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I understand now, with starting temps mid 30s to low 40s, I have to drive around 2 miles before it hits 130F and it goes into lockup. While driving I get around 30mpg according to my scangauge at around 40mph and somewhere around 2000-2100 rpm. Once it shifts into OD MPG jumps up to about 35mpg and I have to speed up to about 47mph to get lockup to kick in and the mpg goes to 38-40ish at 45mph steady speed. When the car is fully warmed up it gets about 43-45 mpg at 45mph.
I would say taking off right away is much more efficient, idling while warming up it is over 2 gal / hour with the 1.8L and RPM is between 1200-1400 depending on the day, the computer in the car is kind of strange I guess.
Also, 95% of my trips are 20 miles + so letting it warm up would just eat more fuel. Super short trips it might help the engine to be warmed up, but I don't think there would be a savings since every other sunday I leave the car warm up about 5 mins to make my mom happy and the mpg average is hard to get over 30 going 50mph (38-40mpg at steady speed) for a 20 mile trip.
Now a figure I would be interested in would be to force it to over ride the temp requirement to shift into OD/lockup and see how much MPG increases.
Last nights trip to work had a trip log of max speed 47mph, max rev around 2400, distance of 36 miles, and I think the average was 43mph and average MPG was 41.5. There are 3 stops and 4 turns counting turning into the parking lot. Oh and EPA rating is 26 average, 31 highway. Only mods are 55psi in tires, upper grill block, and sealed front and sides of hood with foam tape.
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