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Old 06-20-2008, 01:01 PM   #1 (permalink)
ZachUA
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: South
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Finally hit my goal of 40+...

Finally hit 41mpg in the Civic, but I'm still a little disappointed considering the amount of effort I put in. It is a 98 Civic EX 2 door with all options and 170k miles. Has new plugs/wires/distributor and a fresh oil change.

Shouldn't have been difficult to break 40 since I was already averaging 34mpg mixed city/interstate or 37.xx all interstate.

This tank was about 75% interstate 25% hwy..

Here is what I did:

1. Tires inflated to 45psi
2. extra weight removed from trunk (tools, clutter, etc)
3. neutral glide used on almost all downhill and some on flat ground
4. EOC on any downhill where it was safe which was surprisingly quite often
5. Never shifted above 2k rpms
6. No A/C
7. No radio
8. Windows down (didn't help but it's too hot here, was sweating even with them down)
9. stayed between 60-65 on the interstate but decelerated to 55-59 at end of EOC or glides.

I was expecting to see 45+ mpg and was a little disappointed it was only 41.

It was a lot of work to stay at the right speed, and to remember to push in the clutch everytime I could coast or to remember to shut off the engine on nice long slopes. Also, driving 60-65 when everyone else is doing 80 is down right nerve racking. I tried to do most of my traveling at night since traffic was lighter.

Any ideas on what I could do to break 45mpg?

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