Well, as a Licensed Land Surveyor, I'm a lot more impressed with the actual measurment than "what the map says". Therefore, I'm a lot less believing in 10 pages of "documentation" - or even 10GB of "documentation" than I am with a real-world test (I mean by that, the average of several tests, keeping everything else the same except what's being tested).
For curiosity's sake, I went to the "% over EPA" section and took a look at "beaker". 44.6429% over EPA puts it in 87th place on the list. Then I scrolled up to my "Jimmy" just to double check that it's in 56th place at 54.625% over EPA.
Now, rattroddrebel keeps insiting on how important all these factors are, so I'll list a few things I know and a few things I don't know:
> I always use the cheapest, lowest octane gas I can find (frequently Arco AM/PM)
> I always use Pennzoil and Fram filters from Wal-Mart
> I always use the cheapest tires (Uniroyal Liberator), also from Wal-Mart
> I change the oil every 5000 miles, or whenever I get around to it
> I don't repair/replace anything unless/until it stops working
> I've owned this car since 2002 and treated it this way since the beginning.
> My previous car, an '85 Jimmy was bought new in '85, treated this way the entire time, and is still running.... no engine or transmission rebuild ever - 25 mpg average - STILL
Now, a few things I
DON'T know:
> Which oil well in the middle east my last tank of gas came from
> The air pressure and humidity at the refinery when it was made into gas
> The coefficient of friction on every foot of road I drive on
> The exact joules of spark energy delivered to each of the engine's 6 plugs
> The profit margin at Wal Mart on the oil, filters, and tires I buy
> My cholesteral levels
> the actual temperature, in Kelvin, my tires reach after 10 miles at 60 mph
A few more things I
DO know:
> I'm currently beating rattroddrebel in % over EPA
> I don't use any fuel or oil additives
> A grille block increases my MPG at 50 mph by 1.4 mpg
> Removing my roof rack increased it by another 0.45 MPG
> Folding the mirrors back increases it by about 0.14 MPG, but makes driving in downtown Sacramento in the rain REALLY scary!!
> fender skirts on the rear wheel openings dont's have an effect on MPG
One thing I will know soon:
> If Amsoil P.I. Fuel Treatment does anything to fuel efficiency or not.
Bill