THE Miles Per Gallon Thread (merged)

BaBaBlackSheep · Coal Joined: May 27, 2008 Posts: 10 Location: Wisconsin

Best ever at fill up today. 34.3 mpg on '95 Chevy S10-2WD-4cyl-manual. Filled at $3.93 a gallon with regular containing no ethanol, but I have to note: The tank of gas burned to get the 34.3 was from Shell station WITH 10% ethanol. Our best before was 32.6.

We live out back of beyond and only 100 of the miles on the tank could be considered highway driving where we went the speed limit of 55 mph and everyone else flew by us. We go slower on our back roads and have hills that we coast down (and halfway up the other side!).

Aiming for 35 next fill and if we don't get it, might put stuff with ethanol in again to see...

Gerben

3aidlillahi · Intermediate Crude Joined: Mar 25, 2008 Posts: 590

On my last fill-up, I got 320 miles on 11.56 gallons for 27.7 mpg in a 2002 Chevy Malibu. The book says it gets 20/29 city/hwy mileage. I drive about 7 miles each way only 2 on an actual highway, though. I cruise-control it at 60 once on the highway.

The rest on two lane roads with little traffic (when I drive) which allows me to coast all the time (at the detest of the drivers behind me). I don't use the A/C nor do I drive with the windows down which is tough when it's nearly 100 right now outside (much hotter in the car) with a 40% humidity. Whenever I'm coasting off the highway or towards a stoplight, I quickly roll down all the windows to cool off and put them back up when I know I'm going to be getting back above 30 mph (otherwise, the drag kills fuel efficiency).

I'm getting off the car in a week or so. Moving towards a bike which will be an experience in central NC weather this summer and fall. I'll likely be taking two short showers as a result: one after each ride to school/work and back. I'd do more experiments with 55 vs. 60 mph, etc. but I won't be using the car that much anymore.

EDIT: That 29.0 mpg on the highway is pre-10% ethanol. So the highway mpg should be a good bit lower. I'm wondering if I'm actually doing better than what the book would say if it were to factor in 10% ethanol. Also, my front driver's side tire is a bit low which is probably costing me a good bit, maybe a couple of percent efficiency. Oil needs to be changed. I'm hoping I can pop it over 30 mpg (or at least equivalent).
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Riches are not from abundance of worldly goods, but from a contented mind.

sicophiliac

My best average yet was roughly 35.6 mpg in my 2006 Toyota Corolla S with an automatic transmission. I had recently switched jobs about a month ago and before hand the best I could get was around 28 mpg due to relentless stop and go traffic during my commute. Now my commute is basically all freeway and no traffic. I was getting 33-34 before the 25 mile service at the dealership, now after the oil change and what not I got 35.6... driving like a grandma.I try staying around 60 mph on average in the freeway, keeping my window only slightly open on warm days and not using the AC. Coast to stop lights, I even catch myself doing "California stops" at stop signs where there is obviously no risk of getting a ticket or an accident. One thing I do as well now is make sure I shut my car off ASAP once I stop somewhere, after that I will do: put sunglasses away,pull parking brake,unbuckle etc. I plan to keep up on my tire pressure too every few weeks from now on to keep things running at top efficiency. I gotta say for a pretty roomy car I am impressed with the mileage of this thing.. especially on the freeway.

KillTheHumans

sicophiliac

mystiek

We went by the Honda dealer this weekend after bimonthly venture to Sams Club. There was only one Honda civic left on the lot. He was expecting 4 more in Monday, but there was already deposits " per the dealer"... Mileage avg around town 30 mpg and highway 40 plus according to the sticker. My husband is considering this car because we do alot of "running around town" errands between the kids and our business. I still want to get an estimate from the local amish about building a horse drawn buggy since we have several horses that are more than capable to pull a buggy, but I can't quite convince my husband yet...

VMarcHart

Question to the participants. In addition to MPG, how much fuel did you use last month, or do you use in a monthly average?

Me, 18-20 gallons, about a tank and change.

VMarcHart

Question to the group, in addition of MPG, how much fuel do you consume on a monthly average?

Me, 15-18 gallons. A tank and change.

sicophiliac

Last tank that I filled up today for 49 bucks got me a hair over 36 mpg, even using the AC a couple times on top of it.

misterno

I have 2002 Hyundai Accent auto, AC and I got 21mpg in the city.

I changed spark plugs, not the wires cuz wires still good, I change the air filter every 6 months, tires in good shape, it has 62K miles on it, and car is only 6 years old.

Why am I getting so low MPG? Do you think it is a good idea to change the fule filter? How about throttle positioner or oxygen sensor? It is gotta be something that causes this.

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3112 Location: Maine

I just got a little over 27mpg, which is pretty good considering that was almost no highway. I have a small ranger pickup with 2 wheel drive. I use it for truck things on a daily basis, so I wanted something that would get car mileage, but still do truck things.

I think it's a good balance.

When I go on long trips I take my wife's car which got 43 mpg on a recent 1000 mile trip. It kept getting that and I filled it twice.

Ain't nobody gonna clip my wings!

That's why we drive cars that get good gas mileage.
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Deep in the mud and slime of things, even there, something sings.

3aidlillahi · Intermediate Crude Joined: Mar 25, 2008 Posts: 590

WisJim

We drove more in the last week or so than we usually do in a few months, as we took 2 vehicles to the Renewable Energy Fair, about 160 miles from home. My son took the Ford Ranger, with all of our camping stuff in the back and towing a trailer with his electric ComutaCar on it (he was exhibiting the electric car at the fair). He averaged almost 23mpg with the load and the trailer. We averaged 50.7mpg in our Metro, loaded with food etc., and carrying a friend on the way home. We often do better for mpg with either vehicle, but don't often drive them that far with that much extra load.
Before going to the fair, it had been 5 weeks since filling up the Metro, and it took 6 gallons to fill it.

evilgenius