best way to save gas

my hatch is sucking gas like crazy. i get only 170 miles before i hit the "E" from a full tank. at this point the low fuel sign hasn't pop up yet. that really sucks for car that's suppose to getting 300+ miles. what's the best way to drive to save gas. i usually drive fast. i got a 5 speed tranny. someone told me the gas in cali has some special chemical that is causing this to happen.

best way to save gas is to not drive at all... j/p lol

slow it down a little and shift and lower rpms

what size rims are you running?

yup, and that's what i actually do, i don't drive my car, i instead go riding in my bro crx. i know i should drive more slow but i get irritated going slow. i also know you're suppose to shift below 2500 rpm to save gas. my car has 16x8 rims.

yea ummm, i'd rather cover the higher gas bill than drive like my grandma :)

Best way is to not push in the gas pedal more than halfway when accelerating and keeping revs to below 4000 rpm.

Other than that keep good plugs, flush out the engine, clean it out with an ATF fluid, clean the fuel system, and keep tire pressure up to par.

Yeah, same thing in my 93 ex, it got to the half way point and only put 75 miles on. I don't accelerate it that hard, and it's city driving but not terrible, even so I figure it should be like 240+ miles a tank and at this rate I am NOT getting there. Always shift before 4k for around town driving too, guess it's time to run some cleaners through it, or start lookin for a gas leak...

does a 95 civic coupe even have a fuel warning light? i let my fuel run down to E and i had 200+ miles on it... and i got really scred because i cant exactly get my car on a tow truck. so when does the light go on????

Originally posted by Rice-Rocketeer
Best way is to not push in the gas pedal more than halfway when accelerating and keeping revs to below 4000 rpm.

Other than that keep good plugs, flush out the engine, clean it out with an ATF fluid, clean the fuel system, and keep tire pressure up to par.


i would recommend 3000 rpm. but to elaborate on the correct statement of not pressing the gas more then halfway.

while cruising at partial throttle to slightly over half throttle your ecu runs in whats known as "closed loop mode" closed loop mode means along with the fuel and ignition maps it relies on the oxygen sensors reading to determine the richness or leaness of a mixture and adds fuel or trims it accordingly. it uses that oxygen sensor to achieve a stoich mixture.

under hard throttle or wide open throttle (WOT) the ecu switches to open loop mode. here the ecu disregards the info provided by the oxygen sensor and adds fuel according to hard and WOT maps that are almost linear and manifold pressure and some other things but the key is this is no where near perfect in actually determining whats happeneing in the combustion chamber so the ecu will tend to richen the mixture to a certain degree to keep from leaning out and to reduce cylinder temps. another negative effect of WOT runs all the time is premature catalytic convertor failure.

so a lead foot is a bad thing to have.

also use the recommended fuel for your car. not using it can lead to a host of problems.

like was said before, tire pressure, proper alignment, air filter cleanliness, fuel system cleanliness, regular oil changes, and a couple extra minutes to get where your going will save you. you may also want to see if the timing is on par and if your cap,rotor,wires, and plugs are ok.

sorry about the tangent on ecu's but its for the people that dont know it already.

also forgot to mention that stop and go driving, and the terrain you drive in seriously effect your mileage too. my civic got 190 in the city on a tank under harsh driving conditions and pittsburgh mountains. on a flat highway it was getting almost 300 to a tank. so that should tell you just how much it effects you.

crap.. no wonder my cat is rattling like a bitch. sounds like a leak ir something... WOT john over here.

Another suggestion might be your valves are not adjusted properly. If they are too tight, your millage goes to hell, racing or not.

When is the last time you had your valve clearances adjusted......

A loose valve ticks and a tight valve will produce a 'choking' like sound when you accelerate. It's a hard sound to describe.

Does your engine make alot of noise when it idles, or does it run almost silent. This of course, does not include the extra noise from an aftermarket intake and I should note to make this observation after the engine has warmed up.

i got get my engine flush, i want to change my timing belt but i heard it was hard to it yourself. i got my wheels align a few months ago, i also need to change my rotor cuz it's warped.

yup, i recall when i first put in my intake, the engine didn't sound like it does now. now i can hear really irritating noise come from my engine. i never got my valve check since i bought my car about a year ago. how often i'm i suppose to get it checked?

i thought the noise coming from my engine was my tranny. cuz everytime i accelerate, i kind of hear grinding noise at high rpms on every single gears. when my engine is in gear and i don't accelerate, the engine sounds smooth. when i put it in neutral it start making rattling noise.

i get rattling at 2000 rpm and it sounds like its coming from right under me. so my cat converter? and same thing with the different tone i get. kinda like. maybe a choking sound. sort of sounds like exhaut trying to escape a really small hole.

1. increase tire pressure to around 40psi - less rolling resistance means less energy wasted to the ground
2. tune up
3. oil change
4. check spark plugs and wires
5. fuel injector cleaner
6. less weight in the car - take out that heavy stereo
7. don't drive llike a maniac. Shifting at 8000rpms wastes gas
8. smaller wheels/tires - less energy to turn them
9. lighter wheels/tires - same as above
10. don't use A/C
11. do more highway driving

Originally posted by CivicSiRacer
1. increase tire pressure to around 40psi - less rolling resistance means less energy wasted to the ground
2. tune up
3. oil change
4. check spark plugs and wires
5. fuel injector cleaner
6. less weight in the car - take out that heavy stereo
7. don't drive llike a maniac. Shifting at 8000rpms wastes gas
8. smaller wheels/tires - less energy to turn them
9. lighter wheels/tires - same as above
10. don't use A/C
11. do more highway driving

Exactly. I was getting 15-20 mpg and I knew something was wrong. I took it in, spent a load of bucks getting the timing belt replaced (about 20,000 miles too late) got valves adjusted, switched my steelies for aluminum cast rims (15% lighter) (14" by 6") got rid of all dead weight save my spare tire, got an oil change, some STP fuel injector cleaner on a full tank, and some new plugs. Then I went on a cruise to My uncles in Hot springs, and came back. Round trip was 280 miles and I didn't sop for gas once. I also blew the carbon outa my exhaust on the way back. It helps a ton, my average city mpg now is 27mpg. Not quite up to snuff, but the hills and crappy roadways here make city driving guzzle gas. And like dudes above me said, even with intake, you engine should run almost silent on idle after it warms up. A little hissing maybe, but not much.

I wish I did more highway driving, it really improves your mpg.

You mean I get to say it? I really do? No one else has said it?


DRAFT OFF THE GUY IN FRONT OF YOU!!!!!


:devil: :finger: :devil: :finger: :devil:

to save gas on the highway, just bring the car up to 100mph, turn the car off and let it roll

the way you drive effects your mpg more than you can imagine. when i try, witch i usualy do i can get 34 mpg (35.4 is my best ever) and thats a combo of in town and highway i have a 93 ex. plus after i drive my car really nice for a while it feels much stronger than it would if i make it scream all the time.

The best way to save gas is to buy good gas. Don't buy shitty gas. I buy Chevron gas here in Florida and get 30-40 mpg depending on my tendencies. Once I was in Miami at Krome Avenue and the Tamiami Trail at Dade Corners gas station. I needed gas, and I was there. I bought Premium like usual and drove 25 miles. The tank ended at 25 miles. I resett my counter and everything, what a shame. I never went back to Non-brand name gasolines.

I don't think there is a cure for the Catalytic Rattlytic. Just stay out of VTEC.

My Civic Makes a very high pitch noise on idle, so no it shouldn't be completly quiet. It's normal.

Originally posted by 94civic
to save gas on the highway, just bring the car up to 100mph, turn the car off and let it roll

You better be push starting the car if you are trying to save gas. If you are turning the key it's wasting mad gas and wearing out the ignition and much more. Do it smoothly or you will kill your car

No Low fule Light is on my 94 EX. So if the EX doesn't have a low fuel light I guess try turning up your gauge cluster lights and look at the gauge. My E holds mad gas so they made sure you wouldn't run out.

Fuel cleaners are a must for good gas mileage. Try using 5 Chevron Techron Concentrates and Chevron Premium Fuel and your gas mileage should improve. Punch the whole tank and do a lot of gear dropping, espicially 5th to 4th on highway and 5th to 3rd. And don't forget, If your below 60 dropping 2nd will clear out the engine. I think grandmas are the reason the engines get so clogged up.

get a tune up

Originally posted by sparq
DRAFT OFF THE GUY IN FRONT OF YOU!!!!!

It works for NASCAR.

Originally posted by Rice-Rocketeer
It works for NASCAR. Thats what im sayin bro... just make sure your brakes work! For some reason other drivers dont like you "Drafting" off them because it makes them work harder and burn gas for you... one time this lady with 3 FRIGGEN CAR SEATS IN THE BACK SEAT WITH KIDS IN THEM slams on her brakes and gives me all kinds of fingerly gestures !

Umm, im not the sharpest crayon in the box but if she was concerned about the "well being" of her children by my "drafting" ~ wouldnt slamming on the brakes be the absolutely dumbest thing in the world to do? What if I had not been paying attention? Stupid ass...

I sorta laughed about her fingerly gestures and told her I didnt need to know what she was doing last night :smoka:

I've given up trying to save gas. One time, on a tank, I didnt hit VTEC at all, shifting at low rpms and everything, about 23.5 MPG. Then i said forget it, filled up, hit VTEC a lot, drove at 80+MPH on my way home everyday, and my gas mileage was 26 MPG. WTF, who cares anymore, I only pay $1.13 for gas.

i always use chevron gas, i use to use arco cuz it was good for city driving until i notice the price for arco is the same price as the good gas like chevron, texaco, shell,etc. now i just want performance that's why i switch to chevron. the good gas in my city is $1.30, that's killing me since i don't have a job.

Yes starting your car uses more gas than driving one mile. That is why stop and go traffic or gooing from one store to the next uses more gas than highway.

actually one of the biggest misconceptions about cars is that a startup consumes a lot of fuel. in fact its recommended that if you plan to let your car idle more then a minute or two you shut it off and start it back up. the amount of fuel used to start up a car vs. leaving it idle for a minute or two is signifigantly less and extremely less vs. driving any distance. i used to believe the same thing untill i found out its mainly for pre multi point fuel injected cars, or all fuel injected cars for that matter.

the reason stop and go is worse for gas mileage vs. highway driving is because of load bearing. it takes a alot more energy to accelerate something from a dead stop then something with previously existing momentum. with stop and go driving you let your revs rise till you shift, then rise again, and again untill you reach cruising speed only to repeat the process over and over again. during that process your foot must mash the gas repeatedly much harder then if you were traveling on the highway at 65-70 with your foot lightly almost barely on the pedel.

Originally posted by RunninSOHC
The best way to save gas is to buy good gas. Don't buy shitty gas. I buy Chevron gas here in Florida and get 30-40 mpg depending on my tendencies. Once I was in Miami at Krome Avenue and the Tamiami Trail at Dade Corners gas station. I needed gas, and I was there. I bought Premium like usual and drove 25 miles. The tank ended at 25 miles. I resett my counter and everything, what a shame. I never went back to Non-brand name gasolines.


Sup bro? ur in Miami? Me too. Were you Krome for the races? I've been out there a couple of times. Do you ever go out to Okeechobee? lol yea I was there when they busted it! :( That gas station Dade Corners sucks!

ok im not pissing on anyones chereos here but all of you must be running b16 or b18 motors cause i can get 360 miles to a tank, ( and thats at a little under 3/4's of a tank ) on the highway, and 298 miles to and from work, stopin and goin, and no there isnt a fuel light on the civic's. just do like me and when it gets to 3/4 of a tank fill that bitch up....

ok now I need SERIOUS help here... I live in Tampa, FL which is all highway with lil stop and go.. I travel usually at 55MPH 99% of the time. I have a 92 Civic LX with short ram intake.

Now... I BARELY ever get 200 miles to my tank. If I ever wanna hit the 200 line... I'd have to drive till the last drops of gas. Now I have been told I am running too rich and dont know why this happens but every day I have to clean my bumper. It turns black cuz shit comes outa my engine..

I bought this car in december with 76,000 miles on it. Now it has almost 91,000 miles on it. All fluids were changed and so were the belts and I bought Platinum Bosch +4's. Had my engine treated with "Motor flush" when I first changed my oil. I change the oil every 3,000 miles or less. I usually have to add a quart every 2 or 3 damn weeks... Now I may be burning oil but there is NEVER any smoke so.. I may be leaking it..

I have an automatic (ewww) Sure I drive it hard at times but I dont think this is a reason for it to have my milage so low... I have 13" stock steelies since my 15" tegs were bent! What could be causing this black crap to keep getting on my bumper? I am begging for serious tips. I want this car to last... I'll do ANY treatments to make it better... This pic I took about 5 min ago and I last cleaned my bumper YESTERDAY. That thing gets SO bad after like 3 or 4 days! How can I prevent this and what causes this? and any tips on MY car to improve gas milage will help. THANKS!

I beg for answers for my "Mystery black shit"

I notice that this was posted in early july, I hope someone has helped you but if not maybe I can help a bit.

One time I changed my oil and the next day I noticed that mu bumper had an odd haze to it...few days later it was BLACK!
I was also noticing that I was burning oil. I inspected everything to find that when I replaced the oil filter I left part of the gasket on the block which goofed up the seal of the filter thus letting oil escape onto exhaust and just fly out the bacvk of my car.

As far as the MPG, I dunno, I drive a sol and I eaisly get over 300 MPT

Sorry if im too late, just wanted to give an idea

Lol I posted this July of last year... Man how time flies. I have a newer engine now and no more black crap... It was just a bad engine. But my milage has gone up a lil out of nowhere. Im now getting about 260 to the tank. But thats COMPLETE granny driving which isnt good.