Bumped my FE

[Jasen]

My first tank trying to improve my FE got me a 1.2 mpg bump with no mods.
I know not great, but I'm learning the shift points of the auto trans, not going over the posted speed limit, trying to maintain a more content throttle position.
Just need the weather to cool down so I can roll the windows up.

[cbaber]

From your last tank to this tank is a 1.2 MPG increase. It doesn't sound like much, but that's actually about 8% better! Your driving will continue to improve. What pressure are you running in the tires? A free/easy modification is to pump them up to sidewall max (or more if you dare).

[Jasen]

Your right, I read the last tank as 14.4, it's 14.04
I keep the tires at the max 35psi. There only passenger tires and I haul a 1,500 lb load everyday. I'm not comfortable over inflating them in this situation for safety's sake.
I plan on getting some LT 3 ply sidewall tires in October, those I'll run up to 50-55 psi, they also have a bit better FE rating then my current tires, plus will offer a more stable and safe ride.

[MetroMPG]

cbaber is right: don't be discouraged by a 1.2 mpg difference! It's a significant amount of fuel & money saved when you're talking about something as thirsty as your van.

You would save $392 a year (20k mi., $3.61 gas) by going from 14.04 to 15.2 MPG (1.16 mpg difference).

fueleconomy.gov mpg/cost calculator: Save Money

If a Geo Metro driver made a 1.16 mpg improvement from a 50 mpg starting point, it would only save $33 a year for the same distance/gas cost.

(There's the problem with talking in "MPG" in a nutshell. But that's another topic.)

Keep going!

[jedi_sol]

Dont fret...its all the little things that add up in the end. A lot of the mods we do here only net us 1-3 mpg at a time. However, if you "stack them...3mpg, 2mpg, 3mpg...1mpg...1 mpg"...before you know it, you have a 10mpg increase over EPA.

[UltArc]

Of course everyone else makes very valid points, going for the long haul will make a difference. I think about my antenna delete, and I would probably need serious equipment to calculate the difference, but over the years of owning it, I am sure it will pay the ~$3.00 it took to make it.

Every little bit adds up!

[elhigh]

Don't feel bad, man - you're exceeding the EPA estimate with 1500 lbs aboard all the time? You're doing well.

[Jasen]

thanx gang.
I'm still learning to drive my van, I've only had it for 9 years
Driving my shift points is starting to feel natural, don't hardly watch the speedo now, can just feel it's time make it up shift.

[pgfpro]

Originally Posted by Jasen

thanx gang.
I'm still learning to drive my van, I've only had it for 9 years
Driving my shift points is starting to feel natural, don't hardly watch the speedo now, can just feel it's time make it up shift.

Keep up the good work!!!

As others have already said every little bit makes a difference.

[owly]

Originally Posted by jedi_sol

Dont fret...its all the little things that add up in the end. A lot of the mods we do here only net us 1-3 mpg at a time. However, if you "stack them...3mpg, 2mpg, 3mpg...1mpg...1 mpg"...before you know it, you have a 10mpg increase over EPA.

Before you know it, you'll be having to stop and drain gas out of your tank ever 100 miles or so ;-)............