Car Talk!

[The Real Bingo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemowolf

With the line of thinking that gas is going to go up, also having just paid off my civic, I have started to think about what i can do to improve gas mileage. Although i would love to get a new car, I just dont see it happening as the MPG from my current civic ~26-28 depending on the city/highway usage isnt worthwhile to sink another 20k to get ~30-32. Anyone have any suggestions on what if anything i can improve from a stock 2000 Civic EX to get some better fuel economy?

What weight oil do you use? If you don't drive it too hard, you could probably get away with lighter oil...and go synthetic. That'll help mileage.

You can probably get your computer reflashed to gain more mileage.

And you can drive more conservatively.

[RobRich]

Those rear rotors are showing wear; perhaps even slightly grooved.

Then again, an aggressive driver can do that in a few miles, less long 20 hours of driving, especially if those miles are done 1/4-mile at a time. Not saying that is the case here, but it does happen.

[jokostel]

With a car like that Rob? Cmon! that thing will last FOREVER.../ sarcasm

[RobRich]

Yes, synthetic both in the crankcase and the transmission, assuming it is not racked up with miles or overly abused.

If the car has some mileage, consider a tune up. New PCV valve, new fuel filter, new plugs, maybe new wires, quality air filter, etc. Perhaps consider a quick Seafoam induction (not crankcase!) treatment before doing the plugs.

Drop a bottle of Techron-based additive in the gas tank.

BTW, what is the EPA MPG rating for your car? Seems a Civic should be well into the 30+ MPG range on the highway, assuming it is relatively stock.

[jokostel]

Most of those additives are just acetone and MEK... unless Chevron is adding more than the average petrol distillates...

[RobRich]

I said Techron-based, not common alcohol-based additives. Techron is comprised of polyether amines. There is a huge difference, and even more so if using E10 gasoline, as cheap alcohol-based additives mixed in E10 can increase water draw. YMMV.

[jokostel]

Yup... dang blasted Ethanol.
Apparently a LOT of marine equipment cant stand it, nor does it help mileage..... don't forget that it's extremely hard to light in cold weather..

It's just another scheme to get more tax, and sell the product twice... once for fuels and the second time for sileage for cattle feed.

Never really looked at the makeup of techron... but from what Ive heard from folks, chevron has their stuff together when it comes to cleaners and lubes...

[RobRich]

Drive a BMW with a M70 V12, and you will probably quickly learn what "top tier" detergent fuel means, especially if having to fill up with this modern E10 garbage. Luckily there is an area station offering non-ethanol gasoline, but I do not always make it over there to fill up, usually instead meaning a trip to one of the nearby Shell stations for V-Power with detergent.

[jokostel]

V12... that must have one heck of a nice exhaust note.

Too bad I have at LEAST 2-2.5years until my debt slate is wiped clean... before I can even dream about another car/truck.

[RobRich]

Yeap, a 5.0L V12 in my BMW 750iL. BMW's M70 V12 is kind of picky about fuel, especially since it does not have a knock sensor to vary timing. I learned my lesson about "top tier" fuels after getting a tank of cheap gas, right along with dismal MPG.

One of the big problems right now with E10 is water content. Ethanol can draw water, which can quickly turn 87 octane E10 into something more like 82 to 85 octane upon phase separation. If anyone has a car running pathetic on E10, try going up an octane level.

Lots of stations also simply started dumping E10 into their tanks without first draining and rinsing the tanks. Ethanol can act as a solvent, thus cleaning off deposits found inside the storage tanks. Despite station filtering, some of those deposits can eventually end up in a car's gas tank, leading to a clogged fuel filter and degraded performance.