Newbie - 2003 Honda Civic Si

[nickpitt03]

Hi,

Just signed up for the website today. Wondering if anyone can help me with tips to get better gas milage in this vehcile. The gearing isn't set up for anything but power, which is a huge problem I have with the car, but I still get around 27 mpg in stop and go city like driving. I was wondering if there is some way to increase that to upwards of 30+ with doing nothing drastic. I already use cruise control, accelerate slow. Thanks!

Nick

[theholycow]

Welcome. You might not want to post your email address like that, this forum is publicly readable, indexed by Google, and spammers could harvest your email address.

[nickpitt03]

Thanks, I made the edit. I wasn't thinking when I did that! Stupid me!

[PolyOlefin]

Welcome! I'm a new member myself. You won't have any problem at all getting 30+ mpgs from the K-series. By following the basic hypermiling tips and using lots of pulse/glide and coasting in neutral, I've been able to break 34 mpgs from my K20.

We don't have the same car exactly but the gearing is similar enough that I feel your pain. Use 6th gear as much as possible around town!

[nickpitt03]

I wish I had a 6th Gear! That would solve all my problems! They didn't put a 6 speed in until the 2006 and beyond SI's. I love the hatchback, but I don't think I understand hypermileing techs all that well!.

[civic94]

i'm pretty much in the same situation as you, i have the very short ex/si transmission. i can get 35mpg+ on my car in all city driving, but mines is a smaller engine. the low gearing is actually better for you in city driving since you need the low end torque instead of burning your clutch with a very long geared transmission.

if you dont go on the freeway alot, your transmission is the best option. my engine is at 2500 rpm at 60, 3200 at 70, and 3500 at 82 while my redline is only 6500

[nickpitt03]

In 5th Gear at 45mph I'm at like 2500 RPM's with the car. It is the most frustrating thing! Even worse on the highway, there doesn't seem to be a way to crack 33mpg on the highway, I get like 27 in the city, and about 33 on the highway, which is better than the listed numbers, but not by much, the car is rated at 26/30 on the old scale.