How to increase efficiency?

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Most of my trips are short ones for example, the longest it would go in an average week is around 5kM.

I would re-evaluate my need for a car, but in doing that a few issues stick out that suggest it's better to have than not have.

I'm currently driving a 1997 Sonata.

I understand for peak efficiency, the engine first must get to normal operating temperature, at which point the ECU kicks in and manages the fuel. This in short trips would likely take around 1kM to do - so by the time it's got into operating range, the car travels around another 1kM before being turned off, and then does the same back.

I want to know what I can do to reduce or remove fuel consumption over short trips.

My partner believes costs should be an issue, but I'm not too sure. I've only lightly considered an electric conversion (in my reading, I came across someone who did a forklift motor conversion).

Is there any thing we should consider that might be worth while for the many short trips we take ? Not many of them are long, in fact, the longest single trip it's travelled in the past 6 - 12 months is around 30KM.

Some interesting notes too - the car has to stop around 5 times using the route we take for traffic reasons. The maximum speed reached along the path taken is 50KM.

I generally hold the clutch in, and roll to the stops where possible, to save driving to the stop.

I'd really like to reach the 5L per 100KM mark so many have on this forum (that'd give me about 900k's out of 1 tank!).

[Frank Lee]

Look up. See that? 65 efficiency mods and 100+ Hypermiling Tips: very good places to start.

[Angmaar]

Biking or walking on the super short trips will be your best bet and you'll get some exercise. An engine block heater will help heat up your car so it can be at it's most efficient during the first few kms.

[SentraSE-R]

You should seriously consider walking or bicycling any <5km distances. I bicycled 11km each way to work for ~10 years.

If you must drive, your typical drive sounds ideal for a pulse and glide drive to warm your engine up. It's late Winter here. I start my car, get it up to 20 mph (it's slightly uphill), and coast to the stop sign end of my block. I wait for traffic to clear, start my engine, make a left turn, accelerate to 20 mph, make a right turn at the next block, and coast the full block to the next stop sign. I bump start the engine as I reach the stop sign, make a left turn, accelerate to 5 mph to crest a small hill, and coast for the next two blocks to another stop sign.

By the time I've gone 3 km, I'm down to a 5L/100 km fuel consumption rate, and I can do a regular P&G routine from 25-50 kph without stop signs or traffic. By the time I've traveled 6 km, I've reached a 4.27L/100 km fuel consumption rate, and my engine has finally reached its 59 degree C warm-up temperature.

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Clutch starting the engine (i.e. engine off coasting) - is that harmful if being done repeatedly?
(This is why I leave it on and just clutch in - so it's idling).

Walking is something that needs a bit more careful consideration - walking the kids to school is something that is possible, solves parking problems too, but comes with consideration on time and energy.

[redyaris]

Considering time and energy... When I lived in Montreal I used to race my girlfriend to the bar she in her car and me on my bick, I was always the first to arrive at the bar even if she beat me to the street she always had to hunt for parking. Vancouver has a commuter challenge between public transit a car and a bike the bike always wins. Why do you think there are so many bike couriers in all the cities of the world? ...the bike is the fastest for short distance and when roads are congested!

[Ryland]

A warm air intake is going to help with engine warm up and if you do some searching on here you should find some ideas on a thermostat controlled warm air intake, otherwise you can steel one off a car that still has a carburetor instead of fuel injection.
Have you checked to see what kind of electric cars are for sale in your area? a few years back I was shocked at how many used electric cars were for sale in Australia, of course building one is also an option.

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by redyaris

Considering time and energy... When I lived in Montreal I used to race my girlfriend to the bar she in her car and me on my bick, I was always the first to arrive at the bar even if she beat me to the street she always had to hunt for parking. Vancouver has a commuter challenge between public transit a car and a bike the bike always wins. Why do you think there are so many bike couriers in all the cities of the world? ...the bike is the fastest for short distance and when roads are congested!

I've had several such competitions too, and while I didn't always "win", most people were shocked at how close it really was.

[SentraSE-R]

I should mention my warm-up routine described above is with lower grill block and a WAI.

When I biked home from work in Anchorage, I'd pass a block-long line of cars stopped at a stoplight at the top of a hill in the downtown area. I'd pick a distinctive car in the line, like a red pickup truck, and note when it passed me back. I lived 6.5 miles away, and most of the time, I was halfway home before the red pickup or its counterpart would catch up to me.

No, clutch starting a car is not harmful. It's much easier on the battery and starter motor, and likely easier on the clutch than a dead start. You just kiss the clutch enough to get the engine turning, rev match, and engage the clutch gently.

[meelis11]

Originally Posted by toc

I generally hold the clutch in, and roll to the stops where possible, to save driving to the stop.

You just hold the clutch in all gliding time? It you glide more than few seconds, put it neutral and release clutch. Holding it long time is not good for clutch (springs get tired/soft?)

Meelis