Is there any Hybrid wanabees out there who are "stuck" with a gas guzzler or two-full sized pickup,or any SUV-who is trying to improve their mpg until their economics allows a Hybrid,or because they absolutely need the pickup or SUV??
I'm in that position.We have a Pilot-17-22;Titan 14-19;and a Prizm 28-33.The Prizm I got used 2 years ago when gas was $1.35.I figured it would save gas,and save miles on the much more expensive vehicles.It is a 2001 that had 12000 miles on it;Ebay buy-$6800+ 650 shipping to New Orleans from NJ).The Prizm is having to carry the load of our city driving-probably 15000 miles this year.I gets an honest 25-28 mpg in heavy-8 stops per mile-short trip-AC blasting city driving.No problem with it,other than no side-side curtain protection-the Prius and new Civic do offer side-side curtain protection.
Other than driving technique any ideas on improving the other 2?Lighter wheels-lighter tires-lower rolling resistance tires(where-how would you find this out)Weight loss techniques(I'm pulling the back seat-50 lbs my guess) on the KC Titan we never use it,and it makes more room for the 2 long legged recycled greyhounds we travel with.Regear it to drop RPMS?Regear and use shorter tires to lower it,and skinnier tires to decrease roling resistance?
I'm a casually competent shade tree mechanic.I have thought about attempting to mount about 16 junkyard alternators on either side of the driveshaft-drive them with a belt and pulleys (with the pulleys on the driveshaft being capable of widening to drop drag when not driving the alternators.I could then recharge a junkyard Prious battery pack,and use it to drive a salvaged Prius electric motor.The Prius motor would drive the driveshaft via adj pulley (a bit like a CVT trans,but more like the old fashioned lawn mower pulley).
There is no way I could hook this up like the Toyota engineers do with everything done automatically.It would have to be manual-when I hit the brakes,or top a hill,throw a switch and engage the alternators-they would be able-optimally-to produce 1500 watts each(about 2 hp worth of energy).They would recharge the battery pack -and slow the vehicle.I would then engage the electric motor manually to help the gasoline motor when accelerating,or more likely when driving at a steady speed.It would work like the Honda system-a booster motor.
Of courseI know this is close to impractical,but maybe there is some very adept fanatic out there?The weight increase would be~ 300 lbs.It would be tricky to follow the up and down movement of the driveshaft,lotta reasons it won't work,but no manufacturer has a "real hybrid"(the GM is a baby step).Once the hybrids pickups become available they will cost $40000!!
Most folks here don't have guzzlers,but a 2 mpg improvement in a 12 mpg vehicle saves a lot of gas-143 gallons over 12000 miles.Switching from a 30 mpg vehicle(Civic) to a 40 mpg(Civic hybrid) saves 100 gallons over 12000 miles.
A 2 mpg improvement should be easily possible with just driving modifications.Wheels-weight-drag-modifications should be worth another 1 mpg city-maybe 2 mpg hy.
Any guzzlers out there?Thanks.Charlie

 

The user "xcel" here has done miracles with his Honda Pilot, he can certainly give some tips... I have a non-hybrid Civic I've vastly improved my fuel economy with just by using the tips and tricks learned here. 85% of what you learn here applies directly to non-hybrids too, so don't lose faith. You can greatly improve your fuel economy even without a hybrid.

 

AZCivic,thanks.I will have to check xcel's posts.We are kinda fond of the Pilot,it is a great trip vehicle,and does ok-24 mpg-on the hy.The new Highlander hybrid-if I had the $$,it would greatly tempt me-gets about 26-29 mpg hy and low mid twenties in heavy city driving.It "beats" the Pilot mpg wise-pretty handily.Unfortunately the $15000-$17000 +the Pilot that it would cost is a no go now and forever..
Thanks for the encouragement.Charlie

 

I didn't know xcel had a Pilot also. He has done what seemed to me impossible mpg with an Acura MDX. This site and xcel have been inspiration for me to try the same with a 2003 MDX. I'm still on my first tank trying. In the past I've averaged on a low 18 - 19 and high 20.5. With 200 miles down I am averaging 25.4 mpg with 50% city 50% state road with some lights. Amazing how much 'gliding' you can do. I've found without my normal +5 to +10mph over the speed limit was catching more stop lights that I do now. My goal is 25mpg, and I may hit it with my first full tank try.

I'll be getting a Civic Hybrid 2006 early next year - can't wait to see what I can do with it.

 

Hi Phoebeisis:

___Just remember that anybody can achieve excellent FE if they just take their time and pay utmost attention to what is going on around them … In the MDX, just accelerate slowly with the instantaneous hanging in the 5 - 10 range up to about 15 mph and 15 - 25 mpg range until above 42 mph where OD locks in. Once up to speed (OD locked up and still accelerating in the 25 - 27.5 range) on the highway, stay in the right hand lanes and at the limits if possible. Once up to a constant speed, she is really good for 32 +. Never travel more then 63 mph because her FE is falling fast afterwards. A distant draft will shove that big beast into the 40 mpg range but only under perfect conditions (70 + degrees and dry conditions) … 5-quarts of 0W-20, 36 #’s in the X-Terrain’s, and you are good for your first 30 + mpg segment. Watch two and three stop lights out for timing. Now that I use FAS’ in her, 30 + around town is a gimme. If you do get stuck at a light, make sure that ICE is off because she is a pig sitting there waiting to go You will be pleasantly surprised what the MDX and Pilot are worth when treated with kid gloves. Remember that CR’s received 27 or 28 from one in their highway test and if they can receive 27 - 28 mpg, you can receive 30 + yourself.

___I do not know if the Pilot has an Instantaneous but if you have NAVI, you might have a TC with an FCD in it. Use it as it is the single most important tool in the car besides the person behind the wheel

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

 

exel,thanks for the tips.NoI don't have NAV or any instant mpg readout on the 2003 Pilot EX.
Yes,I remember CR's test and their excellent-26 or 27 hy ##.The 2004-2005 Pilots were regeared(lower) and turn a few more RPMs at 60mph now.CR's most recent test of a 2005 Pilot only returned 23 mpg hy.
You use the Michelin cross terrains?If they delivered that sort of mpg they must have fairly low rolling resistance.I had considered going to very light 17x7 wheels(13.8 lbs) and using Michelin Energy 235/65 17 tires.I read somewhere that they were low rolling resistance(true??),and more important they are available pretty cheaply off Ebay since folks with Pacificas like to take them off -not sure why,they aren't cheap-maybe to install bigger wheels??I need new tires soon;the Michelin cross terrains wiht the stock alloy wheels will be a lot cheaper than aftermarket wheels+tires.The light wheels-Kosei-gave me pause-that is very light,especially for cast wheels.
Have you ever used an aftermarket instantaneous mpg "meter"?I have seen them advertised;are they any good?I would like to install one in the Pilot and the Titan.
You turn the motor off at redlights?You obviously don't buy the increased wear at startup argument??The oil would be warm and it wouldn't have drained off the parts,so I guess there wouldn't be any reason not to DC the motor.Good enough for the Prius,good enough for me.Thanks.Charlie

 

My wife's '99 Acura TL doesn't have any type of FCD. And I wanted some type of gauge for it, my Insight spoiled me.

I heard about a device that would provide fuel economy info. Check out: http://www.scangauge.com/
It works great, this may be something that would help you.

Regards,

 

I'm a non-hybrid owner who's been lurking here for a while and thought I'd chime in.

I have a '94 Ford Ranger pickup 2WD automatic. Usually I get around 24mpg, but when gas prices shot up to $3 around here I decided to start paying more attention to how I drive. My first tank was 27mpg and as I learn more here, I think I can push that even higher.

My commute is about 26 miles each way, tons of hills and traffic lights. An alternative route uses the freeway but is 10 miles longer, so it's not worth it.

Unfortunately my truck is too old to get a ScanGauge, which is too bad because I'd really like to see instantaneous mileage numbers.

 

hawlkgt647,thanks for the tip.I put that page on my "favorites" list so when I get home I can get it.
I see you are from "Big BR"-that Big is serious now that you folks have doubled in size.How is BR coping with the huge influx of evacuees??
I'm from River Ridge-4 miles west of NO and 2 miles east of the airport.The parish president still won't alow us to return,but he had better very soon.We didn't flood-just some minor roof damage-.Living on plastic 1500 miles from home in a small room with 2 dogs-3 cats is wearing a bit thin(Flagstaff,AZ-really nice place-65 during the day-under 40 degrees at night-bright blue skies ).
The scan guage looks like a winner.I thought I would have to get something that would have to indirectly measure fuel flow.(maybe some sort of Doppler device that would be attachedto the outside of the fuel line)his gadget allows you to plumb right into the vehicles ECU which apparently already has this info(speed and fuel flow per second is all that would be needed).It is going to really help.I will plant it on the Pilot where my wife and son can't ignore it!
per-there must be other gadgets out there for older vehicles-something that attaches to the fuel line,and something that taps into the speedometer-odometer.
Thanks all.Trading-selling the Titan or thre Pilot really isn't an option-we need both for potential evacuations,and more efficient vehicles-HH for example-are waaay out of sight economically.Thanks.Charlie
PS HAWKGT647-the -1990-?sporty little V-twin Honda,right?I have the grandfather of that bike-a 1983 VT500 Ascot.I use if for most of my short-3 miles-trips especially when it gets a little cooler.It gets an honest 47 mpg(pitiful relative to these folks bettering that with 2900 lb vehicles,and matching it with 3200 lb Honda Accords!!).Drive shaft,so no possible gearing mods,but I maybe I can lean it out a bit.

 

I've got a truck a Vette and a Hybrid. I almost always drive the Hybrid for mileage. The Vette falls in the middle, before the hybrid I drove it for mileage, since the hybrid purchase the Vette gets a little more abuse. I never drive the truck for mileage. Yes I know this is stupid and I could save more by driving the truck slow but I don't care. The truck lack a real time display so you only notice when you fill up. Maybe we should all get scangauges?