I chickened out could have made 500! - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

aggie sig · 02-28-2011, 07:16 PM

so I've been calibrating my Ultragage and it's been pretty close the last few tanks. I have been on track to get 500 miles on a tank this whole last tank, but I haven't been 100 confident. so I filled up at 464 miles today and had 1.2 gallons left for an average of 38.57. I could have done it! I would have cut it close but I could have done it!

With the weather warming up and my civic breaking in (only about 5K miles on it) and the first oil change coming up at about 10K I suspect I'll be breaking my current record with ease very soon.

Next winter I'll start experimenting with grill blocks for aero and engine temp. but when it's 110 in the next few months, I'm not going to do anything to make my vehicle run hotter.

endurance · 03-01-2011, 08:06 PM

You'll definitely stretch out another couple mpg with summer, at least I did. You're doing pretty well given the time of year and if you keep tweaking technique you'll surprise yourself and might even see 40mpg. You folks with automatics amaze me. There's not nearly the opportunity to cheat. Have you tried putting the car in neutral and turning it off at stoplights? Just a thought. I gained 1.5mpg from that trick alone, albeit, with a stick, it's a bit easier to get going again.

Angmaar · 03-01-2011, 08:11 PM

38MPG is great for this time of the year.

CigaR007 · 03-01-2011, 10:53 PM

I am actually aiming for the 500-mile mark too. Should reach it by the end of the week.

Scangauge says this tank should yield around 574 miles, if I maintain the current 48 MPG average. Currently at 426 miles with 148 miles to empty . I am not willing to test that figure though..

500 miles on 10 gallons will suffice for now.

SentraSE-R · 03-01-2011, 11:55 PM

Congratulations to all you record setters!

I had a gas can in my xB when I went for my record 1000 km (621.37 mile) tank last month. When my low fuel light finally went on, I was within 50 miles of my goal, was averaging >55 mpg, and had 1.5 usable gallons in reserve, so I didn't bother to fill the gas can. I went 621.6 miles on 10.563 gallons, a 58.85 mpg average, from an 11.9 gallon tank

If you've never run a fuel injected car dry before, it's an experience you won't enjoy, and you certainly won't want to repeat it. At the first hiccup of fuel starvation, shut the engine off, pull over, and add your spare fuel.

bluejoey · 03-02-2011, 06:52 PM

Nice work! Having a calibrated UG can give you the courage to push it to the limit. The most miles I've gotten out of my Tercel so far are 433, and that was when I had an 11.9 gallon tank and before I had either an UG or the knowledge that my car did not have a low fuel light. Suffice it to say that I paid close attention to the "E" from then on.

Now I've got an 11 gallon tank and am still working my way through its first filling. I also have an UG. With E10 gas after 140 odd miles of all city traveling, I'm a touch over 30 mpg. My city EPA is 26. It's hard to pass that when the majority of my trips are under 2 miles in length, but it's fun to try.

I've also been taking data on my highest trip mpgs, and my best over 3 miles in length from this tank so far is 39.1 over 4.5 miles traveling from one school to another in town. I know I can push this car higher in city driving; it'll just take warmer weather, better gas, and further improvement in my driving. So yeah...I know what you're going through. Keep it up!

CigaR007 · 03-02-2011, 06:57 PM

I was 3.7 miles shy of 500, but had to fill my tank because my daily commute is 60 miles and I am too chicken to push it with only 1.51 gallon.

SentraSE-R · 03-03-2011, 01:02 PM

My daughter & son-in-law ran my car dry. Maybe my experience was atypical, but adding fuel, then cranking and cranking didn't help it restart. I don't know if it helped, but I eyedropped fuel into the spark plug holes, and the engine would run for a few seconds. About four repetitions later, it finally started.

Today's fuel pumps can overheat and burn out when they run dry, since they rely on being submerged in gasoline to stay cool.

Old Mechanic · 03-03-2011, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SentraSE-R

Congratulations to all you record setters!

I had a gas can in my xB when I went for my record 1000 km (621.37 mile) tank last month. When my low fuel light finally went on, I was within 50 miles of my goal, was averaging >55 mpg, and had 1.5 usable gallons in reserve, so I didn't bother to fill the gas can. I went 621.6 miles on 10.563 gallons, a 58.85 mpg average, from an 11.9 gallon tank

If you've never run a fuel injected car dry before, it's an experience you won't enjoy, and you certainly won't want to repeat it. At the first hiccup of fuel starvation, shut the engine off, pull over, and add your spare fuel.

Great advice Sentra, carry some extra gas if you want to go for running the tank low. As soon as you feel it hesitating add the fuel, precisely what you said in your post.

My tank is supposed to hold 20 gallons. Even when the car is telling me I have only 50 miles left it still takes only 18 gallons. I guess it would be nice to see a tank go over 600 miles, but is it really worth the stress it could cause to the fuel pump.

If you run out it might help to turn the ignition on several times before you try to start it, or just floor it when you are cranking.

regards
Mech

darcane · 03-03-2011, 08:55 PM

I still don't see the big deal with miles/tank.

I just filled up this morning, 578 miles with about 6 gallons left in the tank. That doesn't mean it's efficient, just that the tank is large... Miles per tank is completely dependant on tank size and doesn't easily compare with what other people are getting unless you happen to have the same size tank.