Change your driving habits for better Fuel Economy

[gasti_ako]

Just wanted to share this. This I think is the longest list of things you need to know for you to have better fuel economy.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/EM-hypermili ... riving.php

Though gas prices have fallen. The price is not what it used to be. =(

[roushstage2]

Re: Change your driving habits for better Fuel Economy

Some of those things are a bit....much. Removing your alternator??? Killing the injectors??? Seems a bit over drastic for an extra MPG. Some tips are easy enough though.

My own list:
Easy tips for MPGs

• Check air filter.
• Check fuel filter.
• Check gas cap for proper sealing.
• Check spark plug condition and gap.
• Check spark plug wires for excess (high) resistance if you have them. Also, if it can be a problem, buy separators to keep the plug wires from touching and causing arching.
• Check cap and rotor for excess wear/corrosion.
• Check engine timing if it can be adjusted.
• Check engine oil - make sure you are using the correct weight! It does make a difference.
• Check tire PSI.
• Check alignment.
• Use the correct octane gas.
• Figure out which brand gas works best in your car. I have found there to be truth in this which is why I mention it. I filled my Mustang up with Shell one time, got 70 miles on a full tank. I recently filled up the Neon with X-Brand gas at the Casino gas station and got 150 miles on a full tank, all highway !
• Drive at most 65MPH; basically, the speed limit (although, some engines do better at higher speeds).
• Remove "junk out your trunk."
• Open your windows around town, and use the air on the highway.
• Turn your car off at long lights (lights you just missed)/train crossings.
• Make sure you are using O/D or your highest gear.
• Install a vacuum gauge and try to keep it as high as possible (less throttle). Vacuum gauges are generally installed on cars, but are called some sort of "fuel economy" gauge.
• If your check engine light is on, get it fixed!
• Try to plan a driving route that uses right hand turns so you don't have to sit at lights (or just turn your car off).
• I am quoting this last one as I have seen/heard it before, although I don't know how much help/truthful it actually is.

  Buy gas during the coolest times of the day
  “During these times gasoline is densest. Keep in mind - gas pumps measure volumes of gasoline, not densities of fuel concentration. You are charged according to ‘volume of measurement’.”

Go here: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
I think I have most of the tips from here, and then some. You can also look up you vehicle (goes back to ~1984) to see about what you should be getting. I am above the "new" combined MPGs for all 3 of my cars! Woo hoo!

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Change your driving habits for better Fuel Economy

Roushstage2....you lost me on your gas station example. What do you mean you got 70 miles on a full tank in your Mustang, and then 150 in the Neon?

It looks like you're trying to say you only got 70 miles from an entire tank of gas, is that right?

[benhui86]

Re: Change your driving habits for better Fuel Economy

70 miles on a full tank? you must be kidding me.....

i can get 400+ close to 500 miles out of a full tank in my Nissan Murano SUV.....

assuming you have around a 15 gallon gas tank which i think is average sized..... 70 miles means you got 4.7mpg in your mustang and 10mpg in your neon....maybe its time to change your driving habits.....

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Change your driving habits for better Fuel Economy

Most of all the tips are common sense. No jack rabbit starts plan your trips etc. Clean air filter, properly inflated tires.


Tyler you only get 150 miles on a tankful on the neon. That has to be a typo.

[sdprius858]

Re: Change your driving habits for better Fuel Economy

150 miles has to be a typo. I usually average about 345 miles for every 8 gallons as i usually fill up to keep from runnin out of gas. The one time i used Shell, i got 355 miles from 7.6 gallons. That is mixed city/highway.

Using some of the techniques on ecomodder.com, i have gotten our 07 G35 Coupe to do 28mpg on the highway and my moms 04 Avalon to 33 highway just by doin 65 Cruise Control

[Jeepster04]

Re: Change your driving habits for better Fuel Economy

Haha, my Jeep usually gets around 250miles(~15mpg) in the city. Everytime I give it gas I kill a hybrid. But yet Im not hurting the environment near as much as a hybrid, go figure.

Best thing Ive found to help with mpg is my scan-gauge II. It tells me the instant mpg(along with tons of other stuff) so I can change my driving habits accordingly. Ive found that being toooo easy on the gas will actually hurt my mpg more. If I give it more gas, get up to the speed where my tranny shifts into 4th and locks the torque, my mpg will go way up.

Usually if my Jeep is in 3rd with the torque unlocked I get around ~8-10mpg. As soon as it gets into 4th and locks the torque it shoots up to ~15mpg even if Im still on the gas(a little). Once I get up to speed(say 45mph) it evens out around ~18-19mpg. Anytime I try to speed up in 4ths it drops to 15mpg and stays there unless it unlocks or downshifts.

I almost never use the A/C unless Im really hot, usually sitting in traffic. Never use the A/C on the hw since I like having the windows down.

Like roush said, keeping the vehicle is good shape is the best thing you can do. Set a certain rpms when accelerating and try not to go over it. Mine is 2-2500rpms in town and 3k rpms on the hw. I run a little higher psi(36psi) in my tires but my Jeep is kinda heavy so the tires wear perfect. I use SYN oils in everything and try to keep my K&N moderately clean. On a good day I can pull 19-20mpg out of it which is great for a Jeep with 3" of lift, full armor, and bigger tires.

Best the Hemi gets is 16mpg.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Change your driving habits for better Fuel Economy

When gas was getting real close to $5/gallon for premium I experimented with an altered driving style for an entire tank - slow starts, very early braking, slower overall speed, blah blah blah. I gained just over 10% in fuel economy, which isn't too shabby when you consider that ALL I did was alter my driving style and nothing else.

But man, oh man was I bored! Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those guys who darts back and forth in traffic, tailgating, pressing other drivers, being really aggressive, etc. I just like making use of the Stage 1 turbo upgrade I have in my car, that's all. So....... a 10% gain in fuel economy means a 10% saving in my fuel bill. But I don't drive all that much so the monthly saving to me wasn't really all that much. I figure it's a cheap price to pay in order to have some fun behind the wheel.

[roushstage2]

Re: Change your driving habits for better Fuel Economy

Roushstage2....you lost me on your gas station example. What do you mean you got 70 miles on a full tank in your Mustang, and then 150 in the Neon?

It looks like you're trying to say you only got 70 miles from an entire tank of gas, is that right?

Yes. I always fill my Mustang up with Chevron and get about 250 miles out of the tank. I filled up with Shell one night (don't know why, just did), and got 70 miles on that tank of gas. I filled the Neon up with whatever brand gas the local Indian Casino uses (they now have a gas station), and only got 150 out of it. I have just continued to use Arco gas on Mwy 16 and Bradshaw on my way to school. Get about 300 miles on a tank.

70 miles on a full tank? you must be kidding me.....

i can get 400+ close to 500 miles out of a full tank in my Nissan Murano SUV.....

assuming you have around a 15 gallon gas tank which i think is average sized..... 70 miles means you got 4.7mpg in your mustang and 10mpg in your neon....maybe its time to change your driving habits.....

Well, how big is the tank in the Murano? I'm sure it is bigger than both of mine! I'm sure yours is around 20 gallons, so that would put you in the 25MPG range with a 6 cylinder, yes? I get that combined from my V8, granted it weighs less. Right there with you bud!

The tank in the Mustang is a 15.5 gallon, but from E it only takes about 12 gallons (which would have given me about 6mpg). The tank in the Neon is 12.5, but only takes about 10 at fill up (which would have given me 15mpg). *Remember- there is a "reserve" in the tanks. Besides, those were only one time deals when I switched from my normal gas stations.

My MPGs will be a bit lower than some because I live in the mountains, literally, and do nothing but up and down driving all day, except when I commute. When I take in the commuting highway MPGs and my "city" MPGs, I still come out above the suggested/estimated MPGs for all of my cars. Combined in my Mustang is about 25MPG (estimates show 19) and I haven't had time to figure out my Neons or perform all of the above maintenance, but it is somewhere in the 30+ range. All in all, I wouldn't say that is too bad of a deal, not that I'd need to change my driving habits. It was just the gas. Heck, the last time I drove my Mustang was all highway then straight up the hill to my house and I have 50 miles on an 1/8 tank! I filled up my Neon at Arco yesterday, drove home, then down and up the hill, I have ~60 miles on 1/8 tank.

My truck shows a combined est. 11mpg. I was getting 12-15 just driving up and down the hill, no highway at all.

Also, just to note for some making comparisons to their cars, my Neon is not a hybrid A hybrid would not be the smartest choice as a commuter for me since they get worse Hwy. MPGs and they really can't hack it up here in the mountains.

[Ryan L.]

Re: Change your driving habits for better Fuel Economy

But man, oh man was I bored! Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those guys who darts back and forth in traffic, tailgating, pressing other drivers, being really aggressive, etc.

Same here, I tried it for a while, but I just can't drive like that. Like you, I'm not a crazy driver, but I like to have some fun and get some wind flowing through my hair. I tried my best to follow those tips and saw a 2-3 mpg increase, which equals out to about 32-48 more miles per tank. Not bad but I couldn't stand driving like that.

Ryan

[sdprius858]

Re: Change your driving habits for better Fuel Economy

I drive a Prius because I drive a good 345-350 miles a week.

[03mach1]

Re: Change your driving habits for better Fuel Economy

I agree with Roushstage2. In his list changing spark plugs and plug wires makes a difference. I replaced the plugs and plug wires on my old Mustang and gained 2 miles per gallon. And same here I get less miles out of shell gas then I do chevron.

[Maserati Mario]

Re: Change your driving habits for better Fuel Economy

How do you keep your foot out of the floor board? I love, love, love accelerating fast! I think I need help.

[acsuppa]

Re: Change your driving habits for better Fuel Economy

Haha, my Jeep usually gets around 250miles(~15mpg) in the city. Everytime I give it gas I kill a hybrid. But yet Im not hurting the environment near as much as a hybrid, go figure.

Best thing Ive found to help with mpg is my scan-gauge II. It tells me the instant mpg(along with tons of other stuff) so I can change my driving habits accordingly. Ive found that being toooo easy on the gas will actually hurt my mpg more. If I give it more gas, get up to the speed where my tranny shifts into 4th and locks the torque, my mpg will go way up.

Usually if my Jeep is in 3rd with the torque unlocked I get around ~8-10mpg. As soon as it gets into 4th and locks the torque it shoots up to ~15mpg even if Im still on the gas(a little). Once I get up to speed(say 45mph) it evens out around ~18-19mpg. Anytime I try to speed up in 4ths it drops to 15mpg and stays there unless it unlocks or downshifts.

I almost never use the A/C unless Im really hot, usually sitting in traffic. Never use the A/C on the hw since I like having the windows down.

Like roush said, keeping the vehicle is good shape is the best thing you can do. Set a certain rpms when accelerating and try not to go over it. Mine is 2-2500rpms in town and 3k rpms on the hw. I run a little higher psi(36psi) in my tires but my Jeep is kinda heavy so the tires wear perfect. I use SYN oils in everything and try to keep my K&N moderately clean. On a good day I can pull 19-20mpg out of it which is great for a Jeep with 3" of lift, full armor, and bigger tires.

Best the Hemi gets is 16mpg.

The 3.7L stinks doesn't it! Ha Ha. My 2004 Dodge Dakota had the same engine and I averaged about 15.44 MPG mostly highyway. That's driving consevitivly. That's the main reason I traded in the truck. It had about 89K miles but the engine was great. Goog power for a V6. Horrible MPG. Before gas started going down a bit, I would spend about $145 a week just to go to work and back.

[acsuppa]

Re: Change your driving habits for better Fuel Economy

I agree with Roushstage2. In his list changing spark plugs and plug wires makes a difference. I replaced the plugs and plug wires on my old Mustang and gained 2 miles per gallon. And same here I get less miles out of shell gas then I do chevron.

I only got Shell gas once in my life and I so noticed a .8 MPG lose in mileage compared to my normal Mobile gas. Weird? Ran fine but less MPG. My driving was the same. Temps and everything were also very similar. .8 MPG isn't much but it's less.