Gas Miles per Gallon tracking

[mr_Cash]

Originally Posted by Dave777

Today I took a long drive, including in an area where it is nearly flat for a few miles. (Hard to find any area like that around here.) The ScanGauge is hooked up and running, but I can't trust the MPG numbers yet as I haven't been able to calibrate it with a fillup. So, these numbers are best used as comparative, not absolute. The ScanGauge has an averaging mode that can be reset at any speed. Give it a few minutes at a steady speed and level surface, and the numbers are quite accurate. I ran for a few minutes at each of the following speeds, resetting for each one, and came up with these numbers:

40 MPH**-52 MPG

50 MPH**-51 MPG

60 MPH**-45 MPG

70 MPH**-38 MPG

Great info Dave, thanks!


Dave, or anyone with a scangauge or other mpg reader:

Could you do another steady comparative run, this time, at 45 mph?

I'm wondering if there may be a sweet spot in there somewhere, maybe at 45 mph, that jumps the mileage up to 53 - 57 mpg or so.

Also, while some factors may be obvious, since you have the scangauge, it would be helpful if you could list (even the obvious ones) the factors/driving style that gets the greatest mpg, and the worse mpg.

for example, 1) you might do a run, of coasting, for a minute, or so, slightly downhill, (and another on flat) and note the speed at the beginning of the coast (say 55 mph), and the speed at the end of the coast (say 35 mph), and the mpg over the coast span. ... another from 50 mph to 30 mph. another from 45 to 25mph. or other similar runs.

2) the worst, i guess is at a stop light. 0 mpg.

3) maybe do a run, where you coast up to the stop light, say, beginning at 35 mph, and ending at 10 mph when the light changes, and note the mpg over the span.

4) maybe a run, noting the average mpg from 0 to 50 mph in a steady acceleration, a) taking about 15 seconds. b) a second run, 0 to 50 mph, in 20 seconds. c) a third run, 0 to 50 seconds, in 25 seconds.

5) and/or repeat 4 above, but 0 to 60 mph, instead of 0 to 50 mph.

6) basically, any other techniques, that can help one who doesn't have a scangauge yet, ... that seems to show up on your scangauge as giving great mpg, or less bad mpg.

... another run might be, trying different fuels. On the same stretch, same fuel, mark the mpg on several runs. Then, on the next tank, change the octane, to whatever you may be interested in trying (that you feel wont hurt your engine), and re do the mpg ave test with the different fuel, to see if fuel makes a difference.

... another run test might be, to try that 0 to 50 acceleration test, once using the manual shifting, and again, using the automatic mode. to see if one is different.
... or, try a tank of gas, with all auto mode, then another tank of gas, all manual mode.

or any other scangauge, or similar mpg device, test run you feel would be interesting, to boost mpg. Thanks.

[kwagar]

4th fill-up.......227.6 miles...5.8 gals = 39.5 MPG

Total so far....969.9 miles...25.37 gals = 38.2 MPG

[Dave777]

Did my second tank fillup today, and first where I knew how it had been filled previously. Squeezed in as much as I could both times. (Yes, I know this isn't a good idea to do regularly) This last tank I did lots of freeway driving at 60 MPH and some State highways at around 50 MPH.
340 miles, 6.417 gallons.

52.98 MPG! 4.44 L/100KM

Better than I thought I'd get.

I don't anticipate getting that all the time, but it looks like mid 40s should be regularly attainable. I'm a very conservative driver when trying to get good mileage, and the ScanGauge is great feedback during the process.

[Dave777]

mr Cash,
It sounds like you have a very strong interest in a variety of mileage techniques, and likely greater than my interest. I simply try to drive normally, just not very aggressively and rarely over the posted limits.

You should definitely invest in a ScanGauge.

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by kwagar

4th fill-up.......227.6 miles...5.8 gals = 39.5 MPG

Total so far....969.9 miles...25.37 gals = 38.2 MPG

I assume with the radio playing and AC blowing...cool
karl

[mr_Cash]

Originally Posted by Dave777

mr Cash,
It sounds like you have a very strong interest in a variety of mileage techniques, and likely greater than my interest. I simply try to drive normally, just not very aggressively and rarely over the posted limits.

You should definitely invest in a ScanGauge.

Well, how about just a test run, comparable to your earlier runs, at 45 mph.

and if you have a chance, also at 55 mph.

Thanks.

[Dave777]

Originally Posted by mr_Cash

Well, how about just a test run, comparable to your earlier runs, at 45 mph.

and if you have a chance, also at 55 mph.

Thanks.

If the opportunity comes up, I'll try. The area where we live has no level roads. The location I did this was nearly two hours away.

Maybe someone in Texas or Florida can give it a try.

[dancote]

Fill-up #4 = 40.85 MPG (U.S.). Slightly less than my last fill but I attribute that to my increasingly heavy right foot.

[peterb38]

I've been in my new "smart" since 1/31/08 and I've driven 1,388 miles and used 39.25 gallons of premium gas. That works out to 35.36 miles per gallon.

[Karl Roth]

Hello to all posting here: there is a site http://fueleconomy.gov where you can record calculate and share your milage with any interested parties there are dang few cars listed far less than post here Thanks
karl
the average there is 36.4