Finally, 45 MPG!

[Zaphod]

Originally Posted by talnlnky

there are tons of factors when going that speed. Drifting behind a semi I can get very high numbers, even when doing 70.

You can expect to see around 5-10MPG difference on average between the two speeds... especially if you don't try the "Hangtime" skill... Tho hangtime I think has been exaggerated, it does help. I don't think it really has anything to do with ECU maps or whatever, but rather physics of energy & torque required to speed up versus energy/torque required to maintain speed.

There are some times I notice that going slower makes it harder to get good mpg's than slightly faster... for example... I find it easier to get good numbers going around 60mph than 55mph on the highway I use to go home. Regardless of of fast I go I seem to use the same throttle possition after I get up to speed and back off on the trottle a bit. So really, the slower speed, but same usage of gas means I get lower mpg at 55. That doesn't appear to be true on all roads/highways tho.

Still haven't gotten to 45 yet. I lowered my tires back down to 40psi... so I don't know if i'll see it ever. 43's seem to be what I see. I had one 250+ mile trip that I got almost 48mpg on, But not for a full tank.

I just got 54.5 on a trip from St. Louis to Indianapolis and back with some city driving in between. That's no scanguage/ecometer, and the car still hasn't even had it's first oil change (although I'm doing that today just to get it out of the way before winter kicks in).

I usually get 43.6 average between my tanks, but the biggest factors for me was the city to highway ratio, and the fact that the engine was warmed up well as normal daily trips are just not long enough to warm up fully.

Of course, I hypermilled big time to prove a friendly point to a Prius owner, allowing for 45-60 on hills and generally cruising at a mere 50 on relatively flat stretches. I was able to achieve all of that staying within the speed minimum/maximum ranges fairly easily. I don't think I could have gotten above 50 by just remaining at 60 the whole way, especially on the hills.

I've yet to hear from someone tailgating a semis (which is dangerous anyway) achieve those same numbers, and doubt I ever will as they're still running their engine at higher RPMs.