gmc48
Rookie Author
Los Angeles
Posts:92
Points:45,505
Joined:Jun 2012
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Message Posted: Sep 23, 2012 3:49:02 PM
"Avoid Excessive Idling" is what I practice the most.
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maddog768
Champion Author
Michigan
Posts:1,655
Points:248,630
Joined:Aug 2012
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Message Posted: Sep 23, 2012 3:41:08 AM
Air on or off doesn't seem to effect MPG on a 2011 CRV 4 cyl AWD.
By timing traffic lights to/from work - tryig to avoid a complete stop - I pick up a few tenths average MPG over a 5 day period.
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Bluebird333
All-Star Author
Wisconsin
Posts:634
Points:52,300
Joined:Feb 2012
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Message Posted: Sep 22, 2012 10:17:53 PM
Buy a fuel efficient vehicle.
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carinthuist
Champion Author
San Francisco
Posts:2,250
Points:330,525
Joined:Mar 2012
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Message Posted: Sep 22, 2012 8:47:34 PM
drive 60 speed for highway
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alduck
Champion Author
Tulsa
Posts:16,840
Points:3,105,595
Joined:Aug 2003
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Message Posted: Sep 22, 2012 6:40:52 AM
I have found if I run my GMC 1500 under 2100 rpm and run 61-63 mph I actually get about 18.3 mpg rather than the 15.7 I get when running 70. Not bad for a full size half ton 4X4 with oversized tires.
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dontuknowOH
Champion Author
Ohio
Posts:2,099
Points:36,585
Joined:Aug 2009
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Message Posted: Sep 22, 2012 6:30:04 AM
Just keep noticing your speedometer,but start glancing more at your instant MPG indicator,learn what is the best/highest reading on the MPG, then adjust your driving habits to the best reading,compare that with the speedometer range ,then You Got It if action gets transfered to your right foot =(more often,repeat)this process for more fuel savings............
A one time practice or even several won't produce much results but over time,good decisions,when traffic doesn't have the greater handle on the driving event,that savings for me was a big difference,mainly at speeds over 45 mph. My results were with practice (cruise on and off/various speed ranges) G/Luck!...
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dontuknowOH
Champion Author
Ohio
Posts:2,099
Points:36,585
Joined:Aug 2009
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Message Posted: Sep 22, 2012 6:29:57 AM
Just keep noticing your speedometer,but start glancing more at your instant MPG indicator,learn what is the best/highest reading on the MPG, then adjust your driving habits to the best reading,compare that with the speedometer range ,then You Got It if action gets transfered to your right foot =(more often,repeat)this process for more fuel savings............
A one time practice or even several won't produce much results but over time,good decisions,when traffic doesn't have the greater handle on the driving event,that savings for me was a big difference,mainly at speeds over 45 mph. My results were with practice (cruise on and off/various speed ranges) G/Luck!...
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W707
Champion Author
Pennsylvania
Posts:1,453
Points:399,965
Joined:Sep 2008
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Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 1:31:25 PM
5th gear in my 2012 ford Fiesta is like coasting going down the hills.
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StArrow68
Champion Author
Oakland
Posts:3,260
Points:1,362,155
Joined:Apr 2003
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Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 11:36:12 AM
For those waiting for intelligent cruise control, that will make you go at the speed of other traffic, have fun. Some how I figure out how to drive at the speed I decide with the cc working and get around slower traffic. I'm not looking for something that drives my car, that is what I enjoy doing in the most efficient manner available.
It's like the new lane departure systems, great idea and from someone who used to have real issues with dozing at the wheel, very helpful I'm sure. However, geometry hasn't changed much in the past 2k years, the shortest distance is still a straight line. Why should I follow the lane around a long curve in the hwy when if the lane to the inside is open and I can forego driving out that extra 15 feet and back across the same distance at the other end. On open roads with several lanes just time your changes so they don't get in the way of other drivers. Not that hard to do, savings, insignificant, but then again I enjoy driving.
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Lilly02
Champion Author
Rockford
Posts:1,663
Points:525,590
Joined:Oct 2011
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Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:13:38 AM
Don't forget tire pressure
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Street48
Rookie Author
KW
Posts:2
Points:3,140
Joined:Sep 2012
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Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:10:08 AM
save gas by shifting to neutral on a downhill, approaching/waiting for a red light/stop sign, and when waiting at the drive through. Also when you realize that you are speeding, shift into neutral and coast back to the posted speed limit.
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BobbyBnTO
Rookie Author
Toronto
Posts:20
Points:927,650
Joined:Oct 2003
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Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 8:20:03 AM
There is a good series in Globe & Mail's "Globe Drive" section about Lorraine Sommerfeld's trip hypermiling across Canada this past 2012 June/July: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/car-life/across-canada-on-four-tanks-of-gas/article4386735/
Go to Globe Drive website and search "Hypermiling" to get all 6 articles covering the 6,300 km trip across Canada, east to west.
How’d we do? We covered those 6,340 kilometres of varied Canadian terrain with 4.69 tanks of fuel. We
averaged 1,352 kilometres per tank and 5.59 litres/100 km to establish a savings of nearly 32 per cent above
the manufacturer’s figures. Also telling, the diesel VW Touareg TDI that tailed the competition car saw an
improvement of nearly 23 per cent, using air conditioning and paying less attention to stops and starts.
The G&M also has a 2010 article by Roy McGregor on 20 ways to improve your fuel efficiency: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/car-tips/20-ways-to-improve-your-cars-fuel-efficiency/article1379796/
as well as a link to Helen & John Taylor's website about their world-record setting hypermiling exploits: http://www.fuelacademy.com
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Houckster
Champion Author
Atlanta
Posts:9,346
Points:693,480
Joined:Sep 2003
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Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 5:58:38 AM
PHILTX writes: Cruise control will only save money on flat roads.
Air conditioning doesn't really affect mileage much anymore. It used to when the manufacturers used piston compressors. The current style of rotary compressors might use 3-5 HP
______
I agree with the cruise control statement. It's just not intelligent enough on most cars. I much prefer to drive the car. Now, when really intelligent cruise controls (adaptive) become available that maintain proper distances between cars and can analyze the road grade ahead, then I'll use cruise control more.
Also, very interesting stuff on A/C compressors. Now more and more cars will have electric A/C. That will help mileage a bit too.
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StArrow68
Champion Author
Oakland
Posts:3,260
Points:1,362,155
Joined:Apr 2003
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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 10:28:50 PM
Hotwire...., it's amazing how many folks can't figure out how simple cc is to work with. I use the same technique to slow for some traffic and the when it opens up I use the Accel button to get back to my cruising speed, hardly ever touch the brakes.
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KidKorona
Sophomore Author
California
Posts:137
Points:234,820
Joined:Jul 2012
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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 4:51:42 PM
.
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hotwire43
Sophomore Author
Indiana
Posts:185
Points:536,500
Joined:Mar 2011
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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 4:19:17 PM
I take advantage of coasting as much as possible.
I like the way my cruise control works. Every time you back it off that equals one mile per hour. So whern I'm climbing a hill I start to back it off to avoid from shifting down. As long as I can keep it from shifting down I hardly ever notice a drop in gas milage. Depending on the length of the hill will decide how many MPH I need to drop. I hardly ever have to drop more then 3 or 4 MPH. As soon as I top the hill I start bumping the cruise back up to the speed I was traveling at. On my truck I will notice a drop in gas milage as soon as it starts shifting down.
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StArrow68
Champion Author
Oakland
Posts:3,260
Points:1,362,155
Joined:Apr 2003
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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 3:06:21 PM
Like most things, using cruise control when the road isn't flat depends on several factors. In my truck that is probably true since the way it engages and causes downshifts up grades is wasteful. On the other hand in my Corvette 6speed it hardly ever finds a hill that will bog down the engine and can maintain constant speed with very little effort. Going into the mountains is another issue but most of the time, flat or rolling hills the cc is very effective when you have lots of torque and low weight.
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PhilnTX
All-Star Author
Dallas
Posts:656
Points:436,830
Joined:Sep 2011
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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 12:38:26 PM
Cruise control will only save money on flat roads.
Air conditioning doesn't really affect mileage much anymore. It used to when the manufacturers used piston compressors. The current style of rotary compressors might use 3-5 HP
[Edited by: PhilnTX at 9/17/2012 3:40:02 PM EST]
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BlueberryFocus
All-Star Author
Rochester
Posts:553
Points:128,760
Joined:Feb 2012
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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 12:01:28 PM
Anticipate traffic patterns ahead of you and react accordingly. If you see a red light ahead, immediately start coasting and brake if necessary, your goal is to maximize coasting time as that is when the fuel injectors in most modern cars shut down, in other words you burn no fuel. If you time everything properly with the coasting, you should not have to come to a complete stop at all as the light will have changed by the time you reached it and When you pull away, accelerate slowly and steadly.
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pinbuster2005
Champion Author
New Hampshire
Posts:5,210
Points:1,521,475
Joined:Oct 2005
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Message Posted: Sep 8, 2012 12:12:13 AM
reb4 - If the traffic flow is better in-town than on the highway I would go thru town as well. Ther are times when it's like that here as well like race weekends since the highway that I would use to leave work is the one one that is used to go to the race track for the nascar race. So the afternoons when those races are getting out I avoid that highway go thru town and pick up the other highway I get on to head toward home. Sunday afternoons are like that as well because people are heading home after being up in northern NH. My work place is right next to the highway so when I leave I see how traffic is moving before I get on that highway. If it's backed up I'll avoid it, cross town and get on the other highway to head home. But 90% of the time that isn't the case. It depends on the time of day I'm leaving work.
[Edited by: pinbuster2005 at 9/8/2012 3:14:24 AM EST]
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twopairAL
Veteran Author
Huntsville
Posts:485
Points:103,620
Joined:May 2012
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Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 12:30:07 PM
Wash your car. Air takes longer to move around dirt creating more resistance.
If you want to take the time and money, lower your car. You could also go to the extreme and put lighter wheels on it, short throw shifter, low resistance tires, new exhaust and so forth. You would have to drive forever in order to pay it back off :)
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reb4
Champion Author
Chicago
Posts:19,118
Points:1,823,100
Joined:Sep 2004
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Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 6:21:39 AM
pinbuster2005, must be nice in New Hampshire, even on weekends there are inevitably a lot of traffic on our Highways in Chicago. I use some alternatives with better traffic blow and do just fine. I also have a hybrid that gets better gas mileage in City (only 3 on epa scale which I inevitably beat average... )
I can understand your logic since most cars get 10 mpg less in city driving over Highway, which is why Manufacturers always show the highway number...
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pinbuster2005
Champion Author
New Hampshire
Posts:5,210
Points:1,521,475
Joined:Oct 2005
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Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 1:03:08 AM
Avoid in-town/city driving as much as possible. If you need to go someplace at the other end of town/city and there is a highway that can take you there use it. You'll be avoiding the stop and go traffic and the lights. Even if you have to double back a little bit it's worth it because of the more consistant speed you'll be driving.
Also do your regular routine maintainence on your automobile as often as your supposed to. By changing the oil/filter, belts, ect you'll keep your automobile at peak running condition and getting the best possible mileage out of it.
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Roteque
Champion Author
Miami
Posts:639,542
Points:1,346,165
Joined:Feb 2009
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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 11:39:39 AM
Drive as little as possible and leave the LEAD boots at home when you have to drive.
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rick_evans
Champion Author
Boston
Posts:3,728
Points:1,034,665
Joined:Aug 2005
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Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 4:34:48 AM
Consolidate errands and visit the most distant errand first to ensure a fully warmed engine.
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anthroMO
Veteran Author
St. Louis
Posts:395
Points:116,540
Joined:Jun 2012
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Message Posted: Sep 2, 2012 9:32:25 PM
use hwy whenever possible
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TheAMSOILDealer
Rookie Author
San Jose
Posts:12
Points:2,490
Joined:Aug 2012
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Message Posted: Sep 2, 2012 12:36:44 PM
Another way to get more MPG is to reduce the friction as much as possible throughout the drive train. In 9/2011 I bought a 2003 VW Jetta TDI that got highway mileage of 45.3 MilesPerGallon on highway trips. After changing the engine oil & filter and the transmission oil, my highway mileage jumped to 50.5 MilesPerGallon. It's nice to be able to go more than 550 miles on one full tank of fuel.
[Edited by: TheAMSOILDealer at 9/2/2012 3:41:49 PM EST]
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MertieMan
Champion Author
Lexington
Posts:14,793
Points:2,896,585
Joined:May 2005
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Message Posted: Sep 2, 2012 7:28:54 AM
The best way to improve milage is to totally ban ethanol from gasoline and keep the EPA at bay.
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ultimate
Champion Author
New Jersey
Posts:4,773
Points:1,333,720
Joined:May 2004
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Message Posted: Sep 2, 2012 7:28:48 AM
use cruise control and coast to red lights
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oilpan4
Champion Author
Virginia
Posts:12,060
Points:306,900
Joined:Jul 2006
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Message Posted: Sep 2, 2012 5:49:41 AM
"Remove Excess Weight"
Not really. I calculated for every 100 pounds of weight I add or remove it makes a difference of 0.2MPG on the highway at 65mph.
Slightly more in stop and go traffic and when going up hills.
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v6AWD
Rookie Author
British Columbia
Posts:11
Points:240
Joined:Sep 2011
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Message Posted: Aug 29, 2012 12:03:53 PM
All good replies
How about the people who forget to take off the parking brake all the way.Do it once maybe warp the rotors or discs and you will have rubbing till their fixed. Friction = poor milage too!
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BLWong
Veteran Author
Las Vegas
Posts:436
Points:183,940
Joined:Mar 2012
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Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 1:20:00 AM
Inflated tires
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forresj
Champion Author
Wilmington
Posts:2,789
Points:544,230
Joined:May 2005
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Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 6:15:31 AM
Keep your vehicle tuned up (oil change, replace spark plugs, check plug gaps, check tire pressure etc.)
[Edited by: forresj at 4/30/2012 9:16:24 AM EST]
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GBHUGVA
Champion Author
Virginia Beach
Posts:4,697
Points:789,160
Joined:Mar 2009
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Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 4:36:12 AM
A NICE USED FORD Escape/MERCURY Mariner/MAZDA Tribute HYBRIDs IS THE WAY TO GO 32.5mpg!! A 2005 can be found under $10K Then pick up the Plug-in conversion from Enginer.com to get 50+ mpg.
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alohamary
Champion Author
Massachusetts
Posts:3,215
Points:416,840
Joined:Mar 2012
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Message Posted: Apr 28, 2012 12:48:55 PM
Be mindful of upcoming stop signs, lights etc. slowing down and breaking less sharply & take off slowly being mindful again of avoiding quick starts ( that eat up gas & your mileage)
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ppierce68
Rookie Author
Delaware
Posts:7
Points:4,100
Joined:Apr 2012
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Message Posted: Apr 28, 2012 11:25:42 AM
I've been trying to drive slower & coasting to stop lights and stop signs when possible. Hopefully that's helping a little :)
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Gas_Buddy
Champion Author
Maryland
Posts:25,977
Points:3,035,040
Joined:Aug 2004
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Message Posted: Apr 28, 2012 11:01:30 AM
Perhaps markDE will return to this thread to comment on the responses to what he wrote, and perhaps he will post gas prices.2/645
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fury3
Champion Author
Cleveland
Posts:4,030
Points:834,500
Joined:Apr 2005
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Message Posted: Apr 28, 2012 6:49:02 AM
how about you walking
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OilerFan
Champion Author
Tulsa
Posts:14,050
Points:2,447,800
Joined:Aug 2005
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Message Posted: Apr 27, 2012 4:24:53 AM
with hotter weather, I'll use AC but other than that, the other measures are used often.
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jonjon57
Champion Author
Raleigh
Posts:2,447
Points:634,910
Joined:May 2011
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Message Posted: Apr 27, 2012 3:51:24 AM
Slow down
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bonbNJ
All-Star Author
New Jersey
Posts:979
Points:326,940
Joined:Apr 2011
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Message Posted: Apr 27, 2012 2:02:51 AM
dont drive>?
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dflummer
Rookie Author
Illinois
Posts:7
Points:85,925
Joined:Dec 2010
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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 6:40:58 PM
I do all of the above.
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forresj
Champion Author
Wilmington
Posts:2,789
Points:544,230
Joined:May 2005
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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 7:30:26 AM
don't ride brakes
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rick_evans
Champion Author
Boston
Posts:3,728
Points:1,034,665
Joined:Aug 2005
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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 7:25:45 AM
Consolidate errands and drive to the farthest destination first then work your way back.
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Bluebird333
All-Star Author
Wisconsin
Posts:634
Points:52,300
Joined:Feb 2012
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Message Posted: Apr 25, 2012 12:22:56 AM
Let your engine pump better add some headers straight pipe exhaust and an open air filter. Get some synthetic oil and add an air dam. Why not take it to the extreme level. Switch to efans (if you don't have them) cover up your grill and route your heater core to blow out the side (and turn the heat way up) fold your side view mirrors add a carbon fiber hood and some fiber glass fenders and some lexon windows. Then remove rear seat (if you have one), remove the carpet, get some bucket seats, remove radio and dash, ditch spare, get rid of ac system, remove windshield cleaning equipment, get a lowering kit. At the moment thats all I can think of to REALLY boost mpg but most people won't do the extremes for obvious reasons.
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mnrick041
Champion Author
Twin Cities
Posts:14,311
Points:1,369,885
Joined:Jun 2009
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Message Posted: Apr 24, 2012 10:22:40 PM
Closing your windows and not using the AC? It has to be one or the other, if it is 60's or 70's I have the windows open, any hotter than that and I am running the AC.
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KansasGunman
Champion Author
Kansas City
Posts:21,434
Points:2,104,400
Joined:Oct 2005
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Message Posted: Apr 24, 2012 2:50:58 PM
"Remove Excess Weight"
.....
60% of America is 30 lbs overweight or more and many of them are just plain outright obese so if you fall into that group go on a diet...better yet, get the whole family on a diet as more than likely they are too.
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WEPSMAN
Champion Author
South Dakota
Posts:10,513
Points:2,024,175
Joined:Mar 2005
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Message Posted: Apr 24, 2012 10:00:24 AM
Nothing new here that hasn't been posted before.
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tlhIngan_
Champion Author
Calgary
Posts:2,026
Points:391,710
Joined:Apr 2012
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Message Posted: Apr 24, 2012 8:05:31 AM
Avoid harsh acceleration and braking -- drive smoothly at a constant speed
Drive downhills all the time
Change your spark plugs, air filter and fuel filter every 2-4 years depending on your driving. If they are in poor condition, your engine will not burn gasoline efficiently.
Have your oxygen sensors tested every 2 years, replace them as necessary (their only job is to keep your car fuel efficient).
Keep your tires at their proper inflation (check them every 1 or 2 weeks, just before driving the car). Your tire inflation changes by a lot when the temperature suddenly rises or drops.
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