The 50 mpg+ Club (automatics, non-hybrids, non-diesels) - How did you do it?

[SentraSE-R]

You're probably doing as well as you can, given those poor city conditions. If it's only 1.5 miles to school, I'd bike or walk it in the Winter. It's probably too hot to do that in the warmer months, so you're probably stuck then. I'm sure you try to pace the lights, and let other traffic trip them for you. And turn off the engine if you're sitting more than 7 seconds.

[bluejoey]

Yeah, that is true. I used to bike, but these days I have to visit multiple places each day, one after the other, which sadly rules out riding for now. I do try rabbit timing and turning off the engine at lights, though.

[bluejoey]

I hope to get closer to the goal of this thread in the coming months. The other day I set a new personal record for trip mileage in city driving: 42.3 over a 3.1 mile trip from my fiancee's apartment to campus. My prior record had been 40.9, which I'd set last week, and prior to that a few 39ers (39.4, 39.7, 39.1) in late February and early March. I'm looking forward to breaking 45 in the next month or two, and 50 this summer.

My best trip mileage is still 45, which came from a mix of city and highway driving (250 miles, mostly highway), which was a few months ago. However, I'm on the verge of beating that in the city. Just got to keep pushing.

[zonker]

Originally Posted by Tygen1

Don't I count?
On pure highway trips, 50 is not a problem at all, in fact I believe I can reach 60 now. However a 50mpg average commuting is my goal, and I have not reached that yet.

Your comments on Lean Burn are interesting. I run about 17:1 on my motor and it seems to work nicely, if I go up to 18:1 I can't go up hills without slowing too much, or I get pinging if I let the load go up too high. Lean burn has made it possible to reach 50mpg commuting. Although the best I've done is 54mpg on the highway without lean burn, wheel skirts or scangauge Now I have many more mods

I've been meaning to make an update post about my car, maybe it's time now.

ZX2's ROCK!!!

[Tygen1]

ZX2's do rock Let's not let too many know, otherwise prices will go up

Good job Mr. Joey! I've found it difficult to get past that 50mpg mark. With my most recent changes I've been averaging 46mpg, the last time I was averaging that was in the heat of the summer, so odd's are I will break 50mpg fairly often when it gets warmer. In terms of ecomodding, 42 mpg is a long ways from 50 mpg. You can look at my fuel log (except the big spikes) and see how long it took for me to get from my first 42mpg tank to my first 50mpg tank....quite a while. I got a lot of highway travel to offset the crazy city traffic, but just can't get a high enough highway mpg to bring my average up over 50mpg...I get between 65-70mpg at 50mph.
It is also important to note that last summer I had a couple individual commutes that broke 60mpg, but the following commute might be a low 40mpg cause of trafffic. My first couple commutes this week were great, all over 50mpg, then today was construction, accidents and bad traffic and I only got 44mpg on the way home...this really drug down the tank average. Most likely this will happen a couple times every tank. I dont' get too hung up on great individual commutes, I look to the tank aveages over time to measure improvement.
It's hard to get good mpg in the city with an ATX. I'd say your gonna have to coast as much as possible to give you the best possible chance.

Now, Go Go Go!!!

[brucepick]

Cylinder head rebuild was needed for a long time.
Finally had it done during Feb '11. That straightened up all the mechanics that had frustrated the computer which wouldn't let it run as lean as normal, fouled the plugs, let oil into cylinders, etc.

That got my early March mpg up to about 46 for my 55-mile highway commute.
Then when I built the front and middle sections of the belly pan it went up to 51-52 mpg.

Other more minor mods I did earlier: A warm air intake (about 40ºF above outdoor temp), 50-53 psi tires, fuel kill switch for quick EOC, and adjusted the nut behind the wheel. Still working on that one.

[bluejoey]

I'm hoping to be able to add my name to this thread in the coming months. On my most recent tank, my trip mileage as measured by my Ultragauage was 47+ over 122 highway miles.

[deathtrain]

I bought another car and parked my V8. add in some hypermiling and BAAAM 50mpg+. the more I drive it that higher i keep. This last tank is now my best tank. I can get more out of it by EOC but i dont feel comfortable turning off the key at higher speeds. I also would save more by turning off the engine while at red lights. then lastly I need to start my aeromods. So far I am happy with 55mpg but now my target goal is 60MPG.

[Tygen1]

Deathtrain, this is for automatic transmission only Good job though.

My last few tanks have averaged out to 50mpg. Finally doing it!