Itching for 50 mpg again...

[Loren]

Had an "emergency" lunch meeting today in Largo... another 25 mile drive half-way across the county and back. This time I averaged 54.1 mpg overall, and my tank average is already over 40 mpg.

Go, me!

I'm starting to wonder if my readings are accurate, but the ScanGauge has been accurate within about .1 or .2 over an entire tank for at least the last 3 tanks, so it probably is.

I've been focusing on avoiding idling. Little things, like not starting the car and then buckling the seatbelt and finding a gear, but doing it the other way around... buckling the seatbelt, finding reverse, taking the brake off, checking the mirror, THEN starting the car. Just that little trick alone has my average up to 24-25 mpg before I'm out of my neighborhood, where it is typically only 19 or 20.

On today's trip, I also turned the car off several more times. The route I had to take put me at a lot of long lights. I opted to leave the car running for one of them (expected it to change a lot quicker than it did)... sat there and watched the mpg readout tick down from 53.8 to 53.3 at that one light! I really don't like putting that wear on the starter, though. But, then again... if I drove the car normally, I'd probably have to replace the starter... well, NEVER. This extra use might have me replacing it in 5 years if I have the car that long. Snag one from salvage for $50 and I'm good for a few years. So, $50 in 5 years... considering that I'm doing this hypermiling stuff more for entertainment value than anything else... I've blown a lot more than $50 (or even the $200 cost of a NEW starter) in much shorter periods of time to entertain myself.

[toyo]

define coast driving please :P

[justjesus]

Originally Posted by Loren

I've been focusing on avoiding idling. Little things, like not starting the car and then buckling the seatbelt and finding a gear, but doing it the other way around... buckling the seatbelt, finding reverse, taking the brake off, checking the mirror, THEN starting the car. Just that little trick alone has my average up to 24-25 mpg before I'm out of my neighborhood, where it is typically only 19 or 20.

... considering that I'm doing this hypermiling stuff more for entertainment value than anything else... I've blown a lot more than $50 (or even the $200 cost of a NEW starter) in much shorter periods of time to entertain myself.

GOOO LOREN!

My Apex tach likes to swing around when I turn the ignition to the acc part, and since I don't like to interrupt it's little dance, I take that time to put on my seatbelt, THEN start the car. Good to know there's a benefit to me waiting.

LOL - for entertainment? That's too funny!