Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Hypermiling / EcoDriver's Ed
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 03-26-2015, 04:31 AM   #1 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Bataleon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: South Africa
Posts: 41
Thanks: 18
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Angry Poor fuel economy over short distances

Hi all,

Most days I make a two mile trip (each way) to campus and back in my manual 2006 1400cc Volkswagen Polo (2200 lbs curb weight).

Yesterday I measured my fuel economy during the two mile trip home (using Torque App) and got an average reading of 19.4 mpg(US). This morning I averaged 28.3 mpg(US), slightly better because it is downhill most of the way.

These figures are pretty poor considering:
  1. It's a small car with a small, relatively modern engine
  2. The ambient temperature was around 72F
  3. Tires were pumped to 44 psi
  4. I was hypermiling where I could.

Do you think there's something wrong with my car?

Thanks in advance.


Last edited by Bataleon; 03-26-2015 at 04:55 AM..
  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 03-26-2015, 04:40 AM   #2 (permalink)
Human Environmentalist
 
redpoint5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,396

Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX
90 day: 24.19 mpg (US)

Lafawnda - '01 Honda CBR600 F4i
90 day: 47.32 mpg (US)

Big Yeller - '98 Dodge Ram 2500 base
90 day: 21.82 mpg (US)

Prius Plug-in - '12 Toyota Prius Plug-in
90 day: 57.64 mpg (US)

Mazda CX-5 - '17 Mazda CX-5 Touring
90 day: 26.68 mpg (US)

Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2
90 day: 17.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,192
Thanked 4,380 Times in 3,354 Posts
Probably nothing wrong with the car, just the commute. It's too short to properly warm up the vehicle. I'd ride a bicycle for such a short distance.
__________________
Gas and Electric Vehicle Cost of Ownership Calculator







Give me absolute safety, or give me death!
  Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to redpoint5 For This Useful Post:
Daox (03-26-2015), Isaac Zachary (04-10-2021), Joggernot (03-27-2015)
Old 03-26-2015, 04:55 AM   #3 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Bataleon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: South Africa
Posts: 41
Thanks: 18
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Good advice. I'm going to start using my bicycle a lot more now.
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Bataleon For This Useful Post:
Joggernot (03-27-2015)
Old 03-26-2015, 04:56 AM   #4 (permalink)
Master EcoWalker
 
RedDevil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
Posts: 3,998

Red Devil - '11 Honda Insight Elegance
Team Honda
90 day: 47.72 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,711
Thanked 2,245 Times in 1,454 Posts
My wife drives It in town only. It seldom drives further than 3 miles in one go.
She is not into hypermiling (to put it mildly) but I doubt it would have a lot of effect anyway.
Check out It's fuel log...

In absolute terms It does not use a lot of fuel though. The tpg (trips per gallon) rating is outstanding.
__________________
2011 Honda Insight + HID, LEDs, tiny PV panel, extra brake pad return springs, neutral wheel alignment, 44/42 PSI (air), PHEV light (inop), tightened wheel nut.
lifetime FE over 0.2 Gmeter or 0.13 Mmile.


For confirmation go to people just like you.
For education go to people unlike yourself.
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2015, 05:09 AM   #5 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Bataleon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: South Africa
Posts: 41
Thanks: 18
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Interesting figures, thanks RedDevil.
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2015, 06:21 AM   #6 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Use of a block / coolant heater would help some in a vehicle that does short trips, even in warm ambient temperatures. Of course that only helps with coolant temp. Efficiency is still going to suffer from other cold drivetrain components like the transmission, tires, etc.
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2015, 07:07 PM   #7 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 1,756

spyder2 - '00 Toyota MR2 Spyder
Thanks: 104
Thanked 407 Times in 312 Posts
Yup all cars get terrible gas mileage the first few miles. Modern cars have some insulation for the fluids and thermal management to warm things up faster (so your second trip takes less warm up time) but you still need to warm it up the first time.
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2015, 07:20 PM   #8 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
101Volts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 506

Woody - '90 Mercury Grand Marquis Wagon LS
Last 3: 19.57 mpg (US)

Brick - '99 Chevrolet K2500 Suburban LS
Last 3: 12.94 mpg (US)

M. C. - '01 Chevrolet Impala Base
90 day: 17.09 mpg (US)

R. J. - '05 Ford Explorer 4wd
90 day: 16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 934
Thanked 34 Times in 28 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
Use of a block / coolant heater would help some in a vehicle that does short trips, even in warm ambient temperatures. Of course that only helps with coolant temp. Efficiency is still going to suffer from other cold drivetrain components like the transmission, tires, etc.
I thought Diesel_Dave was heating up the transmission pan, oil pan and coolant before he started his truck (With pad heaters?) though. It helped him.
__________________



  Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2015, 10:19 AM   #9 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Bataleon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: South Africa
Posts: 41
Thanks: 18
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Question

Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
Use of a block / coolant heater would help some in a vehicle that does short trips, even in warm ambient temperatures. Of course that only helps with coolant temp. Efficiency is still going to suffer from other cold drivetrain components like the transmission, tires, etc.
Interesting idea.

When I start my engine it idles at 1200 rpm until the coolant reaches 140°F (60°C) after which the revs drop to 850 rpm. At the same time the fuel flow rate drops from 40cc/min to 20cc/min.

Why is this? It seems like an unnecessary waste of fuel considering the ambient temperature is around 72°F (22°C).

Is there anyway to disable this or is it automatically controlled by the vehicle's ECU?
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2015, 10:34 AM   #10 (permalink)
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 11,203

CM400E - '81 Honda CM400E
90 day: 51.49 mpg (US)

Daox's Grey Prius - '04 Toyota Prius
Team Toyota
90 day: 49.53 mpg (US)

Daox's Insight - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 64.33 mpg (US)

Swarthy - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage DE
Mitsubishi
90 day: 56.69 mpg (US)

Daox's Volt - '13 Chevrolet Volt
Thanks: 2,501
Thanked 2,585 Times in 1,553 Posts
Its automatically controlled, every engine does it. A warm engine is an efficient engine. Fuel vaporizes properly with a hot combustion chamber, components expand with heat, and many other things. Engines need to be warm to be efficient.

__________________
Current project: A better alternator delete
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Tags
fuel economy, hypermiling

Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com