|
The technique I used to jump 10 mpg:
First, it's important to know the type of traffic I face. I live in central Florida, halfway between Tampa and Orlando, so my commute is in fairly heavy traffic, a lot of them going the same way as me since they're heading toward Disney (many people from here work there and all leave about the same time I do). I have the option of taking I-4, it adds 7 miles to a 21 mile commute, and my 21 year old car wouldn't go for that, so I'm stuck with in-town driving. There are 22 traffic lights and 3 stop signs on my commute, giving me plenty of opportunity for EOC.
Route change - I recently moved onto the lightest traveled back road
I could find for my daily commute, giving me plenty of opportunity for P&G. I really didn't have any P&G opps on the main road since there were always people right on my ass, so changing my route helped tremendously. There are also multiple pull-off parking lots along this road, and if traffic builds up behind me I just EOC into a lot and wait for a long break to start up again.
Aero mods - The goofy looking full grill block gained me about one mpg. The flat detached wing pushes the air out past the chopped off rear of the car and netted me another mpg. The tires are at 50 psi, so the combination of all these have turned a brick shaped vehicle into something that will roll quite a distance
Driving change - The giant increase in mileage came from EOC and P&G.
EOC - I EOC as far as humanly possible to every stop sign. I'm pretty much in tune with the timing of every light on the route, so I also EOC to any light that's going to turn. Pretty easy since they added the blinking walk signs.
P&G - All the way down the road (when I have distance between my car and anyone behind me), I smoothly accelerate up to 55, and immediately key-off P&G down to 35 (lowest mph I can restart in 5th gear). This seems to work best for the Festiva, I'm sure everybody's car is a little different. I tried pop starting, but I was afraid the clutch would fall off, so I just key it off and on. The Festiva cranks quick, I barely have to hit the key, so the starter should last a while.
All in all, in my 21 mile commute, I am engine-off rolling about 4 miles. I big part of the gain is just not having the engine running at lights. I learn more tricks every day, and if anybody can help me with more tips, please do!
__________________
|