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Old 10-15-2009, 12:11 AM   #12 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,534

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 57.73 mpg (US)
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Pulse and glide absolutely beats driving with load, in my experience.

But I've given up P&G for longer highway trips simply because I find it taxing on me, and it stands to reason it's also harder on the car.

Quote:
Why does DWL work?
Does it? Is it simply causing a lower average speed and thusly saving gas?
Does it work compared to what?

I guarantee it's more efficient than "cruise control" style driving, or even constant throttle driving, even at the same average speed. Mostly, I suppose, because momentum on downgrades isn't squandered through engine braking, which is likely to happen on cruise control, and may possibly happen even with the constant throttle approach.

DWL is a happy medium between pulse & glide and cruise control/brainless throttle use.

PS: I actually prefer to think of driving with load as "target driving", since when I do it, I normally pick a "target" MPG, and modulate the throttle to achieve/maintain it on the instant MPG readout. I don't ever actually monitor the LOD value on the ScanGauge.
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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