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I have a 08 Civic EXL (AT) coupe ordered, should be here in a couple weeks hopefully. Been reading quite a bit about it, since we ordered it for the MPG that it can get. We currently drive about 70 miles roundtrip to work everyday. Majority of that is interstate (95%), 70 mph, mostly flat terrain. Not many opportunities for any long glides.

A few questions.

1. Scangauge2. Is it worth the $150? Can it show when iVtec is in economy mode? Appears that it will show when fuel is shutoff in decel?

2. Tire inflation. I plan on taking this right up to the tire's sidewall limit. Correct starting point?

3. HFP front spoiler. Any idea if this dealer installed option would help or hurt the MPGs? IMO, it looks 'slicker', but that might not translate into anything.

4. Driving style. From the other posts that I've read, it appears that DWL is where I should start? Also appears that plain-old cruise-control might be pretty good for my commute.

5. Speed. Where's the 'sweet spot' with the Civic? On the interstate 65mph is probably pretty safe, anything under that might be dangerous.


Thanks. Looking forward to getting as much MPG out of this car that I can!

It sounds to me like you are on the right track.

Yes the scan gauge is worth it. I am not sure about itech. maybe some one else will chime in.

Hello and welcome to the club.

You should start by knowing your car’s EPA rating located at FuelEconomy.gov (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm) and make sure to read the article “Beating the EPA” (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1510).

Make sure you air your tires up to the maximum pressure indicated on the tire’s sidewall.

Also, purchase the ScanGaugeII (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=103426). It is an invaluable source of information and will quickly pay for itself in fuel savings.

However, please be careful as hypermiling is addictive. :)

1. Just keep a steady pace, go as slow as you feel comfortable going.

2. Yup, tires inflated at max sidewall are a good idea.

3. Not sure it will hurt or not. It is added weight, but it might improve aerodynamics by allowing less flow under the chassis.

4. Read http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1510 for that.

5. The sweet spot is around 55mph. I've seen my scangauge get around 55mpg at a steady pace on flat roads. At around 60mph I see 50mpg and at 65mph it drops to low 40's. And thats without pulse and glide.

70 mph will hurt your mpg.... And get a MT if its not to late.

Thanks for all the replys. I look forward to trying out different ideas with the Civic (if it ever gets here).

psyshack, I really wanted a manual, but the wife has some left foot probs occasionally (early onset arthritis), didn't think she'd want the work the clutch when that happens. So it's AT for us...

I started playing with some of these things I've read here with our old car, 2003 Monte SS, with this last tank of gas. Usually have to fill it at 350 miles or so, right now I'm at 320 with about a 1/4 tank left, so even with a bigger/heaver car there's improvements to be had. It has an 'instant MPG' display so I've been watching that a lot on the commute home. Little things seem to make a difference and really don't affect the drive too much. And just slowing down to 65, instead of 70+ seems to be huge. Makes me wonder why our government hasn't set the PSL to 55 like they did during the 70's energy crunch.

Refer to next post...I had the wrong image

I think that graph shows the power and torque curves at WOT, when the engine is not in i-VTEC mode. This one shows when i-VTEC is active.

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh137/fanamingo/2007%20Honda%20Civic/R18A_i-VTEC_Operating_Range.jpg

So economy ivtec is from 1000-3500, depending on engine load. Is there a light on the dash that tells you it's active? Or something that scanguage could show you? With all the highway miles we drive, I think it'd be important to get in that economy mode and keep it there as long as possible.

Thanks.

oops my bad, i had just seen the article before i posted and just chose a graph to quickly, thanks for getting the correct one up there!

So economy ivtec is from 1000-3500, depending on engine load. Is there a light on the dash that tells you it's active? Or something that scanguage could show you? With all the highway miles we drive, I think it'd be important to get in that economy mode and keep it there as long as possible.
The Civic doesn't have a built in indicator to tell you when you're in i-VTEC. I think the ScanGauge should show closed loop whenever you're in it, but I haven't tested this yet. Too many gauges to monitor!

For truly flat roads, CC is the way to go. Keep your speed down for best results. I drive 58 MPH (65 is PSL) in the right lane with an eye in the rear view. If some idiot is not paying attention and is coming up on me fast, I speed up to give him time to react then gradually drift back down to 58.

I also look for opportunities to do 2- to 3-second drafting especially when there's a significant head wind. I only do it when I happen upon a truck going 55 to 62 MPH which is very rare these days.

For flat highway driving, the AT Civic gets better FE than the MT because it has a taller 5th gear. You've got a great car in my unbiased opinion :)

Well, after waiting nearly a month after committing to it, we took delivery of our white Civic EXL coupe last night. This is one sweet little car! The potential for 40mpgs and still looks this nice...

Got a scangauge already for it too, just didn't have time to install last night. It will be in before Monday's commute tho.

Dealer said not to expect good mpgs until about 5K miles tho, that the motor needed broke-in first. Planning on switching over to Mobil 1 0w-20 oil at that 5K mark too, anybody have any input on that oil?

Thanks all.

very nice! How is that leather interior??? My first tank in my LX was 32 and I pretty much averaged that until I found this site. You will in the mid 30s right from the get go since I was driving like an idiot shifting high and fast when I first bought it.

Well, after waiting nearly a month after committing to it, we took delivery of our white Civic EXL coupe last night. This is one sweet little car! The potential for 40mpgs and still looks this nice...

Got a scangauge already for it too, just didn't have time to install last night. It will be in before Monday's commute tho.

Dealer said not to expect good mpgs until about 5K miles tho, that the motor needed broke-in first. Planning on switching over to Mobil 1 0w-20 oil at that 5K mark too, anybody have any input on that oil?

Thanks all.

When I bought mine I ran it 1000 miles or so then put the M1 in it.

Well, after waiting nearly a month after committing to it, we took delivery of our white Civic EXL coupe last night. This is one sweet little car! The potential for 40mpgs and still looks this nice...

Got a scangauge already for it too, just didn't have time to install last night. It will be in before Monday's commute tho.

Dealer said not to expect good mpgs until about 5K miles tho, that the motor needed broke-in first. Planning on switching over to Mobil 1 0w-20 oil at that 5K mark too, anybody have any input on that oil?

Thanks all.

Very sweet car, I have the bigger brother of yours though not leather I have the EX sedan. I love my little car, you will have lots of fun in it. I used to own a '99 Taurus. The dealer is full of S%*^ when they say you have to wait until 5K to get good gas mileage my first tank driving hard the first half than easing off the next half I was able to get 38, my second tank with some good techniques I was able to get 42. Granted I have a 5spd by just going slow and not doing the jack rabbit starts with some nice-on I was able to get those numbers. I also don't have a scangaugeII so I am sure you will get some impressive numbers with it.

Good luck with your new toy and trust me you will get good numbers with it.

Jutty, the leather is very nice, only thing I wish is that it was dark-grey, instead of the ivory color. But with the white paint it was the only choice. It's a soft leather, not the hard/stiff leather that I've had in other cars. And I'm sure the seat heaters will be nice this winter.

I put the scangauge in yesterday, that was pretty easy. Had about a 100 mile drive last night, and found it an interesting "toy" to have. Gotta be careful tho, it's easy to spend too much time watching it.

Kelly, your right, we filled up last night, 333 miles and only 8.6 gallons! 38.6 MPGs off the bat!! Dealer didn't know what he was talking about... Imagine that!

Misc thoughts so far:

1. 63-64 mph seems to be a pretty sweet spot for mpg for my interstate drive. Any more than that looks to hurt the instant mpg, any less and I feel like I'm about to get run over.

2. Just can't seem to see anything on the scangauge that shows when it's in ivtec econ mode. I'll keep looking tho. I wonder about emailing Linear-Logic and seeing if there's a X-gauge that coul be programmed.

3. Pumped up the tires to 44 yesterday morning, can't really tell the difference in ride quality. IMO, the car rides a little rough anyhow. Maybe the suspension will soften in time.