Quote:
Originally Posted by Daelb
A question if I may, are you guys that are getting the 40+ mpg consistantly doing actual miles traveled divided by amount of fuel used to travel that distance or are you just looking at the MPG readout on the speedometer?
Thanks.
|
I've heard that the MPG readout can be a bit optimistic at times, at least when it comes to averaging. I've notice that, in comparison to my calculations, it puts me 2-4 MPG over what I'm actually getting. On my recent trip to Dayton, however, it was nearly spot-on (gauge showed 47.3, I calculated 46).
As for being on crack, I'm afraid not. The only thing I did differently perhaps is that I let the car slow down on hills as opposed to trying to maintain the same speed (a reason why I hate cruise control). Since there will inevitably be a downgrade at some point, I let that get me back up to speed. It's kind of funny sometimes watching people in the fast lane (I NEVER do this is the fast lane--if you do any hypermiling in the fast lane (unless you are exiting on the left) you are being somewhat of a d*ck) speed past me and then a few minutes later see them look over and I'm right next to them watching them ride their brakes down a hill.
Also, I always drive the speed limit (mostly 55 to 65 around here).
In the city, I don't hurry from one red light to the next, I just tap the gas and let the car roll to the next light. I know some people are extreme and just let the car roll, but this seems inconsiderate to me as the people behind you might not make the light b/c of you. In addition, I try to turn my car off at lights that i KNOW are really flipping long; we have quite a few of those around here. Your mileage gauge still averages, even when you're idling. So I highly recommend doing this at lights you KNOW are at least 10+ seconds long. I never do this at "new" stoplights that I know nothing about, however.
My lifetime average, as you can see, is only <35 MPG, much like you are getting. This is because I played with my car quite a bit for the first couple of tanks (using paddle shifters, passing on the highway, being a general arse). Once I started doing the above, I saw a significant increase in mileage. Now I'm getting 30-35 in the city and 40-45 on the highway.
-P