FeedBack is what I seek (driving tips for long trip)

[MetroMPG]

ScanGauge use is the best bet. Too many other variables to contend with comparing one technique on one leg, and another technique on the return.

[metroschultz]

Our trip begins next Friday, ~ 10 am.
After breakfast,
After traffic has thinned,
After I convince my wife to take her anti-anxiety drugs.
For that last reason we will NOT use P&G.
My ultimate consideration is for her peace of mind.
Hence the two leg trip for "only" 12 hours on the road.
The first leg being easy country roads.
I use P&G here in the city whenever I can and it drives her nuts.
O.K. for 15 or 20 minutes, not for 6 to 7 hours.
I shut the car down at lights, same result, same reasoning.
So I thank You all for the help and advice.
Now I must go to her place of employment and take the car so I can work on the under-body smoothing.
See you at Barbs Aero Makeover tomorrow.
S.

[metroschultz]

This will be the last time I sit in front of my 'puter for a while.
I may get to use one at the library or whatever but that will be a maybe only,
so,
These are my goals for the trip.
At least one tank over 30 mpg.(last trip I got avg 25mpg @ 85 mph)
no rolling over the posted limit, at all.(I'm a reformed speed freak)
Keep Barbara from going nuts with my "new" driving style.
Arrive safe. (goes without saying but I said it anyway)
All are Attainable, I think,
Schultz out.

[MetroMPG]

Good luck & have a safe journey!

Looking forward to the results.

[thebrad]

Well reviewing some of the data from the Vegas trip, I am somewhat surprised.
P&G with EOC at freeway speeds (55-70) did not net any significant returns (48.1 mpg), this could be due to the fact of wind resistance and the engine revving to 2500-2700. On the return trip I tried to keep a constant 60-65 mph with only two memorable EOCs through the Cajon pass and netted (54.2 mpg). While this isn't entirely conclusive because both tanks had a week of my school route on them so there could have been a number of mitigating factors at play. But it would seem if driving on the freeway you're far better off just going a constant 55.

However, to be fair when I first got the car I did a couple of trips from Northern CA (San Mateo) to Southern CA (Temecula) and netted something like 39-41mpg going a constant 70 with 40psi in the tires.

[PA32R]

Originally Posted by Arminius

I won't go on any trip without my pocket GPS. It has saved me time and gas, nearly every time.

How does it do that?

[metroschultz]

so here you see the fuel log for the Avalon, you can read the details in the log entries.
The last 4 entries are for the trip (they took me from 10% below to 3% below so thats a bonus)
All are above EPA combined, but none hit the magic 30 mpg I was hoping for,
I wonder if there is something I need to do to the engine controls or hard parts? I have had this car for two years now and the only thing I have done is put in new plugs.
This vehicle has 135 K on the clock and to the best of my knowledge nothing major has ever been changed.
Being the cheap b@$$t@rd I am, I do not want to spend any money on things like O2 sensors and the like.
I did do some under-body paneling before the trip
I will post those pics in Barbs Aero Makeover soon.
now I must get ready for the old grindstone.
C Ya
S.

[MetroMPG]

Welcome back. Looks like Barb got the best fuel economy. (She was doing some of the driving on that 04-24-08 tank, according to your log.)