What year MX-6? is it OBD-2? Stick or auto?
Yeah, I have a bunch of questions, but I'm trying to understand your driving situation.
Sounds like you have all the basics covered with your checklist.
This is all old news, been said before.
To go a little further in detail:
1) Drive in the highest gear possible, without lugging the engine. A vacuum gauge would be handy.
2) Pump up your tires to the maximum recommended pressure that is on the sidewall. Higher pressures will give you fuel savings, but at the expense of a harder ride.
Every tire has a maximum cold pressure rating imprinted on the side of the tire.
You can go as high as that rating while the tire is cold but do not exceed that maximum rating.
3) Drive as slow as your schedule allows without causing an unsafe condition on the highway, but still keeping the car in the most efficient speed range. My Insight will get maximum fuel economy somewhere between 39-44 miles per hour. Go any slower and the engine won't pull 5th gear. Go faster and aerodynamics start killing fuel mileage. Some people that work night shift have the luxury of empty roads, they get to drive as they please.
4) Air Conditioning: Minimize it or just don't use it at all. Just be sure to use it every so often to keep the oil circulated in the system and keep the seals happy. Try using A/C only when coasting to a stop, use the deceleration to power the compressor instead of fuel.
5) If it's a stick shift, and you are comfortable with the technique, try coasting with the engine off (may be illegal in some states). Just be aware of the safety aspects (no power brakes or steering), it is somewhat extreme. You wouldn't want to use this too often, because of wear on the starter during numerous re-starts.
6) Accelerate slowly but gradually.
7) Don't give up momentum once gained. Drive like your brakes don't work. Take turns as fast as you can safely. Anticipate traffic signals, 1 or 2 signals ahead. Look for gaps in traffic that will allow you to maintain your set speed.
Drive with the load, not to maintain a set speed. Be willing to let your speed drop a little on inclines.
8) Drafting - whatever you are comfortable with. I personally don't like to draft behind large trucks, for safety reasons and to avoid paint dings. But a slight back and next lane over draft can boost the mpg's and is much safer.
Having a real time instantanous miles per gallon display really helps. If your car is OBD-2 compliant ('96 or newer) an aftermarket device is available that will provide this info (and more). See:
http://www.scangauge.com/
I put one in my wife's Acura TL, she likes to see how she's doing with her gas mileage.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Driving Strategy for non-hybrid standard (RPMs).
