500+ Mile tank - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

wyatt · 07-27-2011, 01:54 PM

I have been working toward a 500 mile tank for a long time. Lots of tanks I could have gotten it if I wasn't planning on doing a lot of driving the next day, or something to that effect. I know my car will run dry after consuming 10 gallons of gas (even though it has a 10.6 gallon tank, don't ask me how I know...), so that means I HAVE to be averaging over 50 mpg to make it work. Now, 50mpg is nothing new to Suzi, or to me, but I have seen 48 or 49 enough times to give me a bit of a reality check, so it's always a little nerve racking to go for big miles. As it turns out, I filled up with 9.56 gallons and 501.3 miles on the tank. This milestone also prompted me to update my fuel log, which hadn't been updated since mid-February.

Weather Spotter · 07-27-2011, 06:23 PM

Great for you! I know the feeling of getting my first 500 mile + tank, now I go for 640 + Miles

wyatt · 07-27-2011, 06:39 PM

I just might need a boat tail and some highway driving to see a 640+ tank! I do quite well to get over 50 between work and home. The drive is long enough to get good numbers, but stop lights reduce MPGs quick!

Weather Spotter · 07-27-2011, 06:44 PM

Do you have a kill switch?

I also have a 13.5 Gallon tank. my MPG has been 52-53

wyatt · 07-27-2011, 06:58 PM

that extra 3 gallons would sure be nice

I haven't done the kill switch, I have been meaning to, but just haven't. I have also toyed with the notion of an "automatic kill". Basically it would be adjusting the idle until the car dies, and then having a "switch" to put tension back on the accelerator cable to allow the car to idle. It would allow me to just drive, come over a hill, put the car in neutral and the engine dies, get to the bottom of the hill, put the car in gear (bump start) and go. I am not sure how well it would work with fuel injection however, the kill switch is a known.