New 07Civic Hybrid ?s mpg/AC/etc

It`s my opinion as you drive your car you will need to learn how to properly maximize you mileage.
If you drive it like a non-hybrid car, your MPG will not be that much better than a non-hybrid.
It takes time and attention to gain better mileage as you learn new techniques.
It`s also necessary to break-in the engine to achieve better MPG.
Anywhere from 1K to 5K miles.
And as kchiltin27 stated. Weather extremes/environmental condition will have a direct effect on MPG. Also be advised tire pressure has a major effect on MPG. I started out at 32 PSI when it was New. I bumped it to 40 PSI after the first tank and now I run 42 PSI.
Mine started out at 43 MPG on the first tank. By the 5 tank I was able to achieve 61.1 MPG. All hand calculated.
I started driving it normal and my MPG dropped to 50 MPG
I now have an average of 52 to 55 MPG after learning how to maximize MPG and time trade-off`s.
Your A/C pump will shut down when stopped for longer periods. This is why you feel the warm air.
This is a normal operational characteristic. Using A/C will also cause lower MPG`s due to engine drag.

thanks that helps me alot! I do realize that the AC will limit my mpg in the summer but living in Vegas when its 120 outside i wont have much of a choice. I just have to deal with it for those 3 months.
But yes i am learning ways the keep at mpg between 50-100mpg when i'm driving. it will be nice when i can average 52-55 mpg:D

I checked my tire pressure today (I didnt wait the full 3 hours) and all my Dunlop tires are at 45, except one tire. It was at 33 (front, left) I was pretty shocked and glad I checked up on them. Brand new car! I am going to keep an eye on the tire to see if it's leaking over the next week. If it doesn't, I may call my dealership to inform them that huge mistake on that tire! I didn't even notice it. Hopefully I get better gas mileage now. Right now i'm getting 41-42 mpg. When I do a cold check of my tires should I go ahead and reduce their pressures to 38 and 40 like you mentioned earlier Dr Diesel?

kchilton27:

Most folks advise adjusting your pressures when the tires are cold. I would suggest that is a wise approach.

Cheers;

MSantos

Hey MSantos.
Could you give some further info on your TPMS.
Is it a factory unit installed on Canadian units or aftermarket.. Thanks.

Hey Msantos,

I went over to GreenHybrid.com and checked out the pictures section there to see your TPMS you installed. Pretty cool. Now i have some questions for you. haha

First one, how is your 4 port USB drawing power? From the 12V cigarette lighter? Where do you buy something like that? I wasn't aware USB ports could be in cars! Crazyness.

Second one, how hard was that solar panel installation to do?

Third one, how has that solar panel installation helped power your battery on your car compared to before it was there?

Lastly, how expensive are solar panels like that?

Thanks!
Keith

The USB hub is a simple pocket model that can be bought in almost any computer store or on eBay. It was pretty inexpensive and is usefull when someone wants to charge their cell phone or PDA or iPod.

The Hub simply plugs into a "12V auto outlet to USB adapter". The latter can also be bought as a PDA/GPS/Phone accessory on eBay as well.

The install was pretty easy. Once you find a good ground point in the trunk then you only have to run a single wire to the fuse panel. Make sure you use an inline fuse on that wire and that you provide a safe "quick" disconnect somewhere under the dash. The most time consuming aspect of this is the running of the wire to the dash - It helps to make it a clean job.

My 12V battery is now always topped-off. The positive secondary side effect of this is that the IMA charging process is now less prevalent - It occurs less often and in much smaller durations - if you have a scangauge you can actually see the IMA charging process intervening BTW.
Before the installation, it was common for me to almost deplete my 12V battery (at one point I actually did). After the install however, the battery constantly displayed a full charge even in the coldest winter months which to many of us is well worth the cost of the diminuitive panel.

I bought a whole box of these panels (6 or so of them) for roughly $10-$15 a piece.

Cheers;

MSantos

What is the benefit of having your PSI 2 less in the rear of the car?

How do these cars perform in the wintertime?????

Re: tire pressures, check out this article provided by the CHP to it's officers: http://www.officer.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=19&id=27281
I run my tires at 44 psi. The "overinflation" issues with the centers being worn first are based on older tires (typically bias ply). THese days with the new steel belts and kevlar belts and tire design, the tires hold their shape better no matter what inflation over recommended inflation pressure they are (as you can see they are running stock tires on the "trick car" at 100 psi while running on two wheels in the article above). Hydroplaning, performance, mpg, etc. all benefit from max inflation pressure. Tire companies "recommend" lower pressures to maximize "comfort" levels when driving, and also they wear out quicker, so, thus following, you buy more tires! *DING!* A vested interest on their part to counteract anything we find as hypermilers. I've been speaking to many hypermilers running their tires at extreme pressures and ALL have said their wear is even, mpg is better, and NO blow outs or failures.

After reading this thread and doing some other reading I went out a few minutes ago and raised the tire pressure on my '08 HCH to 40 lbs. I did note on the sidewall of the tire to not raise pressures above 40 psi....

cheers,
Steve in So Cal

Hi Steve;

I do not recommend you start by exceeding the maximum sidewall rating. If find it odd that it reads 40 instead of 44 or 51. In any case, if it is really 40 then you can start by setting the front tires to 40 and the rear to 38. Then if you are comfortable with it just go up from there as you see fit. ;)

Cheers;

MSantos