mileage = 82296mi
The heat shield for the catalytic converter was hanging down and scraping the road. After jacking up the car, I saw that the heat cover was all bent up and being held on by one bolt. The three other bolts were still there, but the metal had ripped on the corners. Instead of removing the bolt, I just twisted the heat shield until it broke off.
Since I had the car jacked up, I rotated the tires and discovered why the new tires are yielding lower gas mileage. The stock steel wheels and tire weighed about 34 lbs and the new wheels and tires weigh about 43 lbs. I guess a 9 lbs difference per tire/wheel can lower the fuel mileage by 3-4 mpg. So my fuel mileage dropped dramatically after changing the plugs and tires/wheels because both changes introduced a new issue. One of the plug wires broke so that was the main drop in fuel efficiency, but each tire is about 9 lbs heavier. On good weeks, the car can get about 30 mpg and on a long road trip I saw 33 mpg.
While I was doing car maintenance, I washed the air filter with dishwasher soap and a bucket of water.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Replaced Silicone Hose and Washed Air Filter
mileage = 79228
In my never ending quest to get my fuel mileage back over 30mpg, I washed the AEM DryFlow filter from my short ram intake. I also noticed that one of the silicone hoses I used as a replacement seems to get hot and weak when the engine is running. The vacuum of air seemed to suck the hose flat from the inside out. So I replaced the hose with a more sturdy black rubber hose. Hopefully there is no obstruction of air through the hose.
This is the second silicone hose I've removed. The first one was a hose that sprung a leak and sprayed coolant everywhere and now this hose that collapses under vacuum. I've learned my lesson silicone hoses have been nothing but trouble for me.
In my never ending quest to get my fuel mileage back over 30mpg, I washed the AEM DryFlow filter from my short ram intake. I also noticed that one of the silicone hoses I used as a replacement seems to get hot and weak when the engine is running. The vacuum of air seemed to suck the hose flat from the inside out. So I replaced the hose with a more sturdy black rubber hose. Hopefully there is no obstruction of air through the hose.
This is the second silicone hose I've removed. The first one was a hose that sprung a leak and sprayed coolant everywhere and now this hose that collapses under vacuum. I've learned my lesson silicone hoses have been nothing but trouble for me.
Broken Spark Plug Wire Repaired
3/10/07
mileage = 78639
The fuel mileage in my Civic had dropped from 30mpg to about 25mpg, so I finally checked around under the hood. The last thing that was done before the drop in fuel mileage was replacing the spark plugs and installing new tires/wheels. I took an ohmeter out to measure some resistance and I found out that one of the spark plug wires was broken. This forced me to get a new wireset that day. I ended up getting a Bosch wireset from Autozone for about $55. Ideally I would have got some NGK wiresets, but none of the stores carried them.
Fuel mileage went back up to 30mpg on the next tank of gas, but after that the mileage went down to 27mpg.
mileage = 78639
The fuel mileage in my Civic had dropped from 30mpg to about 25mpg, so I finally checked around under the hood. The last thing that was done before the drop in fuel mileage was replacing the spark plugs and installing new tires/wheels. I took an ohmeter out to measure some resistance and I found out that one of the spark plug wires was broken. This forced me to get a new wireset that day. I ended up getting a Bosch wireset from Autozone for about $55. Ideally I would have got some NGK wiresets, but none of the stores carried them.
Fuel mileage went back up to 30mpg on the next tank of gas, but after that the mileage went down to 27mpg.
My First Oil Change
2/24/07
mileage = 78092
I did my first oil change and put some Mobil 1 Synthetic oil in the car. The biggest problem I had was removing the oil filter. An adjustable wrench that looks like a claw couldn't get the filter off, so I wouldn't recommend it. There isn't much room underneath the car, so I don't know what oil filter wrench works besides the cap style.
Apparently the filter I got from Honda is made by Fram. Everything I've read says Fram should be avoided at all costs.
Here are some notes about oil filters for 99 Honda Civics.
Oil Filters
Amsoil EAO020 $ 15.30 from official site, shipping not included
WIX 51334 $ 7.90 from amsoil, shipping not included
NAPA Gold FIL1334 $ 6.79 3.252",82.6 mm OD from official site, shipping not included
Mobil1 M1-104 $ 9.88 3.12" outer diameter (OD), advanced auto parts
PureOne PL14459 $ 5.88 from advance auto parts
Honda 15400-PLM-A02 (Fram) $ 8.99 Honda Dealership
mileage = 78092
I did my first oil change and put some Mobil 1 Synthetic oil in the car. The biggest problem I had was removing the oil filter. An adjustable wrench that looks like a claw couldn't get the filter off, so I wouldn't recommend it. There isn't much room underneath the car, so I don't know what oil filter wrench works besides the cap style.
Apparently the filter I got from Honda is made by Fram. Everything I've read says Fram should be avoided at all costs.
Here are some notes about oil filters for 99 Honda Civics.
Oil Filters
Amsoil EAO020 $ 15.30 from official site, shipping not included
WIX 51334 $ 7.90 from amsoil, shipping not included
NAPA Gold FIL1334 $ 6.79 3.252",82.6 mm OD from official site, shipping not included
Mobil1 M1-104 $ 9.88 3.12" outer diameter (OD), advanced auto parts
PureOne PL14459 $ 5.88 from advance auto parts
Honda 15400-PLM-A02 (Fram) $ 8.99 Honda Dealership
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Getting a GPS Navigator
Since the prices seem to have come down. I'm going to see how one of these GPS devices work.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Sylvania 9003CB Cool Blue Halogen Light Bulbs
My headlamps are really dim so I'm going to try these out.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Tire Pressure Check
mileage = 77615mi
On Sunday, I checked the tire pressure on the newly installed Dunlop SP Sport 9000s and I found that only two tires lost some air after a period of 15 days and 1256mi. I'm not sure if there have been a lot of left-hand turns, but both tires that lost air were on the driver's side. It was really cold outside, so I didn't bother to fill up air.
LF 36->35 RF 36->36
LR 36->34 RR 36->36
On Sunday, I checked the tire pressure on the newly installed Dunlop SP Sport 9000s and I found that only two tires lost some air after a period of 15 days and 1256mi. I'm not sure if there have been a lot of left-hand turns, but both tires that lost air were on the driver's side. It was really cold outside, so I didn't bother to fill up air.
LF 36->35 RF 36->36
LR 36->34 RR 36->36
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