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I don't have a hybrid car yet, but I do want to get better mileage from my car. Any ideas or technique for this older model? I know of the Pulse and Glide (accelerating to 5 over and then gliding to 5 under, and so on), but are there any other tips or things that I have missed?

Thanks,

Great forum!

You haven't mentioned inflating your tires to max sidewall or as high as you are comfortable with. That is one way to get a big improvement.

What is your commute like? Knowing the details of your daily drive is essential to helping you find the right techniques to use to get better fuel economy.

Leo,

You have an excellent car to work with with a very efficient VTEC engine. Somewhere here is a link of ABC Nightline talking about the 50mpg+ 1991 Civic...while Detroit screams they can't do it (just like today).

1996 was a good year - it's likely under your dash or glove compartment you have a OBD II connector. If so, you can plug in www.scangage.com (http://www.scangage.com) to the FE, air temp, coolant temp, etc readouts.

Ok thanks for that. I also saw the thread on the 96 Honda, which I am reading through. I have always wondered about dropping into Neutral during a drive - does the conserve? I am not talking about FAS and turning off the car, I am talking about just dropping into Neutral if I am gliding - will this help or not really?
I don't commute very far, so it isn't an issue, maybe 5-10 minutes. I am trying the P&G technique and I like the readout meter you suggested, but still a bit steep for a newbie.
Do you know where that ABC Nightline link is?

Ok thanks for that. I also saw the thread on the 96 Honda, which I am reading through. I have always wondered about dropping into Neutral during a drive - does the conserve? I am not talking about FAS and turning off the car, I am talking about just dropping into Neutral if I am gliding - will this help or not really?

You would be using more gas if the engine is still running because the momentium is not allowed to help if you are in neutral. FAS works because the ICE is complex and it's numerous moving parts adds up to a considerable amount of friction.

Ok thanks for that. I also saw the thread on the 96 Honda, which I am reading through. I have always wondered about dropping into Neutral during a drive - does the conserve? I am not talking about FAS and turning off the car, I am talking about just dropping into Neutral if I am gliding - will this help or not really?


The purpose of neutral coasting is to extend coast times longer than coasting in gear.
Sometimes it is helpful, but if you have fuel cut while coasting in gear it might not actually be better. Without some sort of feedback it is hard to tell. Also, be careful with neutral coasting as some transmissions act different than others when you re-engage them.

Great forum! Absolutly, I agree !!

I think everything mentionned in the site except for the specific things related to the "electricity" are relevant.

The Scangauge mentionned by Delta flyer is a very good idea, I will install one in my wife's car, a 1996 civic also, a good vintage as said.

Pierre

I drive a 96 civic. What engine do you have? Mine's the DX, non-VTEC.

I have a scangauge, and I find that engine-off is better IF it'll be off for 10 seconds or more. It takes more fuel to shut off and restart than to idle for those 10 seconds. You can get some good numbers just neutral-coasting. Mine uses about .3 GPH idling once it's warmed up. At 45mph, that's 150 mpg! My approach is 2-stage: clutch in for shorter glides wherever I possibly can (10 sec pulse, 10 sec glide or adjusting to traffic) and engine-off coming up to lights or longer downhill glides.

I also have a piece of cardboard behind the front grill, blocking the radiator a bit. With your short commute, your engine hardly has time to warm up. This would help it get to efficient operating temperature earlier in the drive.

Absolutely, pump your tires up to the max on the sidewall. Mine are rated 44psi and I have them at 50.

Do you know where that ABC Nightline link is?

Nightline 1991: 51mpg Civic DX - 100mpg Coupe - Detroit Fights EPA (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2553&highlight=nightline)

Oh, and the OBD-II plug is under the dash by your left shin.

I drive a manual 96 Honda Civic LX. Not a VTEC. For short downhills, I do NICE ON coast since it is not worth FAS'ing. And depending on traffic situations, I just remove my foot off the gas. For NICE ON coasting, Scangauge reports somewhere in the range of 200 mpg when going 55 mph. Whereas if I just take the foot off the pedal, SGII says around 130 or 160 mpg.

The max pressure on my tires are 35 psi and I keep it at 35 or 36 psi. I also turn off the engine at intersections if I know its going to take longer than 10 seconds.

Good luck. I love the car.

In the case of a manual (mine is not), you are neutral when coasting?

In the case of a manual (mine is not), you are neutral when coasting?

Yes

I have an automatic, but I am trying the NEUTRAL trick when I come to stops at home or work or stop lights, that way I am not hurting my transmission when I bring it back into gear because I am at a full stop. I hope with a automatic transmission, NEUTRAL uses less gas then in gear...

Hi Leo Mandy:

___Unfortunately, an auto can in some instances use more fuel in N then under fuel cut while slowing with ICE-Braking. It depends on your speed and how long you can extend a Nice-On Glide.

___Good Luck

___Wayne