Saving gas in your S
Originally Posted by thomsbrain,Jun 26 2009, 08:53 AM
It is constant throttle (so you can track the MPG and it doesn't just change every second on you), but it is also climbing a hill, which would simulate acceleration loading. And since it is constant speed, it's actually the best scenario to test the theory, because you're constantly lugging it versus constantly running it at higher RPM. That maximizes the difference between the two options and gives you a clearer idea about what is happening, especially since the gauge only updates once a second.
Again, don't confuse your throttle position with actual fuel consumption. It can be misleading! You might get to back off the throttle after downshifting, but you still might be using more gas than you were when you were lugging and heavier on the throttle to compensate.
To give an example of that, on the Accord, a throttle position of 28% (reported by the Scangauge) in 5th gear yields better mileage than a position of 23-24% in 4th, even though both those options give you roughly the same power to the wheels.
One last bit of advice for everyone: Don't forget to coast in gear with your foot off the clutch! The engine will shut off fuel flow completely until it gets near idle RPM and you'll get INFINITE miles per gallon for that brief period. People who clutch-in when coasting are wasting gas for no good reason. And leaving the car in gear until you reach a dead stop is a good way to save wear and tear on the 1st-gear synchros because it stops both the input and output shafts before you change gears. Win-win.
Happy motoring.
Again, don't confuse your throttle position with actual fuel consumption. It can be misleading! You might get to back off the throttle after downshifting, but you still might be using more gas than you were when you were lugging and heavier on the throttle to compensate.
To give an example of that, on the Accord, a throttle position of 28% (reported by the Scangauge) in 5th gear yields better mileage than a position of 23-24% in 4th, even though both those options give you roughly the same power to the wheels.
One last bit of advice for everyone: Don't forget to coast in gear with your foot off the clutch! The engine will shut off fuel flow completely until it gets near idle RPM and you'll get INFINITE miles per gallon for that brief period. People who clutch-in when coasting are wasting gas for no good reason. And leaving the car in gear until you reach a dead stop is a good way to save wear and tear on the 1st-gear synchros because it stops both the input and output shafts before you change gears. Win-win.
Happy motoring.
Learn to coast to a stop.
Learn to minimize braking (as braking turns fuel that was used to create forward motion of kinetic energy into heat energy)
Originally Posted by ZDan,Jun 26 2009, 01:39 PM
Go to the track a few times and you'll realize your on-the-road antics do not equate to real high performance driving.
I don't care about your track philosophy, especially in a thread about saving/wasting fuel on public roads.
Originally Posted by AaronCompNetSys,Jun 26 2009, 10:55 AM
Have you tested this? Electric power steering in the S should mean that if you kill the engine but return the key to "On", all systems should function on battery. Not saying I recommend it, but I might test it in a parking lot out of curiosity 

Engine on > key off > key on with no engiene on > EPS disabled
Engine on > kill engine (p-brake+1st clutch dump at idle) > EPS is still active
Not very useful. Highly not recommended. Interesting to hear the electric motor for once.
Originally Posted by thomsbrain,Jun 18 2009, 10:08 PM
I shift at 2K in heavy traffic. 2.5-3K in suburbia. No reason to spin any higher just to spend more time at the next light. I always maximize coasting in gear. I often don't touch the brakes until the engine is near idle. These things are just basic driving technique in town, IMO.
On the backroads or the freeway on-ramps, it's redline in every gear.
On the backroads or the freeway on-ramps, it's redline in every gear.

Shifting at 2k is utterly worthless if you plan on actually moving the car and keeping up with the guy in the walker on the sidewalk.
I find that revving to a min of 3k will actually provide better MPG as well.
I typically rev to 4k on every shift. 5k if i want to be brisk.
Now with my S/C i get 22-24mpg on my commute. 28-33 on the highway. and 17mpg while stomping it through the mountain roads. Life is good.
Originally Posted by Abdizzle,Jun 25 2009, 01:19 AM
Well here's the thing. There are people on here who boast about their Vtec adventures each and every time they step in the car but from what I've learned these are the people that drive the car 1-2 times a week.
For those of us that daily drive the car, I can't imagine redlining the damn thing every day and never did. So because the car is titled as a "Sports Car" it should be driven like you stole it 24/7?
Um no, you drive it based on the circumstances of your ownership.
I drove it like I would any other car 90% of the time but reserved that 10% for Vtec when I was in the mood. Other than taking corners considerably faster than other DD's, my S2000 was no different from rolling around in a Civic, just more fun that's all. I mean we're limited to obeying laws/speed limits so...???
People on here just over exaggerate EVERYTHING about the car.
For those of us that daily drive the car, I can't imagine redlining the damn thing every day and never did. So because the car is titled as a "Sports Car" it should be driven like you stole it 24/7?

Um no, you drive it based on the circumstances of your ownership.
I drove it like I would any other car 90% of the time but reserved that 10% for Vtec when I was in the mood. Other than taking corners considerably faster than other DD's, my S2000 was no different from rolling around in a Civic, just more fun that's all. I mean we're limited to obeying laws/speed limits so...???
People on here just over exaggerate EVERYTHING about the car.








