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Old 02-19-2008, 03:02 PM   #7 (permalink)
Lazarus
ECO-Evolution
 
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 1,482

Iron Horse (retired) - '97 Iron horse Intrepid

Ninja - '08 Kawasaki 250R
90 day: 76.23 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GenKreton View Post
I drive in mountains that kind of roll here in Vermont, with an automatic, generally. The technique that has yielded the best results are for me to pick a target RPM and speed. I accelerate on the downhill, not exceeding the RPM, till I get the desired speed; I then coast usually not in neutral, unless it's a really long way down. On the up hill I add throttle keeping my target RPM and not caring about how far I drop in speed. Whether this is really the best way, I don't know, but it has worked out the best for me. Constant throttle may keep traffic happier but that's why they have other lanes, so I can get much better mileage.
This is the same method I use. I keep the same rpm up the hills while the speed bleeds off all the while giving more throttle keeping rpm constant. With the automatic I have to keep the speed above 48mph or the transmission will kick down. Once on top keeping rpm constant until I accelerate back to speed then coast.
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