1991 Civic wagon optimum rpms?

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mgmonza@sdf.lonestar.org - 24 Nov 2005 16:42 GMT

I just bought a 1991 Civic wagon, unfortunately missing the owners manual.
Anyone know the optimum cruising RPMs? My last car was a Camry from the
odd years when those had a tachometer as standard equipment for the
automatic transmissions, but were missing one for the one I had, the 5
speed manual. I shifted by speeds listed in the owneres manal (high
compared to most cars) and engine sound.

I could really use a shop manual for the Honda, too - the Chilton's I
bought is not real useful. Can't find where Haynes makes one. Anyone
know where to get the Official shop manual?

Thanks in advance -

MG

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Elle - 24 Nov 2005 17:51 GMT

Is this a DX? If so, its engine is identical to my 91 Civic LX. My owner's
manual gives the following shift points for best fuel economy and optimal
emission control:

Shift up // Normal Acceleration // Cruise from Acceleration

1st-2nd // 15 mph // 9 mph
2nd-3rd // 27 mph // 20 mph
3rd-4th // 39 mph // 33 mph
4th-5th // 53 mph // 48 mph

I have a 1984-1995 Civic Chilton's and it's fine. Bought it on Ebay.
www.Helminc.com sells the original shop manual. Also http://www.autozone.com
has free online Honda manuals for 1995 and earlier models only. On the left,
click on "Repair Info," then "Vehicle Repair Guides." Click on car year,
make, and model, etc.

See my site http://home.earthlink.net/~honda.lioness/id9.html for more info
that might be helpful for working on your 91 Civic.

> I just bought a 1991 Civic wagon, unfortunately missing the owners manual.
> Anyone know the optimum cruising RPMs? My last car was a Camry from the
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> bought is not real useful. Can't find where Haynes makes one. Anyone
> know where to get the Official shop manual?

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mgmonza@sdf.lonestar.org - 25 Nov 2005 16:30 GMT

> See my site http://home.earthlink.net/~honda.lioness/id9.html for more info
> that might be helpful for working on your 91 Civic.

What a site! There's enough to keep me busy even on a holiday weekend.

> Is this a DX? If so, its engine is identical to my 91 Civic LX. My owner's
> manual gives the following shift points for best fuel economy and optimal
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> 3rd-4th // 39 mph // 33 mph
> 4th-5th // 53 mph // 48 mph

My new Significant Object is indeed a DX. I'm going out today and
checking the shift points with the revs - that should give me the
recommended RPMs.

I'll go ahead and order the original shop manual from Helms - I got used
to the Haynes for my Toyota and my bikes' shop manuals have always had
lots of pictures, while Chilton seems to go with the 1,000 word theory.

Thanks for the shift points and the great site reccomendations.

MG

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Elle - 25 Nov 2005 17:05 GMT

> On Thu, 24 Nov 2005, Elle wrote:
> >
> > See my site http://home.earthlink.net/~honda.lioness/id9.html for more info
> > that might be helpful for working on your 91 Civic.
>
> What a site! There's enough to keep me busy even on a holiday weekend.

Just an amateur's creative outlet. I trust you saw the references to three
other homemade sites that I think serve the Honda auto DIY-er well.

> > Is this a DX? If so, its engine is identical to my 91 Civic LX. My owner's
> > manual gives the following shift points for best fuel economy and optimal
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> checking the shift points with the revs - that should give me the
> recommended RPMs.

I should have 'fessed up that I am guessing as to what "cruise from
acceleration" means. I have driven by feel, with a little guidance from this
group, for years. Yesterday I tried the points above and it seemed like 3rd
gear at 33 mph landed the RPM at around 2500. I just shoot for something
between 2100 and 2900 when I'm driving, but maybe that can be improved upon.

> I'll go ahead and order the original shop manual from Helms - I got used
> to the Haynes for my Toyota and my bikes' shop manuals have always had >

lots of pictures, while Chilton seems to go with the 1,000 word theory.

Dunno if you've been using really old Chilton's, but I have noticed that the
newer ones (e.g. 1990 and up) duplicate a lot of what's in Helm. My
recollection from using some of the Chiltons in the library back in the late
1980s is they were then kinda generic and so sometimes misleading.

OTOH, IIRC Helm is thicker, portending more detail, and many here say Helm
is the only way to go. I'm just cheap and so far have been happy with
Chilton's, supplemented by various web sites and the honda newsgroups now
and then.

> Thanks for the shift points and the great site reccomendations.

Welcome.

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