2008 Honda GX MPG

[B-Rad]

I am new to the forum and like many considering a new Honda GX for my commute to work. I live in the Dallas, TX area and commute 215 miles round trip 4 days a week, 95% highway. The rating for the GX is 36 MPG highway. If the tank holds 8 gallons, that should get me about 288 miles, knowing how I drive and other factors will affect this, but even so I should be safe in thinking I will not run out of fuel on the round trip as long as the tank is full from the onset, right? Also, I am looking at the Phill unit to install at home, does this unit have any trouble completely filling the tank? Given enough time. There are refuel stations around the D/FW area, but not at where I work, Tyler area so I need to be able to make it back.

[Timon]

Re: 2008 Honda GX MPG

You should not have a problem as long as you have a full tank. I've got a 2004 and I get a clean 200 miles even with the AC on. If you can fill up at home you'll always have a full tank but since you do 215 in one day you'll have to get a FMQ2-36 to be able to fill in one night.

[bluedevil]

Re: 2008 Honda GX MPG

You should be fine but keep in mind that you will not have that much of a cushion for an emrgency, given the fact that you imply having a heavy foot...

95% highway driving at about 65 mph will get you about 40 mpg on a 06 or newer civic gx, 70- 75 mph, about 35 mpg, and 80 mph, about 30 mpg or so, this is from personal experience, although individual results will vary. ( hey that's the same phrase from all those infomercials! )

I cannot answer any questions regarding home fueling since I do not own a home refueling unit. I do drive about 200 miles a day to and from work, so I see where you're coming from...

[B-Rad]

Re: 2008 Honda GX MPG

I generally drive about 70-75 mph so it sounds like I should be OK, as long as I get a full tank re-fuel. For me the real cost savings is with re-fueling at home. The way I calculate it here in Dallas it is about $1.20 per gallon pumped at home and at the Clean Energy stations $2.39 per gallon. I drive my car has about 12 hours from when I get home to when I leave in the morning and I usually work at the office Monday/Tuesday, work at home on Wednesday and office Thursday/Friday. I know I might be stretching it on the days during the week I refuel it at home having 12 hours to do so, but if I didn't think it was full enough I could always top it off at the station. The difference between the Phill unit cost I've been quoted at $4,500 and the other one that fills faster, $9,900 makes me hope it will work. Opinions?

[CNGfamily]

Re: 2008 Honda GX MPG

Before you discount the FMQ2-36, you may want to consider a used one, that will drive down the initial cost. Also, if you do the math, you'll find that the total cost of the FMQ2-36 over the long term will be less (greater cost to refurb a Phill and you get more actual fuel compressed with a FMQ2-36 even though it's fewer hours between service)
I've had a FMQ2-36 since 2001, and I've had the same unit moved to a new home. The main advantage with the Phill is that you can refuel with the vehicle inside the garage.
Also, as noted elsewhere in the blog, you get more fuel in the tank by slow filling with either unit when compared to a fast fill station. Good Luck!

[Curtis]

Re: 2008 Honda GX MPG

The slow fill units, either the FMQ, or the Phill will actually give you a much better fillup than the public stations. Slow filling should net you about a gallon (gge) more fuel than fast filling, which causes heat expansion and reduces the amount of fuel you can get in the tank until it cools back down. The FMQ2-36 is the 1gge/hr slow fill that you refer to as the $9k unit. They are available from time to time on EBay and this group for around $4500k-$5500, depending on condition/hrs.

[ronbrns]

Re: 2008 Honda GX MPG

There is another company in the Netherlands that makes compressors. They have a full line that approximates the FuelMaker line. Units cost about 50% to 60% less than the comparable Fuel Maker Unit. The 1.75gge/hr model is about $5,000 delivered to Oklahoma. The 3.5gge model is about $9700 delivered to Oklahoma. They have smaller ones as well. It makes sense given how much FuelMaker has increased their prices over the past 10 years, this could not have been the result of cost increases - more likely the result of being the only game in town. You can see them at:

http://www.pressurecontrols.com/0000...a0d/index.html .

The prices are not on the site, but their sales rep sent them to me. They have been able to sell them in the US since March 1. They have two pressure options - 200bar/300bar or 2900psi and 4350psi. Cost is the same on either model. If anyone would like the prices, let me know and I will send the entire email thread I got from them.

The slow fill units, either the FMQ, or the Phill will actually give you a much better fillup than the public stations. Slow filling should net you about a gallon (gge) more fuel than fast filling, which causes heat expansion and reduces the amount of fuel you can get in the tank until it cools back down. The FMQ2-36 is the 1gge/hr slow fill that you refer to as the $9k unit. They are available from time to time on EBay and this group for around $4500k-$5500, depending on condition/hrs.

[cngaz]

Re: FM Competitor

Before you send them any money, I would ask for a CSA certificate of conformance as an approved US Appliance.
If it still does not have the CSA Cert, No city permitting authority is going to let you install it at a residence.
I have not seen anywhere that they have completed field trials or any testing in the USA.
I was involved with FuelMakers Phill Field trials and it is a time consuming and expensive task.
I may not be happy with FuelMakers price increases, but reality is if you look at the change in the exchange rate to Canada you will see what is driving part of it.
I have not heard of anyone recieving or installing one of these units yet.
If anyone has, I would like to hear about it. Competition is good.
Taking advantage of us is bad. Make sure what you are paying for, before the money is spent.

[cngacrossusa]

Re: 2008 Honda GX MPG

Hello Ronbrns,

Thanks so much for info on CNG At Home from Netherlands. I had heard of company but it's GREAT to hear they have been able to ship to USA since 3/1/08.

Could you do us all a great favor?? Post the PressureControls price sheet or whatever you have as an attachment to a new reply - - - if it was a pdf that would be terrific. I'm sure lots of cng supporters will be interested in competitor to Fuelmaker.

P.S. There is also company in England that makes GasFill product similar to Fuelmaker fmq2-36 model, but company rep told me last year they could not ship to USA. Maybe soon there will be 3 vendors for VRA!!

[Timon]

Re: 2008 Honda GX MPG

Hello Ronbrns,

If the information is credible we'll make is a sticky so everyone can find it easily. The more information you can provide, both product and contace, will help the tecnical one on this forum to check out the claims.

As cngaz said, being rated as an US Appliance is a very hard rating to get and without it forget getting it through any building inspector.

[Adrian]

Re: 2008 Honda GX MPG

I looked at the website and it is for GTC Europe. I thought there was already a thread discussing GTC Europe and a member that had tried to get these VRA'a into the US. Anyone else remember that thread?