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Honda Civic Real World MPG

2058 messages,  Last post on Aug 26, 2009 at 6:19 PM

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What is this discussion about? Honda Civic, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)

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#1387 of 2058 Re: e light 445 miles [kipk] by shipo Dec 08, 2007 (5:51 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)
#1388 of 2058 Re: best tank mileage??? [ruking1] by ras314 Dec 08, 2007 (6:24 am)
Replying to: ruking1 (Dec 07, 2007 5:18 pm) Aye. Our two local stations don't use credit card pumps and usually open around 8 am. So I really want to know if I can make it to the next available nighttime gas which is 100 miles some directions.   For the Civic that is around 1/4 tank (it appears to read about right anywhere below 1/2 tank) to be on the safe side.
#1389 of 2058 Re: e light 445 miles [shipo] by ruking1 Dec 08, 2007 (8:27 am)
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!!
#1390 of 2058 Re: e light 445 miles [shipo] by dgecho1 Dec 08, 2007 (12:02 pm)
Replying to: shipo (Dec 08, 2007 5:51 am) exactly! common sense unless long-distance--to-the-next -station is a problem.....
#1391 of 2058 Re: e light 445 miles [shipo] by kipk Dec 09, 2007 (4:46 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
#1392 of 2058 worse than I thought by perlster Dec 10, 2007 (7:26 am)
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)
#1393 of 2058 Re: worse than I thought [perlster] by thegraduate Dec 10, 2007 (9:20 am)
Replying to: perlster (Dec 10, 2007 7:26 am) Average speed? Hills? Temps? A/C use? Do you pass often or stay in the right lane? Downshift much?
#1394 of 2058 Re: worse than I thought [perlster] by ruking1 Dec 10, 2007 (9:44 am)
Replying to: perlster (Dec 10, 2007 7:26 am) Wow! Sans the various "rush" hours, Highway 101 from app Gilroy to LA is like a mini American autobahn. It of course runs right through America's "fruit and bread basket" (agricultural heart) so to speak. So on many levels, a very interesting north/south (vice versa) corridor. For 4 or so years, I have made monthly R/T 's on that corridor from the San Jose area to normally Santa Barbara. Maybe every quarter, I wind up in Santa Monica.   When I have taken the Civic, I get app 38/40 mpg. More normally, I take a Jetta TDI and depending on speed, get 48-52 mpg as a comparison. I generally go slower in the (gasser) Civic, as it is not as road worthy, nor gets as good fuel mileage as the TDI Jetta. I swag if I drove it like the Jetta I'd lose maybe 1-3 mpg. Conversely, I swag if I drove the TDI Jetta like the Civic, I'd gain anywhere from 2/3 mpg better.
#1395 of 2058 Sold by sebring95 Dec 10, 2007 (10:22 am)
Well I broke a record. I sold the '07 Civic after two months and 6,000 miles. I really hadn't planned to sell it but the seat comfort really nagged at me on some long trips last week and the offer presented itself. Lost around $500 in two months. Cheaper than a rental.   Average mpg according to logs was 34mpg in a relatively heavy highway use at 70mph. No problems except for a buzzing in the headliner and a clanging noise in the front door (when you shut the back door.....). Dealer was performing first service at 6,400 miles (25% on OLI) and fixing the headliner buzz when the deal was struck.   The good news is I don't travel nearly as much for the next few months so I'm going to spend that time finding a formidable replacement. Most likely a very very well maintained, mint, used TDI. The bad news is whatever driving I do will be in either my gas guzzling Odyssey or Tundra. C-ya on the TDI forum Ruking1. Replies to this message: ruking1 (Dec 10, 2007 10:46 am) sebring95 (Dec 10, 2007 11:05 am)
#1396 of 2058 Re: Sold [sebring95] by ruking1 Dec 10, 2007 (10:46 am)
Replying to: sebring95 (Dec 10, 2007 10:22 am) Way cool! Actually your results confirm (my own) Honda research done before I bought my 2004. Got to say I am happy for you! So good luck in your up coming search!   While I do not think the new 35 mpg, 2020 standard has started to necessarily firmed up prices for THOSE vehicles that do in fact GET 35 mpg NOW, for my .02 cents it makes sense to have at least one vehicle (going forward) that does in fact get app 35 mpg.   If I was on the market for a used TDI, it would be probably for a used 2003 Jetta/New Beetle/Golf (boring I know) or some variant of the MB E320 diesel. Not to rag on VW, but I am alright with bypassing the TDI PD engine. However I am lead to believe the 2006 (TDI) had a huge jump in quality. Some say it approaches BMW quality. I have gone to the local show room to see them and watched almost in horror as the salesman climbed on to hang off an opened drivers side door, but since there was no CA TDI didnt really want to take one (gasser) out. Replies to this message: sebring95 (Dec 10, 2007 11:05 am)

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