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Old 03-20-2015, 12:25 AM   #28 (permalink)
Focus-Ak
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Alaska
Posts: 100

n/a - '05 Ford Focus ZX3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterMundane View Post
... My biggest bad habit right now is not coasting to a stop. ...
You may want to modify this strategy somewhat after you get you UG and can watch the instant MPG. When gliding (always in neutral, for me) I watch that and also my gallons/hour (the Focus takes awhile for the idle to drop to a steady level -- 5 to 7 seconds, which affects that). A lot of things need to fit into a good seat of the pants compromise to get an optimum mileage result. Some considerations when gliding:

1. The faster you coast (i.e. highest reasonable speed at the start of the coast) the more MPG you will get out of your idle GPH.

2. Often there is no point in coasting to a stop, since at some point your instant MPG will drop to below your average or target MPG. E.g., planning a hot coast with use of the brakes just before a stop sign can take less gas than planning to coasting to a stop. But if you going to have to wait at stop light the opposite is true unless you plan to switch of the engine while waiting -- and also a slow coast to the light can save momentum if you time it right for the green.

3. A long coast will often be more efficient than a short, when you have the choice, but at speeds above 55 or 60, and esp. at 70, the wind drag may counteract that. Track you MPG with the UG on a flat, straight stretch on a day with no wind with engine fully warmed, at various constant speed (constant throttle position) for each, to get an idea of where you have a sweet spot and where wind drag becomes a factor.

Just my opinions.
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