Thanks blueskies.
Your 50 is still wonderful, and I think we are in 2 different situations.
Please keep in mind my commutes are usually 58-60MPG, about 10 under what I saw today.
My commute is 95% open road. (But I have several stops too).
Lots of time soaking up the 80MPG instant range, or higher.
My schedule has me leaving the house at 3:00PM heading into Atlanta. I have my fair share of interuptions but 99% of traffic is heading out of the city.
I drive around the posted speed limits. Most of the time a little slower, sometimes alot faster.
I leave again at 1:00AM and the streets are pretty much all mine.
I'll help the stone-cold engine by avoiding to use the cabin heat for the 1st 15 miles. I take the same route home. Because of the non-existant traffic I accelerate as slowly as possible. 0-45 in about 60 seconds, only enough to activate the Assist to gain some speed.
Other than the special situation I have (Not working 9-5 and the warmer climate) some brief tips are:
a. Tires hard as rock @ 51PSI, the sidewall cold pressure rating. My Honda dealer even sets them up for me like that. I'm completely used to the ride.
Drop it to the 30/32 and it's like sloshing through a wet, sandy beach, and wishy-washy.
b. I stay off of cruise control. I think it might be good on flat roads but I live in the foothills of the foothills of the Blueridge mountains.
I use a technique taught by the Insight hypermilers called driving with load.
It minimizes the consumption of a 2,000lb object climbing a hill, but uses it as an advantage going back down. Lakedude touched on this.
c. Keep your current instant over your average MPG and it will rise.
d. Summertime try not to use the A/C. If I don't have my bucket of ice along I'll manually cycle the compressor on/off as needed.
Similarly, I'll do the same for the defrost in the winter. Keep the air flow on the glass and cabin temp to hot. Cycle the fan from "off" as needed.
I guess those are the main things. You'll find lots of other great tips here at GreenHybrid.
Basically, I took the advice of the Insight pilots here that are getting 80,90, even 100MPG in their autos and applied it to mine.
I'm thankful for everone's willingness to help.
Efficient drivers do it better.
1003 miles a tank personal record. 74MPG calculated. HCH1 CVT
Last edited by Hot_Georgia_2004 : 01-27-2005 at 06:29 PM.
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