The Final Chapter Has Begun

[ASmartMan]

Hey All

Well with the threat of snow gone, where I changed the oil, put on the summer tires, it's time to do the dreaded last leg of the trilogy.

I drove home via the back roads tonight, it will add a few miles but according to the trip computer I should get 50+ using this route. Where I won't be using head lamps heater or AC + the cooler air temp, what ever I get in this HyperMile segment is the BEST I can get with this car.

I'm guessing low to mid 50s and I will be joining the 400 mile club with this tank (I hope). As with other segments, I'll just edit as things progress and ether write a final or just bump the thread to the top.

Evening All

ASM

[ASmartMan]

Hey All

I figured I'd update rather than edit, on how it's going so far.

Commute is 1.4 miles more in each direction.

Back roads adds 13 min in time for each direction

Never get above 45 mph.

Up shifting the moment the MB computer lets me.

2 points in the commute I actually down shift. Speed limit is 30 but to be in 6th I need to be going 35 and I come to this rather long incline, and motor is loaded down SOO much I just can't stand it.

I'm a SLAVE to the "Instant MPG" read out on my trip computer.

And there is 1 point in 1 direction I can't HyperMile (with out being an azz), turning left on to a busy road that has a speed limit of 45, I have to come up to speed quickly (this might be a good thing, winding up the turbo and getting any deposits off it).

So the first blip went out @ 165 miles, this is INSANE, as I've said in my other posts I figured the first blip was at about the 2.5 gallons consumed. If I am correct this puts me in the mid 60s, could this be, well what are the possibilities.

I'm actually getting mid 60 MPG (If true, who needs Viagra).

Some how I got a SuperFill on this fill up (same pump used all the time).

Something has changed with the fuel gauge.

I'll update when the next blip goes out, where I always assumed there is 1.5 gallons between blips, this will give me a hint if there is something different with this fill, gauge reading, or I am actually get into the 60s.


Let the fun continue

ASM

[ASmartMan]

Afternoon All

Well, wondering if the first blip was a fluke in my 450, (SuperFill, gauge error, or actual mileage) I plotted a cruse up the back roads of NH and down the coast.

It's a beautiful Spring day in New England so up RT 111 we went, good news Rt 111 is 50 Mph, bad news is there are stop lights, got on to 107 and got on 1 north in North Hampton got on 1A south (route description for the local people). Then in Salisbury got on 110 west to 28 north.

This was about a 98 mile ride, with my ( HHOO and I was corrected after the last post) 101 lb wife in the car.

2nd blip went out @ mile 255 (90 miles), so it looks like I'm still on track to hit the high 50s maybe even 60 MPG, so I'm a blip ahead of the last HyperMile test.

Looking forward to my first 400 mile tank

ASM

[ASmartMan]

Morning All

3rd blip went out at the 325 mile mark on the way into work this morning and I got 70 miles out of this blip, in the past attempt I got 60 miles.

Where (in the past attempt) I had gotten 60 miles between the 3 and 4th blip, I expect to be at the 400 mile mark when the 4th blip goes out, so I’m still running in the mid 50s (it appears).

Depending on when/where I am when the 4th blip goes out will dictate if I refuel (if I don’t refuel at the same pump, it would skew the results), or if I go for a 450 mile tank.

Well Back to work

ASM

[ASmartMan]

Greetings all

Well as expected the 4th blip went out @ the 401 mile mark, my ride home is 21 miles, I may cruse around town till it hits the 450 mark, take a picture and refuel. Then


Final report tonight

ASM

[ASmartMan]

Hey all

Got home from work took a spin with the wife to get it up to 450+ miles

A few pictures
http://www.putfile.com/pic/8002956

http://www.putfile.com/pic/8002955

So in the end I did 452 miles on 8.1 gallons that comes out to 55.9 Mpg

Where this was my first tank with the summer tires, I'll just drive my normal way (auto using the highway) and see if some of this affect is related to the tires.

To All, It never dawned on me the difference driving style made, and if my next tank goes quickly (as I am sure it will), this means I must do the back roads (Extra time out of my life is it worth it?), I must admit I wrestle with this, what being more valuable 55mpg + 26 min in extra commute time or std time @ 43-6 Mpg.

Then the calculator came out ( I said to myself "Self, we're in for it now"), but before I go any further.

I do a 4 day work week, 4 weeks vacation, Holidays, and 1 floater so I go to work about 185 times per year.

185 X 39 miles (round trip highway) 7215 miles per commute year @ about 44 Mpg = (at todays price of $3.44) comes out to cost me $564 per year in gas

185 X 42 (all back roads) 7770 miles per commute year @ about 56 Mpg = (at todays price of $3.44) comes out to $477.30 (a less than $100 annual savings)


So 26 min (time lost using back roads round trip) X 185 = 80.1 hours who out there would do a 2 week job for less than a $100 bucks ( WOW I've just answered my own question Hee Hee Hee).

BUT when compared to the truck (this replaced) avg 18-20 Mpg would cost me TODAY $1,226.55, now for an $800 per savings I can smile at the pointing, laughing, the "where's the rest of the car" comments.


The End

AFM

[jwight]

Excellent information; something to be said for the 450 as they appear to be much more fuel efficient than the 451s (not having as much displacement or hp, of course.) We just did a round trip to Texas in my wife's Town Car - 20 mpg was the absolute best it would do (albeit at 75 mph most of the time )

[smartcarparts]

Although we have been stocking 450 parts for the past three years via our ebay store, we are now introducing ourselves to all 450 owners who are looking for a close inventory of parts and accessories.

To those who have been supporting us during the years ..thanks...to those who are seeing our name for the first time I offer the welcome mat to you.

I inventory both genuine and replacement parts as well as accessories for exterior and interior. Some items have been removed when inventory was depleted and demand fell, so if there are any items you wish to see I can repost the pictures and details.

Considering the cost of the euro now ($1.60 to one euro) and the steep increase in shipping charges, I have tried hard to absorb the majority of the costs. Dont shoot the messenger, please, I dont make the euro so expensive.

Thank you for reading this, hope to see you via the ebay store.
I do not take credit cards but do accept Pay Pal and all shipments leave next day via USPS priority.

Sherwin
WWW.SMARTCARPARTS.US

[CruisingAZ]

Originally Posted by smartcarparts

Although we have been stocking 450 parts for the past three years via our ebay store, we are now introducing ourselves to all 450 owners who are looking for a close inventory of parts and accessories.

To those who have been supporting us during the years ..thanks...to those who are seeing our name for the first time I offer the welcome mat to you.

I inventory both genuine and replacement parts as well as accessories for exterior and interior. Some items have been removed when inventory was depleted and demand fell, so if there are any items you wish to see I can repost the pictures and details.

Considering the cost of the euro now ($1.60 to one euro) and the steep increase in shipping charges, I have tried hard to absorb the majority of the costs. Dont shoot the messenger, please, I dont make the euro so expensive.

Thank you for reading this, hope to see you via the ebay store.
I do not take credit cards but do accept Pay Pal and all shipments leave next day via USPS priority.

Sherwin
WWW.SMARTCARPARTS.US

Allthough supporting venders are a part of life and good to have around, hijacking a thread is poor taste. There is a thread for venders. JMHO

[ASmartMan]

Hey ALL

I normally don't get evolved in these kind of conversations (history).

BUT when I get an E-mail SPOUTING the same crap I get POed.

Any legitimate parts provider would talk in the first person (ether in the post or e-mail/PM I got) at this stage I regard this person as a Spammer with no legit business, so I will now avoide smartcarparts as a source of my 450 parts

AFM