Ohio in da house

[MiddleMike]

Hello everybody!

Found this forum from a link off another site (BIS). Great forum and information here, think I'll stick around.

My setup at home consists of:

2006 Toyota Matrix, uncustomized - 34 to 36mpg measured on average hgwy

2005 Suzuki Boulevard C50 (windscreen, bags, chick-bar) 50 - 55mpg

2005 Yamaha Vino 125cc. (windscreen addition only) 75 - 85mpg measured, city (only goes 50mph with my big butt on it)

My mileage results from self learned driving habits that are apparently what you folks call "hypermiling". Not a true hypermiler per se as I don't go to the extremes, but I have altered my driving habits radically the last year and the results have shown. Used to get 24 to 26mpg in the Matrix, now get 34 to 36 (last tank was 36.8 mpg).

I'm here to pick up a few more driving habit tips (that are safe), and ask about customizing the Matrix (and maybe the motorcycle/scooter) to make them more FE.

Seen some terms floated about air daming, not entirely sure how one goes about this really, at least in my automobile. Also interested in learning how to make one's own custom aerodynamic parts that look like they actually belong on the car (not looking for cardboard wheel well covers, lol). Engine mods I'm not certain about, to be honest. My mechanical aptitude is reasonable, however, I know little to nothing about working on modern cars (meaning cars once they started putting computers in them and locking them down to be nearly in accessible to those of us who grew up turning wrenches on old American autos from the 1950's through 1980's). Resources for these kinds of things would be greatly appreciated when I locate them.

So anyway, hi everybody!