New guy here 98 civic Lx vacuum gauge

[mattrich67]

Hey everyone.

I just purchased this 98 civic Lx sedan 5speed D16y7 137k miles completely stock that has sitting for 9 months. Two tanks 25 mpg driving 3/4 slow my last tank I got 31.8 mpg what can I do to get better?

Just installed a vacuum gauge we will see how much better

Since I bought it I have done the following
Change all filters
( air fuel oil )
Oil change Mobil 0w 30 full synthetic
Pcv valve
Ngk V power plugs
Ngk blue plug wires (old stock ones resistance triple the ngks )
Clean throttle body
Seafoam heat soak
Valve adjustment

Lowered car 2in front and back
Limo tint all around

[mattrich67]

What mark do I use to set my timing. I used the white one and set it at 13*

One thing I can't find on the Internet is
What should I set my timing at to get the best gas mileage?
Remember I live in Vegas very hot here.

Thanks for all the help

[MetroMPG]

Need more info to help.

What type of driving are you doing? (Mostly highway? How fast? City? How far? Etc.)

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by mattrich67

What mark do I use to set my timing. I used the white one and set it at 13*

One thing I can't find on the Internet is
What should I set my timing at to get the best gas mileage?
Remember I live in Vegas very hot here.

Thanks for all the help

Welcome! There are some good Civic guys on here. Let's see ... For a while I did a very minor adjustment to 14* BTDC (12* is stock on our engine). I'm here in SoCal, which is cooler, but sometimes wicked hot too. The mod preceded a sustained 3mpg gain, but I don't know if it caused the gain. BTW, I posted a link to a downloadable nearly-complete 1996-1998 Civic Honda Service Manual: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post238559

Copy PaleMelanesian's driving technique (he gets 80-90mpg in an unmodded 1996 D16y7).

PM me anytime you think I might be able to help. I'll try.

How did you lower the car? Cut springs? Bought coilovers?

[mattrich67]

I do a little bit of both in town and freeway. I would say 60 in town and 40 freeway. I don't drive very fast since I usually have my 6yr old and my 1 year old in the car. And now experimenting with this vacuum gauge today I'm driving even slower. Haha

How far
I would say prob 10-20 mile trips. I haven't gone out of town yet to test all freeway mpg.

When I drive freeway I usually go 65-70 and in town the speed limits around here are 40 people usually go 45-50. And I usually keep up with traffic

[mattrich67]

The way I lowered my car was some springs I got used they are tein s techs

What are some other DIY changes I can do

I REad something about a grille block? and also cutting holes in filter box?

Also I wanted to change the fluid in my transmission maybe some synthetic?! Any suggestions? I checked the fluid in it and it looks nice and clear but feels thin.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by mattrich67

The way I lowered my car was some springs I got used they are tein s techs

What are some other DIY changes I can do

I REad something about a grille block? and also cutting holes in filter box?

Also I wanted to change the fluid in my transmission maybe some synthetic?! Any suggestions? I checked the fluid in it and it looks nice and clear but feels thin.

Grill blocks are a favorite, regarded as proven effective around here. I run one covering 70-80% of the grill area. Don't cut-up your airbox! You'll never get it back to stock. Instead, look up how some guys made warm air intakes. I just run dryer hose from the airbox to the CAT. IATs are 30*+ above ambient all the time. In my MT I have been running Royal Purple synthetic oil for quite a while now, got the idea from others on here. No troubles (yet?). Use the site's search function... check out my car's page by clicking the link to the left that says "Black and Green" (I publish lots of notes and links).

[PaleMelanesian]

Use that vacuum gauge to moderate your acceleration. What units does it read? The Scangauge I have tells me PSI MAP. I aim to accelerate at 12-13 psi, or pretty close to full throttle. (not quite full throttle, or it enriches the mix and wastes fuel) Then when you're at speed, use lots of neutral coasting. Idling the engine at 800 rpm uses much less fuel than cruising it at 2000, and the excess isn't gaining you much of anything. For the next level of mileage, pulse and glide. Even better if you engine-off glide, but only if you're confident and comfortable with that.

I have my upper grille blocked with plexiglass - looks good, smooth aerodynamics, doesn't block too much airflow. In winter I close up most of the lower as well.

Mobil 1 5w20 engine oil, Honda MTF. High tire pressure. Scangauge. Everything else is stock.

[mattrich67]

Try

[mattrich67]

Trying to figure out how to acurately use this vacuum gauge!!
The gauge I have starts at 0 and goes to -30 and has the readings of decelerate idle fair and poor.
I can't figure out where to shift. If I go above 3000 Rpms my vacuum gets better so do I let it go above 3k or keep it at 2500?
If I shift at 2500-2800 my vacuum gauge will go down to poor or -5 after I shift. If I shift at like 3200 it's less of a load after the shift.

What do you guys think