2001 Civic HX - 48.5mpg

[California98Civic]

2500rpm at 65mph seems like it's about right for your car. The 2001 was Seventh Generation, and the gearing was a little shorter than the Sixth Gen HX. Here's a link off Honda-Tech (great site for us Honda owners, though lots of noise from haters sometimes):
Honda-Tech - View Single Post - d17 tranny gear ratio

That final drive is a shade shorter than the sixth gen HX, which was 3.750, I think.

james

[Vman455]

Originally Posted by mcamphr

Thanks I'll look into the Ultragauge - I wondered when I bought the car whether this was the original tranny. I asked about the engine and the previous owner replied that it was original - my rpms seem to settle around 2500rpm at 65mph and at 61 mph around 2300rpm. Not sure if this is normal. Most of my driving is a commute to work at 70 miles one way - I generally avoid the stop and go of traffic by leaving early in the AM and leaving earlier in the afternoon. But, it does feel like I should be posting higher numbers. Thanks - I may not know for sure until I get a MPG gauge inplace. Now, I'm second guessing my decision to remove the rear spoiler again that can be one I test with a mpg gauge.

That's right where it should be for an HX. You're lucky; my EX with shorter gears and final drive sits at 3000rpm at 65mph! 50mpg should be easy for you with some aero mods.

[mcamphr]

Well - I've been tracking my tankfuls pretty regularly and haven't yet bought a scangauge type piece of equipment. Been averaging most tankfuls around 46mpg driving around 62 mph and about a 70/30 hwy/city driving. I recently changed the struts and althougth I don't think that helped my MPG it sure does handle better. When I took in in the get the wheels aligned the guys there I was out almost 3% per front tire. Apparently the previous owner swapped in old struts and kept the adjusting bolts. I ended up ruining two tires that were only two months old because of that. But the good news is on my last 1000 mile trip my 1st tankful keeping to 59mph on the cruise control, no AC and windows rolled up I got 54.3 mpg- woo hooo - I finally broke the 50 mpg. Now I'm wondering if I can break 60mpg - next mods. Pump up air pressure, front lawn edge air dam, scanguage type device, and switch to synthtic oil for the motor and tranny, I have another big trip next month would love to break 60mpg!

[brucepick]

For no a/c and windows up, I suggest wooden beaded seat "cushions". About $13 each at a big box parts store or maybe even at WalMart. I didn't attach mine with the strings they give you, just poke the headrest support posts through between the beads as designed and it's good for me.