--

 

I tried this a couple of times on my way back home from Oklahoma. It works really well. So well, in fact, that even on a very slight decline, I was accelerating toward the truck in front of me, under no power. A couple of short taps on the brake helped, but I have to say it was quite scary going 70+ mph with my motor off and still gaining speed!

Lucky for me, I don't do much highway driving at all, so I don't have many opportunities to submit myself to the high-stress techniques involving extreme proximity to large, fast-moving vehicles.

 

Hi Doppler:

___I too had that down hill acceleration happen a few times and when I couldn’t pull to the side, I tapped the binders just enough to maintain the gap. I sure wish this Accord had a simple IMA start or even GM’s upcoming 42 V BAS as it would make it so much easier on this semi-lux 4-door sedan’s gear reduction starter and 12V battery

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

 

While I don't resort to FAS at cruising speeds very often, I don't worry about restarting after an FAS... since I drive a 5-speed, I just restart the car (IG III as you call it) while still in neutral, select the appropriate gear, rev up and let the clutch out.

That said, I'm sad to hear that '06 Hondas will not be available in MT trim... the few times I've push-started the HCH at high speeds (~35-40mph from 0rpm in 5th gear), I've thought "oh ****! that doesn't sound good!"

Maybe you CVT owners can pipe in with your experiences of "push-starting" your cars at high speeds?

--edit-- Wayne: ah. It just occured to me why you might pine for an IMA or similar starter mechanism You are restarting your non-hybrid with the 12V starter after an FAS, no?

 

Hi Doppler:
___Unfortunately, that is exactly the case

___Prior to the above, I was FAS’ing ~ every 10 miles on average over the past 3 months with relatively decent traffic conditions throughout the summer months. Last weeks Chicago Interstate traffic nightmares brought that down to 1 every 5 - 6 miles or so on average. This new found technique is bringing her average distance between a regular FAS or D-FAS to ~ every 4 + miles … An IMA start and a completely freewheeling Auto tranny would really come in handy about now

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

 

You are obsessed with drafting, although I can understand why. Phoenix had a gas shortage 2 years ago, exposing how easily our supply can be disrupted. I am NOT about to get caught with my pants down again and have to wait in gas lines if/when we run out again due to the current refinery shortages.

I topped off on Sunday, and have been driving my absolute most conservative and as much as it pains me, I've been drafting almost whenever possible.. even close drafting a semi truck almost my entire freeway drive home today. Zero A/C use since Sunday, too. The result? 95.1 miles on 1.767 gallons, and that was with clicking the pump two more times after the auto-shutoff where I normally stop! My previous best ever was 47mpg but this calculates to 53.8. Even my ScanGauge was showing a tank average of 48.5mpg, which is probably the "true" figure, and again still my best on record. I'm still not a fan of drafting for safety reasons, but it becomes child's play to get hypermileage tanks when you do so.

 

Hi AZCivic:

___Easy there … The Insight was never a good draft vehicle because she didn’t have the power in lean-burn to maintain the proper distance. All but traffic side and everybody receives those. Tbaleno’s HCH did not receive any draft assistance its first time out and she showed me some pretty worthwhile numbers around town. The highest FE segment in GreenAndBlue’s AH video came from the first 15 minutes without a straight draft of either type to be found IIRC … Krousdb’s Prius II did not receive any draft assistance in its run back and forth in the Pittsburgh area earlier in the month The Ranger didn’t receive any kind of a draft while towing the Landscape Trailer and gear around the subdivisions and driving around town over the last 108 miles either. Take a look at the Ranger’s last (2) fills for proof of concept! I use whatever opportunity is availed to me depending on the automobile I am driving. Tiring, yes. Child’s play? Not a chance or everybody would get it.

___What I am finding is a D-FAS cannot be performed as much of the time as I had hoped unfortunately. The targets just weren’t lining up with the descents properly while in heavier traffic tonight. When sitting in the usual Chicago traffic nightmare tonight gave way to much less “Drafting”, “DWL”, and “Fast Climbing” technique(s) and much more traffic jam and FAS technique(s) … A dropping tank average is the result as the TC is showing just 55.0 mpg after almost 400 miles now

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

 

Wow. I think that redefines pushing the envolope. Now that I hit that 3K milage boost, I've given up drafting to get good MPGs, and I don't think I'd ever consider doing D-FAS.

No wonder you mentioned in that other thread that you could get Prius milage with a FEH.

No offense, but this isn't my cup of tea, I'll stick to driving rather normally, but still getting 33 MPGs. To me, that's the goal of the hybrid driver, to get fantastic MPGs without radically changing how they drive.

 

but what happens if you change the way you drive but still technically arrive in the same time as the "normal" driver?

you save a lot of gas! Hybrid mileage without the hybrid

 

Tailgating, at highway speeds, is a great idea. It's both legal and safe.