Howcome highway mileage on automatic is better than manual?

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Oct 9, 2010

Bummbull

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Howcome highway mileage on automatic is better than manual?

I want to get a manual, and I was wondering why the gas mileage is worse on the highway? I heard that it revs higher with a manual. Is the 5th gear on automatic and manual different? I would think they're the same, and if they are, I would think they both rev the same.

Oct 9, 2010

02civicsi02

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Re: Howcome highway mileage on automatic is better than manual?

The new automatics are more economical than the 5 speeds, but they have 6 speeds now that is more economical than the auto. And they dont rev bout the same because the auto and manual have different gear ratios.

Oct 11, 2010

johng35

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Re: Howcome highway mileage on automatic is better than manual?

Gearing. The ratios are different from the transmission to the final drive. With cautious driving you can beat the factory rating either way.

Oct 11, 2010

Nosepicker

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Re: Howcome highway mileage on automatic is better than manual?

Supposedly you should get more MPG with a manual than auto but the difference is 1 or 2 from my experience.

Dec 27, 2010

sdaidoji

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Re: Howcome highway mileage on automatic is better than manual?

Quote:

Originally Posted by caodan2010

but the question also sets to if you get a traffic on highway, manual would suck so much for the driver..

troll

Dec 27, 2010

MindBomber

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Re: Howcome highway mileage on automatic is better than manual?

Not troll, driving in traffic sucks with a manual. Into gear, out of gear, into gear, out of gear.

Dec 31, 2010

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Re: Howcome highway mileage on automatic is better than manual?

The 5-speed manual civic is geared to 23 MPH/1000 RPMs in 5th gear, while the 5-speed automatic is geared to about 31 MPH/1000 RPMs in 5th gear, which locks up the torque converter so it is basically as efficient as a manual when in that mode. So, going 60 MPH on the freeway, the automatic is turning just under 2000 RPMs and the manual is turning 2600 RPMs, so that's why the automatic gets better freeway gas mileage.