70 MPG US (3.3 L/100 km) challenge (non-hybrid gasoline and diesel cars)

[2016 Versa]

Originally Posted by M_a_t_t

Right now you are #10 on the % over EPA category. If you raise your tank mpg how am I supposed to get into the top 10 % over?

Right now I'm at #18.

I hadn't checked lately to see where I stood on percentage above EPA but, I will toot my own horn on this one.

1. 1998 Honda Civic DX Coupe 59.47
2. 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec 58.72
3. 2017 Honda Civic Lx 50.13
4. 2015 Mitsubishi Space Star Invite 48.2
5. 2016 Nissan Versa SV Sedan 47.6
6. 2005 honda civic lx 47.59
7. 2009 Honda Fit Sport 44.4
8. 2015 Ford Focus Ecoboost 1.0 43.59
9. 1990 Honda Civic DX 41.7
10. 2012 Hyundai i30 Elite 40.93

Maybe with a few more tanks like my last one I can move to #4 soon.
I have a '94 Escort that I currently don't have licensed but as I remember if I'd keep the speed down to about 50MPH on the open road I got much better mileage than if I ran 55MPH. I know I had a few tanks that exceeded 40MPG in it. You might try 50MPH in your Mercury when conditions allow to see if that will help you any.

[M_a_t_t]

Originally Posted by 2016 Versa

I have a '94 Escort that I currently don't have licensed but as I remember if I'd keep the speed down to about 50MPH on the open road I got much better mileage than if I ran 55MPH. I know I had a few tanks that exceeded 40MPG in it. You might try 50MPH in your Mercury when conditions allow to see if that will help you any.

Is yours a 5 speed? I have noticed that 40-48 seem to by my best (my usual route to work has a 40 mph speed limit) for any decent speed. I have added a lock up switch though and can lock the converter as low as ~27 mph and maintain speed. I usually don't go lower than about 30-35 though. Instant mileage around there is about 60-65 mpg. Too bad I can't drive down the highway like that though .

My low tanks are because I did a good proportion of short city driving. When just driving to work I would usually get low 40's. I've been off due to COVID-19, but on a drive to work to see how much the warmer weather affected it I got 45 just using basic techniques. If I PnG I got 55 mpg. Too bad those were both pretty good runs as far as traffic.

[Gasoline Fumes]

A good example of a short trip success:
1.9 mile round trip with two cold starts - 73.7 MPG (that's better than my long-term average!)
It's a hybrid (sometimes), so I guess I'm not eligible for this award!

Yes, I could've ridden my bike, but it was cold out!

[airbiteses]

It is a pity that you did not specify the power and capacity of the engine but I have completed for you ...:

1. 1998 Honda civic DX Coupe 1.6 106 hp
2. 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec 1.2 74 hp
3. 2017 Honda Civic Lx 2.0 158 hp
4. 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage 1.2 74 hp
5. 2016 Nissan Versa SV sedan 1.6 109 hp
6. 2005 honda civic lx 1.7 115 hp
7. 2009 Honda Fit Sport 1.5 117 hp
8. 2015 Ford Focus Ecoboost 1.0 122 hp
9. 1990 Honda Civic DX 1.5 92 hp
10. 2012 Hyundai i30 Elite 1.8 148 hp

You can see that the mirage ratio of capacity to power is not very economical by car ... Am I right?

[2016 Versa]

Originally Posted by M_a_t_t

Is yours a 5 speed?

My '94 is a 4 speed automatic. My '97 wagon is a 5 speed and I have got as high as 49.85 with it years ago. The '02 is a 4 speed automatic and I think I've also broke 40 MPG with it on a few occasions.

[2016 Versa]

Originally Posted by airbiteses

It is a pity that you did not specify the power and capacity of the engine but I have completed for you ...:

1. 1998 Honda civic DX Coupe 1.6 106 hp
2. 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec 1.2 74 hp
3. 2017 Honda Civic Lx 2.0 158 hp
4. 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage 1.2 74 hp
5. 2016 Nissan Versa SV sedan 1.6 109 hp
6. 2005 honda civic lx 1.7 115 hp
7. 2009 Honda Fit Sport 1.5 117 hp
8. 2015 Ford Focus Ecoboost 1.0 122 hp
9. 1990 Honda Civic DX 1.5 92 hp
10. 2012 Hyundai i30 Elite 1.8 148 hp

I just copy and pasted the information from the home page.

[Jurgis]

Yesterday I was happy realizing that my car reached 81 mpg since last fill. Most trips were 30 miles on country roads but some in cities or on the motorway.
It seems that 10°C / 50F is a limit. Low temperatures reduces the mpg and I drove my car below 70 mpg. For April it was too warm in Germany, too warm for the nature, plants and wild animals, but perfect for the fuel consumption. We had about 16°C / 60F and no rain at all.
As written in my profile my car's weight is less than 2600lb.
What is a hybrid? It means that there are two (or more) power sources f.ex. fuel and battery. Mine is a hybrid too. These two sources are diesel and the gyrating mass.
The efficiency of batteries is about 64%. The generator uses 140% of energy (input) to use 100% of electrical engergy later (output). Rolling without running motor gives the best efficiency. When limiting the speed to 45 mph rolling as well as wind resistance are relatively small. So I save about 40% compared to a fuel/electrical hybrid car.
There are three disadvantages:
- always alternating the speed between 35 and 45 mph makes other drivers nervous and they try to pass me even in dangerous situations
- the battery reached end of life after 6 years and 90,000 miles
- the clutch died after 35,000 miles while the first one reached 120,000 miles driving in a conventional style (the owner before I bought the car)
The last point is economical seen the worst point as it wasts most of my money I saved by driving in the way I do today.

[Ecky]

I averaged 62.3mpg driving for work yesterday - around 60 miles one way. I used fairly extensive pulse & glide, but also had a couple of very spirited 0-50mph bursts (might have left some long, black marks in a few places). The roads were wet and there was snow on the ground - it was in the 30's F.

That said, it seems like things get exponentially more difficult above 60mpg or so. I think I'll need some more engine tuning, some warmer weather, and some further mods.

[Gasoline Fumes]

Originally Posted by Jurgis

the clutch died after 35,000 miles

That should not happen! What is your technique?

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by Jurgis

Yesterday I was happy realizing that my car reached 81 mpg since last fill. ...

Then you are officially the first inductee of 2020 and here is your hat picture! I will add you to the original post's list of 70 MPG tank average achievers.