New car, and serious eco-driving commences!

[dwarfnebula]

I've been interested in hypermiling for some time, I applied some techniques to my 94 Cherokee 4AT, even managed to wring a 25 mpg tank out of it despite the lift. That was with a net elevation gain of 2700 feet too. But these days, with winter gas, city commute and cold temps, it has dipped to the vicinity of 15.

You can understand why I wanted something different. So I bought a 97 Hyundai Elantra wagon 5MT. It's not what I had in mind, but it's hard to turn down a $500 car that runs, drives, passes emissions, has a new clutch, and a new set of Michelin destiny tires eh?

So first things first, don't mod a broken car eh? So I've done a wheel bearing, front struts, timing belt, spark plugs, air and fuel filters and changed the engine an trans oils, 5w20 synthetic blend in the motor and amsoil manual trans fluid in the gearbox. 40 psi in the tires, and an ultragauge. There's a loose tie rod end, I'll do that, then align it. So far, I've put about 600 miles on it with an average of 29.1, mostly without instrumentation and in a serious snowy cold snap. It can only go up from here right?

Expect aero-mods and a turtle-themed paint job. Maybe an accent 1.6 with a turbo, that would be fun...

[ssnsvibe09]

Welcome to the world of eco.... I have the same challenge but much closer to sea level LOL. Did you happen to notice an advantage with the Amsoil gear oil?

If your trips from home are short and frequent, consider a blockheater. I recently installed one and plug it in for a few hours before my morning commute, and it is plugged in nearly all the time on the weekends. I don't have hard numbers yet. but I have managed to keep close to summertime MPG's in December at 5 degrees f.

my car is a small aluminum block which is slow to heat up and quick to cool....

[dwarfnebula]

I have no idea about the amsoil really, I haven't driven it any other way. I got it so cheap cause the wheel bearing was so loud the previous owner thought the trans was going out, I towed it all but a few hundred yards to the shop to fix the bearing and dealt with the trans fluid then. It's certainly thinner than the specified 75w90.

I am curious though, the EPA rating for this car is stupid, like 21/29. My worst tank was 27, and that included letting it idle to warm up a couple times, driving in snow and zero highway driving, no instrumentation, basically just driving it like a normal person. Where do they come up with those numbers? It's a 2500 lb car with a 1.8l engine and a 5 speed, not a subaru!

I'd love a block heater but I live in an apartment and I'm not sure how to work it.

[dwarfnebula]

Ok, this thing has more potential than I realized. I just pulled down a 44.5mpg trip (per the ultragauge, whose accuracy is totally untested) with a 35mph cross wind and 4 people in the car. My 50MPG tank average goal is attainable, I think. This hypermiling thing is addictive!

[bestclimb]

50 mpg should be attainable for any sub 2L engined compact with a manual.

[MetroMPG]

A late welcome to the party!

Agreed: 5-speed, 4-cyl, relatively light weight = good potential in the hands of a skilled/motivated driver.

That is cost $500 is just a bonus.

I just pulled down a 44.5mpg trip (per the ultragauge, whose accuracy is totally untested) with a 35mph cross wind and 4 people in the car.

Did that turn out to be right, or was calibration way off?