Eco FITFit for Fuel! Got the low mileage blues? Care to share a 40+mpg tale? Automatic vs. Manual? Come here to discuss topics on fuel efficiency and other Green Topics
Cruise in the highest possible gear; shift early (2.5K or less if conditions allow). Accelerating hard to get into high gear sooner is fine. Where traffic permits, accelerating quickly and then coasting in neutral (or declutched) is particularly efficient. Likewise roll downhill to pick up speed for the next uphill. The car uses no fuel while engine braking; use it to coast toward a stop or if you'd roll too fast downhill. Using the brakes is throwing energy away; do it as little as possible.
All of those above would be true if you drive like that for a month; the ECU will then learn thats how you drive.
My ECU knows that I drive with a slight heavy foot. If I drive like they explained above I cant break 100miles before 3/4 tank. If I shift at 3000-4200rpms with slight/sorta heavy foot then I get 33mpg city WITH a/c on.
If I drive like a beeeech, I get 29mpg. No more. Its happening right now. I didnt even break 200miles at half tank. Ughh!
Depends where you drive as well. My wife is unable to drive less than 10 mph over the speed limit on the freeway. It kills the overall tank.
General stuff has been touched on. Here is my rundown:
1. Cruising in and shifting the lowest gear reasonable
2. Keeping speed (this can be fun too!)
3. Time lights to avoid overt braking
3. Neutral where possible and legal
4. Don't surge (unless its stop and go...you don't need your brakes on the freeway other than emergency situations. If you are using your brakes assess your following distance. Unless of course your in LA then proceed to tap your brakes every few seconds).
5. Don't speed (we drive a toaster...not an autobahn cruiser, high speeds are not good on the ole' mpg o'meter).
6. Don't autox/race (OK yes do it on a closed course...it's worth it!)
This is not comprehensive, and it repeats others as well. I use the above comments on myself on a daily basis to try and slow down, be safe, and save money. I drive like a little old man around town and autox on the weekends (helps get those redline urges out). Avg 37mpg combined city/hwy/autox
Use a manual transmission for best results but if you have the automatic, let it shift automatically- don't assume you can control the gears for high mpg better.
Don't carry lots of heavy things in your car all the time- travel light
Don't let others drive the car if they don't observe the rules above.
Don't put on a roof rack and pile up stuff to increase wind drag.
Don't order extra wide and large aftermarket wheels and tires.