Official Thread for posting daily FE updates

[DRW]

I didn't expect this tank to go as well as it did. My driving style has been relatively normal for the past week. Or perhaps FE driving style is becoming second nature? I guess I did a little more drafting than normal, and the weather has been nicer around here. Still, I was suprised to find the tank only took 12.289 gallons for 509.7 miles. 41.48 mpg! My second best tank!

My mpg meter showed me something that I didn't expect one day- I got better FE in a traffic jam than I did when driving steadily on an open freeway. HUH? I thought about it and noticed this particular traffic jam never came to a complete stop. We kept rolling around 20mph and above. I was able to begin coasting in neutral far enough in advance so I didn't have to use the brakes very much. When I needed to scrub off more speed I'd put the car in the highest gear that would activate coasting fuel cut without scrubbing off too much speed. I think I'm getting better at gaging other cars speed and distance so I know when to begin coasting so I don't have to brake. When accellerating I'd use the highest gear, shift at low rpm, and accellerate at a rate that would let a gap open up in front of me so I'd have a buffer when traffic slowed again. I guess I managed it very well! I'm almost looking forward to traffic jams again.

I'm also using pulse and glide more effectively. There aren't too many opporitunities for P+G since my commute is crowded and mostly flat, but I have a better feel for it now and it's improved my FE slightly.

[rh77]

That's Torque Convertin' Business (TCB) After realizing that the throttle/transmission cable wasn't tight enough to lock-up the TC, and spending 5 minutes to tighten it, I've already realized at least 2 MPG City mileage from a cold start on a short trip.

I'm excited to see what the highway brings today (about a 50-mile trip). With all of the diagnoses to try to fix this problem in the past year or more, the simplest was the correct one (OK Murphy, you can stop laughing now). It just burns me up that I've been missing out on 800 RPM avg, and closer to 1000 most times because of this simple thing.

But it needs tweaking. It shifts really hard and the TC acts odd, trying to engage early. I know, it would probably be a great way to grenade the tranny, but a new manual conversion isn't in the budget right now -- so it has to last.

Back to the garage, but progress has been made!

RH77

[jwxr7]

Just filled up today with a record tank @ 57.05 mpg . The first half of that was closer to 60 mpg but went downhill on the last half due to poor driving conditions . Still can't complain too much. I will see a 60 mpg tank someday soon .

[MetroMPG]

Nice work. The Metro Experience gas log sure has a nice slope to it. Spring & summer should be interesting!

[diamondlarry]

My "daily" average didn't reset last night because I was out too late. My mom had knee replacement surgery and I didn't get home until after 9:00 pm and I leave at about 4:55 am. I'll report both days' segments.
3-5-07
1) 53.5-5.9 miles
2) 58.9-5.9 miles
3) 61.8-9.2 miles
4) 62.3-9.2 miles

3-6-07
1) 45.7-5.8 miles
2) 59.9-9.6 miles
3) 62.6-9.6 miles
4) 59.7-6.3 miles
5) 56.2-5.5 miles
6) 68.9-5.5 miles
7) 72.5-4.8 miles
8) 58.9-4.8 miles
Average for the two days: 59.1 over 82.9 miles

[rh77]

Today's ScanGauge average for 82 miles of combined driving is 39.8! My highway mileage has increased by 7-8 mpg with the TC fixed. The best I could do with EOC-ing and really trying for it yielded around 34-combined.

Now, only if the TCU will make up its mind.

There was a period of driving where it just would NOT lock up. I tried a variety of items:

Ensured D4 was securely selected
No overheating noted, temp = 213F -- blasted the heat to be on the safe side
Shifted back to D3 and D4, N-D4, and even pulled off onto an exit. Put the car in Park, shut it down, and restarted.
Still no TC-lockup.
Speeds were around 60. All day, like clockwork, when the SG showed 35 it kicked right in (very noticeable as the exhaust rattles at that RPM).

About 10 miles later it finally engaged. No loose parts, TPS varied.

I've come to one conclusion. If you have an automatic:

The torque converter. Can't live with it. Can't live without it. /

RH77

[kickflipjr]

Good News:

404miles @ 9.17gallons =44mpg

I drove slow and did LOTS of EOC. I wonder what I can get in the summer.

[MetroMPG]

Kick: come summer, I'm betting you'll see 50 without too much trouble.

Today: 73.2 mpg (US)

19.x miles round trip; 24 avg; 54 max; P&G, baby!

1 EBH assisted cold start

Brrr: -9C / 15F

Engine didn't even reach full operating temps. Peaked at 188F.

[kickflipjr]

I am a believer in EOCing/P&Ging now (that last tank was in less then optimal conditions). Also, I have to say my tires probably have around 25psi in them right now (I have been too lazy and it has been to cold to fill them up).

[cfg83]

Hello -

Total MPG disaster today. Everything was going perfectly until I got caught in probably a 10 mile backup caused by two trucks that crashed and burned on the 105 West. 3 out of 4 lanes closed. No where to go, and not enough info from the stupid @#$*%&^@$#*^@#$ radio traffic report to figure out what was going on. If I had figured out what was happening, I would have been able to avoid it completely.

There was no chance to even try to EOC because everything was crawling along at maybe 1 MPH and the interchange from the 710 to the 105 is an incline. My engine coolant kept getting uncomfortably hot, so I would hit the AC long enough to turn on the electric fan and cool off the engine (gotta install that radiator fan switch to avoid using the AC compressor!!!!).

This is my bread and butter run for FE, so it has been a bad day on the gas saving front. The is easily the worst single run ever.

MPG : 28 (all time best for this route is 56.4)
Route : 10 West -> 710 South -> 105 West -> CRASH HERE -> 405 South -> Exit Freeway
Miles : 27.4
MPH Avg: 16
MPH Max : 70
RPM Max : 3042
Gallons : 1
IAT Reading : Hot Air Intake led to Input Air Temp readings of 150+ degrees F.

Net Elevation Change : ~210 feet drop

Weather : 73 degrees F, Partly cloudy, 37% Humidity, 42.5 degrees F Dew Point
Time : ~11:30 AM to ~1:15 PM, ~1 hour 45 minutes (normally 30 minutes)

CarloSW2