| Good article about fuel economy
- Click HERE for Original Thread
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| carguy1234 |
quote:
Originally posted by mdxforever
that I feel everyone should read
http://www.cargens.com/
Interesting article, though I just have never experienced the 20% loss of mileage with AC on. I had actually tried to measure this loss, but gave up since other factors seemed to be higher order effects (plus I got tired of being hot!).
I agree with the briskly accelerating from a stop. You want to get in the highest gear sooner than later. Some drive too slow from a stop and actually waste gas.
And I think for many people using cruise will save gas unlike what the article says. Unless you are using the drive with load technique, cruise will probably do better than average driving habits for gas mileage.
And the biggest thing - just drive less! It bugs when when these Prius guys do these long distance drives for no other reason than just to show how high they can get their mileage. What a waste! |
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| SuperTech |
quote:
Originally posted by carguy1234
Interesting article, though I just have never experienced the 20% loss of mileage with AC on. I had actually tried to measure this loss, but gave up since other factors seemed to be higher order effects (plus I got tired of being hot!).
You must've always had vehicles with big enough displacement engines that they had some good low end torque. In my vehicle with a big ol' V8, I can see the mpg in real time. Cruise control on flat highway...the A/C being on or off had maybe a .5mpg difference, if even that much. There's more of a loss to be had from just driving into a 5mph headwind.
On cars with little inline 4s, like a Honda Civic DX, cruising along on the hgihway and then turning off the A/C feels like you just put a 50 shot of nitrous on the motor. So it's cars like that where they are probably getting their claim of 20% loss. |
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| JL_SS |
| I've just purchased one of these vehicles - the mileage is incredible and I've lost an amazing amount of weight :D : |
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| JL_SS |
quote:
Originally posted by SuperTech
You must've always had vehicles with big enough displacement engines that they had some good low end torque. In my vehicle with a big ol' V8, I can see the mpg in real time. Cruise control on flat highway...the A/C being on or off had maybe a .5mpg difference, if even that much. There's more of a loss to be had from just driving into a 5mph headwind.
On cars with little inline 4s, like a Honda Civic DX, cruising along on the hgihway and then turning off the A/C feels like you just put a 50 shot of nitrous on the motor. So it's cars like that where they are probably getting their claim of 20% loss.
A good example is our previous 99 CRV, I used to shut off the A/C just to merge onto the highway without being killed..... |
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| DaleB |
It's an interesting perspective. If you have been driving any length of time you begin to realize what is helpful for saving gas, and what is not. Especially when it comes to driving habits.
As far as the A/C I tried to do an average over a couple of hundred highway miles, shutting off and turning it on over each 100 miles. I saw about a 2mpg difference, max. At the time I thought that was significant.
But it is was difficult to say there were not other subtle factors like a slight grade compared to another section of road.
20% sounds huge! I would imagine smaller losses with a larger engine that is less burdened. Of course the base mileage of such an engine would be much less anyway.
The best way would just be driving around for a few weeks at a time, with it off, than the same period with it on, and check averages over a typical daily commute. Of course, if it involves warm weather and freeway driving, lowering the windows some for ventilation will cause fuel consuming drag, as mentioned.
As far as turning off the ignition for extended waits at signals, etc.
For prolonged stays, like waiting for trains, etc. I would agree turning off the engine is a smart thing to do unless it's 112 or -35 outside.
But I am not too fond of exercising the starter motor for every 3 minute signal light I might run across.
Of course, removing dead weight is always a plus. Dropping the convenience of any spare tire for one of the Continental Emergency tire pump/repair kits might be a good one.
Loading the alternator produces more parasitic losses. So maybe DRL are not such a great idea, in that aspect.
It's also true, careful modulation of the gas pedal can yield more mileage than leaving the 'cruise' on, except on flat terrain at a constant speed. |
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| SuperTech |
quote:
Originally posted by DaleB
But I am not too fond of exercising the starter motor for every 3 minute signal light I might run across.
It's also true, careful modulation of the gas pedal can yield more mileage than leaving the 'cruise' on, except on flat terrain at a constant speed.
I've got an MDX in the shop right now that I'm putting a starter in because the contacts inside have worn down too much. Over $600 for parts and labor.
And I can actually do better than cruise control can on flat stretches of highway. Not sure how...perhaps because cruise is constantly making throttle changes to maintain the exact speed. I just hold the pedal constant and I see about 1-2mpg better than with cruise on. |
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| pianoman41 |
quote:
Originally posted by DaleB
Of course, removing dead weight is always a plus. Dropping the convenience of any spare tire for one of the Continental Emergency tire pump/repair kits might be a good one.
I wouldn't recommend this for anyone with TPMS though. Those repair kits will totally bork up the sensors and those aren't cheap. |
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| mdxforever |
I'd say on uneven, steep or rolling terrain cruise control would loose, because it tries to maintain that speed no matter what - whether it means downshifting or revving high, thats hard on the gas. Plus even if it was rolling terrain, the amount of gas you loose on a gradient going up may be more than the amount of gas you save on your way down.
When you drive-by-foot loosing 1, 2 or 5mph of speed doesn't bother you much so it becomes easy on the gas. On a down gradient you might let go the throttle altogether wheras cruise control keeps atleast a little bit on to maintain speed within 1mph. |
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| jhue |
quote:
Originally posted by carguy1234
And the biggest thing - just drive less! It bugs when when these Prius guys do these long distance drives for no other reason than just to show how high they can get their mileage. What a waste!
Heh. I mainly drive a Prius and regularly post on a Prius web forum and there are two unbelievably annoying things that Prius drivers do:
1) They believe that they can drive as slow as they want in the HOV lane just because they have an HOV sticker. They think they have the right to drive 55mph in the HOV lane when the normal traffic flow is well above 65mph, and don't understand they are creating a dangerous situation when they've got a line of twelve cars tailgating each other because of the moving roadblock they've created. Some of them even perform their "pulse and glide" high-mileage driving technique IN THE HOV LANE DURING RUSH HOUR and don't understand why everyone wants to kill them.
2) The ones who commute 120+ miles per day and then have the nerve to express self-righteous indignation at SUV drivers who get 1/3rd their mileage - but drive 1/4th as much. It's not about the vehicle dummy, it's about how much you consume.
The majority of Prius drivers would describe anyone who did either of the above as an "idiot who needs to have their driver's license revoked", but a surprising number, maybe as high as 20% just don't get it. |
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| mdxforever |
quote:
Originally posted by jhue
They think they have the right to drive 55mph in the HOV lane when the normal traffic flow is well above 65mph, and don't understand they are creating a dangerous situation when they've got a line of twelve cars tailgating each other because of the moving roadblock they've created. Some of them even perform their "pulse and glide" high-mileage driving technique IN THE HOV LANE DURING RUSH HOUR and don't understand why everyone wants to kill them.
you lucky guy!
over here everybody who owns any type of vehicle does that. It has always been my biggest pet peeve when driving on the freeway. Followed by - not using blinkers to indicate a lane or direction change. Even worse, turn the blinkers on AFTER the fact. Some stupid people start their blinkers when they are already in the turn or a lane change. They dont realize a simple thing that it's purpose is to indicate to the drivers around you what your intentions are, well in advance. And third - when I show my blinkers some idiot speeds up to stop me from getting in that lane.
A friend of mine and me are thinking about getting some stickers printed in the "mirror image" (reverse lettering which shows up right in the rear view mirror) and sticking them up in the front of our cars. The wording we have agreed upon so far is -
"IF YOU CAN READ THIS, YOU ARE DRIVING TOO SLOW!!"
He convinced me to remove some choice words from the initial draft. Some other alternatives to bumper stickers were shot down too. |
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| carguy1234 |
quote:
Originally posted by mdxforever
And third - when I show my blinkers some idiot speeds up to stop me from getting in that lane.
Aarghhh, I hate that one too, and it happens all too often.
The other one that bugs me and seems to happen more than you would think - somebody tails you an inch from your bumper on a 2 lane highway, then when they have the opening they pass at 80MPH......and then slow down and put on the cruise at 2 MPH LESS than I was already going!!! |
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| Sinecure |
quote:
Originally posted by mdxforever
A friend of mine and me are thinking about getting some stickers printed in the "mirror image" (reverse lettering which shows up right in the rear view mirror) and sticking them up in the front of our cars. The wording we have agreed upon so far is -
"IF YOU CAN READ THIS, YOU ARE DRIVING TOO SLOW!!"
He convinced me to remove some choice words from the initial draft. Some other alternatives to bumper stickers were shot down too.
Check out www.roadrage.com
They have a book full of hilarious stuff printed in big letters. Plus the back of each one is a mirror image. I rarely use it, but it provides lots of laughs for my passengers when they flip through the book. Here's an example:
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| Sinecure |
I also like these:
Many of them offer a version with or w/out four letter words.
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by pianoman41
I wouldn't recommend this for anyone with TPMS though. Those repair kits will totally bork up the sensors and those aren't cheap.
I was not talking about the $3.95 can of Inflate-All, etc. you get at Pep Boys, but this one.
http://www.conti-online.com/generat...k_infosheet.pdf
Apparently it's approved by all major automotive mfrs. for use in their vehicles, including TMPS equipped. But presently I don't have either, so can not testify to it. |
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| xcel |
Hi All:
___Another …
Beating the EPA - The Why’s and how to Hypermile.
___You want 40 mpg from your X? You can with a ton of work and a lot of risk. You want 33 from your MDX, not nearly as much work but it is not going to be given to you without some thought and a change in habits. You want 27 from your X. Now you are getting into the easy territory.
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes - CleanMPG.com |
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