the "Daily Drive" thread - April 2008
 

Previous: the "Daily Drive" thread - March 2008

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So, went to Ottawa and back this evening (EV group meet up).

Lights, wipers, heater, soaked roads and 5 degrees C I was seeing about 73 mpg (US) with a 3rd gear P&G routine (45-70 km/h indicated).

Dropping down to a strictly 2nd gear routine (25-45 km/h indicated) was worth 110 mpg sustained.

Round trip was low 70's. I would have just DWL at the bottom of 5th gear for the duration of the trip, but I couldn't even keep it over 70 mpg - too wet, too cold. Hurry up warm weather!

Also think I confirmed: "pulse & bleed" is not a valid fuel saving technique at the speeds I tried (45-75 km/h indicated, pulsing in 3rd @ around 20 mpg, bleeding down at around 75-80 mpg).

I'm buying a Hummer today.

And you'll probably have the best MPG of all the Hummer owners if you do!

I have been pumped with my mileage on my current tank. Had to do some presentations for work, and got 6.8 LHK or 34.6 MPG. I was going 55 mph the whole way and using EOC when I could. I am currently sitting at 556 km or 345.5 miles, with just over 1/4 tank to go (90% highway miles).

Major changes:

- Driving Style/Speed
- Removed Antenna and Mud flaps
- Installed SGII and Injen WAI
- Replaced OEM Fuel Filter

I am very happy with my early results as gas just went up to $1.199/liter!

You missed it Darin.
He's buying a Hummer on April Fools Day.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
S.

Chuckle ...Chuckle

I'm somewhat new to this gas saving thing and yesterday was my first long highway drive using some coasting and drafting techniques.

In moderate traffic, even if it's moving along smoothly, it's not too convenient to coast... not unless I wanna get flicked off every few miles or so.

But drafting behind the big rigs made a noticable difference in the way my truck feels. Initially I didn't feel it because I was drafting, then when that truck exited, the truck felt like it was fighting more resistance to keep at the constant speed. I follow about 2 to 3 car lenghts behind. Probably my current favorite technique on highway driving.

Just note the dangers of drafting. FE vs. life and all that...

RH77

And here I was being all non-judgmental and stuff. :D

I have to report it...

54 Miles
56 MPH Average, 65 MPH Cruise
EBH Start
60F-Ambient
30 MPH+ Tailwind...
IAT ~95-100F

42.7 MPG

Gotta love wind at your back :D (for once)...

RH77

Drove straight from my gf's to work.

37.4 miles, 42.9 mph averaged, 1.1 gallons used.

32.5mpg. I dont think its too bad for a 20 year old, 3400lb 4cyl luxury coupe with almost 170,000 miles. This drive is probably 80% 55mph highway and 20% city driving (as far as miles go, its probably more like 65% highway and 35% city in terms of time).

After work I drove 16 miles to my house. Its about 60% 55mph highway and 40% city in mileage, or about 50/50 in time. I managed 29.5mpg, used .5 gallons of gas at an average of 36.2mph.

It was probably mid-50's outside when I went to work and mid-low 40's on the way home.

bhazard - not bad indeed!

RH77 - I hear you about the tailwind. I remember not long after I got the ScanGauge the first time I got into a tailwind situation and was able to maintain 75+ mpg on a secondary highway @ about 80 km/h / 50 mph. I was amazed! (But it was a serious tail wind).

100 mpg (US) even for today's round trip. Sure helps to be able to time things to avoid peak traffic. (Probably 85% was rolling rural highway, the rest was sub/urban.)

53.7 mi
52 mph max
29 mph avg

This was mostly 2nd gear pulse & glide, with some 2-3 P&G thrown in when higher speeds were called for.

121 mpg (US) on a round trip to get gas for the boat. Normally this would be a trip for the bicycle & trailer, but to be honest I was being lazy. I could think up a couple of excuses why the car was a better choice, but they'd just be excuses. :o

But man, I'm loving this warmer weather! The car seems to glide forever at low speeds.

- cold start (see, impulsive - no block heater pre-warm)
- only 3.4 km
- 29 mph max.
- 15 mph avg.
- little traffic to speak of
- 6 stops total
- and, you guessed it: pulse & glide, mostly using 2nd gear

Awsome job on the last couple of days. Was there a fire! Why was Captain Slow (CS) averaging 29 mph? That twice your normal speed.:rolleyes:

Advanced Timing or Better Aero
 

Well, with the SG now "accurate", the feedback slowed things down on the run the airport...

Caution, "Butt Dyno"...

I advanced the timing to the max limit. Under the same hills and load, power was available, but without the consequence of lowered FE. Teggy seemed to "wake up" but didn't burn fuel as a result.

The 54 mile trip average 38.4 per the newly calibrated SG (and a nice tail-wind).

What's odd is that the it just seemed to pull on the hills at the same TPS mark.

I also added a 1/3 grille block, and pulled the splash guards. This opened the rear wheel wheel to allow air to exit under the car. Help or hurt? Too many variables.

On tap: An argument for the design of the 2008 Volvo S60 2.5L Turbo (rental review -- hint: you'll be pleasantly surprised)...

RH77

Nice going, Rick.

Ha. I was late for something! :P

Looking forward to this one.

Just filled up the Paseo and broke my record for best tank at 53.7 mpg! Previous best was 51.8. Not bad for having brake drag and a possible bad wheel bearing. :)

Woohoo! Congrats. I see the "personal best" season is upon us. I predict more and better with the mechanical bugs sorted out and continued warming temps.

I drive about 41 miles a day to work, 84 round trip (stop for coffee and donuts :rolleyes:), and have been averaging 38 MPG in my 07 Corolla S with 225/45/17 tires. Ignore the 32.71 average on the left, I only started driving slower a few tanks ago. I know I could do better with the stock tire size, especially considering the price of gas now, but I just love the looks and handling benefits too much, GRIP FTW! If I have to spend more than $60 per tank (11 gallons = $40 - $45 right now) of gas then the stock tires are definitly going back on but until then it's Griptastic Grip time.

I never accelerate much past 2k RPM's and have been cruising at 60 MPH. I'm too scared to cruise any slower on my commute home, people around here drive like mad crazy a**tards. The commute there is a good time to experiment with MPG though, not a lot of people on the road at 4 a.m.:thumbup:

Once I have enough for a Scangauge I'll start testing and post up again but I want to get my windows tinted first, summer here is a biat** and I'm wierd about using the A/C in my car. That and people won't be able to see who the a**hole is going 50 in a 65.:turtle:

Let's start May, shall we?

Daily Drive Thread: May