Basic MPG questions
#11
Re: Basic MPG questions
If your a pilot, you didn't mention a head wind. I was driving home from a cottage yesterday through some open farm land. A bit of rain but very high winds were pushing me around. My Scanguage showed a 10MPG drop at 60MPH with the wind. I drove though a series of passing storms, when it finally cleared up, my MPG returned to normal.
Bob
06 FEH 2WD
Fayetteville, GA/Enterprise, AL
#12
Re: Basic MPG questions
True statement. I hadn't figured in headwind issues, since it wasn't mentioned. I presumed he was referring to overall mileage for his trips, in which case, headwinds are normally only a portion of the average conditions involved. If this was, in fact, the case, I stand corrected on my comments.
Bob
06 FEH 2WD
Fayetteville, GA/Enterprise, AL
Bob
06 FEH 2WD
Fayetteville, GA/Enterprise, AL
#13
Re: Basic MPG questions
I agree that you cannot beat the mileage you can get manually with careful attention, but if you have ever driven across the great plains, you would appreciate having cruise control. The greatest variation in elevation for miles on end often is the occasional overpass.
I have often wondered if the auto companies have worked on more options on cruise control with driver selection on the variance between the maximum and minimum RPMs. I don't know what it is on current cruise controls, say set speed +/- 10% with change in loads. For a lesser hit on miles per gallon, what if the driver could select 15, 20, or 25% variance under load. I suppose that the manufacturer would worry about liability.
#14
Re: Basic MPG questions
I agree that you cannot beat the mileage you can get manually with careful attention, but if you have ever driven across the great plains, you would appreciate having cruise control. The greatest variation in elevation for miles on end often is the occasional overpass.
I have often wondered if the auto companies have worked on more options on cruise control with driver selection on the variance between the maximum and minimum RPMs. I don't know what it is on current cruise controls, say set speed +/- 10% with change in loads. For a lesser hit on miles per gallon, what if the driver could select 15, 20, or 25% variance under load. I suppose that the manufacturer would worry about liability.
I have often wondered if the auto companies have worked on more options on cruise control with driver selection on the variance between the maximum and minimum RPMs. I don't know what it is on current cruise controls, say set speed +/- 10% with change in loads. For a lesser hit on miles per gallon, what if the driver could select 15, 20, or 25% variance under load. I suppose that the manufacturer would worry about liability.
#15
Re: Basic MPG questions
I listen to Road Dog trucker radio sometimes. They are comming out with smart cruise control in the big rigs.
Right now, they have smart cruise control that maintains a set distance from the vehicle ahead. ( in some high end cars too )
Up in the next 1 year, they will have GPS enabled cruise control for trucks, that will automatically gear the truck down on grades. ( more and more big rigs are Automatics these days... no more "gear jammin'" but if they have GPS cruise control for trucks.....
Right now, they have smart cruise control that maintains a set distance from the vehicle ahead. ( in some high end cars too )
Up in the next 1 year, they will have GPS enabled cruise control for trucks, that will automatically gear the truck down on grades. ( more and more big rigs are Automatics these days... no more "gear jammin'" but if they have GPS cruise control for trucks.....
#16
Re: Basic MPG questions
I've often wondered about a couple options for cruise control...
Pulse and glide
Conservative cruise (maintains rpm, not speed)
Maintain a distance from vehicle ahead (great for drafting)
Pulse and glide
Conservative cruise (maintains rpm, not speed)
Maintain a distance from vehicle ahead (great for drafting)
#17
Re: Basic MPG questions
If I drove 70-80mph I would not even waste my time looking at my average MPG. Also, the '09 MPG average gauge is 4% higher than gas pumped at fill-up. My nav system said I was averaging 62.8mpg when I only got a 58mpg tank.
GaryG
#18
Re: Basic MPG questions
My wife did say she ran into a fair amount of wind - kind of hard not to drive through the Plains states and not see some wind.
Yes my wife used the CC quite a bit, but the 75-80 MPH kind of kills everything else. I keep the tires inflated to 38 psi, don't want to go too high and lose the traction. I'm happy getting anything over 25 MPG in an SUV considering my old Cash for Clunkers 1996 Blazer used to get 19-20 MPG max.
Yes my wife used the CC quite a bit, but the 75-80 MPH kind of kills everything else. I keep the tires inflated to 38 psi, don't want to go too high and lose the traction. I'm happy getting anything over 25 MPG in an SUV considering my old Cash for Clunkers 1996 Blazer used to get 19-20 MPG max.
#19
Re: Basic MPG questions
Looks like the gang has covered this issue fairly well.
Mileage goes down with:
Cold
Speed
Under Inflated Tires
Wind
Obviously a tail wind helps. Not everyone knows but a side wind can be just as bad as a head wind. A side wind evidently goofs up the aerodynamics.
On flat ground I notice better mileage heading East (generally with the wind) than West (generally into the prevailing wind).
Going 80 mph into a 20 mph headwind is like driving 100 mph!
Mileage goes down with:
Cold
Speed
Under Inflated Tires
Wind
Obviously a tail wind helps. Not everyone knows but a side wind can be just as bad as a head wind. A side wind evidently goofs up the aerodynamics.
On flat ground I notice better mileage heading East (generally with the wind) than West (generally into the prevailing wind).
Going 80 mph into a 20 mph headwind is like driving 100 mph!
#20
Re: Basic MPG questions
Gary:
Have you and a couple of the hypermileage gurus ever considered doing a YouTube video on your techniques? It would be useful for some of us newbies.
Bob
06 FEH 2WD
Fayetteville, GA/Enterprise, AL
Have you and a couple of the hypermileage gurus ever considered doing a YouTube video on your techniques? It would be useful for some of us newbies.
Bob
06 FEH 2WD
Fayetteville, GA/Enterprise, AL