess is it's not as accurate as the whole tank as a lot of things can affect overall mpg vs a short distance like 80 miles.

[2drSE-i]

I get 47 mpg with power shifts, a/c blowing, 6k shifting, and a little lying.

haha sig quote

and BTW it is possible in a accord.... i swear to yall my 82 accord hatch with a very badly adjusted carb got in the 40s-50s.... it would run rich as fuck on start up but when driving it was lean as hell or something....

Eh, 82 isn't really comparable to the 3g. Much lighter car, smaller motor, etc.

With that in mind, I have gone by a few laser speed warning signs. You know, the ones that show how fast you're going. Anyway, they all said that I was going "63" when my speedometer said 70. I've got stock wheels and stock size tires that are properly inflated so I don't know what it is exactly.


I really dig this car. Even with the bit of rust it has on the fenders. It's got power windows/locks, cruise control, those awsome flip up headlights that after 21 years still freeking work! Bad ass car. I really want to get rid of this body rust but I know it will cost me some pretty serious cash as all four fenders are rusted. Anyway, it's a slow process I know, and I can't wait to get started. Any car that runs like this that is 21 years old deserves to be treated well!

Awesome cars huh? as for the radar signs, those things are incredibly inaccurate. + or - 5 mph. Not that our speedos are exactly accurate either.

30 mpg is the best I have gotten from my 86 LXi with 283k and a 5 speed. I've tried short shifting and below 3k and it hasn't really given any better mpg.

The FI models are a bit less economical. More power = more fuel :-(

i am maticulous about checking my mpg that's why i don't believe most of these people. i calculate the miles and then divide the gallons. i do this everytime i get gas in both cars. you take x (miles driven since last fill up) and y (gallons put in). do this over a course of many weeks and then avg those numbers, that will be your true mixed mpg. going 80 miles then filling only 2 is close but my guess is it's not as accurate as the whole tank as a lot of things can affect overall mpg vs a short distance like 80 miles.

I thought that this was the only way to calculate MPGs, never even considered filling up and then driving 80 miles.

[hammer3rd]

How big is the tank on these cars. I fill mine up and it seems to be about 14 gallons. Any way the best I ever got was on a trip to see a friend in Wilmington NC. I filled the car up till it was in the filler neck and set the trip counter. It was 296 miles one way and it used a little less than a half tank. Didnt check it while I was down there or on the way back lost track. I have an 88 LXi sedan auto and 94 civic wheels with 196-60-15 tires.

[stat1K]

the half tank thing never works because honda's needle is terribly innacurate and it always has been.

like on my civic i'll go 200 miles on "half a tank" then 80 on the second half and then fill up with 8.5 gallons. i avg 33 driving accelerating quickly always and shifting at about 4.5-6k. my commute is 35 miles and i have no traffic on country roads, it's pretty fun.

as for the tank it's 15.9 gallons and the warning light comes on at like less than or equal to 1.8 gallons. that's the reserve in the tank which would explain your 14 gallon fill ups.

[Bass Man]

It takes me about 100 miles to get to the top "Full" mark, then it goes down really quick from then. lol

Why not divide the miles you drive by how many gallons it took?? I think that's the only way to get pretty accurate.

[stat1K]

^ did you read anyone else's comments? i sware some people.

[Sh4d0w]

i am maticulous about checking my mpg that's why i don't believe most of these people. i calculate the miles and then divide the gallons. i do this everytime i get gas in both cars. you take x (miles driven since last fill up) and y (gallons put in). do this over a course of many weeks and then avg those numbers, that will be your true mixed mpg. going 80 miles then filling only 2 is close but my guess is it's not as accurate as the whole tank as a lot of things can affect overall mpg vs a short distance like 80 miles.

That's what I'm talking about exactly. You fill up your tank, record how many miles its been (the trip meter, anyone?) and divide by the number of gallons.

Once upon a time, I recorded my milage every time, but I've gotten lazy. I know I get between 24 - 28 with + - < 5 depending on driving. Thats with air intake, 20k on the a20a3, pacesetter header & monza exhaust on heavy-ass rims wrapped in 195 50 15 proxis4's pullin 150+ lbs of subs + various other things I haul daily.

but I digress...

24 - 28 is about avg for my car.

[A20A1]

Just get a gallon gas can and hook an external pump to that and drive till it runs out

[MessyHonda]

i dont think you've gotten past 24mpg in your car Jesse lol

And 76 gas is good eh? My next tank is gonna be from 76. I usually pump at valero, shell, or chevron

C-los...haha....back when she was stock she did get me 30mpg....not anymore...

[pressed001]

I haven't been able to fill it up yet. Lately, due to the cold weather, the car has been fast idling a lot more and my mpg has suffered quite a bit. It idles up near 3k at times, which I thought was too high until I researched a bit and found that between 2k-3k was normal. The fact that I don't have a muffler makes the fast idle REALLY annoying!
To keep the RPM's down I keep it in gear most of the time, which helps a bit.