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

Now available from EcoModder: ScanGauge II fuel economy gauge.  Click for details.  

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 04-26-2010, 11:59 AM   #1 (permalink)
Basjoos Wannabe
 
ShadeTreeMech's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 829

The Van - '97 Villager gs
90 day: 19.8 mpg (US)

Max - '98 Maxima SE
90 day: 26.89 mpg (US)
Thanks: 146
Thanked 43 Times in 29 Posts
28 MPG??!???!? You've got to be KIDDING me!!!

I recently embarked on a 300 mile trip in the Maxima. I generally have to fight road rage and so hypermiling comes hard for me when my pride is wounded. That and the acceleration of the Maxima is amazing compared to my minvan.

However, I managed to go all the way to Little Rock without speeding much. (you have to remember, going 10 over is an Arkansas tradition. I pass police going 10 over constantly) I also used a modified P&G when I could; ie, I left the engine running, but when I could mantain speed going down slight hills while in neutral, i took advantage of it. I also did a touch of it when I could on the interstate.

Sadly I mashed the go pedal a bit more on the trip back than I should have, but still managed a solid 28 mpg. This may not seem much, but i have a goal of breaching 30 mpg, and I haven't even done anything to reduce drag on this beast. All I've done is put 50 psi in the tires.

I do desperatly want a fuel injector cut off switch for EOC (engine off coasting?) and while I know I can keep the engine rolling while in drive (I have an automatic) I'm not versed enough in the rules of auto trannys, so I fear damaging the thing. I think keeping it in drive at speed and cutting off the fuel shouldn't pose any problems, especially if my TC stays locked in . But if the engine stops spinning while in gear, what then? I could put it in neutral and kill the engine, but then that'll stress the aging starter.

Either way, getting that figure got me going. It's proven to me it can be done, and that getting a SGII might actually be worth it!


(Support Ecomodder.com & get rid of these annoying ads!)      
 
__________________

Gotta love wife, kids, and car!


Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf View Post
I think you missed the point I was trying to make, which is that it's not rational to do either speed or fuel economy mods for economic reasons. You do it as a form of recreation, for the fun and for the challenge.
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2010, 12:57 PM   #2 (permalink)
Ecomodder
 
Fr3AkAzOiD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 250

Cobalt XFE - '08 Cobalt XFE
Team Chevy
90 day: 54.89 mpg (US)

'08 XFE average for 2012 - '08 Cobalt XFE
90 day: 54.89 mpg (US)

'05 Malibu V6 Tow Vehicle - '05 Malibu LS V6
90 day: 30.07 mpg (US)
Thanks: 41
Thanked 22 Times in 18 Posts
Was the car heavily loaded for your trip?

You will be getting 30+ mpg soon enough.
__________________
Lifetime mpg


2012 mpg
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2010, 01:14 PM   #3 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
texanidiot25's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 330

Formula - '96 Formula/Trans-Am
90 day: 19.31 mpg (US)
Thanks: 8
Thanked 29 Times in 16 Posts
Your engine powers the hydrolic pump that keeps your trans working and lubricated. Good chance of burning it up if you EOC at freeway speeds.
__________________


Lets see how far it can go

"All I know about music is that not many people ever really hear it. [...] But the man who creates the music is hearing something else, is dealing with the roar rising from the void and imposing order on it as it hits the air. What is evoked in him, then, is of another order, more terrible because it has no words, and triumphant, too, for the same reason. And his triumph, when he triumphs, is ours." -Sonny's Blues
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2010, 02:45 PM   #4 (permalink)
ooo ooo ooo ah ah ah
 
Frank Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 7,357

Blue - '93 Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 F150 XLT
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 636
Thanked 848 Times in 591 Posts
There's a whole mentality with speeding and aggressive driving that I think results in sub-conscious gas pedal mashing. What I'm trying to say is when you lose that you will make the gains you seek.
__________________


  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Frank Lee For This Useful Post:
SentraSE-R (04-26-2010), Weather Spotter (08-04-2010)
Old 04-26-2010, 03:09 PM   #5 (permalink)
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: maine
Posts: 758

oldscoob - '87 wagon gl/dr
90 day: 47.06 mpg (US)
Thanks: 21
Thanked 18 Times in 14 Posts
28 and good acceleration. Somebody did something right...

the maxima is the sideways v6?
Uncommon car this way...along with 99% of ecomod proven hypermilers.
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2010, 04:29 PM   #6 (permalink)
Basjoos Wannabe
 
ShadeTreeMech's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 829

The Van - '97 Villager gs
90 day: 19.8 mpg (US)

Max - '98 Maxima SE
90 day: 26.89 mpg (US)
Thanks: 146
Thanked 43 Times in 29 Posts
yeah, the Maxima has a 190 hp V-6 and front wheel drive. It's supposed to do the 1/4 in 13ish secs in stock form with 0-60 in about 7 secs. Not blazing fast, but a bit better than your average beater.

I've heard of someone being able to get 30 out of the thing, so it just might be possible.

I know the pump keeps things lubricated, but if the engine is off while still in gear, an AT will keep the engine turning, assuming the RPMs don't go too low. So everything is still working, I'm just not sure about all the details.

And no, it wasn't especially heavily loaded, I suspect less than 300lbs including people and luggage. But I did leave with a full tank, so there was that weight. But I always consider a full tank as a happy tank and try to keep it full.

Right now I'm trying to figure out an idling problem it's having. Coupled with the starter starting to go out it's the cause of a bit of stress.
__________________

Gotta love wife, kids, and car!


Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf View Post
I think you missed the point I was trying to make, which is that it's not rational to do either speed or fuel economy mods for economic reasons. You do it as a form of recreation, for the fun and for the challenge.
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2010, 06:02 PM   #7 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: williamsburg, virginia
Posts: 2,061

Vulcan - '05 Vulcan 500 LTD
90 day: 60.08 mpg (US)

Mag Pearl - '011 Fiesta SE Hatch
90 day: 45.91 mpg (US)
Thanks: 108
Thanked 309 Times in 228 Posts
Had a 99. last year of that version Maxima. All aluminum V6, with a curb weight that is fairly low at something like 2800 pounds, with about 200 HP. Best car we ever owned and a dream on the Interstate at 80 MPH.

regards
Mech
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2010, 07:35 PM   #8 (permalink)
Basjoos Wannabe
 
ShadeTreeMech's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 829

The Van - '97 Villager gs
90 day: 19.8 mpg (US)

Max - '98 Maxima SE
90 day: 26.89 mpg (US)
Thanks: 146
Thanked 43 Times in 29 Posts
Yeah we like it quite a bit. She had nearly 200k on her when we bought her now she's over that. And yeah, the curb weight is suprisingly low for something of that size.

that aluminum block is a thing of beauty. Would love to make a roadster with it sticking out in the open for all to see.
__________________

Gotta love wife, kids, and car!


Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf View Post
I think you missed the point I was trying to make, which is that it's not rational to do either speed or fuel economy mods for economic reasons. You do it as a form of recreation, for the fun and for the challenge.
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2010, 09:15 PM   #9 (permalink)
Pishtaco
 
SentraSE-R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,278

Clean Green Toaster Machine - '06 xB
90 day: 45.81 mpg (US)
Thanks: 39
Thanked 193 Times in 127 Posts
What Frank said. Until you leave the rat race, it will rule your mpg adversely. When you learn to drive 5-10 mph under the speed limit, you will reach new mpg heights.
__________________
Darrell

Boycotting Exxon since 1989, BP since 2010
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? George Carlin
Mean Green Toaster Machine
49.4 mpg avg over 30,375 miles. 176% of '08 EPA
Best flat drive 94.5 mpg for 10.1 mi
Longest tank 1033 km (642 mi) on 10.56 gal = 60.8 mpg
Clean Green Toaster Machine
45.8 mpg over 2235 miles, 164% of '08 EPA
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to SentraSE-R For This Useful Post:
rmay635703 (04-26-2010), Weather Spotter (08-04-2010)
Old 04-27-2010, 05:16 PM   #10 (permalink)
Basjoos Wannabe
 
ShadeTreeMech's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 829

The Van - '97 Villager gs
90 day: 19.8 mpg (US)

Max - '98 Maxima SE
90 day: 26.89 mpg (US)
Thanks: 146
Thanked 43 Times in 29 Posts
But...But....but it so HARD to not go with the flow of traffic!!! And i like going fast.......but I don't like paying for it at the pump. And my car feels so stable at high speed, like it just wants to go faster and is egging me on.....

This is a picture of my inner conflict. Wish i could afford to change out the final drive for better highway gears.


(Support Ecomodder.com & get rid of these annoying ads!)      
 
__________________

Gotta love wife, kids, and car!


Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf View Post
I think you missed the point I was trying to make, which is that it's not rational to do either speed or fuel economy mods for economic reasons. You do it as a form of recreation, for the fun and for the challenge.
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread

Thread Tools


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Project: Rebuilding an '01 Honda Insight as a nonhybrid Fabio Hybrids 155 05-01-2012 09:33 PM
free OBD2 software with MPG calc whitewiz Instrumentation 6 02-18-2012 11:31 AM
How to get instant fuel consumption from Megasquirt TELVM Instrumentation 11 08-29-2011 02:47 PM
SGII first observations! Old Tele man Success Stories 10 04-02-2010 01:26 AM
mpguino acted up today, lost mpg during fuel cut wagonman76 OpenGauge / MPGuino FE computer 9 06-17-2009 12:25 PM




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com