Gas Mileage: Why MPG Numbers Really Matter

We can all drive more fuel efficient cars starting today without spending a dime – it’s a matter of adjusting our driving habits. I learned a ton at an eco-driving workshop at this summer’s Midwest Renewable Energy Fair. Check out the top ten tips at http://digginginthedriftless.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/10-ways-to-cut-gas-costs-and-save-the-planet/
Happy eco driving
Denise Thornton
http://digginginthedriftless.wordpress.com

"There is no insult like the truth" Hybrids are the latest crop of
Americans wanting absolutely everything for absolutely nothing. The
Geo Metro got better real world millage than than any of the
current crop of hybrids. It did so with 1/2 the moving parts and
1/4 the price. But Americans don't want sensible cars that get
fantastic gas millage with reasonable compromise. Americans want
rolling lifestyles with all the gewgaws of home. AND fantastic
millage. AND a good price. AND AND AND. No amount of technology can
give you something for nothing. Responsible living requires
sacrifice and discipline.

tc is absolutely correct. Come on - making flagrant comments like
that (without supporting facts) leads to misinformation and people
ranting about non issues. Too much of that already happens. BTW: I
have been very annoyed with my 1999 VW Passat and the fact that its
impossible to get within 20% of its rated mileage, regardless of
driving habits. However, the Passat is quite a lemon and not does
not necessarily serve as a good indicator.

Also, "fill up in the morning" is a complete crock too. The
station's tanks are underground at a constant temperature anywhere
from 55 degrees to ambient, and don't vary during the day. If it
were true, the 'imagined' difference in density of 10 or 20 degrees
F wouldn't make a difference anyway it's to small. Again FACT
CHECKS PLEASE!

"But don’t top off — that “extra” gas probably gets sucked back
into the station’s tanks." Huh?! That's ridiculous, there's no way
gas is going to jump from your tank, up the filler spout, thru a
oneway anti siphon valve, and into the filler spout. How about
someone doing some fact checks!!!!! BTW, My 04' Corolla rated at
31/41 actually gets 22/33 depending on the tank with a lifetime
30,000 mile avg of 27mpg.

Come on -- are you trying to give hybrids a bad rap? Anyone that is
getting only 40 mph out of a Prius is clearly driving really
aggressively or worse. I have owned a Honda Civic Hybrid for 3
years now and am regularly getting over 50 mpg. from this car. How
do I do this? By simply driving the posted speed limits. I go 65 on
the interstates -- 55 when signs tell me that is what I should do
-- 35 when the exit signs say to do that, etc. I live in very hilly
terrain and that costs me some in my daily 21 mile commute to work.
One direction is more downhill than the other, so going to work I
have been averaging 54.8 mpg. and on the roundtrip, 48.4 mpg (and
that is with air conditioning running.) On flat terrain, getting
over 50 mpg is not at all unusual. Every hybrid car is equipped
with instruments in the dash that tell you what your overall
mileage is, as well as your instantaneous mileage, so all you have
to do is modify your driving habits to maximize your hybrid car's
efficiency and that is precisely what all of the hybrid owners I
know are doing. I have heard that a friend of a friend has been
able to get over 80 mpg from his Honda Inspire (a 2 seater hybrid
that is no longer in production.) Since I started obeying speed
limits, I am now noticing that I am a distinct minority in doing so
-- I get passed by all kinds of vehicles, including semis. In
addition to doing this, I now do the following which I can directly
see to be improving my car's mileage performance -- use cruise
control as much as possible (evens out the acceleration demands of
the car), ease off the gas as soon as I see a stop sign or stop
light ahead and as I'm coming into an exit on interstates,
accelerate gently unless I need to quickly pass someone or get out
of the way of another vehicle, and stop the practice of creeping
forward in stopped or very slow traffic. Instead, I just stay put,
with my engine shut off as hybrids do when the come to a "reg

We nave a 04 Prius that gets 50 MPG on the highway all the time -
with 4 people, AC, full of gear, running 70 mph+, w/our 6'4" son in
the back seat! Great car, come on Detroit get with it already! This
is not just a fad.

Don't forget to slow down, too. My vehicle's MPG has gone from
about 31MPG to just over 40MPG by doing the following: 1. Switch to
fully synthetic oil. 2. Stop using the air conditioner. 3. Drive a
maximum of 60MPH. This is a car with an EPA of 23/31. Also,
www.cleanmpg.com has some excellent advice.