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

[Jurgis]

Originally Posted by Ecky

There is likely a way to kill the engine without using a key, which would not fail your car for inspection.

Would be nice to know how to do it. I tried to mount a "kill button" but I don't know how/where to connect it. I asked someone from a free garage but he was not willingly to help me because it is forbidden.

[GreenTDI]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

Fabulous! Congrats on joining the rarefied, elite, 70 MPG SINGLE RUN AVERAGE CLUB!

And BTW, you and Jurgis will both find your cars listed in the original post for this thread.

What an honor! Thank you!

[Jurgis]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

Fabulous! Congrats on joining the rarefied, elite, 70 MPG SINGLE RUN AVERAGE CLUB!

And BTW, you and Jurgis will both find your cars listed in the original post for this thread.

Thanks a lot from my side too. This honor applies to the coincidence of ceveral facts like that ...
- this is the first car I own that has an (external) on-board computer
- its brake booster works without running machine
- fuel in Europe is rather expensive, so saving energy saves money too
- I care for enviroment protection (less consumption means less CO2)
- most trips are at the country side with soft hills

I'm still able to learn and to improve my driving style.

MAN economical cruize control

Here is shown how to use the topological situation to save energy. As my car has manual gears I can simulate all kinds of automatic programs. Most roads I use are well known and I can try to find out the best style (remember which speed at which position is the best).

[GreenTDI]

@ Jurgis

Nice movie. That is a very efficient way of driving on hilly roads, using the momentum. A simple cruise control that maintains a steady speed is only efficient on totally flat roads. In hills (and even mountains) it's better to turn te CC off and 'play' with the accelerator = faster downhill and slower uphill. That is my technique for several years.

[Jurgis]

@GreenTDI

Driving a car at long flat roads pulse and glide offer more efficient usage of the fuel than driving at a steady speed.

For my car Ford said that 4,2 l/100km (56 mpg) is the lowest consumption driving steady at 74 km/h (46 mph) in 5th gear.
Using pulse and glide between 58 and 68 km/h (36 to 42 mph) in 4th gear my car just takes 2,4 l/100km (98 mpg).

Driving on hilly streets it is not so easy using the mentioned method because you will slow down blocking other cars and down the road speeding up to more than allowed. Not easy to find out the most efficient speed.

[GreenTDI]

@ Jurgis:
You are right, pulse and glide is a much more efficient way. I try to maintain a driving style as normal and comfortable as possible with the least possible consumption. So yes I use the CC, but only when the road is as flat as a pool table.

Originally Posted by Jurgis

@GreenTDI


Driving on hilly streets it is not so easy using the mentioned method because you will slow down blocking other cars and down the road speeding up to more than allowed. Not easy to find out the most efficient speed.

In hilly conditions I will make speed downhill and use that momentum to conquer the next slope. I often use a difference of 20 to 30 km/h … With anticipation, I never have problems with other traffic with this. So it's possible that I start the descent at 90 km/h, during the descent I will accelerate up to 110 (or 120 km/h when it's a really long or steep descent) with a consumption of ~1.5l/100km. I will maintain that speed down the valley with a consumption of ~4,0l/100km and on the first part of the slope the speed will decrease back to 100 km/h. I will then push on the accelerator a bit more so my speed won't drop beneath 90 km/h. When I'm almost at the top I will release the accelerator slightly and this technique will start over again.
Bottomline: the engine only has to work on the second half of the slope, and then only for a relatively slow speed.

[Daox]

Took a shortish trip today. I was able to eek out 66.5 mpg round trip. Not bad, but not 70!

[Jurgis]

@Daox
Which car are you using right now? If it is gasoline driven 66.5 mpg isn't bad at all, esp. for short trips.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by Daox

Took a shortish trip today. I was able to eek out 66.5 mpg round trip. Not bad, but not 70!

It's only May in Wisconsin and you all had freezing rain recently.

[Jurgis]

Today's trip:
after 12 miles reached average 91.6 mpg
after 32 miles reached average 88.2 mpg (photo)
total today (74 miles) average 84.6 mpg
total since last fill (399 miles) average 79.6 mpg