Hypermiling Thread

[92stoccord]

I know its kind of off key for the rest of the site, but I was wondering if anyone else had interest in that sort of thing. Owning an HX, I like to see what my best tank can be. I like to read up on other tips and tricks, things that work, things that don't, successful mods for fuel economy.

I'm currently looking at a power steering delete. I'm not sure why they put power steering, A/C, power windows and doors in their high efficiency model. I doubt anyone has recorded mileage gains from that delete on here, but I'm interested in seeing figures.

 

[eg6sir]

small turbo set up w/ low boost?

 

[92stoccord]

I've been curious about that as well. I'm not sure what separates turboing for efficiency and turboing for power.

 

[Matts96HB]

A thread you might want to read:
1994 Honda Civic D15 3-STAGE VTEC TURBO 55+ MPG - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com
thats a FS thread, the original build thread is on HT somewhere.. ill find it

 

[BrutalB83]

I'm currently looking at a power steering delete. I'm not sure why they put power steering, A/C, power windows and doors in their high efficiency model.

Because they're creature comforts that most people expect from modern cars. I mean, a Prius will have all of that stuff too. A lot of people want cars that get good mileage, but a very, very small percentage of those people are actually hyper-milers...

 

[reckedracing]

all the power shit was a package add on to the HX, i do believe most hx's do not have such handy things.
back in the day i thought removing P/S and ac was the cool thing to do, then i grew up and realized it was the little things in life that can make it more liveable

i would be surprised if you had significant gains from removing those items.
but i'm always willing to be wrong

 

[92stoccord]

I don't mind giving up those comforts for it right now, and I can go back, if I want to. I'm just gonna give it a try.

Matt. I want moar. That's pretty awesome. I wonder why he chose the EG coupe as opposed to any other civics. I assume he used a D15 block with a Y5 head.

I'm not insane about it, I'll do a little drafting when I'm on the freeway time to time. Keep my headlights off when its not dark or raining. I try to coast as much as possible, and allow the car to brake naturally. Don't shift after 2500. I haven't really modded yet. Like I said I'm considering the ps delete, my ac never worked, compressore bearings are shit, so its just added weight. I'm going to Colorado in May, and was considering taping the hood lines, and maybe blocking the grille if temp stays low, just allow airflow from the lower dam. See if there's any noticeable difference. I also don't understand why they put mudflaps on this model. I can get rid of those too.

Extreme as I go, it would be interesting to see a regenerative charging system like used in the Insight in place of an alternator (of course this is kind of just spitballing) and also designing a wind shield for the underbody. Again, exhibited on the Insight.

 

[reckedracing]

lol, i always try to remember to turn my headlights on for increased visibility and less chance of an accident.

i can see where you are coming from, i used to be just like you
i still coast, don't shift over 2500, never drive too close so i don't have to hit the brake just to speed back up again

my easy tips, ditch the silencer off the stock airbox and get a drop in K&N, and a header. you could go hi-flow cat but then you're trading off environment for less gas
think of the motor like a vacuum, the easier it can get air in and out, the less pumping losses you have to make up for with gas

lighter rims, preferably with few air gaps/holes. they have those wheel covers on a prius for a reason
also, bump up your air pressure, i used to use 40psi except for heavy highway driving where heat and expansion can lead to catastrophic failure
and thinner tires next time you need a new set

 

[Matts96HB]

Matt. I want moar. That's pretty awesome. I wonder why he chose the EG coupe as opposed to any other civics. I assume he used a D15 block with a Y5 head.

I believe it was a D15b. 3 stage VTEC. Can be had on eBay for $800, and will plug right in to your OBD2 Civic you have there.

His build was a little biased towards the power side of things. The car made like 230 whp or something like that. You could get away with less, and probably get a little better mileage. I'd do a D15b and a t25. The idea is to feed the engine at lower RPMs so it doesn't have to work, and maintain the efficiency in the higher RPMs.

 

[TurboMirage]

i didnt notice a change in mileage when i removed the power steering belt from the mirage. nothing that averaged out to xxx.x anyways.

 

[92stoccord]

lol, i always try to remember to turn my headlights on for increased visibility and less chance of an accident.

i can see where you are coming from, i used to be just like you
i still coast, don't shift over 2500, never drive too close so i don't have to hit the brake just to speed back up again

my easy tips, ditch the silencer off the stock airbox and get a drop in K&N, and a header. you could go hi-flow cat but then you're trading off environment for less gas
think of the motor like a vacuum, the easier it can get air in and out, the less pumping losses you have to make up for with gas

lighter rims, preferably with few air gaps/holes. they have those wheel covers on a prius for a reason
also, bump up your air pressure, i used to use 40psi except for heavy highway driving where heat and expansion can lead to catastrophic failure
and thinner tires next time you need a new set

Driving something that I constantly have to check very rainy mirrors when it rains, I definitely want to increase visibility in the rain, but in the sun, seems fine to me.

I do all of those.

Is the silencer the thing at the upper end? The kinda elbow shaped pointless tube? Also, car came with a K&N, I just got done cleaning it. Wouldn't mind a nice SS header though. Definitely looking more into the turbo, however. Also screw the environment, I'm out to beat hybrids and save money. I'd do a cat delete if I wasn't so sure I'd just get CEL codes and send my car into panic mode.

Factory rims are pretty light. I've wondered about flush(ish) hub caps, solid over the whole rim. Brake cooling needs to be considered, but I can rob from the air dam. Typically run at 40psi at all times. I just got my tires done and need to pump them up again. Thinner profile or thinner tread? Or both?

I believe it was a D15b. 3 stage VTEC. Can be had on eBay for $800, and will plug right in to your OBD2 Civic you have there.

His build was a little biased towards the power side of things. The car made like 230 whp or something like that. You could get away with less, and probably get a little better mileage. I'd do a D15b and a t25. The idea is to feed the engine at lower RPMs so it doesn't have to work, and maintain the efficiency in the higher RPMs.

Noted. I didn't know they made a 3 stage D15. Reading into it as we speak. 54 overall average is still pretty good.

i didnt notice a change in mileage when i removed the power steering belt from the mirage. nothing that averaged out to xxx.x anyways.

Noted. I'll keep my parts handy if I decide to go back.

Also, any suggestions on transmissions? I know the HX's gears are really freaking long. But I didn't know if there were longer ones.

 

[invisibledemon]

what kind of mileage are you seeing right now?

i used to get 35 to 40 mpg in most of my old hondas with just minimum mods. had a del slow that got me 45mpg.
biggest change that yielded the greatest gain was my driving habits.

 

[phunky.buddha]

I get 19mpg in my 4x4 crew cab long bed pickup on the daily commute- and it's only rated for 15mpg city, 19mpg highway. All stock, all technique.

 

[92stoccord]

I typically currently see less than 1mpg shy of 40. Usually 39.3ish. That's no mods other than no drive to the AC and a K&N filter. I recently took apart my egr chamber and cleaned it, I had a CEL for it, and I finally got around to it, every port was clogged entirely shut.

 

[invisibledemon]

do a custom intake so that its pulling air from in behind the radiator. warm air will give you better mileage. when you pull in cool air, it makes the ecu give you more fuel to keep the air/fuel ratio correct (which gives a slight bump in power too, why the cold air intake was so popular), warmer air requires less fuel.

if you are obd1, then you can safely remove the cat and put a test pipe on without worrying about any sensors. and just to hush the nay sayers, if you have an emissions testing place close by, take it through, chances are you will still pass with no cat (if you can pass the visual check). in all of my hondas with the exception of one, i took the cats off and always passed the emissions test here.

then just put a good header on there. control your shift points, watch the acceleration and choose the route with less stop and go.

dont be one of those "im stripping out my interior and all creature comforts" guys, it wont be worth it. the gain will be so minimal that you probably wouldnt notice it.

minor engine mods, and major driver mod will make the difference.

 

[99sidude]

There are several ways manufacturers have been able to add 4-5 mpg on the highway with little to no change in engine technology.

-Low rolling resistance tires (2-3mpg in some cases) Hell, on our company CR-Z, the average milege dropped by 3 when we recently threw the 215/18 summers back on.
-Aero covers on the underside of the car
-Low friction oil (don't do this on an old D16)
-TALLLLL top gear.

The stock intake and exhaust is tuned perfectly for stock power levels. I wouldn't even waste my money on those (if the goal is MPG).

 

[92stoccord]

Goal is indeed MPG's.

No emissions check here. Car is OBD-2 though.

I did want to get low resistance tires, but I was kinda shy on cash, so I had to settle for cheaper. You genuinely don't think a better flowing exhaust and intake would help though? I don't plan on running low friction oil, definitely. 235,000 miles does wear an engine, I'm certainly aware. I'm not planning on stripping my interior and all that, I'm not ready to give up all my creature comforts, its just, my windows fall off the track constantly, why not replace with cranks? Power locks are broke, why not take those out too? Its just useless weight. I've gotten used to not having them.

 

[Briansol]

If I get stuck behind one more hypermiling hippie hogging the left lane as a result of this thread.....





Your key areas to focus on are:
-weight
-more roll, less accel/less brake
increasing the V/E of the engine so that it better uses the fuel it does use.

 

[92stoccord]

I promise I stick to the right unless I'm passing, and usually if that's happening, I'm kicking ass cause I'm late.

 

[invisibledemon]

Goal is indeed MPG's.

No emissions check here. Car is OBD-2 though.

take off the cat and use the spark plug defouler trick to pull the o2 sensors out of the exhaust.