1st Post! Civic - Engine Temp/ Transmission Temp Question
 

Long time lurker, first time poster. I have been following and searching this forum for quite a while and finally decided to do some things I have learned. So I recently sold my Audi A4 for a more fuel efficient (and much cheaper to maintain) car. I now have a 1998 Civic EX Auto.

My daily commute is about 6 mi each way, and I go out for lunch 3 or so times a week, so maybe another 3 or 4 mi. The areas I drive in aren't the safest for bicycling so that is why I just don't bike that distance. This car is far better on gas than my Audi was.

My question is:
How hot is too hot for the engine temp/coolant? I do not have a scan gauge yet. But after some of my trips I was concerned about the transmission temp. I know the transmission is cooled with the radiator as well. So at lunch I cut about 2 inches by 4 inches out of the grill block . Still have the top uncovered.

Also about to upgrade my wheels and tires to HX wheels with 195/60/14s, Ideas on how that will affect my MPG?

The obvious is that you need one of these:

Amazon.com: ERUSUN® v1.5 Bluetooth Mini Small Interface OBD2 Scanner Adapter Compatible with Android / Droid Torque: Home Improvement

Or perhaps a Ultragauge/Scangauge. Your block is too much if you're causing the radiator fan to come on frequently while moving. You can tell if it is with an OBD scanner, or perhaps (if you're handy with wiring) with a small LED.

Do you have any instrumentation to monitor FE yet?

No monitoring yet, not live atleast. My FE is monitored by Miles Driven/Fuel added. I like the idea of an LED. I may have to do that. And I did just edit my post, I have added a cutout in the block for fear of overheating things.

Duct Tape Civic Grill Blockers are Awesome (in the winter)!

I removed my lower grill block with the warmer weather. The upper grill block is still in place. For a while, it seemed like spring would never come here in NJ.

What Ecky said ... if you have a smartphone, get an OBD dongle and a good app or two.

There's a bunch of stuff in my Ain't Fuelin playlist that you might enjoy (OBD stuff, grill blocks, etc ... my first project car is a '99 HX):

https://youtu.be/54mIEWdUesA?list=PL...R754kIg_V8Aahm

Not sure what kind of bump you might see with the HX wheels. What tire will you be using? I'm happily running OEM size (185/65-14) with Michelin Defenders.

The transmission cooler is in the radiator, where the cooler (exit) coolant flows into the engine. For those short trips you describe, the transmission fluid probably does not reach it's normal operating temperatiure.

Even on longer trips the thermostat will open more if tranny coolant temps casue the engine coolant to be significantly hotter.

I would worry more if you encountered significant grades for miles which would cause greater demand on the radiator for cooling both the engine and transmission.

On the old Chrysler Corp Plymouth State Police cars, they blocked the tranny cooler lines off. Even automatics radiate alot of heat from the transmission case itself.

Always good to minitor the temps anyway, but short hauls will never overheat a transmission.

regards
mech

Thanks everyone for the input. HX tires and 195/60/14's, not ideal, but they came with the wheels, and when they are do for a replacement i'll look for a LRR tire! Thanks for the video! Saved it! Will also get an OBD dongle to start checking some numbers!