Phase Two - Drive Normal

That's why I drive bare footed. It enhances that feeling in a big way.

 

Did it today, going to Memphis and back, 300 miles. Drove that bad boy like there was no tomorrow. Dropped from 50 mpg to 48. I am impressed. Had a strong headwind this morning and saw some low mileage readings on the Ultra Gauge. Was surprised at the final reading.
Dan

 

I did my daily post office trip today without trying to do anything "special" except not floor it from a dead stop. Covered up the screen so I wouldn't be tempted to peek. 4 miles north, 3.4 miles east with the first leg being fairly level and the second leg being mostly a gentle downward incline. To the post office, I still managed 73.2 MPG and on the return trip (3.4 mile leg, different street which includes one good sized hill and, currently, a construction zone) still managed 69.4. Battery was at three bars when I started, outside temperature 75 degrees. I do always let the ICE warm up before I move the car... the manual says to, it gives me time to "settle", and I just hate the sound from the ICE when it isn't warmed up first.

 

how long do you let the ice warm up for?

 

Boojoo, it usually only takes a minute or two... maybe three if it's really cold out. Turn key and a few seconds later the engine starts to rumble (idle)... when it is almost done, the sound will ramp up just a tiny bit, then the ICE shuts down and the car is silent. That's when I put it in gear and start driving.

I'm never in so much of a hurry that I can't wait that couple of minutes, and as I said before it gives me time to do things like put on my sunglasses (when appropriate), remove and store the heat shield, fasten seat belt, roll windows down, decide if I want radio or USB or if I'm going to make a phone call, blow my nose, clean my glasses, get that smudge off the windshield. If I just sat down and waited, it would probably seem to take forever, but since I make use of those couple of minutes, it all works out for the best for me.

 

Well I never have "extra" time but I'm going to give this a (meaning one) shot. I'm the boss so who is going to yell at me if I'm a few min late lol.

 

Because of Boo's question, I timed it this evening. Outside temperature at 75 Fahrenheit, car had been sitting in parking lot for 6 hours, battery at half full. Took less than 60 seconds for ICE to cycle through warm up and shut down to silent. Got over 90 MPG on the drive home (9.4 miles) without any extra effort to hypermile.

I don't know how much, if any, impact the warm up has on the MPG, mainly I do it because the manual says you should and because I just hate the painful sound the engine makes when driving during that same 60 seconds of warm up.

 

Man I was kinda joking about you and few other people getting better mpg than me. now you drop a 90!!!!! You keep that up and im going to look like some kinda H2/Escalade driver compared to you.

I will also time and check temp tomorrow and report back to everyone.

 

Interesting on letting the car "warm up". I am going to watch the cooling temperature on the engine. Then I can see how quick it warms up to an "acceptable" temperature, before I hit the street. I noticed this morning that the temperature was 68 degrees, on the engine coolant, when I turned the key on. One advantage to having an engine temperature gauge in the Ultra Gauge.
Dan

 

RocMills how are you getting 90? That blows my mind. I am getting average 50-55. I did get a 74.4 yesterday, with not a lot of traffic at the time and I was able to glide more.

There are a few hilly streets that must effect my score too. And I am located in Minnesota.

My trips are very short -under 15 mins, and 5 miles to work everyday. I did try to warm up the car for a few minutes today. I did get a slightly better score then usual. Not sure why!

 

I just wish I was the only driver of the car so that I could show my results at Fuelly. Unfortunately, my husband (who drives the car 4-5 times a week) refuses to engage in any good mileage techniques, so his driving drastically skews my overall average.

My typical drive, 4 times a day, is 7.4 to 9.7 miles. There are few stretches of flat road, mostly gentle ups and downs. I accelerate slowly, never get into the power/red zone. I let the car drop into natural EV whenever possible (as long as the battery is halfway charged or better). I use a neutral glide whenever possible. That's it. Nothing really remarkable as far as I know. Oh, I don't use a/c or heater unless it is absolutely necessary.

 

If I was sole driver of the car, I could probably get my Fuelly signature up past yours, sadly with two other drivers who refuse to play the game I will probably never get the overall average above 65. :-(

What I need is a second C, one that only I drive...

 

Do you have your ECO mode button pressed or go without?

 

Until this week, I always drove with the ECO button engaged. However, since the Eco mode seems to be irrelevant if you are not using a/c or heat and you have no trouble controlling the gas pedal, I decided to try going without it. I have not seen any change in my MPG as a result of not using Eco.

 

Thanks!

 

How many miles on your C, Boo? I saw a marked increase in MPG after I hit the 2,000 mile mark. From what I have read in these forums, I expect to see another increase when I hit the 5,000 mile mark. Honestly, though, I don't know if that's the car breaking or the driving breaking in. ;-)

 

This morning as I opened the garage, got in my car a d started it. Unlike normal I did not pull out right away. I waited and after a few sec the ice kicked on. Scanguage coolent temp read 67. After 1:34min the ice kicked off. Coolent temp then was at 97. Pre grill blocking I saw about 170-180 max and post grill blocking I see just about 200. This worm up time, while not conclusive seemed to hurt my overall mileage for about the first half of my drive but as my drive is over 20 miles it seemed to absorbed by the normal margin of error in my drive. Therefor I am concluding that the amazing mileage the great Rocmills brings to the table is not due to the worm up time given to the car. It is because of the attitude that comes from the type of person that lets the car do its thing and waiting when most would not.

If I had a hat I'd tip it to you Rocmills.

 

Revan86, I did the very same thing this morning. Engine was 60 degrees, same as outside temp. In 3 minutes it was 100 and the engine turned back off. I drove away on electric. Can't see it helped my mileage any but might be better for the car. When I work it I get 50 mpg on our 26 mile hiway drive to the office. This week, I drive like normal folks. Getting 45 mpg. Speed is 5 mph over speed limit, 70 mph. I still had a 66 vdub pass me this morning and left me. I am happy and that is all that matters. If I want 50 I slow down. Want to have fun and drive normal, I get 45. Life is good either way.
Dan

 

I respect that and that you are having fun in a car with even when driven still gets 45mpg. Besides I need people like you to race up to that light and trip the switch for me so I can roll through at 5mph lol.

Have fun and may the MPGs be with you. Even if your not to worried about it.