Finally broke my 1,000mile tank summer goal!

[Hot Georgia]

Hi, This is my 1st post in a very long time: I've posted before under misterme but I'm more popular as Hot Georgia around the net.

I finally met my summer goal of exceeding 1,000 miles on a single tank:

Driver: Hot Georgia
Miles: 1003.4
Gallons: 13.4
Model Year: 2004
Model: Civic Hybrid
Tranny: CVT
Fuel type: 87 Regular
MPG: 74.9
Additives: none
Speed: About 55 average
Road: 95% highway
Average trip: 47 miles
Beginning ODO 74,823
Ending ODO 75,827
Terrain: Very hilly to/from Atlanta to/from rural N. GA
PSI: 51PSI all the way around (Cold sidewall Max)
Tire: Factory LRR Dunlops (About ready for new skins)
Oil: 0-20w Honda dealer stuff
A/C: None




This was really tough to do. About 140 miles was through the drenching rains from the tropical storm way off shore to the East and at that point really doubted I'd do it. I took it slower in the rain which made this possible.
Whew! I'm ready for another one!
-Steve

[BrodyP]

Congrats thats very very impressive. My question to you is why the Honda? Why not the Prius? What were your deciding factors on choosing this car as opposed to other hybrids? I'm asking becuase I as well might be in the market for a hybrid.

[CRXperiment]

Props to you...most i ever got was about 450 miles on a 11.9 gallon tank but that was in my old 89 standard civic, 15 years older than your hybrid mind you. How low on gas were you before you decided to fill up?

[DylanTrott]

Fuck. Yes.

That is hardcore dude. I wish everyone (including my family) was that good with gas mileage. Granted we don't have a hybrid. Your lucky you have one. I love the little screen in the Prius that shows ya whats going down in the electrical engine and all. Does the Civic have one also?

[Hot_Georgia]

Sorry for this REALLY LONG reply:

Why the Honda? Why not the Prius?

First please let me say both are great cars and a few factors influenced my decision.
1. Feb'04 had a 9-14 month wait for Prius, lots of bad rumours about questionable Toyota mark-ups and sales tactics, while Honda had 5 on the lot to choose from, and was able to haggle $500 below MSRP. (Took some doing)

2. This is the 1st new car since moving into rural N.Ga where I commute almost 100 miles/day. I've always tried to keep my cars for 10yrs or repair is too expensive. I'd hope to get +350K miles from my car. The battery warranty is 150K miles (extended) and should last over 200K for both Honda and Toyota hybrids. Battery replacement is around $2,500 OEM installed.

Toyota's Prius depends 100% on the battery to move. If it goes bad replacement is manditory.
Honda hybrids are simply an assist system and will drive just fine with a bad battery, but with lowered performance so I'll have more choices down the road.

How low on gas were you before you decided to fill up?

Fuel gauge is devided into 20 segments or "bars" and the last one went out at 992 miles. I've driven it at least 25 miles without any fuel showing and never ran out.

I love the little screen. Does the Civic have one also?

My '04 model doesn't have that flow screen but the Civics were redesigned for '06 and think they might with the Navigation package.
Honda Civic Hybrids come with a fantastic multi-function real-time MPG gauge which is probably best in the business, and I've heard Prius version is less useful.

Granted we don't have a hybrid. Your lucky you have one.

Suprisingly the hybrid components in my car don't play a major role in my mileage, but several things combined. Some of those factors are:
1. Training to eliminate bad habits which hurt MPG, and replacing those with good habits. I can provide more specific details on this if anyone wishes with a website link, but unfortunately they are having technical difficulties.
2. Real-time useful MPG guage for efficiency training
3. Equipped with Lean burn which cuts fuel mixture in 1/2.
4. Tires set to maximum cold pressure rating
5. Cylinder management reduces/cuts out cylinders when not neccessary
6. Panels underside reduce wind resistance and a few other do-dads

The gas engine in my hybrid car is loaded down with emission and efficiency devices which bring the output HP low, only around 100HP.
Not much market for such a slow car so they add the electrics to assist on accelleraton and climbing.

Biggest factor in MPG is #1 above and can be applied to what ever you drive.
I've hypermiled our Grand Caravan to 34MPG over a couple tanks before.
Some friends of mine:
"basjoos" has a 1992 Honda Civic CX Manual and averages 69.7MPG
"krousdb" owns a 1992 Honda HB VX Manual 5- averages 69.4
"krousdb" also had a 1993 HONDA CIVIC DEL SOL S M5 - avg. 58.44MPG.

"xcel" has a 2005 HONDA ACCORD Auto(L5) and gets 48.5
"andy" 's 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Manual(M5) diesel averages 56.
"diamondlarry" has a 1997 Saturn SL 1 Manual (M5) and gets 45MPG.

Again I can provide links when their website is back up but please let me tell you it's not so much the vehicle as the way it's driven, and conditions also play a big factor. (Traffic, number of stops, individual trip distance etc)
Don't let me tell you I just plop into my car and drive. I earned every mile of that 1,003 tank and have been training since Feb'04.

[00accord44]

Dizamn. Much props for your skill in gas tank domination! You know a guy getting ~48mpg on his accord!? I have a 2000 5spd manual and I'm lucky to pull 22mpg. Of course the heavy ass rims and constant city stop-and-go traffic don't help at all. But 48 is amazing to me. Even when the car was bone stock I think the best I got was about 35-38.

I would ask for some of your tips, but I honestly have no intention of parting with my rims, so me trying to maximize gas mileage is like a guy smoking a cigarette while he runs on the treadmill

But again, props2u

[DylanTrott]

Tank domination puts it lightly. Hot like fiya. I also have to say absolutelly awesome job on the reply man. Hook us up with those links though. My dad is interested.

Later!

[Hot_Georgia]

HondaDylan their site is back up:

These are the best known tips on the planet:
http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1510

Just found out about this guy driving a 1998 Pontiac Firefly (Geo Metro) who exceeded 100MPG for his city loop commute:
http://www.gassavers.org/showthread....ed=1#post13676
Here's his gas log:
http://www.gassavers.org/garage/viewgaslog/14?

Pretty amazing stuff.

[DylanTrott]

Awesome thanks a ton HotGeorgia. I'll bookmark it right away.

[BrodyP]

Originally Posted by CRXperiment

Props to you...most i ever got was about 450 miles on a 11.9 gallon tank but that was in my old 89 standard civic, 15 years older than your hybrid mind you. How low on gas were you before you decided to fill up?

I thought the STD had a 9 gallon tank? Are you 100% sure its 11.9 becasue I had thought the DX and above had the 11 gallon while the STD had 9. I have an 89 STD and as yuou kno there is no fuel light.


Thanks for the answers Georgia I had no idea about the battery part of the equation and the price wow.