I have a bit of a lead foot. Gas mileage thread.

[Tobin S.]

I have a 2010 Honda Civic. It's not exactly what you'd call a powerhouse, but it has a little pep in its step for what it is. It has a 1.8 liter engine that generates up to 140 horsepower hooked to a 5 speed automatic transmission. The EPA estimated that it would get 29 mpg overall.

I recently did a little test. I drove like I normally did and checked my gas mileage. That included driving 75 to 80 mph on the interstate. The speed limit is 70 mph where I live. Like I said, a bit of a lead foot. I drive a 94 mile round trip to work five days a week, and about 80% of it is on the interstate. I got 34.3 mpg which isn't bad and beats the EPA estimate.

I then decided to change my driving style a bit to see how that would affect gas mileage. I kept it a 70 mph on the highway and set the cruise most of the time. I also tried to stay in my top gear at all times on the highway. That means staying off the gas pedal to keep the car from downshifting into a lower gear. When I passed and needed a little extra, I accelerated smoothly instead of mashing the gas to speed up more quickly. I also was sure to observe the speed limits and to speed up more smoothly when I was traveling on city streets. The difference in fuel mileage was pretty dramatic. I got 37.2 mpg, almost 3 mpg better than when I was driving more erratically.

I think if I slowed down to 65 on the interstate I might be able to squeak out 39 mpg, but I don't want to impede traffic too much. Most people around here do 75 mph or more on the interstate.

If I am able to maintain a 3 mpg improvement on my fuel mileage, as much as I drive, that translates into 58 gallons of fuel saved a year. At the current price of about $2 per gallon that equals $116 saved which will pay for that new CB radio I've been wanting. Also, fuel prices are bound to go up in the future at some point so the savings will be even greater if I continue to drive like a sane person. There is also the CO2 burn off savings although I'm not sure how to calculate that. But I know I will have less of an impact on the environment.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. These are the things that keep us awake at night, my dear Tobin!

Good calculations and you have drawn the correct conclusions!

The only way (I think) to get better mileage? Buy an electric car!

But they are still very expensive and then you need a way to power it back up.

Keep on truckin'!

[mnhtnbb]

2. Fun little exercise.

My car--a 2007 BMW--has a gauge that shows mpg fuel consumption. It's fun to watch it change as driving conditions change
and how I respond to those conditions. It's kind of an immediate feedback to exactly what you decided to do with your comparison driving.

Our freeway speed limits in NC around here are mostly between 65-70. I have always said there is no such thing as a speed limit in NC because
NOBODY drives the speed limit. Crazy, crazy drivers. I usually drive 5 mph over the limit and I end up in the far right lane because everybody
is passing me like crazy. One of the thoughts that consoles me is I'm getting better gas mileage than all the folks speeding just to get somewhere
a few minutes sooner.

[retread]

3. I have an Ultragauge. You can get close to realtime feedback and see

which of your driving habits impact your mph.

http://ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/ultragauge_wired.htm

[Kennah]

4. I get infinite miles per gallon

[Tobin S.]

5. Yeah, but you are not going to do a 94 mile round trip to work and back every day on that. n/t

[trof]

6. Hypermiling is fun. Google it.

Learn about "decaying green lights", best way to park, etc.
I can squeeze a tad over 50 mpg in my 9 year old Prius.