Fuel Consumption Economics...???

[Lazarus]

Originally Posted by NachtRitter

That's why there's (typically? usually? always?) two maintenance schedules for cars... "normal" use and "severe" use. Severe use is stuff like driving short distances, stop & go, dusty conditions, extreme cold conditions, etc, etc. It would be really difficult to determine ( I think ) how much of a "benefit" there is to eco-driving vs normal driving from a wear & tear perspective, with so many other factors that come into play.

I always thought that the "extreme conditions" maintenance schedules were set up the way they are because your oil temperature never gets hot enough on the short trips to get the moisture out which forms acids that are harmful to metal during the cool down.

[redyaris]

The hour meter comment got me thinking I should put one in my car and/or motorcycle. Then I remembered that the Scan guage II has a time monitoring feature. The problem is that it is per trip, does any one know how or if the Scan guage can be used to keep track of total hours, or would I have to keep a note book?

[NachtRitter]

Originally Posted by Lazarus

I always thought that the "extreme conditions" maintenance schedules were set up the way they are because your oil temperature never gets hot enough on the short trips to get the moisture out which forms acids that are harmful to metal during the cool down.

I believe you have correctly stated one of the reasons for the higher maintenance... but there are others. The following are reasons given by Ford for following the "severe conditions" maintenance schedule (likely similar for other vehicles):

• Towing a trailer or using a camper or car-top carrier
• Extensive idling and/or low-speed driving for long distances as in heavy commercial use such as delivery, taxi, patrol car, or livery
• Operating in dusty conditions such as unpaved or dusty roads
• Off-road operation

Obviously, with towing, the oil will definitely get hot enough!

[redyaris]

I did some reasurch on the hour meter on the Scangauge II and it keeps track of time for the tank as well as for the trip so I will try to keep track of it on my fuel reciepts with the distance traveled per Litre. One of the most interesting things to read is the owners manual, most people don't. You can learn things like; most SUV's are not recomended for off road use!

[Frank Lee]

That's quite all right; I haven't seen an SUV off-road for years.

[ShadeTreeMech]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

That's quite all right; I haven't seen an SUV off-road for years.

You should come with me to the river

Ignore the banjo playing, it's nothing.

But I agree the modern SUV is an oversized highway cruiser.

[gone-ot]

...FWIW, the military vehicles typically have a "engine hours" meter.

[redyaris]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

I think you missed the point I was trying to make, which is that it's not rational to do either speed or fuel economy mods for economic reasons. You do it as a form of recreation, for the fun and for the challenge.

I have given the Idea that ...fuel economy mods for economic reasons is not rational... some thought, and have come to the opposit conclusion. Because no mater how small the economic gain it is profitable in some messure. even if the profit is very small it still exists. In my case I calculate that I have $3000.- more disposable income than the average north american because I spend $3000 less per year than the average, that is on fuel alone. My fanticey land guess on the savings on maintainance is at least $3000.-/yr and about $1500.-/yr on things like speeding tickets and insurance and minor fender benders etc. so in all I spend over $7500 less per year than the average for diving 21000km/yr [13125 mile] give or take... I believe I am being rational. what say you?

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by redyaris

In my case I calculate that I have $3000.- more disposable income than the average north american because I spend $3000 less per year than the average, that is on fuel alone.

But are you spending that $3K/year less because of mods that you did to your vehicle (in which case I think we'd all like to know what they are, and how much they cost :-)), or because you bought a vehicle that had the fuel economy designed-in at the factory?

[redyaris]

25% is due to the original purchase, 33% is due to mods in car and driving style. The $3000.- figure is due to the average household spending on fuel for 2 cars so depending on how you want to look at it this may be an over statment. yet the fact remains that I spend $3000.- less the the average household. one car to one car comparison is therefore about half. So if you resrict yourself to one fuel efficiant car like a priuse or yaris you will spend $3000.- less on fuel than the average household.