The little things

[jsatter]

Turn the dash lights down so there is less load on the alternator. It's minuscule, but its something.

[ps2fixer]

Wow didn't think of the dash lights. Thanks for that tip!

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by ps2fixer

I saw the effects on my scangauge following my dad ~120 miles.

If you close in on a semi while using CC, you can really see the instant fuel consumption improve instantly
Best improvement I've seen was from an already fine 73.5 mpg up to 98 mpg when way too close, at my usual speed (60mph).

Best result was a rather steady 102 mpg, but that was tailgaiting too close for comfort at only 51 mph.

There was also fairly heavy traffic which could have been making a false wind too.

A bunch of traffic going the same way really helps.

[ps2fixer]

Just to give a little more details, when my dad lane changed and no one was infront of me for a long ways, my mpg dropped a bit, around 37-38ish and once I got behind him again, it went up to the normal 40ish. On the 2 lane highway, it was much less traffic, and lower mpg, somewhere around 35mpg while following. I have not gone 70mph on the 2 lane highway with out following someone with my car, so I'm not sure what the normal figures are.

The trip to where the Camry was my dad drove with cruize control and averaged 34mpg with out following anyone and traveled around the same speed. I blamed it on his dead weight and quicker take offs until I thought of the drafting / false wind effects.

On normal back roads, I have noticed small increases when someone passes me. I'm not sure if i'm letting off the gas, or if there is an actual aero benefit of someone passing you. I didn't really watch the condictions that well, so it could have just been a little down hill when they passed as well.

[larrybuck]

I'm sure that you might have felt a slight tug forward when you were passed.

If you've ever been passed by a large vehicle while riding a motorcycle on a freeway,
the PULL is very pronounced!

Heavy traffic always makes a false wind in my life! It just doesn't smell too good;
so I elect to stay away from the crowds as much as is possible! LOL!

[redneck]

Ridge run in the rain. (straddle the standing water in the ruts)

Also, if driving on a 4 lane in the rain, stay in hammer lane when possible.(Less water to drive thru thats draining across the road to the low side)

>

[Rsxdriver]

A little thing I do is physically push the cold car out of the garage in the mornings. Then once I'm in my driveway and can clearly see the other cars on the street, I start up and go. I also coast backwards into my garage with the help of my neighbor's driveway. Theirs is quite steep and directly across the street so it gives me enough speed to carry me all the way into my own garage. Front end facing out of course.

[Sven7]

I take the racing line and try to hug the inside of corners. This may not help FE much but it will shorten your trip by 100 feet or so!

Edit: 900th post... cool.

[larrybuck]

In the Portland/Vancouver area on freeways that are concrete, the slow lanes are pocked with several years of people needlessly using studded tires all through the winter, just because it is legal.

Probably less than 5% of them are probably skiers that might actually use them on weekends.

We only average about 3 snow/ice scary days locally, so the studs are widely un-needed.

With a fairly narrow car like a CRX, or a Metro; one can position their left tires in the un-worn center of the lane, and the right's a couple inches from the fog line thereby reducing tire resistance, shock/strut wear, and helping mpg's of course!

[Ford Man]

Something I noticed when I was living in NC and driving back and forth to KY to visit my parents is than I got better mileage on concrete paved roads than on asphalt, so if you have two routes that are about the same distance and one is concrete road and the other is asphalt take the route with concrete. Parts of I-40 were concrete and parts were asphalt, there was always several MPG difference on the Scan Gauge when I'd be in areas with concrete instead of asphalt. Newer asphalt also increase rolling resistance over older asphalt.