The better car?

[vskid3]

Short trips are probably your main problem. Your city driving is potentially a huge problem as well. City driving can mean just about anything, so it's difficult to compare one person's city MPG to another's.

Unless you could sell your Festiva for more than you pay for a Civic, you'll probably never make up the cost of switching vehicles. MPG gains would likely be low and it sounds like you don't do a whole lot of driving.

[willie@eco]

Originally Posted by ThermionicScott

10W40, oh god.

I did a little Googling, and 5W30 is what Ford recommended for your car: http://www.revbase.com/BBBMotor/TSb/...adPdf?id=44867

Since you say the car is still in really good running shape, I'd put in something no thicker than 5W30 at the next change, and maybe even thinner. (My Subaru manual calls for 5W30 and I use 0W30 for its better flow at cold temperatures.)

Nice! Good to know. I do have a little piston slap uppon start up that last a second but thats about it. I think i should do that, change to 5w-30. Now where can i find a good block heater? I dont even really know how they work besides they warm up the engine lol. Please excuse my ignorance lol

[willie@eco]

Originally Posted by vskid3

Short trips are probably your main problem. Your city driving is potentially a huge problem as well. City driving can mean just about anything, so it's difficult to compare one person's city MPG to another's.

Unless you could sell your Festiva for more than you pay for a Civic, you'll probably never make up the cost of switching vehicles. MPG gains would likely be low and it sounds like you don't do a whole lot of driving.

And thats why Im here asking because you guys know much more than I when it comes to this stuff.

[Ecky]

I'd use 0w30.

Block heaters usually screw into your coolant drain plug and have a heating element in them. The are also oil pan heaters you can slap on the bottom of your oil pan.

[cowmeat]

Should i look at selling my Festiva to buy a VX or HX? If so which of the 2 is better?

I didn't have the crappy commute you must have, but eventually I was averaging way over 50 mpg in my old 1993 Festiva-L. I had a blast driving Black Widow, and it was super easy to work on and hypermile in.
That's super-low mpg for that car, maybe your timing belt slipped a tooth. Mine did that and ran a tiny bit funky (almost unnoticeable) but it killed my mpg. As soon as I re-timed it the mpg shot back up.

[ThermionicScott]

Originally Posted by willie@eco

Nice! Good to know. I do have a little piston slap uppon start up that last a second but thats about it. I think i should do that, change to 5w-30. Now where can i find a good block heater? I dont even really know how they work besides they warm up the engine lol. Please excuse my ignorance lol

This one says it's compatible with a 1992 Festiva: https://www.carid.com/kats-heaters/f...mpn-11411.html

[Stubby79]

If you're going to change vehicles to get better gas mileage, you'd probably do a lot better buying a hybrid...considering what kind of driving you do. Prius or first gen insight...or maybe the earlier civic hybrid.

Or better yet, buy a Leaf.

Sticking with your vehicle...pumped up tires, grill block, 195f thermostat if it doesn't have one...block heater if you're in a cold enough environment. Or park it in an enclosed/slightly warmer garage. Oh and if you haven't already, tailor your driving style to minimize braking and accelerating. Make sure you have the lightest wheels/tires on it as reasonably possible.

And make sure your car is in tip-top running shape. Advance timing if possible without causing pinging. Put on a warm/hot air intake. If you want to continue from there, it's aero mods and/or more complex work.

[willie@eco]

Originally Posted by Ecky

I'd use 0w30.

Block heaters usually screw into your coolant drain plug and have a heating element in them. The are also oil pan heaters you can slap on the bottom of your oil pan.

Hmmm! That sounds like something i would definitely try!

[willie@eco]

Originally Posted by cowmeat

I didn't have the crappy commute you must have, but eventually I was averaging way over 50 mpg in my old 1993 Festiva-L. I had a blast driving Black Widow, and it was super easy to work on and hypermile in.
That's super-low mpg for that car, maybe your timing belt slipped a tooth. Mine did that and ran a tiny bit funky (almost unnoticeable) but it killed my mpg. As soon as I re-timed it the mpg shot back up.

I'll have to see, the cam belt was last serviced a few years agoa long with new water pump and thermostat. It does ping when my foot goes past 1/4 throttle in any gear at any speed which i find rather odd...

[willie@eco]

Originally Posted by ThermionicScott

This one says it's compatible with a 1992 Festiva: https://www.carid.com/kats-heaters/f...mpn-11411.html

I'll most definitely look into buying that! Looks like it plugs in? Instead of screwing in? Hmm