Has anyone else noticed a gas mileage increase since the Rally?

PhilWinIL · 06-21-2009, 01:15 PM

One thing I have noticed since we got back from the Midwest Rally is that the gas mileage has gone from 38 mpg for a combination in town/highway to just over 40 mpg (40.3). Has anyone else noticed this since the highway driving?

On other cars we've driven in the past that same thing has happened. One mechanic said that when you get out on the highway you "blow the cob's out of the engine."

It will be interesting to see how long it lasts!

forestacademy · 06-21-2009, 01:28 PM

I got my best Milage durring the rally.

Lots of driving at 60 or less and quite a bit under 50 mph, We still showed over 1/2 a tank after driving over 200 miles. We will see when we get to our next fill how this translates

Its all about the right turns, Less stopping and waiting

SuperGeek · 06-21-2009, 05:39 PM

It is true that an hour or two of cruising @ 3k RPMs or so will heat the engine steadily and blow carbon out the tailpipe. On an engine with under 20k miles I don't think there's enough carbon to notice an MPG gain though, unless like me you drive 4 miles a trip.

14 months, now approaching 8000 miles - only 3k of which is highway on my rare out-of-state trips.

jimvw57 · 06-21-2009, 05:57 PM

I did notice the premium fuel I added in the Dells was all gas with no ethanol in it.

amyrob5 · 06-22-2009, 07:58 AM

Adding the bike rack and bikes brought me down from 42 mpg to 38 ..... oh well, it makes the hubby happy

**Suze** · 06-22-2009, 08:24 AM

I got my worse mileage after the rally - going through Kansas, to be exact! Low 30's for 3 tanks Kansas and Colorado. It was really windy and flat and I drove 80.

And twice I could only get 89 octane!

Better now, but still not as good a normal. I guess the Co. Rockies, huge storm in Utah and then the mountains in Nevada and California are challenging for mpgs.

forestacademy · 06-22-2009, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suze

I got my worse mileage after the rally - going through Kansas, to be exact! Low 30's for 3 tanks Kansas and Colorado. It was really windy and flat and I drove 80.

And twice I could only get 89 octane!

Better now, but still not as good a normal. I guess the Co. Rockies, huge storm in Utah and then the mountains in Nevada and California are challenging for mpgs.

You realize that entire streach up to colorado is uphill. In The Higher Elivations they run lower octane.

**Suze** · 06-22-2009, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forestacademy

You realize that entire streach up to colorado is uphill. In The Higher Elivations they run lower octane.

Yeah, I was watching the elevation on the gps. Your over 4000 ft. by the time you hit the Colo boarder. Tho Kansas seems flat, its one long, slow hill. So going 80mpg in the wind with 89 octane would natural equal lower mpgs.