Hello ecomodders - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

swartz77 · 01-15-2010, 01:43 PM

Howdy. I'm new to the forum but I've lurked from time to time, using some hypermilling when available. As you can see from my signature I drive a family sedan (which doesn't fit car seated family members all that well). A big heavy car to mostly shuttle myself to and from work each day (a 30min trip one way). I like cars, a self-professed car guy I am. In the past I've motived jeeps for mud, and miatas for corners. Now I just drive around, trying to save gas, the planet, and our money from falling into the hands of "the man".

I hope to someday make a contribution to the forum that'll help everyone, until then, keep up the good work and the info flowing.

Daox · 01-15-2010, 01:57 PM

Welcome to the site. What kind of mileage are you getting in the 6?

swartz77 · 01-15-2010, 02:01 PM

I'd estimate around 26-28 mpg, which isn't too bad for the car's size. I does have a big tank (nearly 18gals). Lateley I've only been putting in what we can afford, or roughly half tank (as to not drag all that gas around, and the car "feels" best when pulling half). I'm going to start tracking my milage with gas receipts, as a scangauge just isn't in the budget (what is). I'd imagine with the colder weather my milage is a bit lower though, so conservatively I'd say 24mpg. Not bad for a 3k+ lbs car with a 2.3L 4cyl.

Laurentiu · 01-15-2010, 02:14 PM

Welcome !!!

MetroMPG · 01-15-2010, 02:21 PM

Laurentiu - that's a hilarious image. That's a biodiesel series electric limosine, right?

swartz77 - welcome to the forum.

One of our more data-conscious members has in fact documented the (very small) mileage benefit of reduced weight from a partial tank of fuel vs full, so there's some merit in only filling half way.

BUT - you can't change what you can't measure! If you're only estimating MPG, it seems kind of ... imperfect. Unless of course you have instrumentation (original equipment or ScanGauge) to get at least trip-level fuel consumption info.

If you want both the weight savings and consumption accuracy, you could always fill to the top, then syphon half of it back into gas cans (adding it back as you use up what's in the car).