New Member w/ questions

[Blue Genie]

I just joined and have been doing my first 'test tank' of gas. So far, so good. I have not checked the mpg yet but I was averaging 25-26 mpg combine hwy and city. I have a 1996 Honda Accord, automatic, 2.2l non-Vtech. I have not changed the oil yet but tires are inflated to full psi.

Couple of questions,

-My honda calls for 5w-30 oil. Is it safe to use 0w-20, 5w-20?
-Can I shift into neutral during coasting w/o turning the engine off safely?

Any other suggestions on how to maximize an automatic's FE would be appreciated. Thanks!

[bomber991]

Originally Posted by Blue Genie

-Can I shift into neutral during coasting w/o turning the engine off safely?

Any other suggestions on how to maximize an automatic's FE would be appreciated. Thanks!

You should be able to shift into neutral while rolling with the engine on just fine. Thats called a NICE-on coast. When you shift back into drive you want to rev-match. That is, take note of what rpm you're at before you go into N, and then before you go back into D, press the gas some to get the rpms back to what they were before you went into N, and then go back into D.

One way to easily maximize your FE would be to simply keep the speeds down. Try and stay under 55 to 60mph. For example, in my car the difference between 32mpg and 28mpg is the difference between 60mph and 70mph.

Just be sure to read, and then re-read the "beating the EPA" article under the article tab on the left side of the screen.

[Elixer]

Read the basic hypermiling article on the right side of the startpage and then reread it a few times. Automatic transmissions can do just about everything a manual can do except many of them cannot FAS without causing damage to the transmission over time. Get your tire pressures up, and practice some good predictive driving, DWB, DWL, Nice-On coasting. Once you have those down then you can start pulsing and gliding.

[PaleMelanesian]

Read the owner's manual. See what it says about flat 4-wheel towing. It probably says something like "below 35mph and less than 50 miles". In that case, any time around town you're fine to FAS, but not on the highway. Leave it running, but still use Neutral to coast.

I'm running synthetic 5w20 in mine.