Broke 40 mpg :)

[nlife]

I was having problems with breaking the 40mpg (hwy) barrier in my g/f 04 Honda Civic SE first reported here. I was coasting in neutral as much as possible, but I was only able to get 39.5mpg tops. Some suggested higher tire pressure, but my g/f doesn't like the ride. I did flush the rad and replaced the thermostat with a slightly hotter one.

Since we had to make a trip out of town, I was able to calculate the mileage on the way down with the tires inflated to 36psi and the a/c on half power, we achieved 41 mpg. On the way back, I pulsed the a/c on and off when needed. It was never turned above the lowest setting. I had coasted a few hills, but nothing major. I never went above 65mph and typically hung around 60. I was able to yield 47mpg on the way back. As you can imagine, I'm very happy about this considering that it comes VERY close to my Festiva , except the Honda has way more luxuries. Smoother ride, not much need for hypermiling, power steering, a/c and cup holders (which is a huge plus for her). Really now, how much more can you ask for?

[Nrggeek]

Good job!

Bill

[RightontheMarc]

Tell her to get a Ford instead Although they are hard to find I am looking for a 98 manual 4 door escort. We had one back then but unfortunately got rid of it. Gas was only 98 cents. Without hypermiling though we often got 40mpg in it. Lucky you for having a festiva. We had one of those too once and it always got 40mpg+ without fail. I miss those $8 fillups. A friend of mine had one but it recently got stolen. Totally nuts.

[Jay2TheRescue]

A Festiva got stolen???

[GasSavers_BEEF]

first of all, I'm not a car thief but....

If I were looking for a car to unload in todays time, it wouldn't be a gas guzzling SUV. the economy cars are really getting popular.

[nlife]

A stolen festiva is pretty nuts. The festiva actually used to be hers. She upgraded to the Honda and I bought the festiva from her. I flushed the rad, changed the thermostat and put in a hotter ignition system. The ignition was installed for no other reason than I had it on hand. Being that I get paid travel when working, I was able to pay the car off with the extra gas money I saved with it. Took about a month and a half.

I'm still really surprised that her Honda is coming within a stones throw of my festiva. It's a much bigger car, has more luxuries, and is still running winter tires, but here we are.

I figure I'll drive the festiva till it dies. As it stands it's right around the 150K km mark (90,000 miles) and I'm responsible for about 40K km (24000 miles) of them on the highway. She barely drove it

[trautotuning]

You are going preeeeetty slow hahah I could not imagine myself doing 47 on the highway.

How long was the trip? Because i know longer trips I usually just hold it at 70-75mph to not take so long (even though my mpg suffer, but still I want to get where I am going )

[nlife]

Originally Posted by trautotuning

You are going preeeeetty slow hahah I could not imagine myself doing 47 on the highway.

How long was the trip? Because i know longer trips I usually just hold it at 70-75mph to not take so long (even though my mpg suffer, but still I want to get where I am going )

It was a 2 1/2 hour trip. And to clear things up a little, I was doing 60-65 miles per HOUR on the highway and was able to achieve 47 miles per GALLON. I was NOT driving 47 Miles per hour. That would be slooooooow!

[trautotuning]

Ohhh nice!!

I just came back from a trip, going 75mph with cruise control most of the time took about 4 hours and got 36mpg. (got up to 80mph for brief moments as well)

So there you can see how speed really kills things Among type of car and such, heck i have a 2.3l so its a lot bigger.

[trautotuning]

Oh also, what are the mods done to it? if any...