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

[Frank Lee]

Metro is finally getting low so I'll find out how she did soon.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Metro is finally getting low so I'll find out how she did soon.

Cool. A hat picture and a sticker picture await you! Haha.

I just refilled and I seem to have missed the mark: 67.21 mpg with my new tentative calibration multiplier and 68.08 mpg using my old multiplier (before rotating tires). I might install the prototype spoiler I just tested because it seems like it could raise FE a couple or few percent and that might have put me over the top. I also seem to be suffering a battery degradation problem... running the alt a lot.

[MetroMPG]

I'm in, with three 70+ mpg tanks from the winter beater Metro this spring/summer, the last 2 being consecutive records for the car!






The Metro has all the same mods as the Firefly, minus the rear wheel skirts and the taller-geared transmission. (I actually have an extra Swift gearbox to put in, but I haven't gotten around to it.) The Firefly could deliver slightly better than 80 MPG US in similar weather conditions & routes. Typically that means cruising on scenic/back roads at or near the 80 km/h limit (50 mph).


Unfortunately/Fortunately for me, I have parked the Metro! I'm now driving the MPGiata until probably early November. In that car, I have to drive very carefully to eke 50 MPG out of it. No more hat photos for me!

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

I just refilled and I seem to have missed the mark: 67.21 mpg with my new tentative calibration multiplier and 68.08 mpg using my old multiplier (before rotating tires). I might install the prototype spoiler I just tested because it seems like it could raise FE a couple or few percent and that might have put me over the top. I also seem to be suffering a battery degradation problem... running the alt a lot.

How are you calculating your multipliers? I would think it would be just as simple as new tire circumference divided by old tire circumference.

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Unfortunately/Fortunately for me, I have parked the Metro! I'm now driving the MPGiata until probably early November. In that car, I have to drive very carefully to eke 50 MPG out of it. No more hat photos for me!

Were you not able to get Blackfly to pass inspection?

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy

How are you calculating your multipliers? I would think it would be just as simple as new tire circumference divided by old tire circumference. ...

I know it would seem that way, but my odometer and speedometer are like a weird black box. I have learned to use GPS and Google Maps to calibrate distance with every tire and or wheel change. This time rotating tires meant a different brand got onto the front wheels, so...

I can't remember the exact numbers (I have screenshots on anotuer device) but on my trip to El Mirage I drove what the GPS called 86.55 miles to a known point on the route. Google called it 86.6 and my odo recorded 81.xx or something. That is a big undercount, but smaller than the other tires that just were moved to the back two weeks ago... same size. The tire companies reporting cannot be strictly trusted, and I want precision, as much as I can reasonably get. So I measure each time. My odometer is maybe 7.25% undercount but the speedo is only a little under (I think the speedo dial is slightly rotated from the factory).

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy

Were you not able to get Blackfly to pass inspection?

I actually didn't even pursue it any further with my insurance company... plus it's Miata weather.



I REALLY need to get the Firefly on the road next year though. This will make it 2 years it's been parked. That's good for keeping the odometer low. Bad for just about everything else!

[jimhs]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

Well that's the secret as to why you're not breaking 50 MPG. Good and frequent use of that technique is the way to get a car such as a Yaris up closer to about 60 MPG on a tank average. and there certainly would be trips that you could do that would get better than 70 MPG.

Thanks for the motivation. p&g does work!

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by jimhs

Thanks for the motivation. p&g does work!

Hell yes it does. Best mod ever!

Originally Posted by funkhoss

I just updated my fuel log. Do I qualify?

-Funkhoss

Dude, we didn't give you your hat picture! You are posting some of highest tank averages for a gasoline only car this forum has possibly ever seen... excepting only the aerocivic and palecivic.



We should have a public, central list of all the gasoline-only cars on the forum that have made the 70 mpg mark.

[Frank Lee]

632 miles
8.77 gallons
72 MPG!!!

But I haven't done any of these fancy multipliers and corrections. Raw data. Still, I knew it would be an awesome tank; I just didn't expect to break 70!


Grille block, passenger wiper delete, engine blanket, 48 fr/46 rear psi, typical cruise 50 mph, some gliding here and there. ZERO brake drag. Need to start a log and back it up! After I get that picture of my fancy hat.

[Daschicken]

Well, if motorcycles counted I would already be there! My largest and most powerful motorcycle, the SV650SF has a best tank of 83.9 MPG. My carbureted grey import bikes struggle to break 60 MPG.

The V6 accord on the other hand is a LONG way from 70 MPG. Best tank of 46.0, best trip of 52.0. I still have plenty of mods on the table, but I don't think it would be capable without going ALL OUT BABY!

I took it to the 1/4 mile dragstrip recently and got a best time of 14.695 at 92.16 mph. Of course my clutch was acting up so the 4th gear shift took way too long. Probably could have ran a 14.5 at 97 mph with everything working. And this is with skinny little 205 width low rolling resistance tires.

On the subject of the dragstrip, i'm fixing up my grandpa's 1983 Honda V65 Magna. He wants to see me get it into the 10's. I'm no peewee gleason!