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After 50 years of safe driving, we had both of our Corolla's destroyed by uninsured drivers in December and have since replaced them with 98 Civics.

The one that we just bought Monday seems distinctively zippier than the other, which I suspect might be a Vtec engine, but I'm not yet clear on how to identify them.

But I was talking to a guy at the O'Reilly parts store, while buying plugs and an air filter, and he works on these engines. He said that he gets 500 HP out of one. I asked how that was possible and didn't care much for the answer, being I don't have much money, LIKE the gas mileage these get, and wouldn't like to see an engine destroyed. ( he mentioned larger injectors and nitrous, among a few other things )

But it got me to thinking. Is there a less expensive way to get a little more horsepower, while maintaining, or maybe even increasing the MPG's of these engines? ( besides keeping them tuned up, of course )

 
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making up stories, and having little knowledge about cars is normal for most "parts store guys"

 
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A new intake/header/exhaust system might have some arguable results. They ARE fun though!

 
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You can get 500HP out of one with a lot of money!

You can still maintain decent mpg while increasing hp but there there is a point where it will drop and continue to drop. Fuel efficient cars are not performance cars. A small turbo can be used to increase power and keep fuel efficiency decent. Combine that with engine management options to have an economy mode and power mode.

 
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No, I wasn't expecting or wanting 500HP, guys.

Doesn't sound like anything cost effective can be done, really.

I've heard that doing a larger exhaust header and dual larger diameter exhaust pipes can help power and MPG but when you consider the cost of those things, versus maybe a 2 MPG gain...probably never recoup the money.

Someone suggested cold air intake but I think those have been debunked, at least I've seen debunks of them, if true.

 
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Generally more HP = less MPG. You probably have one with a D16y7 and the other with a D16y8 (vtec) engine. There is roughly about 20 hp more in the Y8.

You can do a lot of things to modify these cars but your HP gains are going to be marginal.

 
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Thanks Stock. Is there some place that they have a tag, where I can tell for sure what engine I have? How can I identify each engine?

 
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Honda conveniently stamps all their engines in the same spot. The picture at the bottom of this thread...

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/1...r-b16-b18.html

Maybe if you gave us some idea of an upgrade budget people could point you in the right direction to spend your money. There are a ton of super fun things you can do with a 6th gen.

 
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GOOD question. It would depend on the return on investment - if we could get enough improvement in MPG and possibly power, to pay for it within say, 2 years? Off hand, under $1000?

You know, one thing I've been wondering about. We're in the Denver area at about 5400 feet. Does the oxygen sensor compensate for that? Because the tail pipes on all the cars here are black inside. I've been wondering if the oxygen sensor resistance ( or something ) could be tweaked a little, to lean out the mixture for the altitude and save even more gas? ( Unless it's already being done somehow. )

 
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Any idea what your current MPG is right now? I drive a '99 Coupe with a Y7 engine and regularly get 37 MPG (all highway) if I really try I can get as much as 42 MPG. Any idea if either of the car has already been modified? Got any pics to share with us?

Usually good mods for this car are suspension but they won't increase either power or mpg. MPG - tires what's on there now? A LRR tire in a stock size will improve mpg (good excuse to buy new rims too). I just did that to mine a couple weeks ago and tires/alloys were $1100.

Is one a Y7 and the other a Y8? If so the HP mods you would do to the Y7 would end up making it about as powerful as the Y8. Swapping the head from a Y8 onto a Y7 basically makes it a Y8 as well. As far as I know that's the biggest HP for a Y7...maybe a stage 1 cam as well. Probably wouldn't hurt your mpg but won't improve it either.

 
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Someone also mentioned a "small turbo kit". Can that give a little more HP and more MPG simultaneously?

What would that cost to do?

 
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Well just a quick google shows this for a variety of turbo kits....

http://www.turbokits.com/Honda/Civic/Turbo_Kits/

+ tuning that would be involved to make it run properly.

Unlikely a turbo will improve your mpg. Then there's also the speeding ticket fund that you'll have to have.

 
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On the one we've had since January, I'd say 32-36 MPG. We even spent 45 minutes last week, SITTING in a terrible traffic jam. Filled the tank and it STILL got 32 MPG in mixed city & hwy driving.

The one we just got Monday, that I suspect is a Vtec, I don't know yet.

Seriously doubt it. The one we got in January was traded by the first owner to a dealership, with 94,500 miles on it!

The one we just got Monday was sold by an owner with 130k miles.

Not yet, but I can.

The one we just got Monday was checked out by a mechanic for us, and OK'd BUT when I went to change the air filter yesterday and held it up to the sun, it was BLACK. I cant figure how the engine ran! And the plugs were the recommended kind V-Power ZFR5F-11 but were down almost to the insulators.


Eeek! No can afford! The one in January came with cheap but new tires - crappy though. This one Monday has nearly bald tires and will have to be replaced before fall.

Not sure yet, but I suspect that one is non-Vtec and one is Vtec.

Not sure what mods and the COST.

But like I said, we're low income ( not poverty but low ).

 
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Argh! No, I'm a fairly traditional driver - more for MPG than speed. In fact I'd RATHER see MPG increases, if it doesn't sacrifice what pep these cars have now.

 
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Power helps on keeping speed, torque helps to accelerate. Both are intertwined, but interlaced by rpm.
If you drive hwy a lot, aim for power improvements. If too much stop-and-go, aim for better torque at lower rpm. The least you step on the throttle, the better. Ah, if stop-and-go, removing weight do wonders. If long hwy, like an hour or more, more weight. Try to stop a moving semi? It won't, no matter what the engine is doing... just get it to speed fast and keep it there just don't ask it to stop :P

Tip: if downhill, leave the pedal shut. That will cut the fuel. As long as engine is fully heated and engine is above 1500 rpm, fuel is off. Neutral will use more fuel.

Above 98, you have obd II ports, get a scan gauge or similar for instant feedback on mileage - that helps you improve mpg techniques. (Don't hipermill on the left lane, thought, I might be the one asking for pass behind you

What was previously said is true. Up to a point, power will help improve mpg. Past the point that you need to inject more fuel to get the powah, it starts dropping down.
Of course, having a little more power and people try to stomp more... that's their downfalls.

 
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BARO sensor handles altitude compensation.

 
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So why is the tail pipe black, instead of gray?

 
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Most end up black IMO. Soot is a product of combustion. I think you'll find it in almost any tailpipe eventually.


If you really want to know what's going on, you'd need a gas analyzer.
Don't you have to pass an emissions test in Colorado?

 
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Yep, and these cars are amazing on emissions.

 
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The one we think is the regular engine:



The one we think might be Vtec:



Keep in MIND that the lower one was done to pass emissions before we could transfer title, and before I changed the plugs and air filter yesterday, which I mentioned was totally black and opaque!

 
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Care to post the VIN of each car?

 
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Would that compromise our privacy?

What value would it be?

 
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Not sure how.
Just to see what each car is by VIN breakdown. That would answer your VTEC questions, among other things.

PM the VIN info to me if you want.

 
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I just wasn't sure if the Vins are public record.

What part of the Vin indicates engine type?

 
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The decoder says it's a manual transmission but it's automatic.

 
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Google your own VINs?

I enter the full VIN into the dealer parts catalog to see what exactly the car is, then check options from there.

And I can do a VIN inquiry to check for open recalls (USA only, and the report may be limited during non-business hours.)

 
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98 Civic
4 door
LX trim
KA emissions
MFG in Canada
4AT trans
Exterior color: NH583M
Interior: F-light gray


Not a VTEC engine


2 recallls, shows as both have been completed.