2004 Focus ZX3 Commuter

[MisterMundane]

Yeah it really depends what time of day I'm commuting at as to how extreme I can go. But I'm already doing better so I'm happy.

My biggest bad habit right now is not coasting to a stop. I'm trying to get doing that more often

[Fat Charlie]

P&G can get old, but doing it right is more about reading terrain and other conditions than just mechanically shifting in and out of gear. You're riding the grades, obstacles, drafts and traffic with kinetic energy, not simply playing with your shifter.

[HydroJim]

I can help with this.

[MisterMundane]

Yeah, I'm not going to go that, extreme Haha. I still want it to look good.

I'm not that dedicated haha

[BabyDiesel]

This chart will help you accelerate more efficiently. You want to accelerate at 78-85% load between 1500-3000 rpm. This is the area inside the inner circle, meaning your fuel is being used to its best potential.



Edit: This chart is specifically for the 2.0 Zetec DOHC engine.

[MisterMundane]

Yeah I've seen that chart around. Very helpful.

Did some pulse and glide most of my commute in to work tonight. And maybe half the way home this morning.

I was able to pulse to 70 mph, and glide to 50 mph most the time. Traffic sometimes interfered.

To glide down to 50 mph took about .55 miles. And to pulse back up to 70 mph, from 50 mph, took about .2 miles @ 75-80% load (guessing, don't have my ultragauge yet)

When I got into work tonight my fuel gauge is sitting a tiny hair under 1/4 used.

Before I did anything to my car it would use a lot more. So I'm already happy bit will continue the hunt for more.

I am going to try to make a grill block tonight at work if I have time. I should also mention I'm currently running studded winter tires on steel wheels. So that's hurting me. But they will stay on toll the weather is going to stay above freezing. At which point I'll toss on the summer tires that are on my 17's.

[MisterMundane]

Added my vehicle to the garage, and have started to log mpg. I have been logging since day one on fuelly, and havebstarted then log here going back to before I started the eco-modding and driving. So the baseline is stock with a heavy foot.

Added to my signature as well.

Now, as for grill blocking, I'm assuming cardboard will be fine temporarily, but what's a good lightweight material to use more permanently? Also what would be a good material for an belly pan? Just some type of plastic sheeting? Aluminum? Place I work we have thin aluminum plates that get recycled after use, would that be a good plan?

[Focus-Ak]

Originally Posted by MisterMundane

... 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.

[MisterMundane]

I'll definitely do that. Unfortunately it will take about 1-2 weeks for my UG to arrive. So until then its just a guessing game.

I'll make up a map of my commute when I'm on a computer, so you guys can see what it is exactly I drive. I'm on the prairies of Canada, so flat flat flat haha.

Just finishedy grill block off, I'll upload some pics here shortly.

[MisterMundane]

Before.




And after. Not pretty, but it will work for now to gauge how it effects temp. May have to uncover a bit. (The sides aren't open, as they are where fog lights would go, so its totally blocked off right now.)