Game's on! Ultimate Ecomodder Fuel Economy Challenge
 

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The Ultimate Ecomodder Challenge

To keep things new and fresh on the site we’ve decided to start a fun contest to see who is the Ultimate Ecomodder! We’ve selected 16 ecomodders to play in this tournament and all they need to do to participate is to continue pulling great mpg’s while keeping their fuel logs current. If you didn’t get selected don’t worry…we’ll give you a chance in the next contest!

FYI, Matt Herring spearheaded the challenge idea, and volunteered to act as the go-to guy / primary referee. Thanks, Matt!

Here’s how it works:

• 16 ecomodders have been placed in a tournament style bracket.

• To level the playing field each bracket matchup is handicapped (lower mpg drivers receive added mpg’s to balance out the difference between their 90 day mpg with their competitors 90 day mpg). For example…Car 1’s 90 day mpg is 30 mpg while Car 2’s 90 day mpg is 40 mpg. Car 1 would get 10 added mpg’s in this bracket matchup. After both Cars input their next tank in their fuel log, Car 2 would have to beat Car 1 by 10 mpg on that tank to advance to the next round. In the next round the 90 day mpg’s are again compared and added mpg’s are given to the lower mpg vehicle. The goal is to encourage getting your best mpg tanks while also making it an even competition for everyone.

• Participants fuel logs will be monitored by the referees to make sure there’s no shenanigans during the competition (a prize will be awarded for the winner…it’s not $1 million or a free car so let’s keep this honest fellas!)

• Each round matchup ends when both players have entered their next tank in the fuel log and the next round starts immediately (even if you don’t have an opponent yet). We are instituting a minimum 5 gallon fillup so the short tankers can be included in the competition but the long tankers don’t short their tank too much on a good run. The idea is to just do what you’ve always done and the contest will run itself to determine a winner.

Here’s our First Round Matchups:

* I_Am_Socket (Skeeter ’05 Corolla LE) vs. Tasdrouille (The Truck-Mine ’99 A3 Jetta TDI)…+23.12 adjustment for I_Am_Socket

* Johnny Mullet (Christine ’98 Metro Base) vs. Bhazard (The Festiva ’93 Ford Festiva L)…+13.67 for Bhazard

* CFG83 (’99 Wagon SWZ) vs. Tango Charlie (Olivia – ’03 Vibe)…+4.2 for Tango Charlie

* 1337 (The Benz – ’02 Mercedes Benz C230) vs. Robbiew (Yaris ’08 Yaris LB)…+12.98 for 1337 Benz

* PTSmith24 (El Camrino – ’90 Camry LE) vs. RH77 (Teggy – ’98 Integra LS)…+2.04 for PTSmith

* Big Dave (The Red Baron – ’00 F-350 XLT) vs. Neil Blanchard (Mica Blue – ’05 xA RS 2.0)…+17.95 for Big Dave

* Sean T. (Taurusaurus Rex – Taurus GL) vs. Binger (Just a Mirage – ’91 Mirage Hatchback)…+15.92 for Sean T.

* Super Trooper (Wicked Wanda – ’99 Beetle GLS) vs. Taco (Yoder – ’98 Tacoma 4x4)…+2.69 for Taco

Results will be posted here as they occur and round matchups will also be posted so you can track the results. Good luck fellas!

Here's an excel spreadsheet of the tourney bracket if you want to follow along!

A couple notes from the ref:

* I_Am_Socket is getting +23.12 in his first round matchup with Tasdrouille (is incorrectly noted as +mpg for Tasdrouille in original message)...sorry Tas...can't make it that easy for you!

* cfg83 updated his fuel log on 11/18 with a fill up from 11/17 so that entry does not count in the tournament as the tourney started on 11/18. His next fuel log entry will be his first round tank vs. Tango Charlie.

Fixed my post.

I JUST filled up......... but I haven't added it to my fuel log yet... should I put it in right now, and then that will be my score for this round?

Oh, and this is an AWESOME idea!

We'll allow the next tank to be your first round tank...make it a good one! Just make sure you fill out your fuel log for the tank you just completed so we know which tank is your first round tank.

Another thing I just noticed, (and I'm not trying to be picky or anything), but if you look at Binger's fuel log... he has several VERY low entries, and then his last 6 (approx. 60-days) have been well over his 90-day... I guess I'm just saying that even if he gets considerably lower MPG than those last 6 tanks, he will still be well above his 90-day, whereas I have been getting 20-23mpg since April.

I'm not trying to be negative or anything, but it seems like I don't have a chance. Does all that make sense?

Binger has acceptable fuel entries to qualify for this contest. One of the only rules is at least a 5 gallon fillup (which he is well over in his fuel log entries and he's been consistent with 6-10 gallon fillups all along). His 90 day avg. has been improved recently due to new air dam and increased psi which is the reason we're all on ecomodder.

On your side it looks like he has a new job that is only 3 miles from his house so short trips in frigid Omaha, NE might hurt his FE. Plus...you're getting almost 16 mpg handicap...and you have a whole tank to make it a good one...maybe he's already halfway through his tank when finding out about this contest???

Good luck Sean T!

Ohhhh, I like it!
cfg83, you're mine, sucka. You with the pretty silver wheels... All 'look at me, I get over 40mpg'...yeah...yer goin' DOWN, pal...

Oh, wait. Is trash talking allowed? :D

I have not entered any fuel logs since the weather got cold and I just filled up today, so what should I enter?

Tango -

I like your matchup with cfg...interested to see if the Vibe can keep up with the Saturn Wagon (or at least stay within 4.2 mpg). It's Indiana vs. SoCal! Good luck!

Mullett -

Get your fuel log entries in there...can't be too many since Oct. 14. I'll recalculate the spread vs. Bhazard with your new 90 day and post it on the thread in an updated bracket. I trust you...who wouldn't trust the Mullett?

Ok, seems fair enough.

I just entered my fuel log. Sorry it took me so long, it was time for the family to eat dinner.

But, now I am full and ready! :D

Thanks Sean...after Mullet updates his fuel log I'll update the tourney bracket in the morning with the new numbers...you actually gained .26 in your 90 day so you just gave yourself a little more work to do vs. Binger...Man Up and get 'er done!

Yeah, I was gonna save that whine for just in case. We just got some lovely lake effect and the roads are slicker than snot... :mad:

This may get me out of my lurking ways.

But the timing isn't great. Darn college town traffic + first snow of season!

So, do I move on if my next fill up is more than 12.98 mpg over 1337's?

OK, I am up to date and my car can deal with this cold weather since the block heater was installed. Game on!

Kewl beans! I'm going on a decent tank -- my goal is to keep my averages above 40mpg over the winter. My previous high was ~41.7 before ecomodding, and so far I've stayed above that; which is great, I think. We'll see what happens if I have to go to snows (I have Hubcab Mike's flush covers coming) -- and of course driving in snow storms will be an incredible challenge...talk about roling resistance, slippage, and having no control over speed due to traffic.

i thought this would be interesting and give us some extra motivation in the cooler temps...for the cold weather temp guys...will make it even sweeter if u take down a warm weather modder.

to answer robbies question...your next tank mpg plus your handicapped added mpgs has to be more than your opponents next tank mpg to advance.

in the second round we take your new 90 day avg and your new opponents updated 90 day avg and figure a new handicap added mpg for one of the drivers...its ncaa hoops tourney meets vegas bookmaker...meets ecomodder!

Tango -

I am ... conflicted. I am a fan of Vibes but for some reason I wish to crush yours. How can that be, :D ?!?!?!? It's a good thing I have a ton of internal rear view mirrors, otherwise, I wouldn't see you creeping up (or back as you lower your MPH as you increase your MPG) behind me.

I'd better not document that Winnebago I've been using to flat-tow my car all over the place. Lots of free miles there. ;) .

CarloSW2

robbiew...

i sent my last message from my celly and didnt have my bracket in front of me for reference. in your case you are giving mpgs to the benz so you have to beat his next tank plus adusted mpgs to advance. good luck in the tournament!

Alright, time to get my strategizing on.

In my past life, I commissioned a Tourney of sorts for FE. Many of you may remember. I like the bracket idea. Much, much, simpler.

The game afoot! I just filled up, changed the oil and trans fluid + grille blocks and hood sealing. Hopefully it's enough to offset the cold weather. It's running hot -- tomorrow is supposed to be in the 60's! Coolant temps were getting high in the mid-40's, but FE has improved. The EBH is plugged in for tomorrow (on a timer, of course) ;)

It's nice to finally be a participant after those many hours of management...

Thanks Matt!

-Rick

rick...rh77...

good to hear youve got the vehicle greased up for the tourney! this should be fun!! ecomodder is about great mpgs and we should have fun while we are promoting great mpgs.

ill admit i didnt take into consideration the location of ecomodders....east or west....winter or not so much winter. but it is a factor for sure. this tournament should be a good test of all factors given the parity and handicapps between the 16 competitors...vehicles...location...and what the winter drivers do to prepare their vehicles for cooler temps

mods...daily commute...highway vs city...engine block heaters...on and on...builder against builder. when snow hits it could get ugly!

bottom line...put your best right foot forward and pull your best mpgs!

ur

I'm the northern most ecomodder! That's a great idea though I will probably not make it very far in the contest with such temperature. I fill roughly a tank per month in the TDI and the current one will not be so great with no highway driving at all. But I'm nonetheless thrilled by this competition! Even if I make it past the first round, my car won't as I'm selling it for parts. Are we allowed to swap vehicle in this case? The deal is pretty much done and starting next week I should be driving a 2000 Jetta TDI, same engine, but different turbo and body. FE should remain pretty much the same.

Gentlemen.... Stop! Your! Engines! :D

Great idea Matt. I look forward to seeing who can push their way to the top! :)

Sweet! :-D We'll see how well this tank goes; just filled up Monday and I've had one 60* day and this morning was 28*.

Gotta get that MPGuino installed and I need to check my tire pressure...

just when it snowed.

does the tank i filled up on this morning count?
i will fill up again saturday.....:)

this should be fun

tasdrouille brough up a factor I didn't think about... how long do we plan on taking this contest? He fills up once a month... I fill up one a week/week-and-a-half...

How will the time gap effect the scoring? Will all of round 2 start once the last ecomodder has submitted a round 1 tank?

Sean, it looks like it's a 4 tanks single elimination contest. You basically just run 4 tanks and your job is done.

The contest will last at most the sum of the time it takes for the slowest tank of each round.

Nice, I hope I can log in more often while I am out on the road so I can see how things go.

Taco - Let's use your next tank as your first round tank. Seeing that you refuel about once a week it's not a big deal to use your next one. Now that everyone knows about the contest we're all on the same page with tanks.

Tas - Let's use your final tank in the TDI and if you advance we might have to let the first tank in your new car be a "test" tank to get some date before comparing with other competitors mpg's if you advance to the next round. Use your next TDI fuel log entry for the first round and we will take it from there.

Here's the updated bracket with adjusted numbers for Johnny Mullet and Sean T. Good luck guys!

Sean T - the contest could take a few weeks or it could take until February. Tas is correct...once your 4 tanks are on the books (one for each round...assuming you don't get eliminated during the first three rounds) your tournament is completed and you may have to wait for opponents tanks to be entered (maybe as long as a month or two for the higher mpg guys). You are basically trying to pull 4 great tanks and hopefully you make it far enough to use all 4 through the final round!

I just filled up yesterday and the pump never shut off. Lost about $.50 on the ground and it filled up to the cap rather than shut off then round to the next $.25 like I normally do. So Ill just drive down a quarter tank or so and then top it off, then start my log again from there.

Go figure Im in it against the Mullet Man.

Oh well, Ive got my full grill block + airdam and 50 psi in my tarrs. I just dropped my ignition timing from 20* or so to around 13-15* and started running regular again. Ill give him a run.

Bhazard -

Like they say in the big leagues. "To be the best...you gotta beat the best." And Johnny is up there with the best. But, you do get the added 13.89 mpgs to your tank so it's even odds to beat the Mullet...good luck bro!

Wouldn't it have been more accurate to use the "last three fills" data? This would show a much more accurate scale of how everyone is doing with their FE.

Just a far-out example, but if someone did a lot of hauling as a summer job or something and got tanks that were 15mpg all summer, then their job ended and their past 3 tanks were 30mpg, then obviously they would probably get 30 again, but their 90-day average would be very very low because it includes all the 15mpg tanks.

I really am sorry to bring this up again, but I can't find any possible way for me to even come close on the first round. If Blinger gets the same mpg as his last tank (~44), I would need to get a whopping 28-29 to beat him... meaning a 450 mile tank... I have never even seen 400.

I recently installed a block heater, but the other day, I replaced my P155/80R13 tires with P175/70R13 and I only have them at 35 PSI for snow traction. My MPG #'s have gone down since the cold weather and may go down even more with the tire situation, so I see a pretty fair game here :thumbup:

Sean, it's just for fun. Look at my handicap, at first I thought it was a % handicap, but nooooo it's in MPG :eek:

I'd have to hit a 60 on this tank to make it to round 2, which is just not gonna happen with my day to day driving. But I still think it's fun to participate!

Keep us updated on how the tire change goes - I have a nearly new set of the larger size on my nissan that I may put on my geo before I sell the nissan. But undecided on that plan so far.

Glad to see a wagon was represented, even if it wasn't mine. :D