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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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#2022 of 2058 Re: Bottom line on me and AC [backy] by dantz Jun 25, 2009 (12:21 pm)
Replying to: backy (Jun 25, 2009 10:03 am) I've never understood the point of those "A/C versus wide-open windows" comparisons.   I've found that when driving at highway speeds in warm weather with the A/C off, it's a lot more enjoyable to keep the windows almost entirely closed. If I need some extra airflow then I just crack the right rear window an inch or so and turn up the fan. This produces plenty of ventilation, and there's far less wind noise than you would get from four wide-open windows. 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)
#2023 of 2058 Re: Bottom line on me and AC [dantz] by ruking1 Jun 25, 2009 (1:48 pm)
Replying to: dantz (Jun 25, 2009 12:21 pm) In light of this A/C bru ha ha, perhaps I should add this addendum to msg #2013. The mpg figures are with A/C USE. Replies to this message: dantz (Jun 25, 2009 2:55 pm) ruking1 (Jun 25, 2009 4:08 pm)
#2024 of 2058 Re: Bottom line on me and AC [ruking1] by dantz Jun 25, 2009 (2:55 pm)
Replying to: ruking1 (Jun 25, 2009 1:48 pm) Hmmm, that's true. Of course, in light of this you'd think that the Civic DX (which doesn't even include an A/C unit) would get better EPA mileage than the DX-VP (which includes A/C), but there is no published difference. What did they do, drag a bunch of tin cans behind the DX to "adjust" for the lack of an A/C? The alternative explanation is that the Civic's A/C appears to have a negligible effect on the overall fuel economy. Replies to this message: ruking1 (Jun 25, 2009 4:08 pm)
#2025 of 2058 Re: Bottom line on me and AC [dantz] by ruking1 Jun 25, 2009 (4:08 pm)
Replying to: dantz (Jun 25, 2009 2:55 pm) I always use the A/C when situations call for it. I just don't cycle it on/off, on/off anymore (reasons are in a past post). It is also a good tip to use the air recycling mode.
#2026 of 2058 Re: Bottom line on me and AC [backy] by kipk Jun 26, 2009 (3:28 am)
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
#2027 of 2058 Re: AC's effect on acceleration and mileage [ras314] by kltron Jun 26, 2009 (6:37 am)
Replying to: ras314 (Jun 24, 2009 2:20 am) > I have a scan gauge and tried many times to determine the effect of the AC on mileage. Instantaneous mileage jumps around to much to make any comparison with AC on or off.   Have you tried using the fuel flow rate display on the ScanGauge (I think it's GPH (gallons per hour)) instead of the instant MPG?   - Flat stretch of road - Enable cruise control - View the fuel flow rate display, which "should be" somewhat steady - Turn A/C on and see the effect   Maybe looking at the fuel flow rate instead of instant MPG for this type of experiment might help?   ...kl... 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)
#2028 of 2058 Re: AC's effect on acceleration and mileage [kltron] by ruking1 Jun 26, 2009 (7:32 am)
Replying to: kltron (Jun 26, 2009 6:37 am) It might sound like a plan. I do not have a scan gauge, so I am just reacting to the instantaneous readings, I have in two (different) vehicles. They are almost utterly USELESS in terms of actual mpg. So for example, I wish the Z06 could actually get a instantaneous 75-95 mpg for the REAL pencil and paper (24-26)mpg !!!   Understanding that even among A/C's there are subtle to massive effect differences, I was struck by the fact that NONE of the oem owners manuals I have or ever looked at even address the procedure of stabilizing the A/C, setting the fan speed to #1 and adjust cooling for maximum mpg !! On Civic's setting the air flow to recycling air. Certainly no one addresses not cycling it on an off and its effects. Replies to this message: kltron (Jun 26, 2009 8:55 am) ruking1 (Jun 26, 2009 10:36 am)
#2029 of 2058 Re: AC's effect on acceleration and mileage [ruking1] by kltron Jun 26, 2009 (8:55 am)
Replying to: ruking1 (Jun 26, 2009 7:32 am) The "instant MPG" display on the ScanGauge helped me learn how to drive the Civic for better mileage. It's possible that the ScanGauge refreshes its display a little more often than the display on the dashboard, so the ScanGauge might be more useful as a "learning tool", kinda like those old "fuel economy" needle gauges from the 1970s. Overall, though, I usually wind up considering the trip MPG on the ScanGauge more useful, as starting out the mpg reads next to nothing but then grows and grows throughout the trip, usually to 41 or 43mpg (sometimes less if the car is in a bad mood...sometimes more for the right conditions).   BTW...9999 in the ScanGauge comes up because some cars turn off the fuel injectors when coasting (especially long downhill stretches or if using the engine to slow the car down) and the tranny is turning the engine. The ScanGauge doesn't know if your car turns off the fuel injectors or not, so there's a way to "tell" it using a threshold value which will vary by model of car. 9999 basically means "fuel off" if your car has that capability. This may apply to manual transmissions only.   Anyway, I mentioned before that it's frustrating that the A/C comes on in the Civic for the defroster. I'm sure there are times when it does not need to--I hardly ever used the A/C with the defroster in my old Integra. Then in the Civic if you switch from defrost to something else, the A/C stays on until you shut off the fan and turn it back on even if the green A/C light is not on. So you could be running the A/C and not even know it! Replies to this message: ruking1 (Jun 26, 2009 10:36 am)
#2030 of 2058 Re: AC's effect on acceleration and mileage [kltron] by ruking1 Jun 26, 2009 (10:36 am)
Replying to: kltron (Jun 26, 2009 8:55 am) ..."Anyway, I mentioned before that it's frustrating that the A/C comes on in the Civic for the defroster. I'm sure there are times when it does not need to--I hardly ever used the A/C with the defroster in my old Integra. Then in the Civic if you switch from defrost to something else, the A/C stays on until you shut off the fan and turn it back on even if the green A/C light is not on. So you could be running the A/C and not even know it! "...   For me, another reason why I like the A/C controls and not the "climate-Temperature" controls. On the "climate-temperature" control, it would indeed be oxymoronic for you to hit the defroster (without A/C) and the winshield actually gets more foggy !!?? (with the resulting safety consequences?) So I think they opted to go for MANDATORY operation of the A/C in this (small) regard.
#2031 of 2058 2009 EX Coupe, 5 Speed by rtj525 Jun 28, 2009 (6:38 pm)
Purchased new in February. After 6900 miles of mostly highway driving the MPG has worked out to 37.69. Very happy with the Civic.

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