Success comes in increments.... - Page 2 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Lazarus · 09-22-2010, 10:26 PM

Nice work Varn. Those are good numbers out of the beast. Especially with the loads and equipment you're working with. 75% improvement and still on the rise.

Varn · 09-23-2010, 10:42 AM

Yeah I get the turtle icon. Accelerating at 1500 in this vehicle is sluggish and it can take half a mile to get to 55.

My fill-ups have been 10-20% commuting, 75% highway and 10% in cities with traffic lights.

I am next going to pump my tires to 44, the max and work on my front grill block.

I have done some informal air flow testing. Hand out the window feeling the wind and it appears that there isn't much laminar flow on the roof a foot or two behind the windshield. Next step will be to use my tufted wand on the hood and windshield.

My windshield has a rather large rubber seal that appears to trip the flow. The wipers are behind a plastic nacelle that has a lip on it giving some deflection.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazarus

Nice work Varn. Those are good numbers out of the beast. Especially with the loads and equipment you're working with. 75% improvement and still on the rise.

rbrowning · 09-23-2010, 09:11 PM

"Any relation to John Browning?"

Only in our choice of play things!

Varn · 09-25-2010, 06:57 PM

I filled up last time at Casey's gas in Iowa and this fill up was a rather weak 22 mpg. Driving was similar local driving and commuting. I hope it is not a trend as I had 3 fills all over 25 mpg. I generally avoid Casey's after they raised gas price a dollar on the afternoon of 9-11-2001. Definitely gouging.

Varn · 10-09-2010, 08:30 PM

I am meeting with some success. I have an ultragauge system installed. Today I drove home with my stuff. Left the trailer. I reset the gauge when I left. My gauge read 29.1mpg when I turned off of the the 4 lane 180 miles later.

I have my grill block in place and my molded front wheel skirts. About half of this tank was driven without any aero aids as I was working on my grill cover and carbon front wheel guards. With the grill block out and full air being admitted I have seen 210 as the thermostat opened. The stock temp gauge is pretty useless as it just stays in the middle.

here is my mini van as it looks today, with fresh spay paint from yesterday.

My front wheel skirts are there but are difficult to see unless you look at the higher resolution image.