No, I'm not monitoring it with software. I don't accelerate at exactly 20% throttle every time. It doesn't take a rocket surgeon to know how to drive conservativley though.

I'm not doing any testing above 75mph right now. Drag increases with the square of speed.

Later on I'm doing some aerodynamic testing though. GTS light covers, filling in cracks, etc... That ought to make driving at 80mph a little easier on gas.

 

I'm already driving like an old woman for these tests. Trust me, I never gun it ever.

I don't really trust putting thinner oil in a high mileage 15 year old engine. My oil pressure is already pretty low. If anything, I'll switch to 10w40.

 

I used to get 33mpg @ 80mph when I was stock - very curious for your results on this. Thanks.

 

Were you only driving downhill? I got 33mpg on a trip once, but later I found out it was because there was a 1000' elevation decrease between start and finish. I only got 27mpg on the way home.

 

That is true but you should be more concerned with power it takes to overcome drag in this case since it relates directly to fuel usage. Power is related to aero drag by the velocity cubed. Because of that drag increases quite dramaticly with even small speed increases. Its really hard to test drag in the real world, wind around here cause up to +-10g/ in maf readings on a flat stretch of road here with the cruise on.

 

I'm a strike fighter pilot. I know a thing or two about drag.

My jet has all sorts of bumps, cracks, antenna's and other drag producing items. Most of it is blended to the fuselage with an RTV type substance. When I start my aero testing, I'm gonna try and mimic that to a small extent. If I get better mpg, then the mods worked. If not, then they didn't.

 

Here are some secrets to get good gas mileage:
Don't rev past your torque peak. Your torque peak is where the engine is operating at its highest efficiency.
Only accelerate as much as the car will move forward. Do not give the engine more gas than it needs to move (reasonable pace) or you will be overloading the engine causing it to consume more gas.
Around town, do not overload the engine (what is meant by that is pushing the gas pedal down yet feeling no acceleration take place).
If you have an auto trans and are in town or stop and go, use the appropriate gear. Don't just leave it in "D" or whatever your tranny says which includes OD engagment.
At highway speeds stay away from overdrive gears on hilly terrain if too much load is being put on the engine (push accelerator/no response) unless the engine is running at its torque peak and can maintain given RPM. If you cannot maintain given RPM then downshift and maintain speed at torque peak RPM. There is a wives tale about how higher RPM is what consumes fuel. That cannot be farther from the truth. Improper/irresponsible load on the engine is what consumes fuel.
In order to reap the benefits from the above you need to be extremely vigilant with with the terrain in which you travel.
live in a flat state
do not use A/C
do not roll down the windows
do not overload the car
always check tire pressure

 

Yeah, they really appreciate it.

The last thing you want is a guy with a 60,000lb vehicle to be pissed at you.

 

Hell, just latch onto a semi = infinite mpg

 

I knew a kid who had a 2.73 rear end in his M6 car. Said his mileage was pretty damn good. You should try that, then swap rears when it's time to race or have fun.

-Dustin-

 

2.73 and a M6! that must have sucked to drive...

 

Yeah....

I'll just swap rear ends in the parking lot of my apartment every friday night when I feel like getting sporty. I don't think the landlord would appreciate that.


My next mod is gonna be the weight redux mod. I'm gonna remove all unessesary junk in the trunk. I'm not stripping the interior, but I don't need to be carrying around a full tool kit and all of my school books.

 

Yeah truck drivers really don't like not being able to see you.

 

Sorry, I figured strike fighter pilots made enough to have a garage

My other suggestion would have been a 9" with two different center chunks. I have a 4.11 and a 4.56.

-Dustin-

 

I admit ownage!!!!

I live in an apt. I'll buy a house when I get stationed somewhere permanently.

I'm happy with my 3.23s though. I probably wont' ever go into the rear end unless I have too. They provide me a good blend of MPG and performance.