Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Success Stories
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 01-18-2017, 05:50 PM   #1 (permalink)
ScanGauge <3
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: CID
Posts: 364
Thanks: 226
Thanked 129 Times in 91 Posts
Thumbs up First full tank with ScanGauge!

...and also my first full tank since joining EM and adding a few tips/mods to my repertoire. I saw the gas light on my way to work today and knew it was time. Filled up on my way home (it's only 5 miles each way) and got 24.8 MPG. Looking back through the log book, my previous first fills of the year were 22.3 (2016), 23.5 (2015), and 17.9 (2014), so I'd call it a success.

Usually, January has my worst tanks of the year, but my last few tanks have been trending upward. I credit the added lower grille block and regular use of the block heater for getting my engine up to temp faster and keeping it there, and the ScanGauge for showing me how much further I can coast in neutral before the waste of idling overshadows my forward progress. Previously, I didn't let my speed sag too much before figuring I should add more momentum.

Subarus make it tough to achieve good gas mileage for a lot of reasons, but I think a goal of averaging 25 MPG over the winter and 30 over the summer may be doable with more practice.

- Scott

P.S. I have to give myself a demerit over the ScanGauge "fillup" procedure, though. It underestimated my fill by more than a gallon, but I accidentally saved the fill before correcting it. D'oh!

__________________



Best tank (so far): 32 MPG

Last edited by ThermionicScott; 01-18-2017 at 06:01 PM..
  Reply With Quote
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to ThermionicScott For This Useful Post:
Ecky (02-11-2017), Fat Charlie (02-28-2017), mcrews (01-20-2017), skyking (01-18-2017)
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 01-18-2017, 06:04 PM   #2 (permalink)
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 11,203

CM400E - '81 Honda CM400E
90 day: 51.49 mpg (US)

Daox's Grey Prius - '04 Toyota Prius
Team Toyota
90 day: 49.53 mpg (US)

Daox's Insight - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 64.33 mpg (US)

Swarthy - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage DE
Mitsubishi
90 day: 56.69 mpg (US)

Daox's Volt - '13 Chevrolet Volt
Thanks: 2,501
Thanked 2,585 Times in 1,553 Posts
Congrats Scott. To see an average increase during some of the worst winter weather is a great start!
__________________
Current project: A better alternator delete
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Daox For This Useful Post:
ThermionicScott (01-18-2017)
Old 01-18-2017, 06:33 PM   #3 (permalink)
ScanGauge <3
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: CID
Posts: 364
Thanks: 226
Thanked 129 Times in 91 Posts
Thanks Daox. I was going to mention that without rigorous A-B-A testing, I'm not sure which mods/techniques are helping me the most, but after joining here, I got too excited by the possibilities to test everything individually. I just figured I'd do well to start applying the proven stuff ASAP.
__________________



Best tank (so far): 32 MPG
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-18-2017, 06:48 PM   #4 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
skyking's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Tacoma WA
Posts: 1,399

Woody - '96 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT
Team Cummins
90 day: 23.82 mpg (US)

Avion and Woody - '96 Dodge/Avion Ram 2500/5th wheel combo
90 day: 15.1 mpg (US)

TD eye eye eye - '03 Volkswagen Beetle GLS
90 day: 49.05 mpg (US)

Mule - '07 Dodge Ram 3500 ST
Thanks: 743
Thanked 528 Times in 344 Posts
the A-B-A thing makes for great science, but I personally go A-A-B-B-C-C-C-D and so on. I don't allocate time for that "going back" thing, when we have a great repository of working mods here.
__________________




2007 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW 4x4 with 6MT
2003 TDI Beetle
2002 TDI Beetle

currently parked - 1996 Dodge 2500 Cummins Turbodiesel
Custom cab, auto, 3.55 gears
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to skyking For This Useful Post:
Fat Charlie (02-28-2017), ThermionicScott (01-18-2017)
Old 01-27-2017, 11:37 AM   #5 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
JRMichler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Phillips, WI
Posts: 1,013

Nameless - '06 GMC Canyon
90 day: 37.45 mpg (US)

22 Maverick - '22 Ford Maverick XL
90 day: 41.9 mpg (US)
Thanks: 188
Thanked 466 Times in 287 Posts
I'm another user of the A-B-C-D-E-F-G method of modding and testing for the same reasons that Skyking gave. I'm up to mod H if I count the vacuum gauge as a mod.
__________________
06 Canyon: The vacuum gauge plus wheel covers helped increase summer 2015 mileage to 38.5 MPG, while summer 2016 mileage was 38.6 MPG without the wheel covers. Drove 33,021 miles 2016-2018 at 35.00 MPG.

22 Maverick: Summer 2022 burned 62.74 gallons in 3145.1 miles for 50.1 MPG. Winter 2023-2024 - 2416.7 miles, 58.66 gallons for 41 MPG.
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to JRMichler For This Useful Post:
skyking (01-27-2017)
Old 01-27-2017, 12:08 PM   #6 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
skyking's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Tacoma WA
Posts: 1,399

Woody - '96 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT
Team Cummins
90 day: 23.82 mpg (US)

Avion and Woody - '96 Dodge/Avion Ram 2500/5th wheel combo
90 day: 15.1 mpg (US)

TD eye eye eye - '03 Volkswagen Beetle GLS
90 day: 49.05 mpg (US)

Mule - '07 Dodge Ram 3500 ST
Thanks: 743
Thanked 528 Times in 344 Posts
Thanks to the solid numbers you got with your beautiful aeroshell, people build them with confidence. That recent wood one is a great example of that.
If a person follows along, bellys when they can, keep the diffuser angle below 4~5%, reduces unnecessary cooling flow, they will get results.
__________________




2007 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW 4x4 with 6MT
2003 TDI Beetle
2002 TDI Beetle

currently parked - 1996 Dodge 2500 Cummins Turbodiesel
Custom cab, auto, 3.55 gears
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2017, 09:37 PM   #7 (permalink)
ScanGauge <3
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: CID
Posts: 364
Thanks: 226
Thanked 129 Times in 91 Posts
Second full tank under the tutelage of my ScanGauge. I scored just shy of 25 MPG. Was hoping for better, but I'll take it.

I had used the ScanGauge on my dad's pickup when I borrowed it to haul some things last month, and so the SG estimated I'd used a few extra gallons of gas. Without really thinking, I adjusted the fill amount downward. In retrospect, I shouldn't have done that -- it'll probably overestimate my MPG now, won't it?
__________________



Best tank (so far): 32 MPG
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2017, 06:24 PM   #8 (permalink)
ScanGauge <3
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: CID
Posts: 364
Thanks: 226
Thanked 129 Times in 91 Posts
Both excellent points, Old Tele man. I did reset the engine size both times, and I should have gone halfway on the adjustment at the very least! I ran some errands this afternoon, and the MPG readings were quite literally unbelievable. I wish it were possible to adjust the calibration between tanks...
__________________



Best tank (so far): 32 MPG
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2017, 06:28 PM   #9 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
oldtamiyaphile's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,510

UFI - '12 Fiat 500 Twinair
Team Turbocharged!
90 day: 40.3 mpg (US)

Jeep - '05 Jeep Wrangler Renegade
90 day: 18.09 mpg (US)

R32 - '89 Nissan Skyline

STiG - '16 Renault Trafic 140dCi Energy
90 day: 30.12 mpg (US)

Prius - '05 Toyota Prius
Team Toyota
90 day: 50.25 mpg (US)

Premodded - '49 Ford Freighter
90 day: 13.48 mpg (US)

F-117 - '10 Proton Arena GLSi
Pickups
Mitsubishi
90 day: 37.82 mpg (US)

Ralica - '85 Toyota Celica ST
90 day: 25.23 mpg (US)

Sx4 - '07 Suzuki Sx4
90 day: 32.21 mpg (US)

F-117 (2) - '03 Citroen Xsara VTS
90 day: 30.06 mpg (US)
Thanks: 325
Thanked 452 Times in 319 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by ThermionicScott View Post
Second full tank under the tutelage of my ScanGauge. I scored just shy of 25 MPG. Was hoping for better, but I'll take it.

I had used the ScanGauge on my dad's pickup when I borrowed it to haul some things last month, and so the SG estimated I'd used a few extra gallons of gas. Without really thinking, I adjusted the fill amount downward. In retrospect, I shouldn't have done that -- it'll probably overestimate my MPG now, won't it?
Personally, I prefer to adjust the engine size parameter to get my SG as close as possible, then use the tank calibration for fine tuning.

It's a good idea to write down the calibration when swapping to another car so you can always go back to it.
__________________






  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to oldtamiyaphile For This Useful Post:
Shiba300d (02-02-2019)
Old 02-25-2017, 01:48 PM   #10 (permalink)
ScanGauge <3
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: CID
Posts: 364
Thanks: 226
Thanked 129 Times in 91 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldtamiyaphile View Post
Personally, I prefer to adjust the engine size parameter to get my SG as close as possible, then use the tank calibration for fine tuning.

It's a good idea to write down the calibration when swapping to another car so you can always go back to it.
How far off from the actual engine size are you willing to go before leaving it up to tank fills for calibration? I've just been using the spec size of whatever vehicle I've had this thing on. If the SG reports optimistic MPG numbers, would you fudge the engine size up or down from reality to steer it in the right direction?

Thanks.

__________________



Best tank (so far): 32 MPG
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com