Hello from the PNW with a 98 Civic EX - Page 2 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

California98Civic · 06-07-2018, 11:35 AM

I realize you feel you are driving it the same way as before. We have all been there. But without good gauges to monitor average speed, throttle position, engine load %, and other factors and without a clear indication of how you did your fueling each time there are simply far too many variables. Further variables: average daily temperatures affects fuel economy. Imperceptible changes in foot position can have significant impact on engine load. Small changes in average speed can adversely affect average fuel economy. Put a few of these together and you can rather easily account for your drop in FE--even though you feel like everything was the same. If you want to see for yourself, buy a fuel economy gauge for your OBD2 port, such as an UltraGauge or a ScanGauge. Buying one of those might be the best money you invest. Used well, you will get its cost back after a few tanks.

Smithcraft · 06-07-2018, 01:16 PM

Correct. No two days will be identical in driving conditions.

However if one looks at a history of data, one can see a trend.

California98Civic · 06-07-2018, 03:27 PM

As far as fuel economy goes, your car appears to be operating more or less to spec for an automatic '98 Civic EX. Congrats, you fixed it! If you don't want to consider hypermile techniques & don't want to mod it, you are basically where you will be in terms of fuel economy. Enjoy your car, man.

Smithcraft · 06-07-2018, 03:53 PM

I guess I'll just try to forget that it did get ~32 MPG.

Stubby79 · 06-07-2018, 11:57 PM

Was your timing advanced or retarded before you set it properly? Advanced might explain it. (I'm rather surprised that Honda was still using a distributor in '98)

Smithcraft · 06-08-2018, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stubby79

Was your timing advanced or retarded before you set it properly? Advanced might explain it. (I'm rather surprised that Honda was still using a distributor in '98)

Trust me, I was also surprised that Honda was still using distributers in 98! I even had a discussion about changing the timing at the local stealership with a service writer who didn't believe me.

Sorry, but I don't recall was the timing was at when I adjusted it.