Base line results for 322,000 mile 98 Honda HX 5 speed

[California98Civic]

I thought I picked up 1-3mpg from my Ps delete. Love my CX/VX trans too. But I am not sure I would swap the HX trans for a VX trans because of how it will effwct when and in what gear at what speed you can attain lean burn. The super-tall VX gearing works against the HX design at our normal speeds.

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

I thought I picked up 1-3mpg from my Ps delete. Love my CX/VX trans too. But I am not sure I would swap the HX trans for a VX trans because of how it will effwct when and in what gear at what speed you can attain lean burn. The super-tall VX gearing works against the HX design at our normal speeds.

This exactly. I just couldn't get into lean burn at all. And stop and go just... Awful. The BSFC was different on that engine was higher up in the rpm range as well. The car weighed 15% more, etc etc. I love the HX trans. It's gearing is just so perfect IMO.

[DSMHondaGuy]

Originally Posted by oldtamiyaphile

I gained 1mpg by removing the PS belt on a similar car. Swapping to a manual rack means you'll get a different ratio (slower) which you may or may not want. It's very easy to just pull the belt and give it a go.

Ordinarily doing so results in a stiffer steering feel than anything else. There is a way to modify it that makes it much easier, Miata guys figured it out years ago.

Right now I'm most interested in low investment high return modifications though.

[oldtamiyaphile]

Originally Posted by DSMHondaGuy

Ordinarily doing so results in a stiffer steering feel than anything else. There is a way to modify it that makes it much easier, Miata guys figured it out years ago.

Right now I'm most interested in low investment high return modifications though.

I always thought it would feel like crap and bought a MR2 pump to swap out the mech pump, but I thought I'd try just taking the belt off first. The steering feels better than the non assisted Suzuki I had, and I prefer the faster ratio. The MR2 pump is huge and heavy so I don't expect I'll ever use it. Ideally you'd gut the rack properly, but it's not necessary.

For $0 and ten minutes, the ROI is pretty good.

[DSMHondaGuy]

Originally Posted by oldtamiyaphile

I always thought it would feel like crap and bought a MR2 pump to swap out the mech pump, but I thought I'd try just taking the belt off first. The steering feels better than the non assisted Suzuki I had, and I prefer the faster ratio. The MR2 pump is huge and heavy so I don't expect I'll ever use it. Ideally you'd gut the rack properly, but it's not necessary.

For $0 and ten minutes, the ROI is pretty good.

Once I start doing a few aero mods and stripping some weight out of the car I may try it out.

[Xist]

I see that you have a garage entry, but you did not link a build thread. You do not copy and paste the address, just the five digits on the end, so if you wanted to link this one, you paste 36044.

[DSMHondaGuy]

Thank you.

[DSMHondaGuy]

Tire pressure raised to 43psi has yielded 41.48mpg. 378.8 miles out of 9.133 gallons I will say there were a couple drives to and from work where increased air temps sure didn't hurt either. But then there were a couple trips to the local grocery store too so *shrug* Target speed has largely stayed at 55mph. The exception being going down hill I'd leave the throttle where it was and pickup speed to carry into the next hill, unless there wasn't one then I'd lift to maintain speed. Most shifting has stayed between 2500-2750rpm staying in as high a year as I can and getting there as soon as I can realistically for the given scenario of the moment.

I have collected 1 or two pieces of sizeable scrap sheet metal (aluminum) that's thin. So I'll start on aero soon. First order of business will be to repair that part under the bumper, and adjust the drivers side fender as it's high for some reason.

So long as temperatures are reasonable this weekend I'll probably pull it into the shop and get under it and start developing a plan for how I'm going to attach the under tray and where.

Eta: I did for sure notice lean burn engaging the other day on the drive home, I felt a weird reduction in power as if someone suddenly retarded the ignition timing a lot. So lean burn is working.

[Daox]

Congrats on hitting your first goal, and in winter no less.

[DSMHondaGuy]

Thank you, my next goal is to surpass the original (optimistic) EPA rating before they were forced to change how cars were rated. So better than 44mpg.