Civic Si: Your Gas Mileage

[Janizary]

www.scanguage.com

Under 5K and 'spirited' don't really mix well. Getting good mileage in the Si really means keeping your foot out of the gas, keeping your RPMs down, and going rather slow on the interstate (67ish or under). Really, its a zen exercise and likely to cause an stroke if you are impatient (or sick, like doing 47 in 6th gear on a flat several miles of road just to see how 'high' you can get your MPG reading to go for a sustained period...or coasting downhill to watch the MPG go over 300mpg, just for fun)

Most are calculating mileage based on "trip miles/fill gallons".

[Usui]

My first 2 tanks I'm at 22.8 mpg... which is terrible because I bought the Si instead of something else because I thought I'd easily get 28 or better. I'll give it some time as the engine is still breaking in and it's winter.

I just wanted to know what gear speeds are the cruising speeds. I've been trying to keep the RPMS above 3000 as it feels like the engine is bogging below that. If it's better to cruise at a gear with the RPMs at ~2500, then I'd like to know.

[Nepenthe]

Originally Posted by Usui

My first 2 tanks I'm at 22.8 mpg... which is terrible because I bought the Si instead of something else because I thought I'd easily get 28 or better. I'll give it some time as the engine is still breaking in and it's winter.

I just wanted to know what gear speeds are the cruising speeds. I've been trying to keep the RPMS above 3000 as it feels like the engine is bogging below that. If it's better to cruise at a gear with the RPMs at ~2500, then I'd like to know.

Well I try to keep at 2000 or above in 2nd, 2500 or above in 3rd and 4th, and 2800 or 3000 (depending on conditions) or above in 5th and 6th. I even made a little cheat sheet for myself showing at what speed I could shift into the next gear and not drop below these levels. Your results may vary, and my gearing is a little taller due to slightly larger diameter tires.

I'd say at a minimum keep her above 2500 in 5th and 6th, but opinions will vary. The engine just feels very weak at low revs (below 2500) in the top gears, and lugging an engine is never a good idea (it's extremely bad during break-in).

[[IVI]]

For those of you that use a Palm, I found a program called MyCar that will help you keep track of all of your fill-ups and gas mileage. You have to be diligent about putting the information in everytime you fill up, but it does give you a really good idea of what's going on. Since I bought my Si in August of 2006, I have spent $671.78 in gas with an average mpg of 29.015. Funny thing is, since the car is no longer a daily driver, the last time I filled it up with gas was 12/19/06 and I've still got 1/2 of a tank left!

[Janizary]

I've used that and the scripted export to Excel for my tracking.

What I'd really like to see is a OBDII real-time reader for Palm. I'd love to use my Palm, in car, for more extensive readings that I can get on the SG2. (Dreamlist: Bluetooth connectivity) Why not? They've got truck kits for the Palm E2 (wife has that one, I've got a T3).

[[IVI]]

Banks system in the truck, Janizary? I'm with you on OBDII connectivity and Bluetooth. I'm currently running a T/X. Best Palm I've ever owned.

[Janizary]

Yep, I'd like one in the car. I'd settle for just the range of gauges (adjustability would be in the 'dream' thread )

[Nepenthe]

This is just getting bad. I knew this month wouldn't be great (weather issues), but I'm just going backwards, in MPG anyway. My miles/day is way way down, however, about one fourth what it was at the beginning.

[Usui]

Dang... this kinda of upsets me. Some of you claim ~30 mpg, which I was hoping to get, but a lot of you are much lower, which is also where I am now.

I bought the civic over the WRX for the following reasons
better gas mileage
I don't need that performance or all wheel drive 99% of where I'm going, so the civic will suit me fine.

But I'm between 21-24 mpg as well. Even my V6 Gti got better gas mileage. What's going on? A little 2.0 l engine should do better.

[Nepenthe]

Originally Posted by Usui

What's going on? A little 2.0 l engine should do better.

I blame DBW.

(just kidding)

[HondaFamilyMan]

Originally Posted by [IVI]

Banks system in the truck, Janizary? I'm with you on OBDII connectivity and Bluetooth. I'm currently running a T/X. Best Palm I've ever owned.

I have a Tungsten E2. I got MPG bundled free when I bought "Pocket Money". Great little program that synchs my gas entries and runs metrics for me.

I have had this palm just over a year and now my battery won't charge all the way, kinda sucks cause it is a hard-wired battery.

I also use bluetooth to sync up with my home PC and my phone, file-sharing all the way 'round.

[Nighthawk07]

I just put my second tank in and both times I calculated 27mpg. that's 50% highway, 50% city.

[Janizary]

Originally Posted by Usui

Dang... this kinda of upsets me. Some of you claim ~30 mpg, which I was hoping to get, but a lot of you are much lower, which is also where I am now.

Don't feel bad, really. Most of those that are getting 30+ range are either:

(1) Scangauge nuts (like me)

or

(2) Have lots of HWY miles on their commutes AND keep the speeds reasonable (under 70mph)

If I am not really caring about my MPG, I run in the mid 20s. (Higher shift points, HWY speeds over 70mph, etc.) You really have to drive quite moderately to get into the 30+ range.

[Janizary]

Originally Posted by HondaFamilyMan

I have had this palm just over a year and now my battery won't charge all the way, kinda sucks cause it is a hard-wired battery.

Yes, that is one complaint that many Palm owners have after a few years. My T3 doesn't last very long on a charge anymore. I am probably going to try one of the 'unsupported' battery hacks for replacing the internal battery. If I destroy the Palm I'll just get something else. Its served me well for several years.

[Tom1222]

Originally Posted by Nighthawk07

I just put my second tank in and both times I calculated 27mpg. that's 50% highway, 50% city.

That's pretty much where it should be. I am actually getting about 28 mpg with 50/50 driving. With my daily stop and go however I am usually right at 25mpg for the average and it has been that pretty much since I have owned the car which was last June.

[Tom1222]

Originally Posted by Usui

Dang... this kinda of upsets me. Some of you claim ~30 mpg, which I was hoping to get, but a lot of you are much lower, which is also where I am now.

I bought the civic over the WRX for the following reasons
better gas mileage
I don't need that performance or all wheel drive 99% of where I'm going, so the civic will suit me fine.

But I'm between 21-24 mpg as well. Even my V6 Gti got better gas mileage. What's going on? A little 2.0 l engine should do better.

You must have has a freak VR6 GTI because mine never got more than about 16-18mpg when I had it. It was a quick little car but the gas mileage on that thing sucked. Your Si will get at least around 24 mpg even if you drive it like a mad man. Now if you mostly drive short trips and city don't expect that much more. That is pretty much what you will get. If you drive a good mix of both city and highway you should be getting between 25-28 mpg. That is pretty much what I am getting but my highway driving consists of rushhour more stop than go traffic.
Never took a long trip just Highway so I can't say how much more it would net. I would guess maybe 30+.

Also be sure to put in high octane gas. If you put in the cheap stuff in a car designed for 91+ octane don't expect fabulous gas mileage.

[skiddy]

On my last trip I averaged right inbetween 33-34 MPG. 85% of the driving was highway @ 70mph though. With a good mix of city driving I usually average out around 24-27mpg.

[Tom1222]

Originally Posted by skiddy

On my last trip I averaged right inbetween 33-34 MPG. 85% of the driving was highway @ 70mph though. With a good mix of city driving I usually average out around 24-27mpg.

That sounds about right That's what my car gets. Right about 25mpg average. A little less in this cold crappy weather. Had about -5 temperature today and -25 windchill.

[doug piston]

got 28 on my first tank.

[Usui]

I'm still around 23.5