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Originally Posted by HybridAl
Second, as promised, I am reporting back on the results of my implementing some of the tools you have shared with me in response to my post and described elsewhere on this site (thank you, GreenAndBlue), and on my more educated observations given what I now have learned from you.
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Not at all. If you'd like to
really thank me, since I increased your mileage by 61.1%, give me a 'reputation' point - I'm tired of seeing myself stuck at '1'... ROFL...and thanks.
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Originally Posted by HybridAl
Obviously, this is MUCH BETTER than the piddly 18 mpg I've been getting locally. But it still seems on the low side, considering that the trip was undertaken under these circumstances. Any thoughts?
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Yes. I was remiss in not noting that you're on your 3rd tank. My apologies. At 18mpg, that's roughly 750 miles, at 14 gal fillup (guessing, based on my usual - ignore the '17 gallon' rating...that's for another thread
)
At that mileage, you're doing pretty good with 29-30mpg. You should notice a little increase with this tank (obviously, given your 100 @ 29, but I mean as a result of break-in, for everyone's AH). Your next jump (and this will probably be the largest) will be between 1200 - 1700 miles. That's when your initial break-in will be completed (this may vary for you, given your short trip / low speed commute).
After that, you'll see (much) smaller increases after 3000 mi, then again at 5000, and then finally at 10,000 (based on my / others' experience with Honda's J30 V6; I've only got 7600 on this one so far
I'm talking tenths here; the one at 1700 should net you 1-2mpg, if my experience is typical.
Next, we'll address 'practice'. Keep up with this, and you'll net yourself another 1-2mpg, as you get better.
Finally, consider increasing your tire pressure by 5-6lbs, as less rolling resistance will net you 1-2 mpg on a tank. If you tolerate that loss in ride comfort well, consider 40, and then 44. I don't use 44 myself - it's a bit harsh for in-town. But there's a thread here that shows a 45+ mpg segment obtained by Xcel and myself from Gurnee, IL <> Madison, WI. That was done with 44lbs in the tires, and since it was all highway, it was tolerable. I run about 38 now.
Good job, and have patience. It takes time to learn a new style of driving, and forget everything you knew about driving to a speed. You now know some extent of the possibilities. Enjoy the car - I know I enjoy mine - and don't forget to add your car to the mileage database, now that you've broken the 20mpg barrier