http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018905544Sat Nov 19, 2016, 01:54 AM
Star Member Tobin S. (9,165 posts)
I have a bit of a lead foot. Gas mileage thread.
I have a 2010 Honda Civic. It's not exactly what you'd call a powerhouse, but it has a little pep in its step for what it is. It has a 1.8 liter engine that generates up to 140 horsepower hooked to a 5 speed automatic transmission. The EPA estimated that it would get 29 mpg overall.
I recently did a little test. I drove like I normally did and checked my gas mileage. That included driving 75 to 80 mph on the interstate. The speed limit is 70 mph where I live. Like I said, a bit of a lead foot. I drive a 94 mile round trip to work five days a week, and about 80% of it is on the interstate. I got 34.3 mpg which isn't bad and beats the EPA estimate.
I then decided to change my driving style a bit to see how that would affect gas mileage. I kept it a 70 mph on the highway and set the cruise most of the time. I also tried to stay in my top gear at all times on the highway. That means staying off the gas pedal to keep the car from downshifting into a lower gear. When I passed and needed a little extra, I accelerated smoothly instead of mashing the gas to speed up more quickly. I also was sure to observe the speed limits and to speed up more smoothly when I was traveling on city streets. The difference in fuel mileage was pretty dramatic. I got 37.2 mpg, almost 3 mpg better than when I was driving more erratically.
I think if I slowed down to 65 on the interstate I might be able to squeak out 39 mpg, but I don't want to impede traffic too much. Most people around here do 75 mph or more on the interstate.
If I am able to maintain a 3 mpg improvement on my fuel mileage, as much as I drive, that translates into 58 gallons of fuel saved a year. At the current price of about $2 per gallon that equals $116 saved which will pay for that new CB radio I've been wanting. Also, fuel prices are bound to go up in the future at some point so the savings will be even greater if I continue to drive like a sane person. There is also the CO2 burn off savings although I'm not sure how to calculate that. But I know I will have less of an impact on the environment.
I really only rowed this thread over for the last sentence, wherein Tubby Tobin seems to be concerned about his impact on the environment. I find it curious that he's concerned about how much gas he uses, but doesn't even mention the 800-pound gorilla in the room, which in this case is the 800-pound gorilla piloting the car down the interstate.
Sat Nov 19, 2016, 02:04 AM
Star Member CaliforniaPeggy (120,868 posts)
1. These are the things that keep us awake at night, my dear Tobin!
Good calculations and you have drawn the correct conclusions!
The only way (I think) to get better mileage? Buy an electric car!
But they are still very expensive and then you need a way to power it back up.
Keep on truckin'!
Calpig cackles her way out of her crypt to make an inane post, but that's all that's really worth rowing over.
