Ways to Increase Fuel Economy

[arsoncop]

Swapping all fluids, except tranny, on my '99 F-150 4x4 to synthetic gained me around .5 mpg with my old driving habits.  My preferred driving style is a bit aggressive, although I'd stick to +5.  Used to drive +10.  I'd average 14.5 mpg with 32" tires, no lift kit.  Good news was even traveling to NM & driving up & down mountains the mileage didn't change, much.  Changing the tranny fluid would help but I'm swapping the truck soon so why spend the $$?

I've always tried not to brake on any road by trying to judge other drivers speeds & coast.  Another favorite is drafting.  Regular drivers hate you for it, think tailgating, although you don't have to be that close.  But you can get lost in an 18-wheeler's mirrors and draft them for significantly better mileage.  I usually leave about a mid-size car length size space.

Now, I'll drive +5 if the limit is 60 or below and stick to the limit above 60.  But I ease into the gas more and put up with following slowpokes more, drop it into neutral and coast down really steep or really long hills/inclines.

Going for the hypermiling style of driving on all flat terrain I've been able to squeak out 17.5 mpg, not bad.

[1bdmar]

Oh, I don't see how taking a car to a shop for maintenence could possibly be cheaper than doing it yourself.
I also try to check the tires once a month and change oil every 3,000 miles. But a tune up a 5,000?
What exactly do you consider a tune up?
Do you have an old car that you have to adjust the points on? 

What i consier a tune up consist of plugs,wires,air filter,pcv valve,check and fill fluids! No i don't have a really old vehicle i would guess! It's a '98 Tracer(2.0 splitport) and a '97 Cavalier(2.2 sohc)! Nothing but Valvoline,Fram, and Bosch!

[vorlons]

I am pleased to report that using my method in leaving a little earlier and staying a little later has done well above my expectations. After this mornings commute, I have only used a 1/4 tank of gas ALL WEEK!!!  I have at least doubled my gas mileage this week and I will continue to do so.

Don't forget to clean/change your air filter, regularly check your tire pressure, accelerate slowly and keep your foot off that peddle and cruise where you can. Beat the traffic, beat the pumps!

Ditto.  Leaving 15 min early allows me to set cruise to 68mph from my previous 72mph.  My round trip work commute is 90 miles.

Over the last two tanks, I have been able to increase my milage from 48mpg to 51mpg. (VW Jetta TDI diesel 5 speed).

[Oregon Pastor]

Sweet on your TDI.

I am in the process of stripping stuff on the Bronco.  I am taking on the winch mount that came with the Bronco when I got it used.  I am probably going to put that piece up on Ebay.

I am also going to take off the skid plate.  I am only driving around on the road.  I will keep it should I get a chance to go wheeling again.

I am thinking about removing the rear seat as well.  Because that is relatively easy and weighs a lot.

OP

[Alabama]

Sweet on your TDI.

I am in the process of stripping stuff on the Bronco.  I am taking on the winch mount that came with the Bronco when I got it used.  I am probably going to put that piece up on Ebay.

I am also going to take off the skid plate.  I am only driving around on the road.  I will keep it should I get a chance to go wheeling again.

I am thinking about removing the rear seat as well.  Because that is relatively easy and weighs a lot.

OP

When I read this I hear the theme to 'The A-Team!' Whatever you do, OP, Don't drink the milk, foo! 

I can't wait to see your results, though... Keep us posted... 
It's fer the kids! 

[galahad]

I just got back from a round trip from Houston to Dallas and back.  I decided to do a bit of a test and since we left at 5AM there was virtually no traffic on the way North.

Heading North the cruise control was set at 60MPH.  The truck got 20.31 mpg at a cost of 19.446 cents per mile.

Heading South the cruise control was set at 65MPH.  The truck got 17.02 mpg at a cost of 23.668 cents per mile.

Because the distances weren't exactly the same Northbound and Southbound I averaged the distances and it took us 18 minutes longer to drive TO Dallas than to get back, and we saved about $4.00. 

Based on all the data I'll be driving 65mph both directions next time.  18 minutes for a gallon of gas I'd rather pay the $4.00. 

It's interesting that it worked out that the truck burns about one gallon of gas every 18-19 minutes. 

I'll be putting a tonneau cover on it so I might run the test again, or maybe just run it at 65 to compare it at that speed.

[Oregon Pastor]

Dropped the skid plate, and removed the heavy back seat.  Going to remove the front drive shaft as I don't need 4 wheel drive in the city in the summer.

Just measured my improved gas mileage.

68.2 miles on 4.11 gallons of gas.

Hypermiling and weight reduction produced 16.6 miles per gallon of mixes rural and urban driving.

OP

[Grnrngr]

So have any of you "hyper-milers" made a significant (more than 2 or 3psi) change to your tire pressure?

[Oregon Pastor]

I want to go to 50 psi.  That is what my tires are rated at.  I just don't have a compressor and it takes way too long with a bike pump.  Once I find where I can fill them, then I am going up 5psi to 50.


OP

[Grnrngr]

Be careful at the limits, it's usually a certain psi per pound of vehicle weight. prolly not a problem with a Bronce, but a loaded pickup could exceed the limits, and higher temp raises pressure also...

[Oregon Pastor]

Be careful at the limits, it's usually a certain psi per pound of vehicle weight. prolly not a problem with a Bronce, but a loaded pickup could exceed the limits, and higher temp raises pressure also...

Lightened up and driving like a grannie, should be just fine.  50 is the limit marked on the tires.

OP

[Grnrngr]

The Michelins on my Ranger are rated 35psi. I think i'm running at 32 now so next time I'm at the pump I'm going to 35...

[jlwilliams]

  I'd be realy careful about over inflating the tires.  Max pressure ratings are realy that, the maximum the tires can take in good condition.  Even allowing for a safety margin the tires are only going to take so much.  It's nuts to risk a blow out for some small possable mileage gain.  Just make sure they are at the pressure the vehicle manufacturer put on the sticker in the door jam or in the manual.  Make sure they are inflated equally and quit screwing around.  If you want to save fuel, drive slower and think about where you need to go so you can DRIVE LESS (that realy saves gas!) and get rid of any weight you don't need to drag around.  I definitely think that the posts about how much you guys have saved by slowing down a little are right on the mark.  I know the prices at the pump have slowed me down too.  But at some point you have to wonder what some of the "hypermilers" you can read about on the web are realy trying to acomplish.  I heard a clip on the radio about some guy who takes it to such extreams that his wife takes the kids in a seperate vehicle because she can't take the 3mph crawl to the stop signs and all the honking behind them as they clog up the city trafic.  How much fuel is this tool wasting by taking two cars so he can 'save gas' in one of them!?

[arsoncop]

But at some point you have to wonder what some of the "hypermilers" you can read about on the web are realy trying to acomplish.  I heard a clip on the radio about some guy who takes it to such extreams that his wife takes the kids in a seperate vehicle because she can't take the 3mph crawl to the stop signs and all the honking behind them as they clog up the city trafic.  How much fuel is this tool wasting by taking two cars so he can 'save gas' in one of them!?

Amen to that!  Some of these folks need to be cited for impeding traffic before the incidence of road rage makes a giant increase!

I particularly like the fools who insist on driving 45mph (or slower) on the posted 60mph Farm-to-Market road I live on.  Then they get all pissy if I follow 'em a bit closer than they like.  Usually a "reminder" over the P/A about the posted speed will encourage them to finally use the shoulder to let faster traffic pass them.  It's somewhat frustrating to be a LEO yet drive a firetruck for a living...