Aeromodded Civic VX 72mpg (image heavy)

[The donkey CRX]

Thanks Redneck, I was surprised also with the high number. We are still having nearly perfect weather here for good numbers.

I think it will take several tanks to see just how effective these mods are and don't forget I am traveling my well worn and familiar 108 mile route to the shop and back each day.

[OG VX]

We'll, I'm now able to view "photobucket" at work, which is awesome, because I just spent my morning break and lunch (finally) reading through your thread beginning to end. SO awesome, and so much info. Thank you sir!

Do you have any detailed pics of the sideskirts you can put up on the mule? Also, for the Kammback on the show-VX? I like its shape!

Thought of deleting the pinstripe on the white VX? Think it would really clean up the aesthetics of an (already) sweet looking VX. Also, I assume this will be shown at shows, etc... Thought of going with JDM/EDM SiR (Stanley) headlights and corners? This would be a great addition for the Honda-heads.

Keep it up!!!!

[The donkey CRX]

Here is the only current picture I could find on the side skirts.





I will make some more detailed ones tomorrow.
I removed the lower "rubber" trim piece from the car first. The skirt is actually attached to the side of the frame for the belly pan, which comes out flush with the bottom of the car. I made a top piece from thin sheet metal that attaches to the top of the skirt and angles up to "fill the gap" between the skirt and door sill. The skirt is 6 inches wide and is about 5 inches from the ground.

I will get a close up picture of the Kammback also. It is made from carbon fiber.

This car belongs to my brother, so he will be making all decisions about the "show" part of this project

[j12piprius]

Originally Posted by The donkey CRX

I practice different speeds and momentum to get the very best MPG according to my MPGuino. If the "Guido" doesn't say it's the best MPG, I try whatever speed will get the best MPG depending on the traffic flow around me.

Considering a level road with no wind, what speed range have you found to be optimal for best MPG?

When using DWL, are you keeping a constant throttle all of the time?

[The donkey CRX]

John, based on your above parameters, the best speed for optimal MPG is between 38 and 40 MPH. At 40 MPH my 92 VX is at about 1100 RPM and vacuum between 15 and 20 inches. This gives me between 90 and 150 MPG on the instant MPG screen with the MPGuino. I constantly make very small changes in the throttle position to maximize the instant MPG reading on the MPGuino while DWL.

The best explanation I have seen of this technique is found on this site with a thread started by Ever_Green that talks about keeping the engine in an "Over Square" condition where RPMs/100 are always less than your inches of vacuum.

Not only do I keep the engine in an Over Square condition as much as possible, but I strive to keep it at 1 1/2 or 2 times Over Square. (RPM at 1100/100 and vacuum at 15 to 21 inches)

This is were the "magic" MPG numbers are found with my 92 VX.

[The donkey CRX]

OG, Here are the pictures I promised you. First the Kammback on the white 94 VX. My brother said he got it at CCC Racing and he paid $150 about 2 years ago.












The Kammback is 10 inches wide and I know it is helping with aero because it created a "dead air" spot that collects dust and rain drops on the back glass. That's why I added the rear wiper.

Here are some more pictures of the side skirts. I know you will make some that look much better and I plan to copy them for the white 95 VX. HA!

Here is how I attached the skirt to the door opening and also how I "filled the gap" left when the factory "rubber" accent piece was removed.




Here is how the skirt looks from under the car where it attached to the belly pan.



tp://s855.photobucket.com/user/jesharber1/media/DSCN0242_zps0040b18e.jpg.html]

Here is some detail of how the skirt is attached to the belly pan and the door opening "gap filler". The bottom fastener is a 6/32 bolt attached to the belly pan frame with a 6/32 nylock nut to make a stud that the 6/32 nylock nut you see is used to attach the 2mm coroplast.






Let me know if you have any other questions.

[basjoos]

Originally Posted by The donkey CRX

John, based on your above parameters, the best speed for optimal MPG is between 38 and 40 MPH. At 40 MPH my 92 VX is at about 1100 RPM and vacuum between 15 and 20 inches. This gives me between 90 and 150 MPG on the instant MPG screen with the MPGuino. I constantly make very small changes in the throttle position to maximize the instant MPG reading on the MPGuino while DWL.

The best explanation I have seen of this technique is found on this site with a thread started by Ever_Green that talks about keeping the engine in an "Over Square" condition where RPMs/100 are always less than your inches of vacuum.

Not only do I keep the engine in an Over Square condition as much as possible, but I strive to keep it at 1 1/2 or 2 times Over Square. (RPM at 1100/100 and vacuum at 15 to 21 inches)

This is were the "magic" MPG numbers are found with my 92 VX.

I get something similar with the aerocivic. Find a long, flat, lightly trafficked road on a hot summer day, accelerate up to 45mph, set the hand throttle for 120mpg on the SuperMID (its about 16" vacuum), and see where the speed ends up several miles down the road. At 120mpg, the speed will eventually settle out at 35 to 40mph. At 100mpg its 40 to 45mph.

[j12piprius]

Last night, with the car warmed up, I got up to 60 mph on the freeway, then aimed to keep the car at 50 to 60 MAP, while watching the instant mpg and trying to keep it above 50 or 60 mpg on the flat. However, the car was not able to maintain this, and kept dropping off with the speed. After 15 miles of this, the average was only at 35 mpg, the lowest by far since getting the Ultragauge, at an average of 52 mph.

At this point I went back to pulse & Dfco or Eonc for most of the rest of the trip, with a couple of attempts at DWL, which seemed to only work when there was a gradual downhill, but not any better than my usual methods. My average ended up being 48.5 mpg for the 58 mile round trip. I feel there is something in my car that is holding it back.

The Rpm of my Civic is [correction] 2800 at 60 mph, but beyond that, this car has never coasted very well, not anywhere close to as well as my old '89 Chevy Celebrity. However it drops like a rock on moderate to steep downhills, which makes me think there is excess drag in something mechanical in the car, maybe the brakes, that is causing a drag beyond aerodynamics. I changed the trans fluid a couple of months ago. Let me know any ideas, and perhaps I will start a thread about this.

[PaleMelanesian]

Originally Posted by johnlvs2run

The Rpm of my Civic is around 2300 at 60 mph, but beyond that, this car has never coasted very well, not anywhere close to as well as my old '89 Chevy Celebrity. However it drops like a rock on moderate to steep downhills, which makes me think there is excess drag in something mechanical in the car, maybe the brakes, that is causing a drag beyond aerodynamics. I changed the trans fluid a couple of months ago. Let me know any ideas, and perhaps I will start a thread about this.

Seems to me you answered it yourself, with the 2300 rpm bit.

I miss having rpm even that low. My Fit is running 2850 rpm at 60.

[vrmouseyd15b]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

Seems to me you answered it yourself, with the 2300 rpm bit.

I miss having rpm even that low. My Fit is running 2850 rpm at 60.

WHOA! 2850!?!? wow your right foot must be really smart and that little motor must be crazy efficient to average 70mpg's! sweet!