Why I love summer weather!

I've had nearly ideal driving conditions for my commute and even my one short trip isn't killing my mileage (short = ~1.25 miles each way with a 2 hour break inbetween).

I've had calm winds going into work and tailwinds going home (~10-15 mph) instead of the typical cross/tail winds I normally get. While we did have some showers one morning, it wasn't too bad. Warm weather has helped A TON!! Temps in the 70's - 80's are perfect. Add in some heavy traffic, so I have an excuse to slow down even more and I'm sitting at a best tank (for the moment). Likely, it will fall when I visit my parent's on Saturday, but I'm going to revel in it now.

Voila!!

 

It is going to be tough. Mostly because I am forced to drive on the weekends and that is when I get my "worst" mileage. The trip to the folks will be in the afternoon, when the winds are kicking up (thus, I'm driving into a headwind). If I'm VERY lucky, there will be a big rig crossing the bridge driving 60 mph that I can tuck in behind and have him move most of the air.

We'll see what I can get. If the weather holds up, I'll be able to make it up during the week, but I don't think I'll beat 70.0 mpg. I think that's why I took the photo, to show that I was above 70.0 mpg for over 400 miles before the weekend hit.

I raised my average from 70.2 to 70.3 mpg on the way home today, and that was with a net elevation gain of 400 feet. Tailwinds are as awesome as headwinds stink.

 

Weather truly does play a big part in the car's performance (beyond driver behavior). Just having weather that was in the 70's to 80's helped improve my MPG's by at least 5 MPG.

On my trip home from work, the MPG gauge read 70.2 mpg (405 miles or so) and when I got home it was 70.3 mpg (437 miles). That was with an elevation INCREASE of 400 feet. Wind plays a big part in the car performance.

 

Back from a trip to my parent's house. Ran into headwinds on the bridge and no nice and big brick (big rig) to hide behind. Car is currently at 530 miles or so and the tank MPG is showing 69.8 mpg. If I don't drive my car tomorrow and I get at a couple days of commuting in, I may be able to salvage a 70.0+ mpg tank (displayed).

 

Approximately ~35 miles to work with a net 400 foot decrease in elevation to work. It takes me about 45 -50 minutes or so to make it to work and about an 55 - 60 min to get home. I try to keep my top speed to 60 mph, and more typically 58 - 59 mph). But, if I have the opportunity to cruise behind a truck or car that is driving 55 mph, I'll fall in behind them. Tire pressures are set to 44 PSI front and 42 PSI rear (max PSI for the Yokohama Avid S33 are 44 PSI).

I also have the added benefit of having about 3 - 5 miles of slow and go traffic, which is an opportunity to pulse and glide (typically speeds between 10 - 30 mph at different parts of the freeway).

On the way home, I'll get 5 miles of slow and go (plus a little stop and go, courtesy of a metering light) and a crosswind (mostly tail) in the summer time of about 15 mph.

 

During "typical" weather, I usually see about a 3 mpg difference, something like 64 mpg coming to work and 61 mpg going home. But it isn't all due to elevation change.

Going to work, the winds are typically calm and the commute is fairly predictable in regards to traffic patterns.

My return (uphill) trip usually is in warmer weather and either sports a cross/tail wind or a tail wind (which can hinder or really help my mileage). Traffic is often a bit heavier, so I will have more opportunity to pulse and glide coming home.

 

A quick update: I started my commute with the tank average down to 69.6 MPG (I had to drive to my son's baseball game yesterday). I arrived at work this morning and the tank average is 69.9 MPG. Temps are reported to be cooling down during the week, so it is going to be close to see if I can get a 70+ mpg tank for 700 miles (just to say I drove 700 miles on a tank).

 

Got home with the MPG at 69.9. My usual exit from the freeway was clogged up due to a traffic accident on surface streets. I had to take the next exit (which is closer to my house) but it involves me climbing a steep hill, taking an exit ramp that descends even more steeply. Ends in a stop sign. Then I have to make a left turn and go back up a steep hill. Stupidly inefficient. Later on, I had to drive a short trip to another baseball game (2.5 hours with a cold wind....y.a.y.) and an cold drive home. Sitting at 69.8 mpg. 613 miles. PIP started flashing about 3 miles ago.