My turn for IMA problems – advice needed!
#31
10-21-2011, 12:38 PM
Re: My turn for IMA problems – advice needed!
Here's an update, and a sheepish confession.
After the replacement of my IMA pack, which did not fix my MPG issues, I prematurely jumped to blame the car and/or other factors outside of my control. Several people here and elsewhere went out of their way to give me good advice about a "relearning" process.
However (and here's the confession), I have come to realize that my lazy driving habits (very sub-optimal "mindless" driving practices) and new driving pattern (very short trips, lots more hills) were the only culprits.
By correcting my habits, I am getting superb fuel economy, as before, whenever I drive my old routes. This week, I had a chance to make a 250-mile round trip, and it was simple to get 53 MPG with A/C cruising at 70 MPH.
I got a good laugh over my situation, realizing how I had considered every factor to blame other than myself. You'd think after 10 years of hybrid driving that I'd know better!
Case closed.
After the replacement of my IMA pack, which did not fix my MPG issues, I prematurely jumped to blame the car and/or other factors outside of my control. Several people here and elsewhere went out of their way to give me good advice about a "relearning" process.
However (and here's the confession), I have come to realize that my lazy driving habits (very sub-optimal "mindless" driving practices) and new driving pattern (very short trips, lots more hills) were the only culprits.
By correcting my habits, I am getting superb fuel economy, as before, whenever I drive my old routes. This week, I had a chance to make a 250-mile round trip, and it was simple to get 53 MPG with A/C cruising at 70 MPH.
I got a good laugh over my situation, realizing how I had considered every factor to blame other than myself. You'd think after 10 years of hybrid driving that I'd know better!
Case closed.
#32
10-21-2011, 05:08 PM
Re: My turn for IMA problems – advice needed!
thats great Steve!
those are great numbers - you may set some records if you do 58MPH without A/C
those are great numbers - you may set some records if you do 58MPH without A/C
#34
10-22-2011, 02:11 PM
Re: My turn for IMA problems – advice needed!
"Driver re-learn procedure." Hehe, good one. Yes, complacency and arrogance are dangerous human traits!
Small update today: I filled my tires today and discovered the dealer had ignored my instruction to leave the @#$% pressures (44 PSI) alone. They were at 32/30, and yet I still did remarkably well (53 MPG, as noted above) with fuel economy.
Not-so-incidentally, I discovered during this morning's fill that the @#$% tech failed to re-install TWO of my valve stem caps after my most recent service for faulty driver's side window (last month), and a third cap was unthreaded nearly to the point of falling off.
I hate that dealerships always want to monkey with tire pressures without permission.
Moral: I'm not the only dimwit at loose! Let's propose a technician re-learn procedure, too.
Small update today: I filled my tires today and discovered the dealer had ignored my instruction to leave the @#$% pressures (44 PSI) alone. They were at 32/30, and yet I still did remarkably well (53 MPG, as noted above) with fuel economy.
Not-so-incidentally, I discovered during this morning's fill that the @#$% tech failed to re-install TWO of my valve stem caps after my most recent service for faulty driver's side window (last month), and a third cap was unthreaded nearly to the point of falling off.
I hate that dealerships always want to monkey with tire pressures without permission.
Moral: I'm not the only dimwit at loose! Let's propose a technician re-learn procedure, too.
#36
10-23-2011, 06:12 PM
Re: My turn for IMA problems – advice needed!
Okay, the "official" numbers are in...
By driving mindfully over my usual route which was netting me 37 MPG in a rather careless manner, I was easily able to achieve 46.23 MPG, with little additional attention. That's a nine-plus MPG increase over the same route, with same conditions!
Clearly, with the HCH, fuel economy is driver-dependent.
I still can't believe, as a seasoned hypermiler, that I could have fallen so far off the path! Cracks me up.
P.S. Tire PSIs are now back to 43/41, but my good fuel economy was largely at horrific 32/30.
By driving mindfully over my usual route which was netting me 37 MPG in a rather careless manner, I was easily able to achieve 46.23 MPG, with little additional attention. That's a nine-plus MPG increase over the same route, with same conditions!
Clearly, with the HCH, fuel economy is driver-dependent.
I still can't believe, as a seasoned hypermiler, that I could have fallen so far off the path! Cracks me up.
P.S. Tire PSIs are now back to 43/41, but my good fuel economy was largely at horrific 32/30.
#37
10-23-2011, 07:09 PM
Re: My turn for IMA problems – advice needed!
Steven,
I had same issue was getting 4.2 L per 100 km (67 Mpg imperial) on my daily commute, then started having problems with battery. Around this time I also changed my commute slightly which put me up against some more hills. My economy fell to 5.2 l per 100 kms or 54 MPG imperial. So the poor economy wasn't all on ailing the battery.
With the new battery i am currently squeezing 4.2 L per 100 kms again while driving for economy on the old route (minus the hills). When I don't hypermile I get about 58-60 MPG Imperial.
Taking the car in tomorrow for new Good Year Assurance Fuel Max tires.
I had same issue was getting 4.2 L per 100 km (67 Mpg imperial) on my daily commute, then started having problems with battery. Around this time I also changed my commute slightly which put me up against some more hills. My economy fell to 5.2 l per 100 kms or 54 MPG imperial. So the poor economy wasn't all on ailing the battery.
With the new battery i am currently squeezing 4.2 L per 100 kms again while driving for economy on the old route (minus the hills). When I don't hypermile I get about 58-60 MPG Imperial.
Taking the car in tomorrow for new Good Year Assurance Fuel Max tires.
#38
10-23-2011, 10:13 PM
Re: My turn for IMA problems – advice needed!
Glad your fuel economy has returned to excellent.
#40
10-24-2011, 09:54 AM
Re: My turn for IMA problems – advice needed!
Steve, I bought these tires and are extremely quiet and delivering the same mpg as the OEM's.
http://www.bridgestonetire.com/produ...ia_EP422_(eco))
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....P422&code=yes&
http://www.bridgestonetire.com/produ...ia_EP422_(eco))
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....P422&code=yes&
