gasoline conservation - tips ?

[CountAllVotes]

:hi:

I have some questions regarding gasoline use. Maybe this info. can help other like myself I hope. I have a 2002 Honda Accord with a moon roof (it came with the car). It has the smaller engine and is not a V-6 - a 4-cylinder automatic. I just had it serviced and I don't drive much (less than 10,000 on this car since I bought it in 2002). I've found that lately I'm not getting very good mileage and I wonder if there is something wrong with the gasoline I am purchasing. I've stopped running the air conditioning and am now using the moon roof (works ok, but its a bit awkward for me to open and close it with my right hand, but we won't get into the reason(s) why ok :) ) .

Question #1: It is my understanding that running the air conditioning causes you to use a lot more gasoline in your car. Does anyone know how much more?

Question #2: Why don't "they" lower the speed rate back to 55 mph? Doesn't this save on fuel by driving at a lower speed? If so, how much does this help?

Question #3: Does running the heat in your car burn excess gasoline? If so, how much?

Question #4: Other than not driving at all, what other tips might one learn from to use less gasoline?

Any other tips to conserve? I've cut it down as much as I can but I'm sure getting sick of sitting in the house staring at four walls all day. I buy about 3 gallons a week at present and am getting about 23 mpg right now.

:dem:

[0007]

1. My take

l. Depends on how much city driving you do.

2. Ask junior

3. No

4. Get a good bicycle

[KitchenWitch]

83. Make sure your tires are properly inflated

Your car may need a tune-up as well.

[grannylib]

2. I don't know how much, but yes, runnning the AC will lower mileage, but

then so does driving with the windows open, due to the drag on the vehicle, making it less aerodynamic. And yes, 55 mph is the optimum speed for mileage. That's why Carter went for the mandatory 55 mph limit, and was darn near crucified for it (remember how much shit he got for encouraging conservation and renewable energy? Think where we might be today if people had listened to him 30 years ago, instead of demonizing him). Not sure about the heat issue, if that creates a lower gas mileage or not.
The biggest tip I have is to tell that lying sack of shit in the White House that encouraging US to conserve, while he's jetting about the country 18 times a week looking for the next good photo opportunity, is really not helpful. to say the least.
Stay put in the WH and attempt to do your fucking job, moron...that's the message we need to send to the Simian Imbecile...

[tritsofme]

85. Although often attributed to Carter the national 55mph came into effect

under Nixon in 1973.

It was directed that states could not recieve federal highway dollars if their maximum speed limit exceeded 55mph.

[grannylib]

86. Thanks for the correction; I had forgotten about that!

[kahleefornia]

3. are you in California?

I think the additives in our "summer blend" reduce efficiency. I notice that my Toyota Corolla gets about 26mpg during the summer, and 30 in the winter, even when I'm not using the AC.

[CountAllVotes]

8. yes I am in California

maybe this is the reason for the poor mileage, I don't know. Thank you for the information.

[SlackJawedYokel]

13. It is probably the "summer blend", then.

Chapel Hill adopted a different formulation right after I purchased a new Neon, back in 1995, and it ran like crap because of it... actually stuttered and backfired.
Ran perfectly fine after I moved to Raleigh.

Cletus

[CBGLuthier]

4. What little I know

First, every accessory you run, heater, radio, AC uses more fuel. Heater uses less since it is just a fan unlike AC where you also run a compressor.

However, studies have been done that show that if you roll down the windows instead of using AC, you will get poorer mileage due to imcreased wind drag.

Smooth accelearation instead of flooring it will help to use less gas. Of course, when getting on a highway one must give it a little more gas so as not to be a safety hazard but people who race from light to light are just burning fuel.

A good tune-up will help performance. Air filter, spark plugs especially.

We will never go back to 55. Our entire shipping industry has gone from trains to trucks and they will never allow the speed limit to be lowered again. I never really believed it made all that much of a difference anyway.

Finally, not so much a conserve thing as a price thing but be sure to use only the octane level of gas you need. I am lucky my car uses the lowest grade. There is no value to using higher octane, which is more expensive, than what your car requires. Your owner's manual should tell you the suggested octane level.

[tammywammy]

6. I just want to emphazise something you said

Finally, not so much a conserve thing as a price thing but be sure to use only the octane level of gas you need. I am lucky my car uses the lowest grade. There is no value to using higher octane, which is more expensive, than what your car requires. Your owner's manual should tell you the suggested octane level.

You're exactly right. Do not pay for a higher octane unless your manual specifically says it's required. My Cavalier will not run any better if I pay 20 cents more for Premium.

[jayctravis]

76. My father who worked in a refinery says that a higher octane gas

used *occasionally* will have a cleaning effect...I suppose burning more completely.

[triguy46]

99. I think this advice is dated.

With computer controlled electronics and fuel injection, don't think the old "high octane" and "blowing out the carbeuretor" is still valid. If you have clogged injectors, not much you can do but pull them and clean them or replace them. According to Click and Clack, the pour in stuff just doesn't do it.

[CountAllVotes]

7. It recommends 88 octane which does not exist where I live

thanks for the tips. I've been driving at 55 mph and I practically get run off of the road. I don't know how much it helps. It seems the moon roof doesn't drag on the car like when the windows are open.

I really need the air conditioning due to a serious health problem that worsens with heat so I need it and same story with the heat - and extreme way is not good for me at all.

Maybe you are right - maybe it is the summer fuel and yes, I live in California. The cost where I live right now is $3.25 a gallon.

Luckily I don't drive much.

[CountAllVotes]

17. does a CD player cause it to burn gasoline?

I never realized this! Yikes! It also has a tape deck as well. Does gasoline cause these items to run? It has a power lift on the driver's side. I know this does not run on gasoline as it goes up and down with the key in the ignition without the engine running. Hmmm ...

Thanks again.

[CBGLuthier]

27. technically

all accessories that use electricity draw power from the alternator that is run by the engine.

But most are minor. AC is probably the single biggest hit. CD and tape players would use a little more than a radio since they have motors. But really, it isn't enough to worry about. I would be surprised if an hour of running either of them would equal more than a few pennies even at these prices.

Yes, when the engine is not running these things run off the battery. And then the battery gets recharged when you run the car.

There is no such thing as free energy and your car's only source of new energy, hybrids excepted, is the gasoline or diesel.

[tkmorris]

41. This is not true

You are correct that the engine provides mechanical power to the alternator, which then provides power to all the electrical devices such as the radio and the blower for the heater. Using those electrical items does not however burn any extra gas because the alternator is always running anyway, providing exactly as much electrical current whether you are using it or not.

All purely electrical devices in a passenger vehicle are essentially free to use. They burn no gasoline whatsoever. Please note that this doesn't apply to A/C, since turning that on engages a compressor which does cause extra strain on the engine, thus burning more fuel.

[CBGLuthier]

58. No, it is true

Please refer to here. i trust these guys.

http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns/Archive/2001/May/07.html


Ray: Well, the answer to your key question, Andrew, is yes. The more electrical stuff you use, the more gas you use.

Tom: Electricity isn't a "free byproduct" of running the engine. If it were, there wouldn't be any rolling blackouts in California. Everyone would just have their hot-tub heaters plugged in to their cars!

Ray: Here's how the alternator works: Your car's gasoline engine turns a belt that, in turn, spins the shaft of the alternator. And that's what ultimately produces electricity (if you want to get into more detail than that, ask your seventh-grader to explain Faraday's Law to you).

Tom: Of course, there are limits to what an alternator can produce. But within its normal operating range, the more electricity you "ask for," the more it produces. And when it produces more electricity, the shaft gets harder to turn, the engine works harder to turn it, and it uses more gas.

[tkmorris]

61. I trust them too

They did go to MIT after all....... :) I suppose there is some truth to that though I have always thought that the alternator systems in cars were really not very "load-sensitive" and I still think that is basically true. I will give you a small increase in energy consumption for an alternator under heavy load but I doubt it is even measurable in terms of fuel usage.

An older car I once owned actually ran it's alternator under a constant load. When I researched it I was informed that this was to keep electrical usage from affecting the cars performance. When the alternator was producing more current than was necessary the excess was leeched away using a load capacitor in parallel. I was under the impression that modern alternators were innefficient in the same manner and overdue for an upgrade in technology, but that it hadn't taken place yet.

Nonetheless, you have pulled out Click and Clack to refute me on a car question. I am humbled.

:beer:

[CBGLuthier]

63. I was glad to find the article

After all, it would seem reasonable enough that maybe a car produced surplus electricity that was just wasted.

But yeah, I trust those guys. Plus they are pretty funny. :-)

[Stinky The Clown]

65. Okay ... the truth is between these two answers ....

Isn't nice when two opposing posits are both correct? :)

Electricity isn't free in a car. The more you use, the more gas it takes to make it.

Now, everything runs off your battery, not directly off the alternator. Proof of this is when you blow a fan belt or your alternator buys the farm, the car still runs. It is using battery power (or as Eddie Murphy sez: batch'ry power ... but I digress .....). But when the battery is dead ... the car is dead.

So ..... the more you run down your battery, the more the alternator has to work to recharge it (which is all an alternator does .... it recharges the battery). If the battery's fully charged, the alternator is in a no-load state and exerts little resistance to being turned by the belt. When the battery is being charged, the alternator is in a load state, making it harder for the belt to turn it ... and hence uses more gas since the belt is turned by the engine. Also, the alternator charges at a constant rate. The time varies, not the charge rate.

The charge state of the battery is not in direct linkage with the load you place on it. It is considered charged over a range of voltages (generally 11 to 14 for a 12 volt battery). So long as the battery is in this range, the alternator is in a no-load state. It is possible to use an electrical accessory for a time and not drop the battery to a level below 11 volts. For that small bit of time, you are essentially driving the electrical accessory for free. But it is better to think that all you did was buy some time. Eventually you have to charge the battery.

All this is really just academic, however. Small accessories have a very small demand and really have a negligible cost to run. The biggies are the headlights, the starter and the A/C, although the A/C is a double hit. There is the electric to engage its drive clutch (a big electrical load) and there is the inherent direct drag of the compressor when it is engaged. The blower fan is a small load. That same fan also powers the heater. Heaters are near-free to use. Nowhere even in the same league as the A/C in terms of power draw/gas use. The heat is waste heat from the engine are really is free. It is a byproduct of the engine cooling system.

We won't even get into the physics of kinetics and the free ride that gives you ..... that's harder the measure and beyond me to explain here, but is based on that old high school physics maim ' a body in motion tends to stay in motion and a body at rest tends to stay at rest'.

[Strelnikov_]

82. Reduction To 55 mph Could Reduce Oil Consumption By 3.4% In US

The following report estimates a 3.4% reduction in oil consumption.

The more significant impact is that it would reduce transport fuel consumption by 5.1% which is critical considering that the current shortage is in refined product.

Then again, there is the faith based science approach that any measure that may take a bit of sacrifice is worthless and will have no benefit.

Saving Oil in a Hurry: Measures for Rapid Demand Restraint in Transport
International Energy Agency
28 February 2005

http://www.stcwa.org.au/journal/210405/files/background_IEA.pdf

The tables below are from the report and summarize fuel savings from speed reduction to 55 mph.


Table 2-35: Consensus estimate of effect of reducing speed limit to 90 km/hr

US /Canada

Thousand barrels saved per day 727 (672 US 2001 data)
Percent transport fuel saved 6.2% (5.1% @ US 13.1 M bbl/dy)
Percent total fuel saved 4.7% (3.4% @ US 19.5 M bbl/dy)

Table 2-29: Fuel Economy by Speed, based on ORNL
Percent Change In Fuel Economy

55–65 mph 11.0%
65–75 mph 17.7%
55–75 mph 30.6%

Note: Based on Model years 1988–97 automobiles and light trucks, based on tests of 9 vehicles.

[mike_c]

5. I can offer a few answers....

Question #2: Why don't "they" lower the speed rate back to 55 mph? Doesn't this save on fuel by driving at a lower speed? If so, how much does this help?

This is politically unattractive, so things will have to reach an emergency state before politicians will have the will do do it, IMO.

Question #3: Does running the heat in your car burn excess gasoline? If so, how much?

No. Your car is heated by waste heat from the engine that has to be dissipated anyway-- when you turn on the heat, some of that waste heat is simply routed to the passenger compartment.

Question #4: Other than not driving at all, what other tips might one learn from to use less gasoline?

I've dramatically cut my gas use during the last year by a combination of using public transportation or bicycling whenever possible for commuting, and by ORGANIZING my car use so that if I have to drive into town for a loaf of bread, I run other errands at the same time. That and simply asking myself "Do I really need to drive?" when local errands have to be accomplished. The video rental store is about 1/4 mile away-- I can walk there and back, save gas and get a health benefit to boot. Same with the post office. And so on.

[CountAllVotes]

11. thanks

Thanks for the information - I will continue to run the heat when I need it. :)

As for not driving - well 3 gallons a week is pretty limited I think. I cannot ride a bicycle anymore (physical problems) and there is little public transportation where I live (one bus that comes by about 1/2 miles from where I live once an hour). :grr:

I'd take public transportation and sell the car if I could, believe me.

[Lilyhoney]

9. Running the heat does not burn gas.

The drag of air by the moon roof may reduce your mileage as much as the AC would.

If you are bored at home, you could go out and collect cans to cash in for your gas money.

:hi: <------> is this you? (left hand wave)

Also, how you accelerate from a dead stop affects the mileage.

[SlackJawedYokel]

10. Hmmm...

Typically when I experience drops in mileage its time to change the plugs.
How many miles on the car, total and did you buy it new?

As to your questions:
1#: the amount depends on your car, but I'd expect at least 2-4 mpg, regardless.
Believe it or not, you're probably losing more mpg by driving with your window/moonroof open than with the AC on(assuming everything is operating as it should).
Wind resistance is more of a factor in most modern cars.
If you can, set your AC to a more moderate temp when operating.

2#: why'd they raise it to begin with? American consumers are typically like spoiled children who want what they want, *now*.
Better questions: why do we have cars that are powerful enough to go *over* the speed limits, why do we have such large cars, why do we expect our cars to be as comfortable as our living rooms?

3#: No, the heat in your car is derived from the heat given off by the engine. Your heater system is simply water circulated in the engine block thru a radiator heating up air pushed thru it into the cabin.

4#: Turn off your engine when stopped at a light.
Avoid quick starts.
If you have a manual or overdrive, stay in the highest possible gear for as long as possible.
Keep your tire pressure at recommended levels.
Drive slowly(assuming this doesn't endanger your life :D).

Stay home and surf the internet. :D

Cletus

[CountAllVotes]

14. less than 10,000 miles on the car

I bought it new. I just got it back from a tune-up 1500 miles ago.

I'm trying to drive slowly but I have to hit the pedal when merging on to freeways being everyone drives so fast.

They don't like people driving at 55 mph where I live. I've tried and it is actually dangerous I've found. :(

I never knew about turning off the engine at a stop sign would help. There aren't many long waits at lights where I live (a rural area).

I stay home a lot, believe me. I'm getting very tired of it. *sigh*

[taught_me_patience]

113. Don't turn your engine off!!!

First of all... a new starter will run you $300 (labor included) and this is more than the combined amount of gas you will save using this technique. Don't take the chance that you might be prematurely wearing out the starter! Secondly, and more importantly, oil pressure is generated by a pump connected to the crankshaft of the motor. Thus, if the engine isn't running, the oil pump is not running and you are losing oil pressure. Everytime you start your car after a long shut-off, your piston is scraping metal on metal. It's estimated that 80% of the wear and tear on an engine is caused by starting it up in the morning! Do not take the chance that you are damaging the engine!

One tip that I have is to record your gas mileage at every fill up. Always fill the tank to the top to make this calculation easier (never trust the gas guage on the car). Worsening gas mileage is a symptom of something wrong with the car that could be addressed. If your check engine light is on, definately go have it checked out because that is a major cause of bad gas mileage.

taught.

[day2]

31. Never turn your engineoff at a light

unless traffic was stopped due to an accident etc. Starting your car takes huge amounts of fuel. It is better to leave it running.

[SlackJawedYokel]

37. Umm, no.

Starting your car takes huge amounts of fuel.
This is just wrong.
Sorry.

It is better to leave it running.
Not if your goal is to conserve fuel.
An engine not running uses less fuel than a running engine.

At worse you could argue that multiple restarts will increase wear and tear on the starter, but this is negligble. Once oil has dispersed throughout the block, friction wear is minimal.

Why do you think hybrids operate the way they do?

Cletus

[newyawker99]

48. Hi day2!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[newportdadde]

12. Check your tire pressure!

[CountAllVotes]

15. just had that checked too

tires are like new and the needed no air at all.

I'm thinking it is the summer blend scenario. Seems the gasoline you buy at Costco isn't that great and many people I know that buy gasoline there seem to concur.

:kick:

[CountAllVotes]

36. ok ...

I think I have found part of the problem. The tires need more air in them (low by a few lbs.). Also, I just noticed that one of the little black caps that covers the valve is missing. Could this be a problem or are those little black covers that you screw on to the valve more of a cosmetic thing or do they actually prevent the air from leaking out?

If anyone knows, please advise.

I'll take the Accord to the local gas station and put some air in the tires - 32 front; 30 rear as advised by the car expert we have here luckily!

Thanks again!

CountAllVotes :D

:kick:

[SlackJawedYokel]

38. They're mostly cosmetic.

Actually, they keep dirt out of the valve.

The thing about doing all of these things is that individually they aren't impressive, but collectively they add up.

Cletus

[CountAllVotes]

39. the car is always in the garage

and that is 99.9% of the time. I just got back from the gas station and filled it up - took 2 gallons only. The tires needed air, oh yes they did, as much as 5 lbs. Yikes!

I'll not worry about the one cap missing. It probably fell off somewhere I guess.

Thanks for the info.! :D

:kick:

[Ikonoklast]

56. Not true

Those caps over the valve stem serve two purposes, one of which is to keep the valve itself clean of debris, but it is also a last defense against a leaking/defective valve. It can keep air from escaping from the tire as a last resort if the valve should fail.

In a commercial vehicle (my line of work) having ONE valve stem cap missing on any one of eighteen wheels is a DOT offense and would be noted on a roadside/scalehouse inspection. Notification of repair would be made and you would have fifteen days to repair/replace the problem. Not a major offense, but it is part of everyday vehicular inspection.

My vehicle would not pass a yearly with missing cap(s).

[SlackJawedYokel]

87. Have you noticed the differences between big rig and small car tires?

:D

Yes, they do keep debris out, as I said.
And no, they won't really hold 35psi air in if it leaks.
Commercial car tire caps simply aren't that well made.

Now if you substituted metal caps or performance stems/caps, you'd be absolutely correct.

My vehicle would not pass a yearly with missing cap(s).
Well sure, as it should be.

Cletus

[DelawareValleyDem]

43. Here's something to consider.

You can increase the tire pressure above what is specified on the sticker in or on your vehicle. This will get you better mileage, but the trade offs include quicker tire wear, a stiffer ride and increased susceptibility to road hazards. Also, NEVER exceed the maximum inflation pressure listed on the sidewall of the tire.

[CountAllVotes]

45. they are now at front tires 32; rear 30

I don't believe this is overinflated. I'll check the tires *again* just to be sure.

:kick:

[Bamboo]

55. Narrow tires got no reason to live.

I have a friend with a 2002 Camry which has a recommended inflation pressure of 29front/29rear but the tire sidewall has a maximum of 44psi.I raised the pressure to 38front/38rear and the ride quality has improved in my opinion.

Hybrid cars like the Honda Insight use low rolling resistance tires with a narrow width.I purchased the same tires as the Insight for my car which meant a downsize and they are all 40psi.The suspension of my car is very nice on smooth roads but is awful on rough roads the tires did not change that fact.I have no handling problems with smaller tires on wet roads.My mileage has improved from 44 to 46.

People plus-size their tires perhaps with the cost of fuel some will minus-size.People pick tires based on appearance-wide tread,low profile,aggressive pattern.There is a point of diminishing return with larger tires I believe we passed long ago and now it is just vanity.Wheel and tire packages are profitable for dealers and has the alibi that they improve safety and performance.There are people who like bling-I saw a guy with a spray bottle wiping his wheels in the big box parking lot.At least they do not make engineering claims it is for appearance sake which is less pathological.

[dretceterini]

16. Answers

I am involved in the car industry, so here are some tips:

1) constant use of air conditioning only accounts for use of about 2 miles per gallon. Keeping the windows and sun roof closed will probably save only 1 mile per gallon.

2)driving at lower speeds does help save fuel, but again, the difference between a constant 55 and a constant 80 is only 1 or 2 miles per gallon. It is just as important to maintain a CONSTANT speed

3)Using the heater or fan doesn't change gas mileage at all.

4) Check your tires at least every two weeks. A couple of pounds off in regard to proper inflation will chage your gas mileage to the tune of as much as 2 or 3 miles per gallon. For your car specifically, I would suggest 32 pounds of air pressue in the front and 30 in the back. For mid or rear engined cars, I would suggest slightly more air pressure in the back tires than in the front.

5) Keeping a constant speed and using your brakes as little as possible helps gas mileage as much as 5 miles per gallon. Accelerating quickly from green lights and waiting to stop at the last second at red lights makes a LOT of difference.

6) Change the oil AND filter every 3000 miles, and the air filter twice a year, and more often in dusty climates.

7) Check wheel alignment at least twice a year. If the wheels aren't properly aligned, it creates friction and you loose gas mileage.

8) Have a tune up at least once a year, and make sure the person doing it knows what they are doing. Improper engine timing and improper adjustement of carbs or fuel injection can cost you as much as 20% in fuel mileage!

[CountAllVotes]

21. thanks for all of the answers

I'll have to check the tire pressure again.

I use the cruise control as much as possible as I was told this helps to conserve. Does it?

I had the tune-up done a couple of months ago by the local Honda dealer where I bought the car from. I should hope they know what they are doing.

I also have the oil/filter changed every 3,000 miles and also have the tires rotated every 5,000 miles.

I used to drive a lot, not much anymore luckily.

[cmf]

18. Do you usually only make short trips?

It sounds like you do just by the number of miles you have on the car. The engine is less efficient when it is not warmed up, so when you only drive short trips, you get worse gas mileage than when you make longer trips. There's not much you can do other than trying to plan ahead so that you can combine all of your errands in one trip. Also make sure you aren't carrying an excess load in your car, clean out your trunk if you have a lot of stuff back there. And make sure your tires are properly inflated.

[CountAllVotes]

22. yes short trips

I don't drive much as stated. Short trips yes - infrequently I drive up to 40 miles R/T to go to the doctor. I've been doing the combining trips thing for years now as I don't have much money. I'm lucky I even have this car, believe me.

Nothing in the trunk (am I a loser or what?) :evilgrin:

I'll check the tires and see if they are ok.

[cmf]

26. I forgot to add

That I also have a 2002 Accord. I just looked up our average MPG (we track it on a spreadsheet), and we only get about 26 MPG average (city and hwy). We have similar driving habits that you do, but we have about 20k miles on the car.

[CountAllVotes]

28. interesting ...

I think that is what I used to get but as of recent it has been crummy at best. Is your an Accord SE? That is what I have. I like the car a lot and it works out well for me. Is your an automatic also?

I had a 92 Civic stick shift and I got about 38 mpg with that car. I wish I could still drive a stick shift (not possible for me any longer).

Maybe the engine isn't broken in yet being the car has only 9,000 miles on it (I know, I know ...).

[cmf]

29. It's an EX automatic

I do love the car, but I rarely drive it. Just to and from the Park and Ride and errands on weekends. Most of the miles are from my H going to work or weekend road trips. We also have a 98 Civic automatic, but it only gets about 30 MPG. That is the one H takes to work more often. I wish we got 38 MPG! We're planning on selling one car next year when we move and I will be able to walk to work.

[CountAllVotes]

30. it broke my heart selling the 92 Civic

That was a GREAT car too. When I first got it I got almost 50 mpg on a long trip I remember. I couldn't believe it! I drove that car 100 miles a day to a crap $8 an hr. job for over a year. It only took 10 gallons of gasoline a week to drive that far.

I wish I could have kept it but as I mentioned, I can't drive a stick shift any longer. I kind of think my days of driving are limited. I wonder what I'll do? It is difficult for me to get on and off of buses too. However, there is but one bus where I live and it takes an hour to get into town which is 20 miles from where I live. That is pretty stupid I've always thought.

I try to walk when I can - that too is a problem for me. If you had not guessed *yet*, I have some physical problems so a two-wheeled motorcycle, etc. is not an option for me.

[cmf]

35. It's hard when you don't have options

We are lucky in our town because the bus system (and it's not a very large system, just well designed) has a special service where elderly and disabled people can get pick up from their homes to destinations like the grocery store, etc. It's a compact town (we only have 7,500 people), but not very walkable (too many hills), so it's a nice service to have.

:hug: I hope you can find a good solution to your transportation needs. My grandmother stopped driving when she was in her 50's, and she would just walk or catch a ride with a neighbor if they were going to the store or something.

[Mika]

19. Get a Specialized Black Widow w/hydrodrive

Unique to the Black Widow, are the interlaced web disc wheels,
which use innovative sliding roller technology to eliminate a
traditional hub on the front, and a polarized magnetic hub for
increased performance on the back. The fully independent pivoted
frame will have you eating up the nastiest bumps like never before.
The Black Widow will have you flying by your competitors in no time,
and you'll love this bike so much so much you won't want the ride to
end. Once you get to know this Widow, you'll want to marry her.

[MikeDuffy]

72. "If it seems too good to be true..."

"April fool's"-like hoax??

http://www.mountainbiketales.com/VerdraUpdate.htm

[Selatius]

20. You can save more fuel by changing driving habits

An engine, above all, likes steadiness and consistency. When you accelerate, try and accelerate at the rate your engine "feels" like it wants to accelerate, not at the rate you want it to accelerate. I know it sounds kind of odd or new-agey sounding, but you gotta feel the way your engine operates when you drive. It doesn't like rapid accelerations; it just adds more stress to it.

Also, study your RPM guage when you drive. When you drive, try to drive at speeds where you can get the RPM guage to read as low as possible at as high a rate of speed as possible. I drive a '95 camry. At roughly 50 to 55 mph, my car loafs at around 2000 RPMs. That's about as low as it can go on the road. This may be why Carter tried doing what he did with limiting roadway speeds.

When I looked up information for my car, I saw I could get 20 in the city and 28 on the highway, but because of my driving habits and regular maintenance schedule, it feels more like 25 in the city and 31 on the interstate.

[gulfcoastliberal]

23. Act like the accelerator is an egg

You don't want to push on it so hard that it'd break an egg. Start slow and if you have an automatic try to get shifts into the next high gear under 2000rpms, by accelerating gently, then back off once you get into the higher gear and repeat. If you see a red light ahead, take your foot off the gas well ahead of time and let RPMs go to idle and let the car coast till you brake. If you are at an interesection with a notoriously long light, shut off the engine. If you're in a long drive thru line, shut off the engine till it's time to move up, even a little. AC diverts engine power to the compressor via the mechanical drive belt, so yes open the windows if tolerable. Heating does not hurt fuel economy because the heater core is just a place where the water pump pushes cooloant as part of its duties so heating will not affect economy. Usually the interior climate fans are electric and the alternator is always engaged to provide spark and charge the battery so not matter what the electricity to drive the fan won't hurt. And stay in the #2 (right) lane since people behind you not appreciate it. I do all the above and let em pass ya if it bugs the gass hogs.

[CountAllVotes]

25. cruise control

I use this A LOT. Does this add or subtract from gas mileage?

[day2]

32. cruise control helps gas mileage.

Use it whenever you can.

[CountAllVotes]

33. Hi and Welcome to the DU

:hi: and Welcome to the DU. Yes I use the cruise control every chance I get. I don't have to use the pedals that way.

:)

Thanks again for the info.! :D

:kick:

[gulfcoastliberal]

40. Unless driving in hilly conditions, of course

Then you're better off massaging the gas manually with your foot. Even going up large overpasses the CC will kick down where sometimes if you massage the gas just right and you can keep it in high gear (assuming auto trans here).

[pstans]

24. This should be nominated for the greatest page

It has some great tips.

[CountAllVotes]

42. ONE MORE VOTE NEEDED

to make this a "Greatest Page" ...

Lots of great tips and I think I have hopefully solved the low mileage problem(s). We'll see. I just filled it up and the tires were low on air (like -5 lbs. or more!). Yikes!

:kick:

[RC]

34. The boredom will kill you @ 55 MPH

With 100 miles between major burgs. Not everyone lives in a wall to wall megatropolis

[CountAllVotes]

44. I don't live in a wall to wall metropolis

I live in a rural area. I'd gladly drive at 55 again. I did it for years already anyway so no big deal to me. If it would conserve fuel, we should all do this.

Why don't they lower the speed limits back to 55 mph? Keeping them at 65-70 is not efficient. We need to do everything we can do to conserve gasoline, especially being the cost is high and we are running out of it.

:kick:

[pstans]

46. Not to mention, saving lives and having fewer crashes

They just raised the speed limit to 70 here in Iowa. Can you guess what party pushed that through? They said that it would help the trucking industry on Iowa's interstates.

[RC]

62. When they lowered the interstate speed limit to 55 in ND,

The "Experts" were scratching their heads as to why the accident rate did not go down. When they raised it up to 65 those same "Experts" were scratching their heads again when the accident went down. Duh! Less time on the road. Less chance of falling asleep.

[susanna]

80. My husband and I just talked about that...

He's an auto industry engineer. He LOVES to see what he can get out of any vehicle he drives (gas mileage). He has taught me some amazingly good tricks. I drive a 5-speed manual VW (older than dirt, the thing will NOT die) and get 30 MPG in the city on my drive into work (7 miles). I know I would get better mileage if the engine had more time to run.

Admittedly, I time lights where possible. When the lights switch timing (which they all do), I recognize it immediately. With manuals, you almost have to learn to time lights, otherwise you're just speeding up to stop at the next light. I stick to the right lane and drive a slower speed to "catch" green lights with minimal downshifting. My tires are replaced as necessary and frequently checked during normal driving...lucky me, my DH would not think to let it go more than a month without it. :-)

I also understand my car's gear lineup and drive in the highest gear possible at whatever speed. No mashing the accelerator or brakes at all...it just is not worth it. I fill up once a month. I do run the AC a short time in the hottest months, but stop it once I'm a few miles out of home (I leave the windows up when I do; the car stays comfortable longer than I would have thought).

[medeak]

67. 300 miles of nothing but straight barren wasteland...

where I live.. I go 90 politically incorrect or not. Better than falling asleep at the wheel.

[ComerPerro]

94. If you can run it at 2500-3000 rpm, it doesn't really matter how fast

or slow you go.

And, btw, the only reason I don't go 90 is because of cops.

[proud patriot]

47. Make sure your tire pressure is correct

:hi:

[natrat]

49. i experimented with a tank of gas on my previa van

and got 25 % better mpg,,, but omfg was it an excercise in restraint--pull away very slowly,,off the gas and coast down toward stop,,,,55 mph on the freeway etc etc

[CountAllVotes]

51. I'll give it a try

It is not like I am going broke from the price of gasoline being I just filled up for $6.88 for one week. However, if everyone conserved, it would make a difference.

I'll continue using the cruise control, drive 55 mph (and if you don't like it, then pass me damnit!).

We have all got to do our part! And that especially refers to those driving those big hog assed SUVs and big assed trucks!

:kick:

[sweetheart]

50. Some more other tips

Do not subsidize aviation fuel, and let the air-travel fuel price float.
This will cause air travel to become not so "free", as air travellers
will start to have to pay the cost, and not the tax payers.

Encourage broadband in every home, and an end to the video-shoppe as you
know it, ending every single drive to the video shop. Encourage
retail businesses to offer delivery webvan sorts, to end people commuting
to supermarkets when the items can be more cheaply warehoused and
delivered to the door. One delivery van bringing 1/2 the grocery
trips of an entire neighborhood ends the need for 1/2 a neighborhood's
grocery run.

There are many areas of economic techno-evolution that could indeed make
travel only something you do out of necessity, and not for shopping or
trivial economic needs.

But the best is to make people pay the full cost of petrol at the
pump, including all the cost of the wars and the hidden subsidies to
petroleum industry. When all the cards are on the table, the cheaper
forms of energy will rise like creme, and petrol ain't one of these.

Offer 1000 government grant awards of 100,000 dollars each for
innovation in micro-energy generation. Put the application process
on the web and prime the pump of energy diversification.

[Gregorian]

52. In all honesty, our driving habits are not the issue.

Here's how I've always looked at things- everything you buy has an invisible tag attached to it. It's the amount of fuel used in the manufacture, transportation, and other things involved with it's existence. A canteloup from Brazil. A new automobile. Whether it's simply shipping, or perhaps manufacturing. In fact, I was one of the early ones to learn this in a thermodynamics course I took- it takes gasoline just to make gasoline. Just remember that everything you buy has a quantity of fuel attached to it. Yes, coasting to stops, not starting fast, bla bla bla, will all help. But they are not going to make the difference. 25 miles per gallon versus 17? So what? We are at the end of our gasoline era. And here's another argument- our biggest and most uneconomical using is behind us. The 12mpg cars. The frivolous useage. And yet another- automobiles are only a small fraction of the energy consumption anyways. Focus on the bigger picture. And I have to say, that bigger picture is politics. The money spent in Iraq would have made America energy independent. If that doesn't convince you, nothing will.






For example, we've used more gas in the Iraq war than all of the conserving this country could possibly accomplish.

The biggest issues are revolving around the biggest numbers. India and China. Half of the world's population is getting ready to pummel this planet.

Curbing our driving habits is quite simply, a waste of effort. In the big picture of things.

If you insist on conserving, aside from driving, you can avoid things that use the most energy. One such thing would be fruits and vegetables from areas that are either in other countries, or not local. The other night I bought fish. And when I got home, to my horror, these fish were from a farm in China. That's a hell of a lot of energy just for a piece of fish in my kitchen.

[happynewyear]

53. "Curbing our driving habits is quite simply, a waste of effort."

I for one do not agree with this arrogant statement. This is exactly the reason this country (the USA) is in the damn mess it is in. It is not MY fault.

It is MY fault. We are all at fault for allowing it to get to where it is.

Everyone needs to conserve and the more people that do it, the better it is for something called the environment.

I will do everything I can personally do TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, no matter how small of a difference, it is a difference.

KEEP HOPE ALIVE!

PEACE

[Gregorian]

60. Alright.

You're talking to the foremost conservative minded person of the universe bar none! So don't go giving me your hatred.

I'm an educated engineer. Are you? It just so happens that when you look at the numbers, there are magnitudes of difference between certain behaviors.

Yes, driving a honda is going to make a difference from someone in a Humvee. Or someone who jets around.

I am not going to spend any more time on this subject. I have done my part. I have commuted to work on a bike for years. Long before it was cool. Quite frankly, I'm tired. I spent years blabbing about this when nobody wanted to hear it. You guys figure it out.

edit- Let me add one more thing. I don't have kids. The ultimate sacrifice. Every child in a modern society (how do I put it without being more offending that it already sounds?) uses. If you have kids, don't even bother telling me that you conserve.

edit2- Sorry to get so mad. This just happens to be the most important subject. My life has been obsessed with caring and protecting what we all use for our very existence. I've done literally everything I can do. I've come to certain conclusions which don't neccisarily make sense on the surface. It's a dynamic world. I just wish people would care as much as we do. But there is such a thing as caring about the things that really matter, and those that don't. You're either in a car, or you're not. It's not how you drive, or even what you drive. We all get 10-40 mpg. Millions of barrels of oil PER DAY. That's what we burn. Even if everyone got 40 mpg, we'd still be contributing to global warming in a big way. It's not an easy subject to confine to one facet. That's the problem. It's not just how hard someone pushes their gas pedal. That's what I find offensive about the original poster. We can't think in individual terms. We must have leaders that get the masses to all think in the correct direction. Right now we have nothing. Worse than nothing. It's population, and it's useage. I've spent the last thirty years screaming at people about this. It's too much to take. I hope you can understand the frustration.

[LosinIt]

54. Max is a Better friend than Norm!

What the fuck is she talking about??? The air conditioner, silly.

When you run the air conditioner in the MAX mode you are recirculating the air in the car. It makes it colder, but it uses less fuel.NORM has to keep cooling down hot air brought in from the outside.

This really surprised me when I heard it, I thought for sure that it would be the other way around, you would save more by running in NORM mode, but who knew?

[pitohui]

57. use yr air conditioner, point # 1 is out of date

my understanding is that for at least the last decade, you use more gas by having your windows open than by using yr car's a/c

this is because modern cars have better aerodynamic design -- as long as the windows are properly closed

i dunno, that's just what i heard, but i do get 38 mpg -- and i DO use my a/c

#2 is out of date also, you have no idea the diff bet. cars of the 60s/70s & today's cars, our modern cars get much better mileage at higher speeds than the older cars did, there is no comparison

[dretceterini]

59. It's still better to

have the windows open than use the a/c all the time. Aerodynamics have almost no effect under 100 mph....but the difference is no more than 1 or 2 mpg.

Today's cars are geared to get the best gas mileage at a steady 65 mph. Drivng along at a steady pace also helps.

[pitohui]

68. well ok i'll meet you halfway

i drive like a lil ol lady, so it just so happens that i do keep a steady 65-70

the ac will have to remain tho, this is the south!

[chapel hill dem]

70. Aerodynamics begin to take hold about 12-13 mph. Look at the TdF bicycles

In cars, the Kamm effect begins about 35 mph (remember the Kamm-back GM Vega?)

In airplanes, the smallest non-aerodynamic drag will significantly reduce efficiency. For example, a fixed step ladder on a small Cessna will lower the cruising speed by about 5 mph.

FWIW

[Coexist]

104. I saw a mythbusters program on this

And the myth got busted - I wish I could remember the details -but it does save gas to drive with the windows open instead of the a/c, regardless of drag.

http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/episode/episode_03.html
<snip>
Episode 22: Boom-Lift Catapult
Buster lends a hand as the MythBusters explore the myth of the boom-lift catapult. Will Buster overcome the raw power of a 30,000-pound piece of machinery, or will the boom-lift turn into the ultimate medieval catapult? Then, worried about the price of gas? Tune in to Jamie and Adam's investigation into the most fuel-efficient way to keep cool in the car: turning on the air conditioning or opening the windows.
premiere: Nov. 10, 2004

[lectrobyte]

109. That mythbusters episode seemed a bit less than scientific -- although

they did run out of gas first in the car with the AC, it didn't seem like that controlled of an experiment. They should have switched cars and drivers and repeated, and used something calibrated to measure how much fuel is actually consumed (flow meter on the gas line), not just dumping 2 gallons in from a tank. Also, the SUVs they tested are not very aerodynamic.

[Syncronaut Seven]

64. I'm squeezing 40% more out of my Nissan 6cyl minivan....... 40% more

Fresh basic (cheap) plugs, 35 Lbs in the tires (cold), modified driving technique upped my 17 Mpg to 24.

3 tanks in a row,

Wow.

[OxQQme]

69. In metropolitan areas

the gas companys add a percentage of alchohol to reduce the pollution.
It takes a third more of this liquid to make the same power aas gasoline. Therefore the use-age is greater than straight gas.
The engine could be expensively modified to make up the difference but then would be unsuitable for just gas without adding an octane booster to prevent detonation that would destroy the engines internals.
There is a summer blend and a winter blend that is done at the refinery.
Winter gas needs to be a 'hotter' blend of the more volatile essences to make it easy to start in the engine in cold weather.
This same winter blend, if used in the hotter summer months, would 'boil' off it's lighter elements and cause vapor locking of the engines fuel system making the engine run rough, if at all. This summer/winter blending holds true for all the oil companies.
A good vacuum gauge mounted in sight while driving would be the most important device to maximize efficiency. Driving all conditions at the highest vac reading gives best mileage per gallon.

[Domitan]

66. I used to be an aggressive driver

Aggressive but safe. I used to speed up quickly after the light turned green, and rev up fast and hard. No tailgating, mind you! I prefer to be at least a few cars lengths away from the one in front of me if I can help it. A few months ago, I reckoned that I should experiment to see how much of a difference it could make. No longer would I dart out like a bat flying out of hell whenever the light turned green (after checking that there were no stray cars coming from the left-right intersections). I slowly increased the speed...making sure it didn't go over 2000 RPM. If I needed to get up to speed more quickly, I'd do a quick pump to 2000 RPM and then back off and then pump and so on until I reached the speed limit.

Here are the results of my experiment:

As an aggressive driver, my tank could handle 320 km of city driving.

As a more laidback driver, my tank could handle 400 km of city driving.

That's close to 1 week of city driving that I saved!

[Nobody]

79. I used to be a speed demon until I got a hybrid

with a fuel consumption display. Now when I drive, I do a lot of coasting, gentle acceleration, not as much driving over the speed limit.

And my lifetime gas mileage is 70 mpg.

Winter is coming soon and it won't be as high because the starting revs in first gear are higher when the car is cold (true of all cars) and the auto stop feature doesn't kick in until the engine temp reaches a certain level. The Auto Stop feature is for when you stop at a red light and have to sit and wait. You put the car in neutral and it uses no gas. It fires up again when you put it in first or reverse. Instantaneously.

[chapel hill dem]

71. Useless stop signs and traffic lights eat 20% of the U.S.gasoline

comsumption, if I remember the stats correctly.

If you want to really make a BIG difference, lobby your town for more traffic circles and intelligent traffic lights that react to actual traffic condition and not just dumb timers.

[susanna]

81. Oh my!

You hit on my husband's favorite rant: Roundabouts and smart timers...

Of course, I'd be hosed because I time lights (I drive a manual). That said, I would happily trade my light timing of the last ten years for smart traffic signals and intersections. I could learn to live with it!

[Kazak]

73. Well, I drive a stick, but...

I do a lot of coasting in town. For an automatic, well, make use of that neutral setting. Get going a little bit faster, say 5 or 10 mph faster than the speed limit, throw it in neutral and just coast until you have to stop again. That's sort of what I've been doing...

[LizMoonstar]

93. can you do that?

my car gets ouched if you switch settings without stopping first. and i know my mom's always after my dad about switching 'gears' while in motion and aging his car sooner than its time...

[BiggJawn]

108. Illegal in most states.

I think the way it's written is "intentionally coasting or having a 'Freewheel' device installed..."

Geez, there's a lot of good ideas here, but SOME of these suggestions are starting to take on the flavour of the Old Days and the "Shell Mileage Challenge" where they had home-made bicycle-wheeled buggys with model airplane engines that went 15 MPH and squeezed 250 miles out of a gallon.

Shit, if you're THAT buggered about saving gas, either walk or get a moped and a rain suit.

And yes, you CAN ride a motorbike in the winter. Been There. Done That.

[Kazak]

111. Doesn't stop me, especially driving in neighborhoods...

I can just see 'em trying to give me ticket for coasting. :crazy:

[jayctravis]

74. In the opinion of my Dad, who was an electrician working

at a refinery most of his life, the most gasoline usage is in accelerating. Most people leap towards the speed limit as fast as they can from a light. He was an advocate of letting the engine slowly rev up (of course in the right lane!). He also was a big fan of not accelerating to a red light. "If the light is red, there's no use wasting gas to hurry up and stop." Often the light would change, not requiring a stop and acceleration from zero.

[jayctravis]

75. Also...in the winter...

don't make the engine produce heat. There should be a "vent" setting which allows hot air from the engine into the passenger compartment if your temperature is toward warm. It's often much faster than the "heat" setting.

[Liberal In Texas]

77. Stop flying your custom taxpaid 747 around the country for no particular

reason. And stop flying the support C-130's with the limos that have so much armor plate they probably get 2 mpg. And those Sikorsky helicopters, leave them home.

Oh, that's not you. That's the leader of the free world, the one who tells us to conserve.

[bemildred]

78. Automatic transmissions suck gas. So do big engines. nt

[democracyindanger]

112. The automatic transmission thing

used to be true, but modern automatic transmissions are pretty much the same thing as manual transmissions these days, as far as fuel consumption goes.

[DarkTirade]

84. One thing I learned quickly...

keep your tires pumped up to their optimal pressure. That'll really help gas milage. And it helps your brake time when the moron in front of you decides to turn without bothering to get into the handy TURN LANE that's right there... :)

[lectrobyte]

88. Inflate your tires to the car manufacturers recommendations plus 10%

that'll decrease rolling resistance. Note that I said car manufacturer, not tire manufacturer. Never exceed the max pressure stamped on the tire sidewall. For example, my tires say MAX PSI 42 on the sidewall, the car manufacturer recommends 32 PSI, I run 35.

[MountainLaurel]

89. #4: Combine trips

Wait until you have a few errands to run before driving: drop off the dry cleaning, go to the grocery store, the pet supplies place, the pharmacy, all on one trip. Patronize business that are near one another or in the same shopping center, so that you can park and get several things accomplished at once. Or use businesses that are along your route to and from work.

[highplainsdem]

90. And try to think ahead several days, especially with grocery shopping,

so you don't find yourself running to the store for just one item (which I used to do too often).

[triguy46]

97. Excellent...

Car pool. do without occassionally. Simplify. Anything BUT 55mph.

[IN-dem]

91. I don't know about newer cars but make sure your air filter is new and

your fuel filter is new or clean.

[TacticalPeek]

92. This may not apply since you recently had a tune-up.

And at your rate of car use, it may be some time before you need your next one. I only bring it up because I've been having to deal with it for the last several days.

Many modern car engine systems involve lots of sensors and 'computers' to achieve certain goals. Some of them involve sensing coolant (antifreeze/water mixture) temperature and using that data to control the fuel/air mixture, or to prohibit the AC compressor from kicking in if the engine is running too hot, etc. etc. etc.

Sometimes these sensors/computers can fail in a way that the car seems to run ok, no warning light comes on, but nevertheless the engine gets 'told' that it is cold, so it increases the fuel ratio and runs 'rich' all the time thereby wasting gas. A good mechanic can detect this if he or she is looking for it, but often they aren't looking for it unless told about questionable gas mileage. If the condition is pronounced, the car may have a sooty tail-pipe, although this symptom is getting rarer as catalytic converter designs get increasingly hotter, thereby masking the evidence I think.

Of course, fixing such foul-ups can run from cheap to arm-and-a-leg, so the cost/benefit of repair vs. gas mileage must be calculated.

And lastly, ymmv. :)

[TX-RAT]

95. Make your child ride the bus to school.

[triguy46]

96. 55??? I can't drive 55!!

I thought we drove a wooden stake through the heart of that monster!!
Out here on the great prarie, people were known to dry up and disappear while driving to town at 55mph. The cruelest of all choices. Hell, I've got a car that gets 38 MPG at 80mph. Don't screw with me, go after someone else!

[Greyhound]

98. Honda build a great car, but they're very sophisticated and any one

of about a thousand things can hurt your mileage. The engine alone has over 100 sensors, any one of which can go out and hurt your mileage even though it still runs. Auto transmissions and A/C both affect mileage, but to a much lesser degree that even 7 or 8 years ago. Tire under-inflation can cause a loss of mileage. If you live where it's wet, your parking brake can rust up and drag, even though it is released.
Take it into the dealer so they can hook your car up to the Honda computer. It is probably the best way to find all the things that are wearing or not working.
:kick:

[cynatnite]

100. If the car is properly taken care of, it will help...

We have the oil changed like clockwork, check the air in the tires, etc.

Also, we do as many errands at one time as possible rather than spread them out.

I'm getting better at sticking to the speed limit. Didn't used to. Hubby would call me Mario and when the prices started going up, I began slowing down. :)

All this has helped us save on gas and a tank lasts a lot longer than it used to.

[Norquist Nemesis]

101. The best thing you can do is PLAN

In other words, no short little trips because you forgot something at the store. Plan to do your grocery shopping/pharmacy pickup/dry cleaner/etc. on your way home from work or near your work, if possible. Maximize both your dollar and time by making lists ahead of time of what you need and where you'll get it.

Also, coast toward stop lights and avoid fast starts on a green.

One more thing...find a nearby friend or neighbor and car pool for trips you both need such as grocery, pet store, etc. Take turns! Plus, it will be more fun to have someone with you. :)

[CornField]

102. How I get 25 mpg from my Jeep Grand Cherokee

1) If you have an on-board computer turn it to "instant MPG" and keep an eye on it. You'll be surprised how quickly you can learn to hear and feel gas usage.

2) In town (stop and go traffic) = no air conditioning (windows up and sun roof open)

3) On highway = Always windows up, roof closed, air conditioning used if needed.

4) Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. Oil changes every 2,000-2,500 miles - regular tune ups - tire pressure check once per week - have fuel injectors cleaned - etc. (Be sure to repair any body damage -- all of it adds drag to the vehicle.)

5) Taking routes of least resistance. The fewer times I have to stop and go, the more efficient the engine runs. You burn the most gas going from a complete stop to moving.

6) Combine trips. I even load my bike on the back and use it when I have several errands in the same area. (For instance, drive to the other side of town and then use bike or walk to the different locations.)

7) Glide around. (Keep your foot off the gas and brake as much as possible.) I try to keep my instant gas mileage as close to 40 mpg as possible -- that way when I use lots of gas while speeding up, it will average out to a higher rate.

8) Only haul what you need. The less weight on/in a vehicle, the more gas it uses.

[Coexist]

106. I do this:

7) Glide around. (Keep your foot off the gas and brake as much as possible.) I try to keep my instant gas mileage as close to 40 mpg as possible -- that way when I use lots of gas while speeding up, it will average out to a higher rate.

And I have actually have passengers complain that it makes the ride "uncomfortable" somehow. I don't understand how, but if there is a stoplight in front of me, I take my foot off of the gas and don't brake until I am there. Does this save gas? I hope so! I just don't understand keeping your foot on the gas until the last second.

[lectrobyte]

110. Anytime you are coasting up to a light, versus foot on the pedal, you

are saving gas. And since you are gonna stop anyway, why zoom up to it, just to 1) burn more gas, then 2) wear away brake linings to stop? If you time it right, you can coast up sometimes when the light is just changing and avoid stopping.

[huskers57]

103. 1998 Dodge Neon

I have a 98 Neon with 167,000+ miles on it and I get about 41 or so on the highway and 35 or so in town. I just keep the cruise at about 62 MPH and keep the tires inflated, A/C off and use Castrol Synthetic. Mileage actually seems to get better with age of the car?

My suggestion would be...SLOW DOWN :^)

[DainBramaged]

105. Be an EBAY hommie and never leave except to ship and deposit

[BiggJawn]

107. That moonroof is killing you.

They spent millions of bucks designing a car that would hardly disturb the smoke trails in the wind tunnel, then Marketing twisted their arms to put that "Moonroof" in it. Care to guess what that does to the formerly smooth airflow?

Question #1. the AC MIGHT cost you 2 MPG. Disturbed airflow from the moonroof, or running "4-60 AC" (4 windows down at 60 MPH) might cost you more than 30%.

Question #2. Wish the fuck I knew. We just went this YEAR back up to 70 on rural interstates. Guess the ReTHUGS wanna use ALL those cubic inches in their Escalades...

Question #3. Not enough that you would notice it. the heat you're using to warm the cabin is a waste project of the engine. Engines are more efficient when they're warm, but the heater core is just taking some extra load off the radiator. Might cost some economy if it's 35 below outside and over-cooling the engine, but otherwise, it's not a factor.

Question #4. Get religiouis about your tyre pressure. weekly checks are not too often. Under-inflated tyres can cost you dearly.
Avoid quick starts. They don't give out prizes for fast acceleration outside of the drag strip.

Get those 4 bags of water softener salt out of the trunk that your dad told you to put in there for "better traction on snow". You've got front drive, and excess weight costs you. ditto for those 3,000 CD's in the back seat :-)

Keep the windows up, remove the raccoon tail from the radio antenna, anything to minimize air drag.

Keep everything in good mechanical condition. Front wheel alignment can cause extra drag (even though it'd show up as obscene tyre wear before you'd niotice it much at the pump) Dirty air filters cause bad milage.
Other things in the maintenance depertment, like O2 sensors, dirty fuel injectors, etc. can cause you problems. follow the recommended service specs.

Automatic trannys don't hurt you as much in the milage department as they did 30 years ago. Most AT's these days have "Lock-Up" torque convertors in them that physically "lock" once you reach top gear and a certain speed. I stopped driving manuals after my Tempo started causing knee damage with it's too-stiff clutch spring.

Take all this with a grain of salt. I'm not "Mr. Goodwrench", nor do I play him on Teeee-Veeee. Your Milage May Vary, but I think you're right in thinking that 23 MPG isn't right for an '02 Honda.