Honda Civic Real World MPG

Replying to: ruking1 (Dec 06, 2007 11:38 am)

"I understand, but essentially that renders your original question unanswerable."
 
Well, to be more specific what is important is estimating how far the civic will go before running out of gas when the "E" light comes on. I have no accurate way of telling if 13.2 gal is actually in the tank the way I fill, nor if it varies much for different pumps. Actually unless the driving conditions are unusual I can expect 400 miles between refills without problems.
 
Gas stations can be few and far between, but not much city driving so at over 8000 miles I am averaging over 40 mpg since new.

Replies to this message:
• ruking1 (Dec 07, 2007 5:18 pm)
  • ras314 (Dec 08, 2007 6:24 am)

Replying to: ras314 (Dec 07, 2007 4:41 pm)

So you like the more civilized version of russian roulette!?

Replies to this message:
• ras314 (Dec 08, 2007 6:24 am)

Replying to: drmbb (Dec 07, 2007 6:11 am)

Replies to this message:
• kipk (Dec 08, 2007 5:20 am)
  • shipo (Dec 08, 2007 5:51 am)
    • ruking1 (Dec 08, 2007 8:27 am)
    • dgecho1 (Dec 08, 2007 12:02 pm)
    • kipk (Dec 09, 2007 4:46 am)

Replying to: dgecho1 (Dec 07, 2007 8:42 pm)

"I guess the safe range to refuel is 400-450 range"
 
With over 50 years of driving, I've found the safest range is when the needle gets to the 1/4 tank mark.
 
People have gotten stranded figuring that out!
 
Kip

Replies to this message:
• shipo (Dec 08, 2007 5:51 am)
  • ruking1 (Dec 08, 2007 8:27 am)
  • dgecho1 (Dec 08, 2007 12:02 pm)
  • kipk (Dec 09, 2007 4:46 am)

Replying to: kipk (Dec 08, 2007 5:20 am)

I'm trying to figure out how you came to that conclusion.
 
FWIW, even though my wife and I have only been driving for 35 years each, we've covered over a million and a half miles combined. Couple that with the fact that I used to be a professional wrench and worked on MANY cars and I think I might have some empirical observations to offer in this discussion as well.
 
So, what do I think about the quarter of a tank recommendation? Way too conservative. I've never seen any scientific or empirical evidence that suggests that driving a modern car (with an in-tank fuel pump) down to the "E" mark will harm anything in a car. Yes, yes, I've heard all of the arguements about picking up debris from the bottom of the tank and about needing to cool electric fuel pumps with the gasoline, however, virtually every car on the road these days has enough of a reserve capacity beyond "E" to cover those issues.
 
My advice? Drive the car until you show "E" and then fill'er up. The only exception to this rule that I follow is when I'm heading out on a long trip (where I fill up almost regardless of how much fuel is in the tank), or when there is a question of fuel availability (kind of a "bird in hand..." scenario).
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

Replies to this message:
• ruking1 (Dec 08, 2007 8:27 am)
• dgecho1 (Dec 08, 2007 12:02 pm)
• kipk (Dec 09, 2007 4:46 am)

Replying to: ruking1 (Dec 07, 2007 5:18 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Dec 08, 2007 5:51 am)

Essentially I do what you do. While the Civic does get good fuel mileage, on the down side one can indeed get 40-42 mpg (better or worse obviously) and get ranges of 560-588 miles or so, You can STILL run out of fuel, if you are not calculating on most probable data.
 
Since I have a diesel, even on longer trips passing into some of America's remote deserts, it is a no brainer to let it go till the fuel lamp and buzzer goes off, as I know from several data sources there is at least 2.4 gals or app 100-142 miles to go. Depending on how one drives the range can be from 700-826 miles.
 
I also am mindful of the 1/4 tank metric, especially on my SUV in the snow. I have been on those snow trips that are supposed to take 3.5 hours and wind up taking 10 hours. Naturally EVERYONE else is running out of fuel as I am....Of course you line up at the only mountain fuel station for miles around and get into line and think lets head to the restroom,... which is already 43 folks deep.
 
Reminds me of a filling stop I made once on the way to San Diego, CA. The attendant came out of literally an old 1950's style room and insisted on pumping the gas. Since he was going to monitor the process I asked where his rest room was. He sort of hesitated and then the lights came on and pointed in the direction and said the odd house was over there. Sure enough when I went in it WAS an odd house. I was half way expecting Rod Sterling to surface and announce the next episode of the Twillight ZONE!!

Replying to: shipo (Dec 08, 2007 5:51 am)

Replying to: shipo (Dec 08, 2007 5:51 am)

Shipo,
 
I was replying to a poster that said:
 
"I guess the safe range to refuel is 400-450 range"
  
I replied with : "With over 50 years of driving, I've found the safest range is when the needle gets to the 1/4 tank mark. People have gotten stranded figuring that out!"
 
In other words keep an eye on that fuel gauge, not the number of miles driven.
 
Hopefully that will help undo your confusion!
"I'm trying to figure out how you came to that conclusion."
 
In my younger and more "foolish" years I got stranded for several hours at night with a wife and baby in the car because I thought I had enough gas, but didn't. That gas station that was supposed to be open wasn't!
 
As with you, I have also turned a few wrenches in my life, for a living. That has nothing to do with running out of fuel because we chose to let it get too low. Where the fuel gauge is located is not a concern of mine, and has nothing to do with my post.
 
I don't believe believe that keeping at least 1/4 tank of fuel is "Way too conservative" as you put it. I don't care to run on the ragged edge. I have no problem pulling into a station at 1/4 tank, like you have no problem pulling in when the light comes on.
 
Here are a couple of other things I believe.
 
I would much better have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
From the Harley Folks. "If I have to explain it, you probably won't understand".
 
Regards,
 
Kip

Replying to: eldaino (Mar 22, 2007 10:26 am)

Between fillups in Solvang and L.A., almost the entire drive on freeways with free-flowing traffic, my MPG came out to be 33.5

Replies to this message:
• thegraduate (Dec 10, 2007 9:20 am)
• ruking1 (Dec 10, 2007 9:44 am)