Anyone gets >40mpg consistently in his/her xb?

[Z man]

Originally Posted by xbUser

Finally, I got scangauge tonight. I hope I can get more than 44mpg with that. hahaha...

How do you like it so far?

[xbUser]

So far, it is still the first tank, I don't know how accurate the gauge. Since I top off the tank in the last refill (waste gas), I've got 250+miles less than half tank. So, I don't count this tank as a real mpg improvement.

From my observation, with normal acceleration, not cruising, not rapid or slow acceleration,
1st gear -> <10mpg
2nd gear -> <15mpg
3rd gear -> <25mpg
4th gear -> <30mpg

Under traffic congestion, even 1st gear can gives you 40+mpg. What I am doing is running very slow with little gas to maintain the motion. Neutral saves more gas, but it will stop. Also, will waste clutch. So, don't stop if possible.

So, I would go up to 40 or 45 mph as soon as possible and cruise with 5th gear, which gives me 40-50mpg, sometimes up to 70mpg with slightly downhill.

In freeway, I try to keep 40+mpg if possible. Sometimes it is very hard, especially going uphill. I don't want to slow down too much. Also, I want to drive faster than 60mph. So far, my max is 70mph, but just a while in downhill. Most time I am driving between 50mph to 60mph. I am still finding the sweet speed for cruising.

I don't notice any mpg drop after 3100rpm. So, even vvti click in, as someone mentioned before, I don't see any mpg dropped. So, I am free to go as fast as I can in downhill.

In this early conclusion, I drive faster in town (try to cruise at 40+), but slower in freeway (not maintaining speed at 60mph, but maintaining 40+mpg)

One more, the fan will turn on after 202F. Driving in freeway (60mph) is around 184F, stopping at light will increase 2F every few seconds. Driving in town is around 194F. With the upper grille blocked, the fan turns on only few times, not too bad.

[Z man]

That's awesome man. I want more information! I'm starting school next week so money will be tight, I don't know if I can get a scangauge since I love buying Nikes so much.

[xbUser]

I know. My camera broke. I want to buy a new Canon 5D, too. $1750!! is a lot. However, I believe scangauge is a good INVESTMENT. Investment has money return. My camera is expense, no money return for me.....

I just ordered Monroe shock yesterday. Not expensive. Around $60 for 2 includes shipping. It should come next week. My brother will install it for me in the next weekend. I hope it will smooth the ride as other forum say. The ride is too choppy as my tires is 44psi now.

Since I topped off the gas last tank, this tank lasts very long. It may run 6 days rather than 5 days as usual. It may break 500miles. Now, 280miles only pass a hair of half mark. I can tell the unusual high mpg in this tank. hahaha...

[Z man]

Originally Posted by xbUser

I know. My camera broke. I want to buy a new Canon 5D, too. $1750!! is a lot. However, I believe scangauge is a good INVESTMENT. Investment has money return. My camera is expense, no money return for me.....

I just ordered Monroe shock yesterday. Not expensive. Around $60 for 2 includes shipping. It should come next week. My brother will install it for me in the next weekend. I hope it will smooth the ride as other forum say. The ride is too choppy as my tires is 44psi now.

Since I topped off the gas last tank, this tank lasts very long. It may run 6 days rather than 5 days as usual. It may break 500miles. Now, 280miles only pass a hair of half mark. I can tell the unusual high mpg in this tank. hahaha...

Wow that's really great for the half tank. My best could have been over 250 this time, I'm not there yet, but too much city driving is hurting. My tires say the max is 40 psi, so I have it there, I don't know if I should go for much more. My box rides quite well to me, I go over railroad tracks much faster than most people and it's not too bumpy. I like "feeling" the road, I get a better sense of it.

Also, I was wondering, what is your mpg on flat roads going 70 mph? I hate going that fast because I feel like the drag is increased too much.

[xbUser]

As I said before, top off the tank created an illusion of great mpg of half tank. 3/4 tank runs 360miles and light on 410 miles (before reaching the last mark). The third quarter has bad mpg since running to the top of mountain and many stops in Berkeley. Finally, I run 453.9 miles before fill up the tank. Of course, break my own record as predicted. I believe next tank will come back to normal.

I tried running 70mph today. Only show 32 to 35 mpg. I need 28tps to maintain the speed. To get 40+mpg, only need 20-22tps. Maintaining 50mph in uphill, I need 25 to 28tps. So, you can tell running 70mph in flat road needs more power than running uphill @ 50mph. To maintain 40+mpg, 65mph and 70mph only happen in downhill. Faster than that, I will get less mpg. I have to slow down little bit (use less gas) to achieve the highest mpg. Of course, when going down a long, deep slope, I will put in neutral to get >300mpg.

As we all know, xB has poor air dynamic. Aero mod is the only way to improve highway fuel efficiency. I hope I can run like 65mph or 70mph with 40+mpg. After changing the shock, I will plan for belly pan.

[brickinthewind]

A few observations, as well as a description of how my last tank got me almost 42 in hwy driving with passenger and luggage:

-I don't believe the 3100rpm thing with VVT-I. Every time I look up the 1NZ-FE engine we have, I don't see anything about a specific RPM. I think it's exactly that, variable valve timing - early versions from Honda might have done it after 3100, but I think ours is more variable than that. Still, I try to shift under 3000.

I just got 42mpg on a trip from the Bay Area to Arcata, 250 miles north. I filled up at Costco in Santa Rosa ($3.95/gal, $3.92 on the way back!) and had to get about 2 gallons around Ukiah so I didn't run out. Of course, I added them to the mpg calculation! ;-)
I was able to do lots of EOC on the longer hills between Ukiah and Eureka. One thing about the boxy shape that actually benefits us is that we can get going downhill at a good clip and the wind keeps us from going too fast. That way, EOC can last longer without using the brakes and running out of brake boost. On many of the hills, I was glad the car would not coast any faster, as that would cause me to have to turn the car on when I ran out of brakes. On shallower downhills, I would end up coasting too slow for traffic and wished for a little better aero. But lots of EOC contributed to this tank.
I had a heavy chest (furniture! ;-) ) and a large chair inside that I was delivering to my aunt on the way up, and luggage, so it was a pretty heavily loaded trip, and I had my cousin and his luggage on the way back, so it could have been even better. Also had inflated tires to 48psi before I left.
I guess the important thing here is hills and lack of traffic. I won't be shy about taking a hillier, less traveled route next time I'm traveling long distance or even locally, provided it allows me to do some EOC.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by brickinthewind

I think it's exactly that, variable valve timing ........... On shallower downhills, I would end up coasting too slow for traffic and wished for a little better aero.

Sounds like you need some variable aero to go with your vvt

I have actually rolled down my windows for air-braking.

[brickinthewind]

Metro, I know! I was using opening all the windows as an air brake - when you roll down all 4 windows that little bucket catches quite a bit of air - didn't hurt that it was pretty hot and that helped cool us down.

I think I need a Transformer(tm). Hypermileatron?! Maybe the truly advanced hypermiler who has power brakes can set up retractable air brakes? Make the sunroof open straight up?

I doubt Michael Bay is going to include Hypermileatron in Transformers 2, but we can dream . . .

[whokilledthejams]

@brickinthewind:

From what a quick googling can tell me, VVT-i does not engage at any particular time. The engine decides on the fly whether to advance or retard timing given a combination of rpm, load, etc. It's similar to the newer iVTEC system on newer Hondas. For reference, Toyota's VVTl-i is closer to the older VTEC system that just engages automatically at a certain rpm.

@xBuser:
Have you done any aeromods? My modest half-grille-block and Moon discs help me get a solid 37mpg (averaged over a tank, as I don't have an SG2 yet), at as-steady-as-I-can-hold 65mph, while pulsing the AC on and off every few minutes.

[xbUser]

Not any aero mod yet. I want to change the rear shock first. I don't want to take out the mod again when I change it. I am thinking using window screen for both belly pan and grille block.

I remembered you told me the moon racing disc didn't give you much help in mpg. but, your grille gives you 2mpg. I don't notice the huge difference like yours. my mid grille block gives me 1mpg or less. I may block the lower grille later. Still, the greatest improvement is from my right foot. By the way, have you changed motor oil to 5W30? @ 65mph, I can run 38mpg. I feel the difference between 5W30 and 10W30. My xB is stick shift and running a lot of freeway.... If you change synthetic transmission oil and slow down to 60mph, you may get 40mpg. This is how I got there.

My scangauge needs few tanks to calibrate. It is not accurate at all. I don't trust the mpg number now, but tps gives me some guideline how my foot is doing.

[ROFL Box]

just went on another road trip for a car show (and a week of daily driving)

484 on 9.8

[Z man]

Am I the only automatic box in here?

I have Yokohama Avid TRZ's set to 40 psi, 44 or 48 sounds like quite a lot!

[xbUser]

Rofl Box, you are amazing. I can't imagine how to get that high mpg. Once I calibrate the scangauge, I will tape around my car, like yours. 49mpg in xB is like a dream.

Zman, I have Yokohama Avid TRZ tires on Civic and xB before. They are very good tires. I didn't make it to 40psi as the gas price is not like today. I believe it can handle 44psi, which is max on tire wall. Try it. If you don't like the ride, go back to 40psi. My experience told me 48psi with stock size is too much. The ABS activates a lot.(losing too much traction surface) By the way, 40psi to 44psi will give you about 0.5mpg. Automatic is good on freeway. At least, you don't have to reviv to 3000rpm for only 60mph.

[Z man]

Originally Posted by xbUser

Rofl Box, you are amazing. I can't imagine how to get that high mpg. Once I calibrate the scangauge, I will tape around my car, like yours. 49mpg in xB is like a dream.

Zman, I have Yokohama Avid TRZ tires on Civic and xB before. They are very good tires. I didn't make it to 40psi as the gas price is not like today. I believe it can handle 44psi, which is max on tire wall. Try it. If you don't like the ride, go back to 40psi. My experience told me 48psi with stock size is too much. The ABS activates a lot.(losing too much traction surface) By the way, 40psi to 44psi will give you about 0.5mpg. Automatic is good on freeway. At least, you don't have to reviv to 3000rpm for only 60mph.

Yeah I will try 44psi or 43psi. My tank is at 472.2 miles, I probably have less than a gallon left.
I get frustrated with the auto because on flat roads I have to go >40mph, hills >50mph, to keep it from shifting down. So in a 30mph zone, I can manage 4th gear at 35mph until I hit a slight incline and then it shifts down, and sometimes back up and down again! (cops like to hide here)
I may get some black duct tape and make temporary wheel skirts or something. I usually have a passenger and make many short trips, but hopefully rock solid tires can get my average to >40mpg!

[xbUser]

zman,
you didn't miss a lot on auto. The min. rpm I shift to 5th is 35mph. In fact, between 35mph and 40mph, 4th and 5th doesn't make a lot of differences. In that territory, your foot saves you more gas than gear. Above 40mph, 5th gear saves more gas than 4th. On hills, I still can use 5th gear, but gives me no power at all. In some situation, I can't even hold the rpm anymore. Again, your foot saves you more gas. Most small car drives better with manual, but I pretty like auto on xB since the gear ratio is too close, making the car too noisy and busy.

[Z man]

Originally Posted by xbUser

zman,
you didn't miss a lot on auto. The min. rpm I shift to 5th is 35mph. In fact, between 35mph and 40mph, 4th and 5th doesn't make a lot of differences. In that territory, your foot saves you more gas than gear. Above 40mph, 5th gear saves more gas than 4th. On hills, I still can use 5th gear, but gives me no power at all. In some situation, I can't even hold the rpm anymore. Again, your foot saves you more gas. Most small car drives better with manual, but I pretty like auto on xB since the gear ratio is too close, making the car too noisy and busy.

That is pretty close. I take it you have driven an auto?
Much easier I must say.

[whokilledthejams]

Originally Posted by xbUser

Not any aero mod yet. I want to change the rear shock first. I don't want to take out the mod again when I change it. I am thinking using window screen for both belly pan and grille block.

I remembered you told me the moon racing disc didn't give you much help in mpg. but, your grille gives you 2mpg. I don't notice the huge difference like yours. my mid grille block gives me 1mpg or less. I may block the lower grille later. Still, the greatest improvement is from my right foot. By the way, have you changed motor oil to 5W30? @ 65mph, I can run 38mpg. I feel the difference between 5W30 and 10W30. My xB is stick shift and running a lot of freeway.... If you change synthetic transmission oil and slow down to 60mph, you may get 40mpg. This is how I got there.

My scangauge needs few tanks to calibrate. It is not accurate at all. I don't trust the mpg number now, but tps gives me some guideline how my foot is doing.

I'm due for an oil change right now (but I'm waiting to get paid-- switching from weekly to biweekly pay SUCKS), so I am likely going to go with 0W30 synthetic, and transmission oil will get done eventually.

I also want to build a tray under the car behind the rear axle. It seems to be low-hanging fruit, as aeromods go, and probably good for a couple mpg at high speeds.

I wish I had the nerve to go slower, and cruise control. I'll probably spring for CC if I find myself faced with driving more than ~100 miles at a stretch, even if only because I find it cuts down on fatigue a great deal, despite not being a perfect fuel-saving device.

[ROFL Box]

Ive been playing with EOC alot again lately...

My exit for work is down a slight hill so I get to shut the car off and coast downhill for a good mile and a half... Im going to try to do some vids of how I drive back and forth to work for you guys... so we will see how that works... as of right now the car isnt taped, and Im going to run a tank of gass out of it to see what happens just off of my driving style, for those of you that dont want to go into vehicle mods, I even dropped the belly pan, not because I wanted to, but because it recently came loose and i really dont feel like lying under the car to put it back on when i have to get the exhaust finished next week...

Ill try to get the vids tomorrow, and upload them sometime in the near future, as im getting ready to move and dont know when ill be back online...

[Z man]

I'd like to see a video!
If I had a camcorder I'd do it.

I need an oil change so bad. I'm poor though!

I got my best mileage mostly from using quick accel and then hitting 40-50mph and keeping around there. I was surprised that I could have hit 500 miles on one tank though!