Hello All again,
Maybe someone can help me to get better gas mileage out of my 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid. I drive 65 Miles to work one way-when I bought my car, the dealer installed new tires that I know are not the correct type for a hybrid, they are the correct size, and I think they are called hurricanes???
Anyway, I like to drive on the freeway as fast as possible, will this kill the gas mileage, also, I need some useful hints on driving technique as I only get 37 to 38 Miles per gallon of gas. Does this sound correct for Southern California?

Oh Yea, it has a CVT transaxle

Any help would greatly be apprreciated
Rick

 

Over two years and 22,900 miles I got 60.1 MPG in Southern California in my 2004 Civic Hybird with CVT.
Now I have 3000 miles on my 2006 Civic Hybrid, already with a lifetime average of 59.2 MPG.

You can do it.

Get Bridgestone B381s put back onto the car, America's Tire Co. can order them.
Inflate them to 40 PSI.
Drive more slowly on the freeway, under 60 MPH. (I average 53 MPH in the right lane.)
Accelerate as gradually as possible from a stop.
Let the car slow down slightly when going uphill.
Avoid short trips - combine trips so you can drive more with the engine warmed up.

Don't tailgate.
Leave a ton of space in front of you - and don't care when someone pulls into it. (I almost NEVER use my brakes.)
In fact the best overall advice to improve your MPG is to drive as if your brakes have failed.

Make sure your air conditioner is off (the green AC light should be off.)
Sometimes the car turns the AC on for you, like when you set the air direction to defrost the windshield.
You could be driving around for weeks with the AC on and not even know it, afterall you never turned it on, (the car did.)
And keep the economy button on (so the light is on.)
Keep your windows closed to lower drag.
Make sure you are really in D for Drive, not the next lower gear.
Take all that heavy stuff out of your trunk.

There's a start.

Try this for only one tank.
Then decide which of these is worth it to you.

Oh - and Get Older! - You won't give a crap anymore about looking cool when you drive.

 

Everything that Kenny said in the post above this is true.

If you want to narrow it down to one thing, that is causing your mileage woes though, this is it:

Yes it most definitely will. Here is my rule of thumb:

50 MPH will give you 60 MPG
60 MPH will give you 50 MPG
70 MPH will give you 40 MPG

... and anything greater than 70 MPH will continue to decrease your MPG.

These values are just estimates, you might bump the MPHs to 55, 65, and 75, but I'm being conservative. But as a rule of thumb for freeway driving, I think that's pretty much what you can expect.

 

You must be REALLY old.

I'm 57 and I drive 70. I figure when I'm 70 I'll drive 57.

 

He lives in Southern California according to his sig. Are you really suggesting that he commutes with windows rolled up and AC off?

 

I do.
I probably use my AC only 3 days a year.
I also rarely park in the sun and use the fan, and even wear shorts and a tank top at times.

Oh and I use the "Rule of 45" to save gas:
Over 45 MPH close the windows (to reduce drag) and turn the AC on.
Below 45 open the windows and turn the AC off.
Drag increases with speed.

I DO live and work near the beach though where the temps are more mild.
If he lives in one of the inland valleys then it is MUCH hotter and I'd use my AC there too.

He just asked for MPG advice.
I'm making a list of he can pick and chose from.

I don't bother with lean burn or pulse and glide.
I'm not willing to go through what I see as too much trouble.
But to people who want to do it I say, "More power to ya." (or actually less )
But I don't mind too much being a little warm in my car.
Everyone's different.

 

I push my Bridgestones to 45 psi, with no ill effects and an great increase in MPG.

My mpg chart is:

40-50 MPH --> 68-72 mpg
50-60 MPH --> 60-68 mpg
60-70 MPG --> 48-60 mpg

 

Take a look at this article that Hot Georgia put together. It reiterates much of what Kenny wrote. Good stuff:

https://www.greenhybrid.com/learn/ar...fficiency.html