Daily gas mileage blab thread

[bestclimb]

Bleh this week has been horrible. 50+mph (gusting to 80) winds + cold weather have taken a toll the last few days. One trip from work to lunch the other day struggled to make 30mpg on the way to lunch, 60+ was easy on the way back. Today the drive home into the headwind and up hill 25mpg ahh. The drive to work was average for the temps It seems headwinds hurt more than tailwinds help.

[redneck]

Decided to drive my Big Red Brick out to a job about 25 miles away today. It's a 1998 Dodge 1500 Converision Van with a 3.9 in it.

By watching the scanguage, with a little p&g and shuting the engine off at lights, I was able to average 20.9 mpg on the way out and 20.5 mpg on the way back.

30% over EPA...

Not bad, for a Brick.

>

[Sigurd]

Earlier this week, I made two trips to Chicago, and a partial to Madison, WI on one tank, all solo. It was 477.7 miles and I ran the tank down as far as was comfortable (13.2 gallons...14.5 capacity). Worked out to 36mpg, even with the cold temperatures and snow tires on. I'm not going to be able to cruise at 55-60 on the tollway all the time though.

[endurance]

After three consecutive tanks at 41mpg in December (very mild around here), I've now had three consecutive tanks at 37mpg (winter arrived). Winter sucks!

[cfg83]

Hello -

From what I can tell I don't think anyone was hurt :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmEjoA2osNc

CarloSW2

[cfg83]

Old Tele man -

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...we've got "Santa Ana" like winds over here, which are typically good/bad for one or two dust-storm related pileups for sure.

No winds today, so I am guessing a major big-time driver mistake.

CarloSW2

[RobertSmalls]

I love your mirrors, CarloSW2. I went out and got myself a 14" concave mirror that clips on to my rear view. It's enormous, and perhaps overkill, but no blind spots! It takes some getting used to, and I think I might take it down and go with just a concave mirror on the passenger door like you have.

If I do keep the concave mirror up there, I'll need a strategically-placed post-it note so as to avoid the awkward eye contact with my passenger.

Also, where's all your snow?

</ot>

Country roads are absolutely great for MPG. I did 70mpg tonight despite 13°F temperatures.

[cfg83]

RobertSmalls -

Here is my 17" rear-view mirror :

WRAPAROUND PANORAMIC WIDE-ANGLE MIRRORS - JCWhitney - $20

WRAPAROUND PANORAMIC WIDE-ANGLE MIRRORSComplete wraparound vision at an affordable priceSimply clips over existing mirrorEasy to transfer from vehicle to vehicle
Whatever the reason, whatever the season, you need a good rear view mirror that allows you to see everything around you. Convex in height and width for complete 180° wraparound vision. One glance and you'll see vehicles behind you as well as those passing on sides. Choose 13-1/2" W x 2-3/4" H mirror for compact and small cars and giant 17" W x 2-3/4" H mirror for mid-size and large cars/trucks

It's designed to mount onto 1970-style thin rear-view mirrors, so I had to zip-tie it on. I know it's from the 70's because it has Detroit-dinosaur cars on the packaging. It has some side distortion, but it's totally worth it (to me).

These are the motorcycle mirrors I got for the interior :

MIRRORS WITH SLIDE-ADJUSTABLE HEADS - TINTED GLASS - JCWhitney - $20

MIRRORS WITH SLIDE-ADJUSTABLE HEADS, STAMPED METAL HOUSING AND TINTED GLASS Mirror head is designed to slide up or down on stem to achieve the best viewing position Bright chromed housing and stem True-vision, no-distortion nonglare flat glass mirrors accurately indicate distance of things to the rear
6" long stem allows mirror head to slide up/down 4". Housing secures to stem with a set screw and hex wrench included. Vibration-stop nut locks mirror in place. For cycles with 10mm screw-in mirror mounts. Housing is 5-1/8"W x 3-5/8"H. Stem is 3/8" diameter. Dimensions are approximate. Sold in pairs.

The idea is I wanted a short stock with lots of adjustability. The problem is that these mirrors are flat. Soooooo, I bought some concave blindspot mirrors for trucks and used VHB tape to stick them on.

Yeah, "getting used to" is the key to mirror mods. But now when I drive "normal" cars I miss my monster mirrors.

In terms of eye-contact, just recite scenes from the Sonic fast-food commercials with your passenger.

Snow is for mountains.

CarloSW2

[glhman222]

im almost at a half tank and 40 miles away from 200 mpg is gonna be under 32 this time i think it has to do with my broken front spoiler and the cold weather plus im due for an oil change......ugh

[NachtRitter]

Originally Posted by cfg83

Hello -

From what I can tell I don't think anyone was hurt :

CarloSW2

Just after an accident and before the emergency vehicles arrive always seems like the absolute worst time... people slowing down unexpectedly to gawk while those behind don't have a clue... prime time for someone to jump out into the blocked lane, accelerate while cursing the slowpokes, and slam right into the existing accident...