40+ mpg highway Mazda CX-5

[Mustang Dave]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

... I picked a pump at one of the cheapest stations in the area, and I always go to that pump on a nearly bone dry tank, always pump at the slowest steady fill rate, and always stop filling at the first click. Best we can do to reduce data noise with crude equipment.

That's Ed Zachary what I do. If someone is using that pump, I'll park (and shut down) and wait for that pump. That's about the best we can do for consistency.

[vskid3]

Very nice numbers! My wife and I were considering a CX-5 a few months back and the salesman said his wife has one and gets upper 30s-40 on the highway. I was really skeptical, but I guess its possible if you keep the speed reasonable. If only they were a few years older, we just couldn't justify getting a car several times the value of our Prius that gets lower mileage.

In my Prius, I just fill slowly until it clicks because overfilling can be even more costly than other cars (evap recovery system and a rubber bladder that's supposed to further reduce evap emissions). All my other cars were two clicks after the first. Individual tanks might not be super accurate, but it all works out the same in the long run.

[kafer65]

Yeah, I agree with keeping the Prius. They are brilliant cars. I like the less is more and handling dynamics if the Mazda, but wouldn't mind a little hybrid boost for added torque at takeoff as long as its executed well. I traded a VW so that was much easier to make that choice.

[UltArc]

I love the CX 5. One day, one day. (Subscribed)

[mbolton1990]

Pretty amazing you were able to get 40+ MPG out of a newer SUV,that alone has my respect.

[kafer65]

It's crazy, right! When my wife's automatic was getting 31-35 with typical driving l knew we had something to work with based on what folks were doing with gasers here. It was hard to tell if any modified driving behavior was working on the Jetta becuase it could be better from fuel or worn tires or warmer ambient temps. That's why the huge change in mileage from wheel covers got my attention. I had to try that but it was'nt wife approved mod on her vehicle. Now that I've got my pic hosting site reestablished I can get some eye candy posted here.

[kafer65]

Got it! Six hundred and twelve mile tank getting 38.6 MPG mixed driving. I just passed 3k miles total. I've filled out some stuff in the mileage log. How do I get it to show at the bottom of my posts? I had the notion to swap tires with my wife's vehicle, since she travels a lot more than me and she has 35k on her tires heading toward winter. They are showing appreciable wear. I really like the ride on these tires even at 48 psi. I'm not sure I can find better in this size. I tend toward Mich MXV4 for mileage and wet traction,but they get harsh as they age with any descent psi pressures.
http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-ka...6293-wheel.jpg
http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-ka...e6291-duel.jpg

[kafer65]

I just traded my new tires for my wife's tires with 40k on them. She had a nasty object (metal raptor claw?) imbedded in the tread of one that needed a plug so I made it my problem by switching. All of the tires are the same size, make and model of tire, just older and more worn. I wonder if my actual mileage go up or down?

To calculate the average smaller circumference of the worn tires I need to figure out how the car gets that information. Is it through the tranny like an automatic or is it through ABS speed sensors like it does to measure a low tire? It will be fun to see how it does with the older tires without the wheel disks on it. Less unsprung weight and shorter gearing will help me accelerate anyway

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by kafer65

...To calculate the average smaller circumference of the worn tires I need to figure out how the car gets that information. Is it through the tranny like an automatic or is it through ABS speed sensors like it does to measure a low tire? ...

In my manual car it is a speed sensor with a small gear embedded in the transmission and connected to a speedo gear on the differential.

[kafer65]

In my manual car it is a speed sensor with a small gear embedded in the transmission and connected to a speedo gear on the differential.

That makes pretty good sense. I figure about 4% difference in circumference from tread loss up front should net me 2 mpg improvement in indicated mpg with no other variables taken into account like lower stance and more leverage for the engine to accelerate. We'll see how that goes