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Hey Kenny; ...MPG
Topic Started: May 4 2008, 12:13 PM (605 Views)
The 89th Key
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I'm going to see what my MPG is after this current tank, with normal driving habits.

And then the next tank I'm going to implement some of your techniques and see what kind of mileage I can get.

Stay tuned... :popcorn:
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
Wow Cool. :thumb:
It is fun in a new way.
People will look at you like you are nuts.

BTW my MPG is going down.
A lot!

95% of my miles used to be on the freeway at 53 MPH.
Now I only use the car for short trips around the city. :dead:

Yes a tank of gas will last me 2 months now instead of 2 weeks but my MPG for an entire tank will probably drop from low 60s to low 50s. :mad2:

Now instead of bragging sanctimoniously about my MPG I must convert my sanctimonious bragging to gallons per month. :croc:


BTW, one tank each may not be too accurate.
When you fill up you are calculating based the miles you just drove in the past divided by the gas you just pumped and will use in the future.

Averaging several tanks together is more accurate, unless you figure out a way to pump the same number of gallons each time.
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Klaus
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HOLY CARP!!!
I managed to reduce my MPG significantly by declutching in many places - I noticed that the engine brake seems to swallow a lot of energy.

Usually I had about 40 MPG, but my last tank was 5l/100km = 47 MPG. And I never drive slowly.

Not bad for a quite big and heavy (1500kg) car, eh? :cool:
Trifonov Fleisher Klaus Sokolov Zimmerman
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
Isn't it ironic what we use gas to get moving, then use even more to slow down. :doh:

Few people realize they could save a bundle on gas in their current car just by not allowing the compression of their engine slow them down.
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George K
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Finally
Klaus
May 4 2008, 03:42 PM
I managed to reduce my MPG significantly by declutching in many places - I noticed that the engine brake seems to swallow a lot of energy.

Can you explain if that's possible with an automatic transmission?
A guide to GKSR: Click

"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... "
- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles.
- Klaus, 4/29/18
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Klaus
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HOLY CARP!!!
George K
May 4 2008, 10:52 PM
Klaus
May 4 2008, 03:42 PM
I managed to reduce my MPG significantly by declutching in many places - I noticed that the engine brake seems to swallow a lot of energy.

Can you explain if that's possible with an automatic transmission?

I don't know. Probably it's not possible? I've never had (or wanted) a car with automatic transmission.
Trifonov Fleisher Klaus Sokolov Zimmerman
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Optimistic
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HOLY CARP!!!
George K
May 4 2008, 04:52 PM
Klaus
May 4 2008, 03:42 PM
I managed to reduce my MPG significantly by declutching in many places - I noticed that the engine brake seems to swallow a lot of energy.

Can you explain if that's possible with an automatic transmission?

You certainly can't stop quickly like you could with the downshifting in a manual, but I would think you could save a little gas by planning ahead and just letting the car slow down naturally without using the brake, right? I try to do that, like if I'm coming up to a stop that I see far enough in advance.
PHOTOS

I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up.
- Mark Twain


We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
-T. S. Eliot
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
George K
May 4 2008, 12:52 PM
Klaus
May 4 2008, 03:42 PM
I managed to reduce my MPG significantly by declutching in many places - I noticed that the engine brake seems to swallow a lot of energy.

Can you explain if that's possible with an automatic transmission?

Yes

With an auto tranny never lift your foot of the gas. (That uses engine compression and more gas to slow down the car.)
Ease off the gas pedal as lightly and gradually as you can.

[I'm not sure but I think you can look at your tach too, go for lowest RPMs]

You want to simulate the coasting rate of your car.
To get familiar with that rate try this.
When safe to do so pop in into neutral while doing 40 or so.
The car will gradually slow down.

This is the deceleration rate you want to simulate by controlling your foot on the gas.

I do this now all the time.
It was a hassle at first but now it is second nature.

Learning this rate was easy in my hybrid because there are LED bars for assist and charge that tell you if you are drawing energy from the battery or are charging it.
I learned to slow down without allowing any charge LEDs to come on.

Now naturally if you do this you will be slowing down MUCH earlier (and therefore cease to gobble gas much earlier so you win in two ways).
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Optimistic
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HOLY CARP!!!
Good to know!
PHOTOS

I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up.
- Mark Twain


We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
-T. S. Eliot
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The 89th Key
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kenny
May 4 2008, 04:36 PM
Wow Cool. :thumb:
It is fun in a new way.
People will look at you like you are nuts.

BTW my MPG is going down.
A lot!

95% of my miles used to be on the freeway at 53 MPH.
Now I only use the car for short trips around the city. :dead:

Yes a tank of gas will last me 2 months now instead of 2 weeks but my MPG for an entire tank will probably drop from low 60s to low 50s. :mad2:

Now instead of bragging sanctimoniously about my MPG I must convert my sanctimonious bragging to gallons per month. :croc:


BTW, one tank each may not be too accurate.
When you fill up you are calculating based the miles you just drove in the past divided by the gas you just pumped and will use in the future.

Averaging several tanks together is more accurate, unless you figure out a way to pump the same number of gallons each time.

Well I usually pump about 12 gallons each time, so I figured I can just do the math based on the gallons put in and the temp odometer mileage logged.

I was going to ask what you do when you are on side roads going 35...it must drive you crazy. No pun intended.
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
The 89th Key
May 4 2008, 04:02 PM
I was going to ask what you do when you are on side roads going 35...it must drive you crazy.

???
What?
Huh?

What about 35 MPH on side roads?
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The 89th Key
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The fact that it is not the ideal speed/MPH.
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
No it doesn't drive me crazy.

What, you thought I was crazy?

What would EVER give you THAT idea? :wacko:
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The 89th Key
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Alright Kenny, my "regular driving" data is in. This includes highways, side streets, sometimes rush hour, using the A/C and windows as needed, no cruise control, and generally going as fast as possible without getting a ticket (usually about 72 MPH on highways).

By the way, my car:
1995 Pontiac Grand Am GT
150,000 miles
3.1-liter V6 Engine
Automatic transmission

Miles driven: 303.2
Gallons of gas used: 12.954
Regular Driving MPG = 23.41 MPG

Now starting today I'm going to be doing the following things. I would appreciate it if you could tell me if these are good, bad, and anything I'm missing:

- Driving as close to 55 MPH while on highways
- Use cruise control as much as possible
- Avoid using A/C or windows as much as possible
- Ease of accelerator (no quick bursts, slow and steady accelerating)
- Cruising (no gas, no brake) as much as possible
- Avoid using brake (come to a stop slowly if I see it coming up)
- Throw up before getting into car so I can lose needless weight (J/K :P)
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Optimistic
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HOLY CARP!!!
Quote:
 
Avoid using A/C or windows as much as possible


I applaud your efforts and all that, but seriously- are you going to be able to do this once the weather turns for good? I mean, seriously. :dead:
PHOTOS

I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up.
- Mark Twain


We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
-T. S. Eliot
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The 89th Key
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Well I'm not going to be insane...I have a seat-cooler that really helps, and if it's hot I'll use the A/C.

However today for example I was going on cruise control at 59 MPH in the right lane of the highway....it's so weird!!!!!
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
89, first I bow deeply.
I respect you for your open mindedness.
I even am considering doing the same thing, driving like a typical 17 year old for one tank.
I wonder which of us would have the more difficult task.
Being someone else (IOW wrong) ain't easy.

My comments:

- Driving as close to 55 MPH while on highways
Slower top speed in the city too.
Yes the optimum MPG may be achieved at around 50 MPH but in the city, since you are only spending a few moments at top speed, accelerating a ton of metal up to 50 uses a lot more gas than accelerating to 40.

- Use cruise control as much as possible
Yes, but. . .
Do NOT use it going up hills or inclines, allow your speed to drop as much as you can stand.
Do NOT use it downhill, it will waste gas using your engine's compression to keep your speed constant.
Let gravity power your car downhill by allowing your speed go up.

- Avoid using A/C or windows as much as possible
Good, keep shorts, a tank top and flip flops in the trunk to change into when you drive in the summer.

- Ease off accelerator (no quick bursts, slow and steady accelerating)
Good

- Cruising (no gas, no brake) as much as possible
"no gas" is a no no.
Lifting your foot off the gas pedal actually gobbles up more gas as the engine slows you down.
Simulate your car's coasting rate by easing off the gas very gradually and early.
This will increase your stopping distance so you will stop using gas sooner.

- Avoid using brake (come to a stop slowly if I see it coming up)
Good

- Throw up before getting into car so I can lose needless weight (J/K )
A sex change will help a little too, just a little. nyuck nyuck nyuck

Now comes the hard part.
You must not only change what you do, you must mentally prepare for a fall from grace.
There is a code of driving that you are violating.
The code is, Go as fast as possible, ALWAYS!!!!

Prepare for how you will react to the furious drivers behind you.
Rather than reacting with tension, anger or fear you need peace of mind.

Adopt the Kenny Kode:
Be considerate.
Stay in the right lane.
In the city change lanes when possible to let others by - and do so without speeding up or slowing down, just patiently wait for an opening without changing your speed.
It's very Zen.
Don't be intimidated or afraid when they flash their brights or honk; they love their cars too much to ram you.
When they pass always avoid eye contact.

Remember, gas is money.
Every drop you save will help pay for that German concert grand piano when you turn 50.
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big al
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Bull-Carp
One more suggestion for driving in your area, Isaac. Purchase a handgun and load alternate jacketed and hollow-point rounds. Keep it handy. Be careful not to get stopped by the police and searched. There are some crazies out on those roads.

Big Al
Location: Western PA

"jesu, der simcha fun der man's farlangen."
-bachophile
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The 89th Key
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kenny
May 9 2008, 10:19 AM
89, first I bow deeply.
I respect you for your open mindedness.
I even am considering doing the same thing, driving like a typical 17 year old for one tank.
I wonder which of us would have the more difficult task.
Being someone else (IOW wrong) ain't easy.

Well first off - I'm just going to pretend I'm driving a moving truck.

Whenever I've driven moving trucks in the past, I'm usually in the slow lane going 55 and braking and accelerating slowly so that furniture doesn't move around in the back.

Ok back to your post...
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The 89th Key
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Thanks for the rest of your post Kenny...looks like I'm on the right track. I will admit now that it's very unlikely I'll keep this up...just curious what my MPG "could" be. I will let you know in a week! (I drive about 300 miles a week)

Big Al - thanks but no thanks to that idea. I'll most likely buy a handgun when I own my own place (although I plan to live in a safe neighborhood) but for now I'll just stick to not-getting-out-of-my-car when on the road. I don't mind the occasional middle finger salute someone gives me...I usually wave back and smile which pisses them off even more! :wave2:
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
I forgot to mention an easy one:
Over-inflate your tires.
My door jamb sticker from Honda recommends 32 PSI.
The side-wall of the tire itself says MAX 44 PSI.

So I set it to 41 PSI and refill them every 2 weeks.

This ups my mpg 2 or 3 mpg! no joke.
Your ride will be firmer and a little noisier but you'll get that concert grand sooner.

Also, besides driving as if you are barefoot and there is a rusty nail sticking up from the brake pad, drive as though you had a brimming full cup of coffee on the dash that you don't want to spill (unless turning a corner at high speed to conserve momentum).

Next I'll teach you how to be gay if you want.
Nyuck Nyuck Nyuck!

Actually this whole hypermiling thing requires men to give up their notion that aggressive driving demonstrates has anything to do with masculinity.
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The 89th Key
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I plan on filling up my tires ASAP. And even today during lunch I took corners slower and kept a more smooth acceleration and deceleration.

I'm very curious what the MPG will be after all this. What's your guess?
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
The 89th Key
May 9 2008, 12:47 PM
I'm very curious what the MPG will be after all this. What's your guess?

What was the EPA on your car?
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The 89th Key
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I think it's 20/28
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
The 89th Key
May 9 2008, 12:54 PM
I think it's 20/28

Then how are you getting 23.41 driving like a madman?

EPA must be higher.
People who get EPA also get lots of middle fingers too.

Anyway I'm getting 60% better than EPA, and I avoid using the hybrid system so you can get near that too.

What do I think you'll get?
It depends how much of a madman you were, and how much of a Kenny you become. :angel:
I'd say high 30s, maybe 40.

Your tank only takes you 300 miles? :dead:
Mine take me 600 or more on 10.5 gallons.
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