Oppo-not: Fuel Economy Challenge

"BLCKSTRM" (BLCKSTRM)
02/04/2015 at 12:14 • Filed to: None

A "slow car fast" post the other day got me thinking about the potential of each car, fast or slow.

*Not my car. But close.

While "fast car slow" isn't really a thing, you CAN play the Jeremy Clarkson M3/Prius game (and yes, since I mentioned Clarkson and the Prius in the same sentence, you should have pronounced it in your head like him - Pry-us).

By that, I mean what kind of fuel economy can you REALLY get if you try? My E36 M3/4/5 is rated 18/26/21 (city/hwy/combined), and I'm usually right around 20-21 in mixed driving - so I'm actually decently close. I have a near 20 mile commute (each way), about 70% city, and I usually wring it out once each way.

Yeah, it's somewhat masochistic, but the week I got my best I realized a couple things.

First, I was always working for a clear lane, and pulling away from the pack. Stoplights were worse - when I was in front, I almost universally had a couple car lengths on the next car by the time I got to the speed limit. I didn't really speed, but 2-5 over was routine, maybe a bit more if I was working for lane choice or a turn lane.

However, when I REALLY try, I've gotten a personal best of 24.8 mpg. Revs stay under 1500 until it's in 5th, lots of coasting, timing stoplights, etc. Speed limit, maybe 5 under. Way further under if I see a red light ahead while I coast down. I don't miss as many green lights as I thought I would, though you do have to occasionally drop the hammer to scoot through instead of catching a red and waiting a cycle (responsibly - I always keep it less than 5 over on residential streets).

The biggest revelation was how much my ego was tied up in it all. Watching a Prius pull away from me was downright insulting the first time. But even when I thought I was going as slow as I could REASONABLY go, I was still accelerating faster than about a third of the other cars next to me. And when I was doing this, I stopped cussing the people going so slow and started respecting them.

And that's what brings me back to potential. It may be easier to use more of a slow car's potential in everyday driving, but I also think it's harder to use LESS of a fast car's potential. It's not just the mechanics of it, but there's also the psychological bit that makes it that much harder.

So here's the challenge: what kind of mileage can you get? To make it fair and inclusive, we'll go from your car's EPA numbers. Teal Geo Metro or Ferrari 599, how much better can you get than you car's rated mileage?

So go home tonight and fill it up at your normal place. No topping - topping is bad anyway, and if you go back to the same pump when you're empty it should be close enough.

Figure out your best route, and do the city/highway math. Mine will be about 29% city/71% highway, so I need to beat 20.3 mpg average.

Who's in?

DISCUSSION (35)

cazzyodo > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 12:17

I'll do this in the summer.

Right now the roads around me aren't really clear so I can spend my morning commute taking backroads with heavy use of the hand brake...if you catch my drift.

BLCKSTRM > cazzyodo
02/04/2015 at 12:21

Thanks a lot! Everyone turned to look at me just now when I guffawed for no apparent reason.

Excellent reply!

HammerheadFistpunch > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 12:26

I'll play but I know exactly how its going to play out already. let me sum up my cars mileage

City: 12.5

Highway: 12.5

Empty: 12.5

Loaded to GVWR max: 12.5

Pulling a trailer: 12.5

going downhill:12.5

Im pretty sure I know what my best mileage is going to end up being.

deekster_caddy > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 12:32

Can't participate.

Well, I guess I can play along a little, but there's no comparison because my driving and charging plan varies wildly. The following are real numbers, I've entered every fillup with odometer since I bought the car:

Kinja'd!!!

Best = 236 MPG, Worst = 25 MPG (and that took some effort). Average = 80 MPG, skewed because of one trip almost 4,000 miles with few plugs. Used to average 100 MPG before that trip...

BLCKSTRM > HammerheadFistpunch
02/04/2015 at 12:35

I'm embarrassed to admit I can't remember what you have.

cazzyodo > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 12:38

The other reason I say that is because with all the snow and snow-induced traffic (I drive locally about 90% of the time) my mpg is like 13 right now instead of the usual 22-24.

HammerheadFistpunch > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 12:38

Kinja'd!!!

BLCKSTRM > deekster_caddy
02/04/2015 at 12:40

I thought about you driving in, just forgot to write it up.

No charging until the juice runs out, electric only. How many miles / OEM stated electric range = your number.

44444444444 > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 12:42

Fast car slow is a real thing. Big heavy cars can be fun slow... just has to be curvy and wet :D

I usually get 24 highway in my R. On rural roads I average 28 in 6th at 50mph. The damn car has such short gearing that you are forced to keep the revs up. EPA says 18/25. My average is 22.2 mpg... And I really only drive it on the highway...

In the 2000 V70XC I DD I get 20mpg. It's 70% hilly rural and 30% traffic. I hit 16 stoplights in 22 miles. EPA says 18/25... I could probably hit 22 but I'm in stop & go traffic on hills much the TC never locks up.

Milky > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 12:44

I want to try this. I kinda always do tank math and I get 22-23 almost always and I don't really try. But its winter, so when it snows I drift.

Sidenote, why is "topping is bad anyway" true? I always fill it up to the next dollar amount.

BLCKSTRM > HammerheadFistpunch
02/04/2015 at 12:47

Beautiful!

On a positive note, even just moving the needle a little will be a big improvement.

And hey, if you can keep it in town 12.5 is already a 4% improvement over EPA stated city mileage.

Way to go!

deekster_caddy > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 12:48

I believe OEM stated range is 37, my best is 46. OEM stated range is "35-40". I can definitely say that 40 takes some care. I hit 46 on a day when the weather and driving conditions were all perfect - no heat or A/C needed, had a lot of local driving to do so no high speeds and a few long straights at 45. For some reason I was out early in the morning so I was taking a lot of stops and starts slowly. I wasn't actually trying until I realized I had 30 miles and 1/4 battery left and was going to set a best that day... then I started paying attention to what I was doing - driving smoother, rolling through stops, etc...

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 12:49

2013 Kia Soul (in my avatar) 6mt 1.6

EPA 23/30/26

I average 32 according to the gauge on the dash, and I'm far from gentle with it. I flog the damned thing mercilessly, load it up with cargo, and average 75-80 on the highway.

My wife averages 34-35 most of the time she drives it.

Worst I managed was 23 a night I delivered pizzas and let it idle most of the night.

Sam > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 12:50

On my way to school and back today, I'll reset the MPG calculator in the car (It's proven to be very accurate) and get back to you with my results. I average ~18 with normal driving, but I bet I can make it to nearly 20 or higher. I drive an E34 530i Wagon, by the way.

Kinja'd!!!

HammerheadFistpunch > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 12:51

I actually got 17 out of it once (at max GVWR from salt lake to Moab), but that was before the lift and re-gear. with the new gears I haven't seen better than 13.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 12:56

In my Crosstrek I did about 34.2 mpg last month on a trip that was probably 90% highway.

In my normal driving circuit, I pull down right around 30 mpg. When my wife drives it dips down to about 26mpg. She doesn't seem to care about fuel economy because her Corolla will pull down close to 38 no matter how much you beat on it.

Jonathan Harper > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 12:57

I was never able to get my parents '06 325i lower than 25 mpg. Best I ever did was a trip back to NYC from upstate with a good bit of downhill sections, got it all the way up to 34 mpg for the 51 mile trip.

Nibbles > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 13:00

Ask in a couple months

BLCKSTRM > Milky
02/04/2015 at 13:01

One of the biggest contributors to emissions is evaporative emissions - gas evaporating. Fumes that leak out when you fill up are terrible, and are the reason they put those collars on most modern gas station pump nozzles.

Gas also evaporates just sitting in your tank. Again, newer cars have sealed gas caps and whole sealed systems, but even older cars usually have a charcoal canister and some other lines to capture gas fumes.

When you top up it can soak the charcoal canister with gas and ruin it, and get liquid in the lines. Which can eventually cause a check engine light.

Your mileage may vary. And different cars make it shut off at different points. The next dollar is a lot more gas these days than it was last year. I gave up that OCD part of me when I found out (not nearly as long ago as you'd think).

Funktheduck > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 13:06

Kinja'd!!!

Best I've done on my commute. I think I can do better but I'm not very patient.

Rated 29/40/33

Captain of the Enterprise > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 13:07

I've been measuring every week for over a year now

BLCKSTRM > HammerheadFistpunch
02/04/2015 at 13:14

That's pretty good, especially considering the crappy traffic, winding road, and elevation between Springville and Helper, though the rest of the drive is fairly benign.

Your Cruiser looks great - I'll bet that's a lot of fun in Moab. I've lost the truck bug I had as a kid, but I've been living where it's pretty flat (and land is privately owned) for most of the last 10 years. It also drives me crazy to have to PAY to go shooting (on top of buying ammo). It's that kind of stuff that makes me feel like Texas is more "South" than "West."

I put a new diff in the M3 a year ago, and have gotten significantly worse mileage since then. The extra revs are only part of it - it's also a lot more fun to drive now, so I partake much more often. But I don't regret it - and I doubt you do either.

HammerheadFistpunch > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 13:16

I sort of regret it, because the gear noise and higher revs sure make for a less pleasant commute, but it sure pulls my tent trailer better. The funny thing about that drive is I always get great mileage on it, because of the low speeds I guess.

BLCKSTRM > Captain of the Enterprise
02/04/2015 at 13:21

I calculate it every week, but I don't write it down - I should.

Best was 25.2 before I replaced my diff, 24.8 after. My highway mileage has held up better than my city mileage, but I guess that's to be expected.

OPPOsaurus WRX > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 13:33

with all the snow i'm sure i'm destroyed my gas milage, that and traction controll off all wheel drift..... over the summer i was around 26 mpg and I think the WRX is rated at 19/25

OPPOsaurus WRX > cazzyodo
02/04/2015 at 13:34

ease off the snownuts

cazzyodo > OPPOsaurus WRX
02/04/2015 at 13:34

Haven't done any snownuts...haven't been to a lot. SO LAY OFF AND LET ME HOON MY WAY TO WORK!!!!!

OPPOsaurus WRX > cazzyodo
02/04/2015 at 13:38

holy crap. might wanna lay off the estrogen as well. i havn't hit any lots either, sucks

Decay buys too many beaters > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 13:39

I can reliably get around 9MPG from my FR-S. A massive 20MPG improvement over the EPA combined estimate!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > BLCKSTRM
02/04/2015 at 13:45

I've pretty much tried this to see if I could improve my fuel economy. Accelerating as slow as possible led me to 12 mpg. Driving quickly while using the loud pedal more, led me to 12 mpg. Driving in bad conditions with 4WD engaged, led me to 2 mpg. So when originally I thought it couldn't get worse, boy was I in for a surprise.

cazzyodo > OPPOsaurus WRX
02/04/2015 at 13:51

Kinja'd!!!