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Old 12-22-2009, 06:11 PM   #2 (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)
Thanks: 4,082
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Welcome, welcome.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mifunego View Post
I have made attempts to improve the mpg in the Mazda by the more common methods (slow down, shift sooner, pump up the tires, free-flow air filter) but either I’m not doing it right, or my right foot is still too heavy because I haven’t seen much if any improvement in the daily commute mpg.
Your fuel log entries show a nice jump at the end of Oct to the beginning of Nov. Is that the comparison you're making? (Trying to get a sense of what you consider a "decent" improvement.)

If that's the case, you may already know that this is the time of year northerners' fuel economy would normally tank anyway due to cold weather. For the average driver, cold has a significant impact.

So your improvement may be real, but masked by the temperature hit. You could check against last year's fill-ups at the same time of year (if it's the same kind of driving you're doing).

If the car doesn't have a fuel consumption display, I'd also highly recommend getting instrumentation in there - either a ScanGauge or a MPGuino. Can't underestimate the importance of feedback for adjusting driving habits.

cheers-
Darin
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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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