Honda Civic Real World MPG

Replying to: dantz (Jun 24, 2009 11:48 am)

>"ras314, I'm sorry to hear that the scangauge doesn't display a steady enough instantaneous mileage reading to accurately measure the effects of A/C in a Civic. It's interesting that kipk has managed to do it in a Pilot. Perhaps the lighter, less powerful Civic is more at the mercy of small changes such as road grade, road condition, wind direction and intensity, etc. and this makes it harder to get a steady reading. "
 
Dantz,
 
You may be right about the Pilot being a bit more "steady" as measured on the SG. Perhaps it is the Extra bulk and weight of the Pilot.
 
The S. Gauge does fluctuate constantly though, even though the road appears to be somewhat stable in grade or lack of grade. Some of those fluctuations are more than expected. For example when a large "Box" truck or 18 wheeler passes from the opposite direction, on a 2 lane road, there may be a 3-5 mpg drop in mileage for a few seconds. When being passed from behind by one of them, there will be an increase in mileage.
 
Something I just can't really understand is:
 
Sometimes with the Cruise ON, and about to descend a long grade, with an equal appearing uphill grade to follow, I will reset the "Current Mileage" (Average mileage), so it can keep track of the average for that test. Then click on the "Instant" mileage. These numbers are not exact but somewhat representative.
 
When decending the SC may show (Instant Mileage) from 56 mpg to 9999 (maxxed out) . When ascending the next grade, the SC may show 23 to 18. For those 2 grades the "Current Mileage" will show something like 27 mpg average for the short trip involving the 2 grades.
 
I've double checked it by doing the same on the return trip on the same 2 grades and the result is similar It just boggles this old brain! .
 
Kip

In 75 to 80 degree weather we will ride with all 4 windows cracked about 2 inches. If that keeps us comfortable fine. If it occasionally gets a bit hot due to sun or what ever, we will roll up the windows and do the recirculate AC ON and Off thing, IF every 10 to 15 minutes will keep the temperature about right.
 
But those circumstances are rare or short lived. So if it gets too hot with the windows cracked, we will likely turn on the AC, with it set at 77 degrees, and let the Climate Control do it's thing. One less thing to be concerned about, and that is why we got it. Most or all the loss in mileage with the AC ON can be made up by dropping the speed a bit.
 
Slightly lower speed and comfortable environment makes for a more pleasant trip.
 
We tend to get all concerned about mileage and do things we think will get the best possible.
 
Paying $0.20 more for premium fuel in a "Regular car, has no effect and not necessary unless traveling 80 mph in the mountains with a full load and towing a trailer in 100+ temperatures. (sarcasm)
 
Paying 3-6 cents less for crappy gas doesn't really save anything and may actually cost more in the long run due to poor mileage, injector fouling, and so forth.
 
Drafting an 18 wheeler will cost you more WHEN the stones, road dabree, and eventual crash mess up the front of your car.
 
If we really think that traveling 80+ saves gas because we were on the road a shorter period of time, we may have inhaled too much exhaust from that 18 wheeler we were drafting.
 
Bottom line is that the throttle and driving techniques have more to do with mileage than anything else. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvrQQq9d2no
Kip

Replies to this message:
• ruking1 (Jun 25, 2009 9:09 am)
• backy (Jun 25, 2009 10:03 am)
  • dantz (Jun 25, 2009 12:21 pm)
    • ruking1 (Jun 25, 2009 1:48 pm) and 2 more...
  • kipk (Jun 26, 2009 3:28 am)

Replying to: kipk (Jun 25, 2009 2:33 am)

Replying to: kipk (Jun 25, 2009 2:33 am)

Replies to this message:
• dantz (Jun 25, 2009 12:21 pm)
  • ruking1 (Jun 25, 2009 1:48 pm)
    • dantz (Jun 25, 2009 2:55 pm) and 1 more...
• kipk (Jun 26, 2009 3:28 am)

Replying to: backy (Jun 25, 2009 10:03 am)

Replies to this message:
• ruking1 (Jun 25, 2009 1:48 pm)
  • dantz (Jun 25, 2009 2:55 pm)
    • ruking1 (Jun 25, 2009 4:08 pm)

Replying to: dantz (Jun 25, 2009 12:21 pm)

Replies to this message:
• dantz (Jun 25, 2009 2:55 pm)
  • ruking1 (Jun 25, 2009 4:08 pm)

Replying to: ruking1 (Jun 25, 2009 1:48 pm)

Replies to this message:
• ruking1 (Jun 25, 2009 4:08 pm)

Replying to: dantz (Jun 25, 2009 2:55 pm)

Replying to: backy (Jun 25, 2009 10:03 am)

>"Heard a radio report today that said over 40 mph, it's more efficient to run the AC than leave windows open."
 
Yep, if the windows cracked 2" is not cool enough, we will usually turn on the AC and deal with the mileage. On rare occasions using the ON/OFF recirculate when outside temps/sun are borderline and the ON/OFF doesn't require any more than 4-5 times per hour. But that is rare.
 
Real world: 300 miles at 32 mpg will consume 9.4 gallons of fuel. The same 300 miles at 34 MPG will use 8.8 gallons. At even $3 per gallon the savings at 32 mpg is $1.80. Not much of a savings to be uncomfortable for 300 miles.
 
With the Pilot, (25mpg vs. 27 mpg) the savings would be $2.67. Still not worth it to me!
 
Kip

Replying to: ras314 (Jun 24, 2009 2:20 am)

Replies to this message:
• ruking1 (Jun 26, 2009 7:32 am)
  • kltron (Jun 26, 2009 8:55 am)
    • ruking1 (Jun 26, 2009 10:36 am)