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Old 09-25-2012, 03:22 PM   #4 (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
Thanked 6,979 Times in 3,614 Posts
I like to tell people not to worry so much about acceleration technique* in city driving.

The big, serious MPG gains are to be found by concentrating on the brake pedal - minimizing its use.

That means: don't use any more power than necessary to coast into your next transition (stops, slowdowns, corners, etc.). Coast as much as possible without pissing off other drivers. Every time you use the brake, somewhere a puppy dies. (Oh, and your MPG goes down because you're turning fuel into brake dust & heat.)

Add "avoid idling" to the list and those two techniques will dwarf any possible MPG gains of theoretically perfect acceleration efficiency.

(* unless you're pulse & gliding).

For cruising RPM, the lowest speed in your tallest gear is the safest bet for best MPG. Beyond that, more MPH = less MPG. http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...you-15182.html
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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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