1998 Civic EX Stock MPG (what's reasonable to expect? 40 MPG? < 70 mph)

[Lag is Free]

I apologize in advance if this has already been covered, but I haven't been able to find any threads talking about what sort of mileage to expect from a stock 98 EX Civic with good driving habits. The EPA says 27 city, 33 highway and I find that ridiculous for a tiny 4 cylinder! Were they constantly using V-TEC or what? My question is for the people that have owned, or own stock EX Civics. I'd love to achieve close 40mpg with minimal modifications, but I don't really see that happening with the shorter geared transmission. I hardly ever go above 70mph on the higway, and I was managing 25 in my 2004 Evo 8 before I up and sold it because I was sick of dumping money into it. Any help would be appreciated. Awesome forum!

[darcane]

EPA sez: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
25/32

Actual normal drivers say: 1998 Honda Civic MPG Reports | Fuelly
31.7 Ave (all '98 Civics)

Actual abnormal drivers say: EcoModder Fleet list - EcoModder.com
Average is probably about 38mpg from a quick skim, some getting up to 50mpg average.

[some_other_dave]

The FE you can get out of the car depends a whole lot on just how you drive it. There are people who can get 50+ MPG out of it reliably, day-in-day-out, year after year. There are also those who cannot get any better than 25 MPG.

Depending on your exact circumstances, 40 MPG should be well within reach. You just have to be willing to drive in a way that gets you 40 MPG.

-soD

[Lag is Free]

Thanks for the quick replies! I'm going to go check one out now and was curious. I drive like an old lady wherever I go. Hardly ever shift above 3K. I was managing like 24 city in my Evo and the EPA is below 20.

[MetroMPG]

3K RPM is "supercarracecardriver" around here, not "old lady".

Kidding (sort of).

Get yourself MPG instrumentation to start. You want instant & resettable trip gauges. Turn your commute into a game!

With driving technique and a few easy modifications you'll see gains.

Welcome to the forum!

[PaleMelanesian]

With the right routes and techniques it can do amazing things. The EX is only handicapped against my old DX on the highway. Anywhere below 50 mph it should be equally capable.

Get a scangauge. It will teach you more than any 1000's of words we can write.

[sarguy01]

Wait, do you own this car?? If you are in the market, consider a non-EX. The taller gears will net you better mileage.

[Lag is Free]

thanks for all the awesome replies guys! I'm looking forward to my ventures into the super MPG hall of fame. I'm trying to find me a 96 - 2000 HX 5 speed right now, but they seem to be fairly rare or they just haven't been taken care of. I can get an EX quicker is the only advantage to having an EX.

I also hear that the ECM and wideband 02 on the HX tend to be very expensive and go out at the higher miles.

[poomanchu]

I almost went for a EX and sprang for a DX because it was cheap. Looking for HX's here in Colorado is a bit hard, seems there are many other mpg minded drivers looking for them as well bringing the prices up.

I did want the EX but if I had I probably would have never found this site lol. The DX and it's long gear trans got me thinking, and a google search of civic dx mpg mods brought me here xD

Goodluck with the mpg hall of fame

[California98Civic]

If you're handy or willing to become so, get the best 96-00 you can find, whether DX, CX, or EX, and swap the transmission with a 92-95 VX or CX. Works really nicely on the freeway to keep 60 mph RPMs to about 2000-2100. My DX transmission was at 2400-2500 RPMs at that speed. The EX is closer to 2800 rpms at 60mph. The only downside it that the taller 1st and 2cd gears in the VX/CX transmissions might not be ideal for city MPG, only because their spacing is awkward and you end up shifting at less than ideal rpms. For example, if I shift from 2cd at 2200 rpms, I can find myself down at something like 1300 in third. I liked how the DX made it easy to accelerate to speed from a stop while staying in the 1700-2100 ranges always, through all gears. But I would definitely never trade back: I score 60s and 70s instant MPG routinely on level freeway in mild weather traveling over 60mph.