Help. I must be doing something wrong.

[davidlewallen]

Ok so I have gone through every thread on this forum and yet my MPG isnt what everyone else is getting.

I drive a Honda Civic EX Coupe 2007. I dont carry anything in it except a few items(backpack and a few other small items). I have Torque for Android on my phone and I watch it religiously. I use LOD, Insta MPG, Trip MPG, MPG AVG, Trip Cost, Throttle Position, Intake Manifold Pressure and Torque.

I have been messing around with different techniques and none of them are giving the gains that everyone else is getting. I usually accelerate (starting in 1st but now trying 2nd) at 60-85% LOD depending on the situation. Im in 2nd by 9mph 3rd by 19mph 4th by 25mph and 5th by 35mph.

I always coast if I can to stop signs or redlights and anytime that Im able to maintain speed.

I have tried Pulse and Glide but i only see my MPG dropping and never going up. I usually do 10-15mph P&G again accelerating at about 70-80% LOD.

I DWL all the time.

An odd thing that I find is when I drive highway at 55mph I get about 32-38 mpg depending on wind. But in the city im able to bump my trip mpg up to 40+mpg. Why is this. You would think Highway would be better MPG than City

Doing this only gets me 12% over the combined EPA MPG. I get about 33-35 mpg vs 31 combined.

Reading from everyone else Im getting very frustrated that I feel like Im doing everything right yet very small gains.

For mods I just recently installed a lower grill block to help with getting my engine temp up faster.



If anyone is able to shed some knowledge on why this may be happening or possible suggestions that would be great.

Also Im wondering what PSi I can pump my tires up to. Im in Northern New York and temperatures are about to drop fast and the snow will hit soon. I have snow tires on and I think they are at 30 PSi. Can i pump them up any more or should I stay since the snow is about to hit?

Thanks

[JRMichler]

For a start:

Where in the U.S. are you? My MPG changes by almost exactly 1 MPG per 10 degrees F. Cold kills mileage. So does head winds.

How long are your trips? Hills? How fast do you drive? How far between stop signs / lights?

And starting a gas log would be good.

[davidlewallen]

Sorry, I guess I should have listed all that info.

Im currently in Northern New York. Like 30 miles away from Canadian Boarder.
To and from school is about 17 miles and I then head to town after I get home from school so I guess to and from home to town is 20 +/- 5 miles. I drive speed limits. On the way to school is about 35 until about 1/4 to school and then the limit goes to 55 and I drive it.
From home to town (depending what way i go) its either 45, 55, or 65(I go 55).

For school - most stop signs are close and lights very far away from each other.
-Home to School(Back roads) - 6 signs and 2 lights.
-Home to School(Mainroads) - 4 signs and 5 lights
-Home to School(Mainroads#2) - 5 signs and 3 lights

For town most signs are close and lights some what spaced out
-Home to Town(back way)- 3 signs and 5 lights but very spaced out
-Home to town(highway) - 1 sign 7 lights.
-Home to Town(middle way) - 1 sign 4 lights

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by davidlewallen

Ok so I have gone through every thread on this forum and yet my MPG isnt what everyone else is getting.

Bummer.
Welcome to ecomodder though.

Im in 2nd by 9mph 3rd by 19mph 4th by 25mph and 5th by 35mph.

That's lower in 4th and 5th than I'd take my 5-speed diesel.
Make sure you aren't lugging the engine.
Low revs are OK, but don't overdo it.
Does the engine still sound happy that low in the rpm range ?

I always coast if I can to stop signs or redlights and anytime that Im able to maintain speed.

Does that also mean you lift off the right foot early enough ?
We use coasting as a (aerodynamic) braking technique, so you have to start way far further out than engine braking (lifting the gas pedal while staying in gear).

If you have to brake, coasting is the best way to do it - more so if you also switch off the engine (which is a step too far for my liking).

I have tried Pulse and Glide but i only see my MPG dropping and never going up. I usually do 10-15mph P&G again accelerating at about 70-80% LOD.

10-15 mph below what your usual speed is, or glides down to 10-15 mph ?

On board displays aren't always correct when you start things like coasting an P&G - what's the situation with actual fill-ups ?

An odd thing that I find is when I drive highway at 55mph I get about 32-38 mpg depending on wind. But in the city im able to bump my trip mpg up to 40+mpg. Why is this. You would think Highway would be better MPG than City

Lower speed - and aerodynamic drag ?

Try the backroads @ lower speed, and see what that gives.

Also Im wondering what PSi I can pump my tires up to.

Mine are at the tyre manufacturer's limits - that's 49-50 psi or thereabout.
Check what the max. pressure is for your tyres.

Anyway, 30 is low.
Winter tyres usually don't help MPG either.

[JRMichler]

Timing lights is important. One red light from 30 MPH costs me about 0.2 MPG on 60 mile trip. City MPG better than highway suggests that you are pretty good at timing lights.

See if you can increase tire pressure to maximum sidewall. My truck rolled noticeably easier at 50 PSI than at 35.

[davidlewallen]

That's lower in 4th and 5th than I'd take my 5-speed diesel.
Make sure you aren't lugging the engine.
Low revs are OK, but don't overdo it.
Does the engine still sound happy that low in the rpm range ?

Yeah only time i see were getting into 5th at 35 could be some what bad is if the road isnt completely level then i get a very tiny vibration but other than that its fine. Like I said engine is fine with it.

Does that also mean you lift off the right foot early enough ?
We use coasting as a (aerodynamic) braking technique, so you have to start way far further out than engine braking (lifting the gas pedal while staying in gear).

If you have to brake, coasting is the best way to do it - more so if you also switch off the engine (which is a step too far for my liking).

I find coasting to be somewhat difficult. Being on a military base we have a very few select roads that will get me to school or to the town. I try to coast as much as I can but dont want to interfere with the other drivers as well. Saying that I do see that most of my increase is from coasting. I also use engine breaking a lot (even though its wasting gas but at least im not idling with breaks on).

10-15 mph below what your usual speed is, or glides down to 10-15 mph ?

On board displays aren't always correct when you start things like coasting an P&G - what's the situation with actual fill-ups ?

I usually go from 55-40 on the highway or roads that are 55, that is if other drivers permit. On most roads ,as long as I can, I try to do a 10-15 mph range (eg. 45-30, 45-35).
What do you mean whats the situation with acutal fill ups?

Mine are at the tyre manufacturer's limits - that's 49-50 psi or thereabout.
Check what the max. pressure is for your tyres.

Anyway, 30 is low.
Winter tyres usually don't help MPG either.

Well on mine they say max pressure is 44PSi. Im thinking about airing them up to there but I just worry about how that will effect my car is the snow. Right now there isnt any but with the lake still unfrozen I foresee a heavy snow when it finally hits. Do you think this will cause problems at all

[66sprint6]

Sounds like your headin in the right direction driving and mod wise...wonder if your mpg readings are off by chance. Have you checked your overall mileage per tank using the odometer and pump readings? Keep on it, itll pay off eventually...this place is extremely helpful and will get you sorted out in no time!
Matt

[davidlewallen]

Sounds like your headin in the right direction driving and mod wise...wonder if your mpg readings are off by chance. Have you checked your overall mileage per tank using the odometer and pump readings? Keep on it, itll pay off eventually...this place is extremely helpful and will get you sorted out in no time!
Matt

Every time I get my MPG from car mileage and pump, it always shows about 35 mpg which isnt what i want seeing as im trying so hard and only getting a 12% increase T.T

[puddleglum]

It is possible that it is the car and not you. If you air up the tires, you can always let some out if you find the car is not handling well when you actually get snow. Depending on the tires, RR may be quite high. Do you have a GPS to check that your odo is reading accurate. If your snow tires are larger than stock, you may be doing better than your odo is showing. Have you checked your brakes and wheel alignment? Both can affect mileage if they are causing drag and may show up more at higher speeds. Is the engine possibly in need of a tune up? Do you have a block heater? it may not make a lot of difference since your drive is fairly long, but it get's cold enough there to be worth your while IMO. If you have a digital temp gauge,(one on the dash is not good enough) I would suggest that you shroud in your engine as much as possible. I've found that I need very little air flow to keep my engine cool below freezing. A simple front belly pan will help keep your engine warmer and help reduce air drag on the highway as well. My mileage is always terrible in the winter (lots of short trips) so I know it can be frustrating. Keep at it, you'll get it figured out eventually.

[66sprint6]

DEF. check a few things like stated above. Are your tires stock size? If not, your odometer reading will be off. Use a GPS or good ole fasion mile markers on the side of the interstate and figure out how off it is, then use that when you calculate your mileage to get a closer to right number. Both my truck and Escort read low so when I recalculate I gain a smidge! Also, check plugs, wires, airfilter, fuel filter, bearings, brakes (are they dragging), Parking brake etc. The Escort wouldnt warm up in weather cooler than 40*, even on a long drive it would barely warm up enough to get any measurable heat thru the heater. A simple thermostat swap made that go away!!! Vacuum leaks can wreak havok as well. Keep on it, dont loose faith. Another thing you might try is to drop all your techniques for a couple tanks and see how much lower your MPG is. Keep your head up!!!
Matt