Warmer weather brings new MPG records!

[Ecky]

Last fall I had not yet joined ecomodder, and I was getting right about my EPA average MPG of 24.

I just finished rebuilding the suspension on my car and took it in for new tires and an alignment. For the first time in a while it's entirely mechanically "right" - today on the way home from class, I had a 10 mile drive through traffic with two fairly long stoplights, and I averaged 39.5mpg, using engine-on coasting in a car that only gets about 30-32mpg in steady-state cruising in top gear. 65% over EPA!

[redorchestra]

very cool, i need an alignment too!
congrats on the new high! or is it new low?

[GottaCruise]

Congrats on those numbers, very impressive!

I did an oil change this weekend and found I need to replace some suspension components also, will now be getting that alignment done also - Thanks for posting the info.

[Ecky]

Can't wait until the end of this tank. I've been experimenting with EoC and achieved an average of about 45.5mpg on the 9.2 mile round trip to and from work today, which is almost 90% over EPA.

My trip is about 50% 25mph driving and 50% 50mph driving, with 3 stoplights and 2 stop signs. 5.7 miles of the 9.2 I "drove" with the engine off.

[mja1]

Yep, EPA probably switched over to summer fuel. Check the 'state summer RVP standards' for specific RVP limits where you live.

The Oil Drum | Refining 101: Winter Gasoline
Volatility/Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) | Fuels and Fuel Additives | US EPA
Regulations and Standards | Fuels and Fuel Additives | US EPA

Phase IV RVP regulations was proposed in Caly a while back, thank goodness it was never implemented (caly regs tend to trickle down to the rest of the US after enough time has passed) or it would've been the death of most carbureted engines, but then thats why Sunoco is still around.

one reason companies are using 10% or a specified volume of ethanol is the RVP can be raised further (in many places in the US, not all)

[Ecky]

Turns out our area doesn't have summer/winter fuel, maybe my tires are just wearing in or the air being warmer.

Anyhow I've just resolved another small issue that was affecting my gas mileage. I had a small leak around the intake manifold gasket and it was causing a very soft idle surge on cool mornings when rolling. I just averaged 45mpg on my way back from school without using EoC, where my previous best was 38.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by Ecky

Can't wait until the end of this tank. I've been experimenting with EoC and achieved an average of about 45.5mpg on the 9.2 mile round trip to and from work today, which is almost 90% over EPA.

My trip is about 50% 25mph driving and 50% 50mph driving, with 3 stoplights and 2 stop signs. 5.7 miles of the 9.2 I "drove" with the engine off.

Nice. Improving technique seems most likely to be the biggest variable (usually is)--with some of the more effective mods following somewhat close behind.