Just got my first car, time to start modding!

[HovSethLand]

I just got my first car a couple months ago, it's a 95 Civic LX 5 speed with just over 92,000 miles on the clock. I'm currently getting a little over 38 mpg, but that's including me having a little bit of fun with my new car

I want to try some discreet mods, but I'm not sure where to start. I had thoughts about installing a front air dam, but my car already has a small factory air dam installed, so I don't know how much of a difference it would make.

Any suggestions are welcome, I'm looking forward to learning plenty of stuff on this forum.

[California98Civic]

Easy, cheap, and discreet would include pumping up your tire pressure responsibly, a grill block, interior weight reduction, slowing down, and a rond of checks on the engine to ensure normal functionality everywhere.

Then you might start with cheap and highly effective mods, such as an injector kill switch (though you could always key-off too).

A great and easy mod is the addition of an Ultragauge. It pays for itself in a few tanks if you use it to learn the best hypermiling techniques, namely EO and DwL.

But if you are a new driver, and not someone who simply has never purchased a car but has experience behind the wheel, I strongly recommend building road experience before too much hypermiling... for safety.

Welcome to our wonderful world ... of... cheapness!

[HovSethLand]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

East, cheap, and discreet would include pumping up your tire pressure responsibly, a grill block, interior weight reduction, slowing down, and a rond of checks on the engine to ensure normal functionality everywhere.

Then you might start with cheap and highly effective mods, such as an injector kill switch (though you could always key-off too).

A great and easy mod is the addition of an Ultragauge. It pays for itself in a few tanks if you use it to learn the best hypermiling techniques, namely EO and DwL.

But if you are a new driver, and not someone who simply has never purchased a car but has experience behind the wheel, I strongly recommend building road experience before too much hypermiling... for safety.

Welcome to our wonderful world ... of... cheapness!

That reminds me, I need to go pump up my tires, I've been away at college without the car and the parents haven't exactly made maintenance their number one priority.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure an Ultragague would work, as my car is 1995 and I don't think it is OBD-II.

I'm still getting used to the manual transmission on my car, so I won't be doing any serious hypermiling yet, but I'll get into it gradually.

[Fat Charlie]

All hypermiling is serious. You just have to limit yourself to using the techniques that are appropriate to conditions- and remember that you're one of them.

Welcome to the fun.

[Cobb]

[bestclimb]

you are correct about the lack of OBDII Mpguino is the route to go for a MPG readout. Kill switch makes eoc very easy. With just an MPGuino, kill switch, and tires inflated to max sidewall 50 mpg was pretty easy.

[elhigh]

Welcome!

Step One: Start a garage page for your ride! I'm quoting no less a sage wit than Tow Mater when I say: "Don't need to know where I'm goin', just need to know where I've been." You can't know how well you're doing with mods and methods without some recordkeeping, and the Garage is a simple place to start. Just record your odo readings and how many gallons per fill, and right there you'll know what kind of mileage you're getting.

Kudos on the new-to-you car. I have had a couple of Hondas now and liked both of them very much.

[MetroMPG]

Any updates?

Your car has low mileage for its age -- what's the story there? Little old lady going to church & the grocery store car?