New here, from Va.

[GasSavers_NickF829]

I just today purchased a Honda Civic VX with only 92,000 miles and in mint condition(and mint in color haha). MPG is only at around 40mpg, but I hope to be able to boost that, any tips appreciated. I plan to stick around, what I see so far is great and looks like I could really learn a thing or two here. I drive about 100-150 miles a day for work so a high mpg car is a must, ive gone from a GMC Yukon to a 4dr Civic to this 2dr hatchback, so ive certainly converted to the high mpg world and I think i'll love it.

Nick

[CO ZX2]

Welcome Nick. Good to see new faces at GS. Well, you bought the right car. You should find any help you need here with no trouble. One of the most popular cars on the site.

[Gary Palmer]

Welcome to Gas Saver's

If you have acquired a VX, you've made a good move in the right direction. If you check out the Garage, a number of the high mileage drivers are VX's. If your only getting 40mpg, then their is probably something amiss in the car. From what I've read here, you should be able to pull about 50mpg, without doing anything radical and driving at 80 mph.

If your getting about 40mpg, I would not be at all surprised if your Oxygen sensor is sour. You can use a DVM to monitor it, while you drive. If it's working, correctly, you should be able to see the car go into lean burn, which I doubt that it's doing, currently.

Great Choice of Vehicle.

You should also check out some of the aerodynamic modifications which people are doing. Paricularly, check out the changes on the 108mpg car which is posted.

Good Luck, and Welcome

Gary Palmer

[GasSavers_NickF829]

Originally Posted by Gary Palmer

Welcome to Gas Saver's

If you have acquired a VX, you've made a good move in the right direction. If you check out the Garage, a number of the high mileage drivers are VX's. If your only getting 40mpg, then their is probably something amiss in the car. From what I've read here, you should be able to pull about 50mpg, without doing anything radical and driving at 80 mph.

If your getting about 40mpg, I would not be at all surprised if your Oxygen sensor is sour. You can use a DVM to monitor it, while you drive. If it's working, correctly, you should be able to see the car go into lean burn, which I doubt that it's doing, currently.

Great Choice of Vehicle.

You should also check out some of the aerodynamic modifications which people are doing. Paricularly, check out the changes on the 108mpg car which is posted.

Good Luck, and Welcome

Gary Palmer

what is a DVM? Would a o2 sensor trip a check engine light?

Thanks for the welcome, I definately have been checking out the site, and can't wait to start upping my mileage

[LxMike]

Originally Posted by NickF829

what is a DVM? Would a o2 sensor trip a check engine light?

Thanks for the welcome, I definately have been checking out the site, and can't wait to start upping my mileage

DVM = Digital Volt Meter and yes a bad or malfuctioning o2 sensor would trip a cel.

[Gary Palmer]

Originally Posted by NickF829

what is a DVM? Would a o2 sensor trip a check engine light?

Thanks for the welcome, I definately have been checking out the site, and can't wait to start upping my mileage

You can get a inexpensive, but functional DVM from Harbor Freight, for a very small amount. They put them on sale, fairly regularly, for $4 or so.

On my 89 Honda, I changed the O2 sensor from a single wire unit to a 4 wire unit. Fundamentally, the signal isn't any different, but the 4 wire unit heats up electrically, so it's fully functional within about 2 blocks of driving, where the 1 wire has to wait to get heated by the exhaust. At the same time, I wired the sensor so I could hook a DVM to it. I set it to the 2 Volt range, DC. It typically cycles between about 0.75v and 0.25v, every couple of seconds, when the ecu is using the sensor to adjust the fuel mixture.

On your car, it should have a 5 wire sensor, which is essentially a specialized, enhanced range unit. From what I've read, the unit functions similar to a normal O2 sensor, but it's range and the voltage it put's out is different. I would quote what you should see, but since I don't have one, I could just steer you astray.

On the ECU, check engine light, it is constantly watching the O2 sensor and trying to adjust the fuel input. However, your ECU also watch's for a specific set of conditions to exist, which then allow it to go into lean burn mode, which is why your car has the 5 wire sensor. The ECU would only throw an actual fault, if it appeared to the ECU the sensor had failed 100%. My thought was that somehow the ECU wasn't getting as good information from the O2 sensor as it would normally, making it bad enough not to go into lean burn, but not bad enough to throw a fault code.

Great choice for a ultimate economical driving vehicle, IMO!

[MetroMPG]

Another VXer. Welcome!

In good running condition, those cars can be stealthy super MPG machines.

[SVOboy]

Welcome welcome. Poke around the forum for info on the superMID, best thing for mileage.

[MetroMPG]

Digital Volt Meter. Not necessarily. My understanding is O2 sensors can degrade in performance somewhat before ultimately tripping the engine light.

Have you checked this thread? Look for Krousdb's technical remarks & advice - he just sold his VX (to another GS member), and was quite skilled at wringing great FE out of it.

Picking up my VX on Sunday! Pics!

[SVOboy]

O2s can get lazy before ultimately quitting, though I'm not sure how often it happens.