Captain Flaps

Since gas is getting so freakin expensive, i need to improve my gas mileage, anyone know of some thigns i could do?

I was thining a K&N Filter.

And does running your AC really eat up gas? And if so, what setting eats up more, the ventalatied one,or the circular one?

The_In_Kid

see that white/black sign marked maximum amount of mph or kmh use it

listen to soft music never rush to the destination driver attitude makes a big difference... just because that guy in the EF civic is annoying don't play with him...


i dunno right now i think i'm going by that Audi A8 diesel episode on top gear

YeuEmMaiMai

at highway speeds it is cheaper to keep the windows up and A/C on (A/C uses less gas versus drag caused by windows open)

gentle accelleration
if you have a V6 keep it under 3K and under 80

BaseJob

What about lower viscosity oil? someone once told me that using thicker than what is recommended can actually make your engine do more work.

I cruise mostly at 75-80mph and Get 29-31 average gas mileage depending on which route I take, how many hills there are, and headwinds. A/C doesnt really do much effect at highway speeds and cruise control, usually knocks off 1-2 mpg in the long run.

I have a 4th Gen though, with new o2 sensor, airfilter, and use 5w-30 oil.

Also, make sure your car is aligned properly and your chassis is all tight.

YeuEmMaiMai

using oil not recommended for your engine will cause more harm than good...........you should only use what the manufacturer recommends..........

Captain Flaps

I kinda shoot off from lights haha getting it up in the 5k range - does that waste gas?

YeuEmMaiMai

yes

mac_24_seven

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by YeuEmMaiMai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">at highway speeds it is cheaper to keep the windows up and A/C on (A/C uses less gas versus drag caused by windows open)
gentle accelleration
if you have a V6 keep it under 3K and under 80</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's not quite highway speeds, but Mythbusters did it at 45 mph open windows vs ac and the open windows beat out the AC by 15 laps (done on a circle track).


There are several lil things you can do that will increase your mileage.

(1) Check tire pressure. Always make sure they are at the reccommended PSI. I always fill mine a lb or 2 over.

(2) Keep your car in tune. A good tune up (spark plugs, wires, oil, air cleaner) can definetly help out if it hasnt been done in a while. Also, running fuel injection cleaner can help.

(3) Accell easy, brake easy. So what if the guy behind you is in a hurry, he's not paying your gas bill. Accel slow and easy, shift early (I shift around 2000). WHen accel'ing, don't have the AC on and while your stopped at a light (if you can stand it) don't have the AC on.

Also, if your in city driving, look ahead and see whats happening. If you see the light turn yellow and your a waysoff, go ahead and throw it in neautral and coast the rest of the way: Why waste gas when your just gonna stop? PLUS, if you take longer to get there, you may still be rolling when the light turns green which ='s less gas use you have to use to get back to speed.

(4) Make driving more fun: Don't slow down as much for corners. Saves from having to accel as long to get back to speed. Saves gas plus it's MUCH mroe fun

(5) Don't park in the sun. Gas evaporates and leaving it in the sun accels. that process.

(6) Fill up in the evening. When liquid is cooler, it's more dense. You get more gas for your money when it's at a lower temp.

(7) Drive slower! The faster you go, the more fuel you waste because of drag and whatnot. Drive the speed limit. You'll get the best mileage 55 mph and slower. Leave a little bit earlier so you won't have to drive so fast if thats the reason you speed.

I guarantee if you apply the above suggestions, you'll get better gas mileage.

Heat

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mac_24_seven &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...
(6) Fill up in the evening. When liquid is cooler, it's more dense. You get more gas for your money when it's at a lower temp.
...</TD></TR></TABLE>I know that you just copied this from somewhere else so don't take this personally, but this is one of those myths that just won’t go away. OK, yes, there is an extremely minimal benefit, but certainly nothing to change your gas buying habits over. I can go through the calculations if you want, but the bottom line is that for each degree F difference in the underground storage tank there is a 0.0005 gallon / gallon difference. Or a 0.01 gallon difference in a twenty gallon fillup. How much does the temperature of the gasoline in an underground storage tank fluctuate based soley upon the time of day? I can't come up with a number, but it will be extremely small. The 1º F was probably on the high side.

What would make much more of a difference (though still minimal) is to not fill up right after a tanker has unloaded gasoline, but even then it’s not worth leaving and coming back later.

For what it’s worth, the best way to save money on gas is to not drive as much. Carpool, go out on a single trip per day when you need supplies, walk, ride your bike, whatever. Just don’t drive as much.

mac_24_seven

iTrader: (1)

I actually did NOT copy that from anywhere. I typed it all from my head.
I read that on CNN just a couple of weeks ago and thought "Wow, I had no clue."

So if it's wrong, the reporter from CNN is wrong :S

Heat

I looked for the article you read but didn’t see it. If you look for it and find it, please post back, I'd like to see what the reporter said.

I did find this article though which was interesting. It states that using A/C instead of having windows down, as well as maintaining proper tire pressure, has no measurable effects on gas mileage:

http://cnn.edmunds.com/ownersh....html

It contains the results of six “real world” tests conducted by Edmunds:

In a nutshell…

Major savings potential: Don’t drive aggressively, use lower speeds on long trips, and shut engine off when idling for more than a minute.

Pretty good savings potential: Use the cruise control.

“No measurable effect”: Use A/C instead of having windows down, maintain proper tire pressure (though proper tire pressure is an important safety consideration)

cats_on_ice

Am I the only one who only puts the car in gear when actual acceleration is required???

I coast in neutral as much as I can. On my trips to school I can coast <U>at least</U> a third of the way there, depending on traffic.

There's probably some incredibly obvious reason why this is a bad idea, but until someone enlightens me, I'll happily go the speed of traffic, if not faster, occasionally, with my tach reading 800 rpm.

mac_24_seven

iTrader: (1)

[QUOTE=cats_on_ice]
I coast in neutral as much as I can. On my trips to school I can coast <U>at least</U> a third of the way there, depending on traffic.
QUOTE]

I do the same. Nothing at all wrong w/it Except it pisses pple off. But hey, yoru getting better mileage than them, right?

[QUOTE=Heat]I looked for the article you read but didn’t see it. If you look for it and find it, please post back, I'd like to see what the reporter said.QUOTE]

I goofed. The reporter said nothing about the gas being denser. They were talking about gas evaporating. I read that somewhere else about the density of the liquid and got it mixed up (I'm stupid).

The mythbusters episode I watched involved 2 Ford.. They werent Explorers, but the next size Up SUV.. At least I think it was.

REGARDLESS.. They were on a circle track w/5 gallons of gas each,exactly. One rode w/the windows down/no AC and one windows up/w/AC.
The one w/the windows down lasted 15 laps longer than the one w/the AC on. I dunno how they could get that wrong, but it's all on video.

Not that I'm doubting what Edumnds did. I'm saying it's contrary to what those 2 guys did w/the excursions ( I remembered!)

Perhaps it's more dependant on how efficient the AC system is and the drag involved on the engine?

defaced8

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mac_24_seven &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Not that I'm doubting what Edumnds did. I'm saying it's contrary to what those 2 guys did w/the excursions ( I remembered!)
</TD></TR></TABLE>
They were Explorers if I remember correctly. If they weren't, then they were the Ford Expedition, but I'm pretty sure they were Explorers and they definately were not Excursions.

'00Accordster

CNN is still a business and must report on story's to promote that business. I really wouldnt take that too seriously about the gas.

So if the temp. is cooler at night then the water in my fish bowl will condense and the water level should be lower then, right?

YeuEmMaiMai

problem with how they did it was that at 65-70 the wind resistance is nearly double not to mention the drag caused by the windows being open... the drag on the car from the A/C system is fairly constant so it will have the same effect at 45 and at 75.......

gianinline

Also, the viscosity of the oil you choose, not only has to match with the ones specifed on your "oil cap" but also by your driving conditions. Different oil for different purposes. Now days, I go with 10W 40, which is normal, but back a year ago when I used to work with delivery, I went with a oil more appropriate for continuous driving under high temperature (because south florida is friggin' hot as feces...lol..).

gianinline

Well... but ya'll know something?!... if you really want to save some gas.... get a scooter ...h a ahaha ..
I got one and I am having the car parked at home when going to work.... the scooter does more than 60 miles per gallon.....
Not only the "thing" is cool and gives you a "freedom" sensation, but it is enjoyable as much as saving money at the pump, when filling up takes only one gallon!

Heat

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mac_24_seven &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">[QUOTE=cats_on_ice]...I goofed. The reporter said nothing about the gas being denser. They were talking about gas evaporating. I read that somewhere else about the density of the liquid and got it mixed up (I'm stupid)...</TD></TR></TABLE>
You had it correct, cooler gasoline is denser and when the tank warms up to the outside air temperature the volume will increase. It's just that the change is very small to the point where its not going to be noticable.

Back to the original poster, just gun it at lights (5,000 rpms per an earlier post) and you'll get better mileage of course. Let's face it, you did a great thing for mileage when you chose an Accord whenever that was, there are many cars out there with much worse mileage.