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Presenting the Winter 2010 Challenge, running from January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010. (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28032)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/fuel_empty.jpgAndrew McGuckin - CleanMPG (http://www.cleanmpg.com) - January 4, 2010

Join us in our quarterly challenge to beat the EPA mileage ratings. The winner is the driver who beats the EPA by the highest percentage.

Drive your daily routes in your normal car. Real-world cars, real-world routes, everyday conditions, etc. This is where the real results prove the value of hypermiling. Remember the CleanMPG motto, "Learn to raise fuel economy and lower emissions in whatever you drive".

Results from previous economy runs:
I: February - May 2008. Winner: PaleMelanesian (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11595)
II: June - August, 2008. Winners: CobraPond (A), lamebums (B) (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15528)
III: Sept - Nov 2008. Winners: CobraPond (A), MT bucket (B), jps000 (C) (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17843)
IV: Dec 2008 - Feb 2009. Winners: lnmcmahan (A), GaryG (B), jhu (C) (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20084)
V: March - May 2009. Winners: lnmcmahan (A), nissynis (B), Damionk (C) (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22490)
VI: June - Sept 2009. Winners: cpeter38, froggman, Taliesin, Kacey Green (marathon) (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25603")
VII: Oct - Dec 2009. Winners: cpeter38 (A), Swineone (B, Marathon), some_other_dave (C) (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28650)

How to Join
To participate in this Fuel Economy Challenge, all you have to do is the following:

Create a new mileage log. This will be an alter-ego of your vehicle, except make sure you use the 2008 EPA ratings for your car found at www.fueleconomy.gov. Choose the category "Quarter-Year FE Challenge". Please use a new log and leave the summer logs as-is until the previous challenge results are finalized. Once finalized, the previous vehicles can be deleted.

Post here in this thread to announce your participation. Be sure to include a link to your new mileage log.

Post in this thread with updates. Start wherever you are now, and use your next fillup, whenever it comes, as the start of your log. There is now no minimum mileage or number of fillups, only a request for no single-tank entries. We want complete daily driving records, and not cherry-picked entries.

The standings here on page 1 will be updated periodically.


Handicaps
For a level playing field, we will all use the new revised EPA estimates for fuel economy. If you are using a handicap, please list it when you announce your participation.

Hybrid Handicap: Reduce your epa ratings by multiplying by 0.85. Hybrids are already optimized for good mileage by automatically doing many of the things hypermilers do.

E10 Handicap: Reduce your epa ratings by 3%, to match the reduced BTU of 10% ethanol.
Part-time E10: If you only sometimes use E10, log 3% less fuel used when you record that fillup. Make a note in the comments for the tank. Example: "Last fill was E10. Pumped 10.3 gallons, logged 10.0 gallons". Use this adjustment for the fill that finishes the tank of E10 fuel, not when you put it in.

E85 Handicap: If you are using E85 instead of regular gasoline and EPA ratings are not available, you can estimate your E85 rating. Just lower the gasoline numbers by 25% (multiply by 0.75) and round to the nearest MPG. Enter this as your EPA rating.


Which Division?
Divisions A, B and C were created to help divide people into three levels, in order to increase competitiveness.

For Returning Members:
If you were in the top 2 or 3 in your division, please consider moving up.
If you were near the bottom, consider moving down. Everything is more fun when the competition is close.

For New Members:
If are are new to hypermiling or to this challenge then I recommend either the B or C divisions to allow a good chance to get on your feet and familiarize yourself with hypermiling.

Special class - Marathon: If you drive lots of miles, you belong here. (in addition to Div A, B or C. Sign up for both.)
Special class - Winter: If you have snow on the ground for several months, you may enter this division. (in addition to Div A, B or C. Sign up for both.)


Official Standings
Division A
Driver | Vehicle | Handicap
GaryG | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3349.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3349) | E10, Hybrid
PaleMelanesian | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3332.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3332) |
groar | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3373.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3373) |
Right Lane Cruiser | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/1479.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG%28US%29&viewcar=1479) | E10, Hybrid
diamondlarry | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3333.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3333) | Hybrid
cpeter38 | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3339.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3339) |


Division B
Driver | Vehicle | Handicap
Sulfuric | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3341.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3341) | E10
Mr. Pancake | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3347.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3347) | E10, Hybrid
Kacey Green | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3337.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3337) | E10, Hybrid
drummerboy2004 | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3355.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3355) | E10
WoodyWoodchuck | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3336.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3336) |


Division C
Driver | Vehicle | Handicap
jimepting | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3352.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3352) | E10, Hybrid
tpmjr2004 | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3331.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3331) | E10
Seraph | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3346.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3346) |
Ken07TCH | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3342.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3342) | E10, Hybrid
melinuxfool | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3362.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3362) | E10
JusBringIt | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3340.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3340) | E10
fanamingo | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3334.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3334) | E10


Marathon Division (long-distance)
Driver | Vehicle | Handicap
tpmjr2004 | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3331.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3331) | E10
Kacey Green | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3337.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3337) | E10, Hybrid


Winter Division
Driver | Vehicle | Handicap
Right Lane Cruiser | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/1479.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG%28US%29&viewcar=1479) | E10, Hybrid
Mr. Pancake | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3347.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3347) | E10, Hybrid
JusBringIt | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3340.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3340) | E10
cpeter38 | http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3339.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3339) |


Final results posted here: http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31005

Can you put me in Division C and the marathon division again. I have my log set up already with one tank in. This one is starting out alot better than the last run. Thanks

Also I have the E10 Handicap. Thanks

There you go. You're currently winning! ;)

Andrew, I just created my FE VIII vehicle. I'll talk to my son and try to make sure he gets his created too.

Woohoo!!! I'm Winning!!!

For Returning Members:
If you were in the top 2 or 3 in your division, please consider moving up.
If you were near the bottom, consider moving down.

So I should move down to... Oh right, I'm already at the bottom. ;) Come on all. Sign up. I'm an easy target to beat! Sign me up for Division C again. I'll be holding onto my E10 handicap as well.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3334.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&viewcar=3334)

Woohoo!!! I'm Winning!!!

Oh yeah? Well, I've used less gas (at least until my first fill)! :D

Hi Andrew, glad to see you are doing a new challenge! unfortunately I will have to sit out on this one, my car is out of commission and I don't see repairs happening til spring at least. :( so i will miss out on the fun.
Good luck hypermilers, keep up the good work!!:flag:

Sign me up in Division B again. I'll put up a good fight to be last.

Watch out you folks... I'm coming down to get ya!!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3337.png

Div B, Marathon, E10 full time & Hybrid

Div B, Marathon, E10 full time & Hybrid

:(

:(

I agree

I'm in - Division A for the FSP (Contour SVT). I should mention that we are experiencing winter here in the Detroit metro area - it looks like it is going to be a bad one :-(!

Here's the link http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3339

Normal handicap - I've adjusted the EPA to match actual EPA combined. Although I use 100% E10 fuel, there is no for it (other than forcing the rating to match my actual EPA).

I'm still on my gimpy starter, so this might be a serious handicap. I may have to keep the engine on at all stop lights :-( :-(

Here is my entry for the winter division (E10 handicap as there is no other fuel choice)
Throw me in the A-division also. :)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3340.png

First entry in at 137%. I was expecting better, but the SG was off by 11% instead of its usual ~5%. On a brighter note, I'm now solidly in second in division C. :)

Sign me up for Division B please.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3341.png

BTW I now have "real" real wheel skirts, held in by 6 well placed screws instead of gorilla tape....

:)

Watch out!

Hybrid, New guy, E10(pump says it could contain up to 10%), I drive 52 miles per day 5 days a week, and then some. Im not sure what mileage defines Marathon.

Im thinking Class C
e10
hybrid
Marathon if I qualify.

sign me up please!

New Log Link

http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3342

Ken, you'll need to create a new duplicate vehicle and tell me it's ID number.

With the hybrid and E10 handicaps (epa mpg * .85 * .97), you'll need to use 27 city / 28 highway for the ratings on this challenge vehicle.

I calculate about 3300 miles of commuting for the three months. Add in some weekend driving, and you might be approaching marathon class. The "unofficial" mileage is 5000 for the 3-month period.

Andrew,

Thanks for spelling it out for me. I think this is correct.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3342

Ill forego the Marathon since I look to be almost 20 percent below the mileage. we shall see after I actually check the mileage and I will reconsider Mrathon the next challenge.

And now you're on the list. Happy challenging to you.

wohoo!! THanks Andrew!

I'm out, due to a variety of reasons.

-soD

about to post a partial tank before I embark on another trek, partial meaning short fill not some weird estimatey thing

I thought I had put my entry in! :o


Put me In Div B again please

http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3227.png

Andrew,
Would you please throw me in the winter division as well?

I'm thinking that the foot of snow in my driveway might help me to qualify :-(. If that won't do, perhaps the fact that we've had snow cover for the last month would qualify :-( :-(!! Or maybe the slipping/sliding and 20 MPH avg commute speeds of the last two weeks (slow and stop traffic w/ idiots in 4X4 trying to pass on the deep snow cover in the breakdown and median lanes).

I used to tolerate this idiocy much better. This is really testing my patience when the stops are mainly due to traffic accidents caused by idiotic driving (it is amazing how the vast majority of crunched vehicles are 4x4s in the breakdown and median lanes) and poor plowing!!!

/rant

I had my first fill for this Challenge. This tank took me 503.9 miles on 9.0 gallons for 56.0 mpg. This is one of my worst tanks in a long time (if not ever) and I suspect it has to do with unusually crappy snowplowing by our county and snow tires. Oh well, summer is only 10 more weeks until spring.:)

I'm out, due to a variety of reasons.

-soD
=(

Sign me up for division C again thanks

http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3346.png

I'm in, B and winter divisions, E-10 and hybrid handicaps: http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3347
Would have joined sooner but wanted to wait until I had the car back together. I replaced the clutch and had the main shaft bearing replaced in the transmission (it was making noise).

gotcha !

Hi Everyone

Enter me in the Winter 8 Economy Challenge with a hybrid and E10 handicap. Put me in the A division Andrew and good luck to everyone. I've had a colder Winter this year but so has most of you. I'll go by my real EPA rating for 34 city and 31 highway and not use the '08 ratings. My vehicle picture is on file here and my hybrid mileage log is up to date. I'm less than 150 miles of entering my present tank but Larry seems to be the only one so far in division A that has given his status.

GaryG

This tank is going to be very bad . . . many of you probably think it is easy for me here in Florida but we had one day about a week ago that really killed my current tank. The temperature was around freezing, and I was even driving through light sleet . . . in FLORIDA!!!

My engine barely warmed up and I was late to something . . . so I was driving much to quickly for my liking. I will be happy to break 37ish mpg on this tank, as the first 1/4 of my tank was used to drive only half the distance it usually gets me.

I did add my rear wheel skirts though and the rest of my driving will be more efficient. Good luck with real snow everyone, "almost snow" was bad enough for me.

Gary - I need you to create a new vehicle for this challenge. Go ahead and chose "FE Challenge" as the fuel type.

(I will soon be clearing out the old vehicles there)

With the handicaps, you need to reduce the epa estimate on this new vehicle by 0.85 (hybrid) and then 0.97 (E10). That comes out to 0.8245, which multiplied to your 34/41 gives 28/25 for your "challenge epa".

When you have that vehicle, I'll link it on the first page.

Gary - I need you to create a new vehicle for this challenge. Go ahead and chose "FE Challenge" as the fuel type.

(I will soon be clearing out the old vehicles there)

With the handicaps, you need to reduce the epa estimate on this new vehicle by 0.85 (hybrid) and then 0.97 (E10). That comes out to 0.8245, which multiplied to your 34/41 gives 28/25 for your "challenge epa".

When you have that vehicle, I'll link it on the first page.

Hi Andrew

I don't know where this went but here is a link to my Little Mule Challenge 8 vehicle:
http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3349

Let me know if you need anything else.

GaryG

Is it too late to enroll for the winter challenge? Been meaning to do so, but wife's surgery has kept me kinda busy.

Gary - thanks for that. You're on the board now.

Jim - go ahead and register your car. The winter is still young. :(

Gary - thanks for that. You're on the board now.

Jim - go ahead and register your car. The winter is still young. :(

OK Andrew. I'm in. I have created my vehicle for the challenge ; Jim's1QInsight. I put in the hybride and E10 handicaps. Not sure how to proceed from here. Thanks.

Jim

I put you on the board in Division C. If you want to move to another, just say the word.

I put you on the board in Division C. If you want to move to another, just say the word.

Thanks Andrew. I certainly don't want to start higher than that. Is there something lower ;)

How do I link my vehicle FE "plate" to my e-mails?

Hi, Jim! Check out the link in my sig for information about that and other things. :)

762 miles, 11.3 gallons = 67.4 mpg!

That's well above what the Scangauge was predicting - 64.6 mpg. I can only attribute that to the 300 miles of highway I did on this tank - my calibration is for low-speed driving.

762 miles, 11.3 gallons = 67.4 mpg!

That's well above what the Scangauge was predicting - 64.6 mpg. I can only attribute that to the 300 miles of highway I did on this tank - my calibration is for low-speed driving.

In a regular civic, and it's cold outside.....so awesome. Grr I want a scangauge capable car...

Holy crap, I'm beating Kacey! Also winning winter division.

Just logged my first tank in division A and went 778.2 miles on 13.590 gallons of E10. Not my best tank but good for a starter here at 57.2mpg and 216% of EPA with the hybrid and E10 handicaps.

GaryG

Looks like my as well as Mr Pancake and Larry's tanks are logged in the hybrid section. Can anyone fix this or tell us how to fix it to be put in the Challenge 8 section?

GaryG

I think a moderator has to go in and change the vehicle category to quarter year challenge. It's not an option for regular members to do themselves. Andrew was planning to write up the FE-VII results and clear the old entries out of the challenge category. I expect he may have a chance to move the new entries into the appropriate category at that point.

For a while, I only had one tank (with holiday travel) giving me an inflated % over EPA. I was basking in the category C limelight hovering only .01% behind 2nd place. Alas, the real world has caught up. Fortunately, I'm still holding 4th (out of four entries with submitted tanks). :)

You can put it in yourself -- you just can't take it back out. ;) Go ahead and edit the vehicle category.

How do you do this? I checked under "Edit or Delete Vehicle" from the Mileage Logs, but I don't see anything that looks applicable to the FE Challenge. Given the way the Mileage Logs are organized, I expected to see an option under the dropdown menu for "Propulsion", but no luck.

Hm. I misspoke. I set it up so that you could edit the vehicle without knocking it out of the QFC section.

Sorry about that. :o

Wow Div B is realy close. I'll be fillin tommorrow and right now the SG is showing 39.5 which is close to 160%. hopfully it's reading under :p:D

I'm stuck with some flaky internet connection. I'll deal with stuff when I get this cleared up.

Andrew,
Can you dump me in the winter division also? We definitely have the white stuff pouring down in Michigan!!

I just filled up today for the second time this session. I went 575.7 miles and used 9.2 gallons for 62.6 mpg.

I'll be working on the final tally from FE-VII today, then will clear up the old entries.

I know I am 26 days late and buck short, but is it possible I join this challenge?

I have been logging my numbers, and thought they were too crappy to enter, but I see that everyone else is doing RELATIVELY crappy as well...

I can create a log for it or I can just use the one from the last challenge if it still exists.

Just let me know...

Matt

Glad to have you here. Go ahead and join. Create a new vehicle please.

just refueled and like i thought was reading under. was only .4 mpg but still would be nice to be a lil closer. Well at least I did better than i thought. sg was showing 39.5 and when refueling it came out to 39.8X

First fill -- last fill was on 12/22/2009. I just hope I can keep the lifetime average up over 90mpg this year!! :eek:

I'll be working on the final tally from FE-VII today, then will clear up the old entries.

Here's my display for the challenge...

http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3355.png

Thanks!

gotcha .......

Is it too late to get in on the fun?

not too late - go ahead and create your new vehicle.

not too late - go ahead and create your new vehicle.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3362.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG%28US%29&viewcar=3362)

I'm using the E10 handicap, since that is all that's available anywhere in Maine.

those down right near my numbers there linux. I just needed a break from the challanges and I thought with the others that had come on board there was no way of keeping up in a FSP in the coolest winter (and snowist) we have had here in a while. I will be back for the spring challange and perhaps we can have a little duel :D

those down right near my numbers there linux. I just needed a break from the challanges and I thought with the others that had come on board there was no way of keeping up in a FSP in the coolest winter (and snowist) we have had here in a while. I will be back for the spring challange and perhaps we can have a little duel :D

Duel of the FSPs, eh? Or is it better to call them LDTs (Light Duty Trucks)?

That 4x4 really eats gas, that's for sure. Fortunately for me, I have manual locking hubs, which I leave set to free unless I anticipate needing 4x4 on the way home. Lock those in and forget about any sort of gliding.

There you go. Already in 3rd place for Div C.

Duel of the FSPs, eh? Or is it better to call them LDTs (Light Duty Trucks)?

That 4x4 really eats gas, that's for sure. Fortunately for me, I have manual locking hubs, which I leave set to free unless I anticipate needing 4x4 on the way home. Lock those in and forget about any sort of gliding.

FSP = Fuel Sucking Pigs. When your idle is over 1.5 GALS/Hr you have an FSP, Then with the 4x4 engaged as you said, goodbye to your FE.

I have a 4x4 shift on the fly and try and not use at as much as possible even in bad weather. Only if I need it to get going or the road has just become icy.

1.5 gph? ouch! That's closer to my target pulse rate of about 2.0 gph. Even the Odyssey 3.5 V6 idles at 0.6 gph.

Question about the FE challenge. I filled up today, however it was at two different stations. The first station I stopped at was having trouble with their pumps, so I could only pump ½ gallon of gas. The next station was about 4 or 5 miles away on my trip home and took 9.2 gallons. Would I just enter the total miles and 9.7 gallons of fuel or would that be too inaccurate for the FE challenge.

I'll probably log it in the normal log for my truck anyway, but I'll hold off on the FE challenge log until I hear a yea or nay.

I would think you'd log the 9.7 and and total miles at that point.

I agree. 9.7 gallons, and the later, larger mileage reading. Basically, take the fillup at the second station, and add the 1/2 gallon to it.

Logged another tank today... and so the treachery continues... I'm not even in a northern state, so I don't think I really have to deal with what you others have to deal with. I guess the flux of elderly folks in these parts is suitable justification. haha

Just added my second tank for FE 8 and it's a little better than the first. I went 784.6 miles on 13.549 gallons of E10 for a 57.9mpg tank.

GaryG

Well done. You stretched your lead a bit, while I'm fighting a seriously cold winter - more snow than we've had in decades.

Well done. You stretched your lead a bit, while I'm fighting a seriously cold winter - more snow than we've had in decades.

Thanks, I'm finding that the not so cold weather here still causes me to adjust my P&G technique from the hot summer fast Pulse down a little. If I can maintain 55-58mpg year round now, this '09 FEH will hold a great lifetime EPA percentage for a hybrid on E10. I'd love to be able to get straight gas again and see what that's worth.

Sorry about the bad weather your having but we had to scrape ice off the windshield for the first time here in Jupiter in my 42 years here. The palm trees here are taking a hit but hopefully all of mine will live through it. The big homes on Jupiter Island are looking brown with all those palms that got hit. I'm not trimming the dead limbs off of mine till the warm air is here to stay.

GaryG

Filled today in Church Point, LA. 8.546 gallons for 708 miles, giving 82.845 MPG. Here for Cajun Mardi Gras, as most years.

Well I figure I better explain myself before someone sends a hit squad down there to take me out :-) I'm currently under the best of conditions, and I guess it shows.
1. My wife had back surgery and can't drive, so I don't have to take the hit from her lack of understanding of the Insight. (BTW, she is recovering nicely.)
2. I got my block heater working and use it for every start.
3. We are currently in extremely flat Cajun country out around Eunice, LA and in this weather I'm pulling 100-125 MPG motoring around to the various little town street dances and parades. Very flat, low congestion, rural roads.
4. Sean has been coaching me a lot, and it shows, if I can keep my wife out of the car. This might be my quarter. I'll never be able to put these conditions together again.

Having fun with it, but it can't last.

Very nice, Jim!!! :D:thumbs_up:

1.5 gph? ouch! That's closer to my target pulse rate of about 2.0 gph. Even the Odyssey 3.5 V6 idles at 0.6 gph.

Ok, after actaully look at the GPH readings again:
Cold Idle = 1.15
warmed up = 0.70

The pulse that I have is upper 4.0 to lower 5 GPH :o

Good news though, I found the wall outlett in the garage was no longer working that had the block heater on it. The Block was sitting at 34 when temps were lower. But now it toasting between 85-114F when I get in and crank the engine. ;) That certainly helps.

Nice numbers jim!

Help, I've fallen and I can't get up! Two weeks of a shortened commute (5.4 miles one way instead of 25) and some snow killed this tank. Back to the middle of the pack for me, woohoo!

Ouch! 5 miles is a REAL challenge.

Just put in my second tank for a small improvement. I'm likely to lose the 90+mpg lifetime average on the next tank unless the weather warms up substantially. :(

Well, the good news is you're statistically past the coldest part of winter.

http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USMN0503

Didn't quite get it all right. Here is the link to my mileage log:

http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG(US)&viewcar=3352

Very nice results, Jim!

Just put in my second tank for a small improvement. I'm likely to lose the 90+mpg lifetime average on the next tank unless the weather warms up substantially. :(
Yeah, cold is a killer. The energy to keep the ice warm gotta come from somewhere! I have a lower grill block and am considering an upper grill block that I could easily remove. Not so important down here in LA, but leave for VA tomorrow, where conditions will be a lot more challenging. Have you tried blocking both grill openings?

But, I really feel for you having your lifetime average of 90 MPG threatened. You da king man!

Sean, the deck is stacked against you. You started in February 2 years ago, so you have that winter as your starting point. If you dropped off the first few tanks, you average would be so much better.

(as did I, the year before. See the difference in my lifetime log and the Challenge log? That's partly due to the winter when I started, and partly due to being a slow learner. :o)

Hi, Jim -- my car has been fully blocked for months now. I have to use the heater on a fairly high fan setting to keep the temp down if I'm traveling in the upper 30 or lower 40mph range for very long with the engine on if the temps are around 18F or higher. ;)

I see what you mean Andrew, but I just can't bring myself to truncate logs. :o

Help, I've fallen and I can't get up! Two weeks of a shortened commute (5.4 miles one way instead of 25) and some snow killed this tank. Back to the middle of the pack for me, woohoo!

Welcome to the world of short trips. You spend half the trip with your engine warming up.

MY brother has a niced commute. He works On Sanibel Island and there the speed limit is 35 :)

Welcome to the world of short trips. You spend half the trip with your engine warming up.

MY brother has a niced commute. He works On Sanibel Island and there the speed limit is 35 :)

Yeah, not ideal but I still beat the best tank I've ever had for my normal civic so I won't complain too much. I'm back to my normal 25 mile commute now, which is pretty good for mileage, I used a lot less fuel even with the much lower mileage with the 5 mile commute.

Welcome to the world of short trips. You spend half the trip with your engine warming up.


Block heaters works wonders under these kinds of conditions. I found that my around town shopping trips were considerably less wasteful if I ran my block heater a couple of hours. I think that there are some pretty good hose inline heaters available also, for those without good threaded block plugs to facilitate removal.

New fillup. 751 miles, 11.50 gallons = 65.3 mpg. That brings my challenge %EPA down from 214 to 210, but still in 2nd place.

Still well ahead of me!

New fillup. 751 miles, 11.50 gallons = 65.3 mpg. That brings my challenge %EPA down from 214 to 210, but still in 2nd place.

My '09 FEH is in the shop having the back seats repaired or replaced as well as all new carpeting. Had a 2 1/2 gallon chlorine bottle turn over while the back leather seats where down. What a mess that made because the lid is only designed to vent the chlorine, not cap it Off from spilling. Placed a claim with Allstate and it's all covered including a rental '10 Mazda 3 I got today. Last time I had my '05 FEH in this shop they must have eat lunch in it with my engine running for the A/C because they really decreased my average tank MPG. Well, I'll wait to see the MPG damage this time on my '09 FEH.

The Mazda 3 has a auto with a manual slap stick 5 speed which is fun to drive. Anyone with any special hypermiling techniques with this trainny?

GaryG

Hi,

Happy to be back :)

Please add my challenge car to div A please.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3373.png (http://www.cleanmpg.com/index.php?page=garage&displayunits=MPG%28US%29&viewcar=3373)

Denis.

PS hope I shall be able to complete my promises in a couple days ;)

Denis! Welcome back, friend! Mighty nice numbers you've got there. :D

:( Gary, I always hate to leave my baby in the shop - who knows what they're doing to it. The mazda should have good torque, so I'd be pushing the rpm as low as it will allow.

Groar - welcome back, and you're up on the board now.

So, funny story.

I was testing some aerodynamic modifications on my back to college from my weekend return home (about 2.5 hours away), and my car . . . kind of overheated. Obviously I was paying attention to the temperature gauge, and everything else, as a good hypermiler would, but I blocked the upper and lower grills too much, and my car simply wasn't getting enough air for proper cooling.

However, I now know that it's OK to block it like I did for short trips, as there is definitely less drag, and I am close to a record tank, even with some not-so-efficient driving during the first quarter of the tank.

Have fun in the cold, everyone, it's too hot(for grill blocking) in Florida.

So, funny story.

I was testing some aerodynamic modifications on my back to college from my weekend return home (about 2.5 hours away), and my car . . . kind of overheated. Obviously I was paying attention to the temperature gauge, and everything else, as a good hypermiler would, but I blocked the upper and lower grills too much, and my car simply wasn't getting enough air for proper cooling.

However, I now know that it's OK to block it like I did for short trips, as there is definitely less drag, and I am close to a record tank, even with some not-so-efficient driving during the first quarter of the tank.

Have fun in the cold, everyone, it's too hot(for grill blocking) in Florida.

The factory installed temp. gauge is all but useless. I overblocked my 98 civic once and watched on the scan gauge as the temp. went from its normal 198 range to 212 where the fan would kick on and bring the temp. down to about 180 something, all the while the temp. gauge on the dash didn't move at all. The one in my hybrid goes to the half way mark at around 166 and doesn't show any change up into the 190's (never had it hotter than that, hopefully won't ever either).

Oh, and if you don't know this already, if you start to over heat turn your heater on to full and it will pull heat away from the engine as well. The heater core is basically a mini radiator. Might have to open the windows, but this should cool down the engine enough until you can remedy the over heating problem.

hopefully the spring weather lasts a long time, not needing A/C or heat will be awesome

Is it still possible to enter Div. B with this vehicle?
http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3381.png

I'll be using the CA E6 2% handicap, calculated at the pump, since my '08 combined estimate is 22 mpg and still rounds up to 22 mpg.

First tank of the comp! took a while but i got there.

613.3 km @ 32.71 L pretty good considering perth has got a heatwave going on lately and also ive been using the aircon quite a fair bit with some days having some crappy traffic. I'm pretty happy with this tank.

At this rate, the competition will be over before I enter it. I have several tanks to enter, but this looks like the winter doldrums, for sure. I couldn't find a way to put my gas log in FE8. I presume Andrew does that?

Sentra - sorry for the inattention. You'll have to manually back-enter the tanks since Jan 1 onto the challenge vehicle.

I've added you to the list on page 1, and moved that vehicle into the FE Challenge category.

Thanks, Andrew.

I entered my 1575 miles logged since 1/1/10. I now lead Div. B with the highest percentage, but also have the lowest mpg. My car's 2008 EPA #s are 19 city/26 highway, 22 combined. I had to set up my car here as 19/25 to get the 22 combined, otherwise cleanmpg thinks it's 23 combined.

Three weekends ago I drove 1100 miles to Las Vegas and back. Yesterday I checked my tires, which had been inflated to 51 psi. One was at 15 psi. The other three were between 35 and 40 psi. Ouch.

Wow, what a segment! Wife and I motored over to Williamsburg yesterday on I64. Unhooking my block heater, we drove away from our house and the 5 minutes to I64. Along the way, we cruised at 55mph, +/-2, virtually always in lean burn. I was surprised to see the trip FE climb, climb, climb. When we got to Williamsburg, the trip FE was at 97 mpg! Along the way we made a quick stop at a highway reststop. There the explanation became clear - the flags were standing out straight, propelled by a stiff direct tailwind. It was fun watching the FE climb to those astronomical numbers, at least for me. Fortunately, the wind had died before our return and the RT came in at 87.4mpg for 150.7 miles, even with some stops and side streets.

Man do I love it when someone waits until the end of the competition to enter and oh, by the way they're winning. Sure does make it fun for the rest of us that entered in a timely fashion.

I love it too :rolleyes: No more competitons for me.

I'll stick to the daily grind from now on.

It's not like I didn't drive the 1500 miles and achieve the mpg. I'd be leading Div. B in my second car, too. Feel free to remove my entry from the competition, Andrew.

Nice work, Jim. :D

Guys, late or not it's a fair entry because of number of miles and time-frame. Try to remember that it is hard to directly compare results due to driving environment, equipment, length of trips, time of day, etc. This is all in good fun and should be motivating -- not discouraging!

Nice work, Jim. :D

Guys, late or not it's a fair entry because of number of miles and time-frame. Try to remember that it is hard to directly compare results due to driving environment, equipment, length of trips, time of day, etc. This is all in good fun and should be motivating -- not discouraging!

Hi Sean

I agree, there were no rules regarding a cut-off date for the entry in the challenge and Andrew was ask before the entry. All of us sign up for various reasons and a late winning entry can be disappointing and not give others a chance to make-up the difference. In most cases we are well into a tank prior to the start of the challenge and we can decide to enter during the first month of the challenge even if it would be less than a full tank entry.

In my case, under the present rules I can't compete unless the gas versions have a cold weather disadvantage. I don't have a block heater and don't use a radiator block, however I'm sure I could increase my MPG still with those. The challenge makes me try harder to push the envelope and add to my lifetime MPG average. My goal was to hit a 60mpg tank this winter to prove it could be done with a Ford FEH. I've proved it to myself trying to recover from the body shops damage to my FEH MPG average while in for repair a week or so ago. The fact is, I expected the hit and had a chance to recover the tank during this challenge and most important a steady increase in my lifetime MPG average. The challenge is an incentive to be the best you can be and I understand the concern for a timely entry.

GaryG

Nice work, Jim. :D

Guys, late or not it's a fair entry because of number of miles and time-frame. Try to remember that it is hard to directly compare results due to driving environment, equipment, length of trips, time of day, etc. This is all in good fun and should be motivating -- not discouraging!

It isn't motivating when your competing against someone who isn't there. This seems to happen every competition. Someone sits back, collects their data and then when they see that they hands down are winning they enter. I thought the intent of the FE challenge was to push us to get even better mileage by having others to compete against. Someone who enters two-thirds of the way through the competition and is winning by 13.66% isn't competing. This isn't fair to those who have been in it since the beggining and is frustrating. For the spring challenge I suggest we all vote on a new rule that all entrants must sign up within a reasonable amount of time (within two weeks or so) and that entrants after that will not be accepted.

This isn't fair to those who have been in it since the beggining and is frustrating. For the spring challenge I suggest we all vote on a new rule that all entrants must sign up within a reasonable amount of time (within two weeks or so) and that entrants after that will not be accepted.

I think that makes sense. I'd vote for that - if it were up to a vote.

But I think care must be exercised not to put in an elaborate set of rules which can't be inforced anyway. As Sean says, it is all in good fun. And, again, the circumstances of each entry are so varied that the results are bound to be highly varied and highly changable. Someone who is a total loser in one quarter may well win in another.

I know how frustrating competion can sometimes be. I raced amateur sports cars most my adult life. But, every once in a while, we must remind ourselves why we do this. I suggest that we do it for the fun, friendships, and the intellectual challenge.

I'm just gonan stick to challenging myself.

What if all late comers were put into Div A :)

Just added my third tank and managed to hold on to 217% of EPA.

GaryG

Well done, Gary. I'm trying hard, but that's a tough lead to overcome.

Folks, after some discussion, Sentra is dropping out of this challenge. I'm sorry to Darrell that he had to be the target of such controversy.

Next time, we will have an entry deadline. How does a month sound? I debated about adding such a limit last time, and it looks like I should have.

Folks, after some discussion, Sentra is dropping out of this challenge. I'm sorry to Darrell that he had to be the target of such controversy.

Next time, we will have an entry deadline. How does a month sound? I debated about adding such a limit last time, and it looks like I should have.

Thanks Andrew. I think it is a good decision to add a deadline, though I don't see that Sentra did anything wrong. After all, he did the miles!

One month is fine by me, but I'd also go with a shorter one if that was most popular. Thanks for your hard work:D:D

Folks, after some discussion, Sentra is dropping out of this challenge. I'm sorry to Darrell that he had to be the target of such controversy.

Next time, we will have an entry deadline. How does a month sound? I debated about adding such a limit last time, and it looks like I should have.

A month seems reasonable enough. I hope that Sentra understands that this wasn't a problem with him but a problem with the rules of the contest, or the lack of a rule.

Bummer for sentra . . . looks like I'm back in first :D

With ~400 miles to drive the rest of this month, I'm needing to bring my tank average up to 73 to take the lead. I'll need ~77 average for the next 2 weeks to reach that. It'll be close, but I'm doing my best.

Goal: 73 mpg this tank by the end of the month.
Current: 69.4 mpg.
Needed: 77 mpg / 400 miles.

Down to ~325 miles remaining this month.

Goal: 73 mpg tank
Current: 69.6 mpg
Needed: 78 mpg / 325 miles.

It's not looking so good.

I'm pretty close to a fill... and I've got less than 225mi left in the tank. :p

Good job guys!
:thumbs_up:

Hopefully I can get my vehicle up and running for the spring challenge. got to fix my mpguino too, some of the wires came out :rolleyes:

I just entered my last tank of the challenge. I didn't quite hit the 90mpg mark but I did preserve my LFE. :)

Very nice, Sean! Still 90.2 lifetime.

Updated forecast:
Goal: 73 MPG tank
Current: 70.2 mpg
Needed: 78 MPG / 275 miles.

It looks like I may do a little extra driving this weekend to the next town. I'll probably fill up before I go, since I'm down to 1/4 tank already. I'm also unlikely to get 80+ mpg on trip.

Gary, preliminary congratulations on the win.

This will be my fourth #2 finish in 8 quarterly challenges.

At least you'll finish in the top 3! :p

Good News... I've started walking and taking the bus to school/work (which are pretty close) and the girlfriend has started volunteering right down the street to where I practice with my band (she insists we take her car there), so I currently don't do any driving... Matter of fact, I have even sat in my car since the 13th when I filled up. This equates to less gas used for me, and a lot of money saved...

Bad News... Not driving in this "good for hypermiling" weather, means my average for this competition is staying put (in almost dead last of my division)... I can't really get good mileage if I don't drive :]

Either way, I am sure when I do drive it will be on trips where I attain the best efficiency! So, for now I sit, but I can assure you next challenge I will probably do pretty well... granted nothing changes!

Matt

Just curious but, is there going to be a round 9?

I expect there will be. ;) I hear there's this guy who puts these things together.

I expect there will be. ;) I hear there's this guy who puts these things together.
Oh yeah? Friend of yours?:p I was just wondering since I had heard anything about it. You must be having trouble figuring out all of the handicaps such as blue hybrid car in a northern state driven only during the day type handicaps.;):D

lol looking at the top 3 of division C, then looking at the top 3 in division B, its kinda weird. Look at the top of division C jesus he could be top division B. What's with all the disparity o_O

Look at the top of division C jesus he could be top division B. What's with all the disparity o_O

That would be me;)

I had some unusually good circumstances for the quarter, and I am not new to hypermiling. I suppose I could have entered division B though I have not entered the challenge before, so division C was the obvious choice. I covered some of my unusual circumstances and training in post #75. The biggest advantage this quarter was getting my wife out of the driver's seat. Since I am retired, my circumstances vary widely. I do not have a fixed commuting route per se, but that can be a disadvantage as well as an advantage.

I think that the rules are kinda loose myself, but I don't see any realistic way to tighten it up very much. It is the nature of the contest that it is pretty much just a fun event. It does accomplish a good purpose in that it encourages and trains folks to strive for better FE.

How's the wife doing, Jim?

Oh yeah? Friend of yours?:p I was just wondering since I had heard anything about it. You must be having trouble figuring out all of the handicaps such as blue hybrid car in a northern state driven only during the day type handicaps.;):D

Hm... I must have missed the memo about not driving at night... ;)

Sean, I think he was trying to exclude you and keep it all for himself. ;)

How's the wife doing, Jim?

Nancy is doing very well for such an extensive operation. She had a fusion along with screws and rods. Hurts just to think about it;)

She had begun to experience such serious leg pain that she literally could no longer walk on concrete. She has no remaining leg pain, so the operation must be considered a qualified success, depending on the next year's results. Full recovery from this sort of thing involves therepy and lots of time.

That's fantastic news, Jim! :) I have some understanding of how that must feel after suffering a herniated disk last April. The referred pain felt like a severely injured hamstring. :(

I hope she continues to improve and is able to lead a long and pain-free life from this point forward.

Challenge 9 signup is open
http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30365

Well... I did the trip out and back, starting with 1/4 tank. Disappointing 64 mpg round trip.

Then I filled up, and the Scangauge was underreporting my mpg. :D I topped it off and drove around the block and came back to top off again - I've never filled it this high before. I can be sure this was not a short fill.

886 miles, 12.2 gallons = 72.6 mpg!

And that means 1st place in the challenge. I was expecting to need 73, but the extra distance and better-than-expected fillup made the difference.

:D

Great work, Andrew!!! :D:thumbs_up: :woot:

Great work Andrew:Banane06:

I expect to top off on the 31st and finish the Winter quarter. Not expecting to maintain my current average, since I've been stuck in suburban Richmond:( But should be good enough for the win in Division C. I won't be much of a threat in the spring quarter.

I thought I was going to make it but i had to fill up today since I was already near the station while running an errand. I filled up after 722.3 miles and used 8.900 gallons for 81.157 mpg. I guess I'll have a couple day head start on Round IX.

Nice work with the 80, Larry.

Nice work with the 80, Larry.
Thanks. I hope that is as low as I ever go after I get done with my wiring project.:)

Larry and his batteries. <shakes head>

Look out!! :eek:

I've never had much luck doing any wiring in my cars or house. never worked out right and would have to get a pro to make it right.

Just added my last tank of this FE Challenge 8 and had my best tank so far. Went 790.7 miles on 13.604 gallons of E10 for a 58mpg tank.

GaryG

That's super impressive from that monster vehicle, Gary!! :eek:

Sorry, Andrew -- looks like you missed out again. :p

Ah, um, !@#$@#!

I mean... Well done, good sir. Congratulations, Gary.

;) At least I didn't let you just walk away with it.

Thanks Andrew

I expected cpeter38 to win but I guess it was to cold for him without a heater or something. I thought you were planning on a big move because you seemed to want to know if I had logged my last tanks. All I can say is I've mastered the wind and rain this last month because I sure had enough of it. Good thing I had my goal set on a 60mpg tank for this last fill or I never would have made the 58mpg tank.

Thanks Sean, the FEH is a monster compared to your Insight but Ford did an excellent job on that 2.5L engine. I do most of the shopping at Publix, Costco, Sams Club, Walmart and BJ's, so I carry a 165Qt Igloo cooler in the back just in case. The cooler fits nicely in both the '05 and '09 FEH and I keep a 20lb bag of ice in it when I go out. I keep the ice in the bag to use over and over again and just put it back in the freezer when I get home. Being 280 pounds myself, I never worry about carrying around extra weight so I need a monster that gets great mileage.

GaryG

Andrew,

What are the rules on final fill and reporting? Got under time pressure today and haven't gotten filled.

Not much in the way of rules, really. I don't think it's a problem if you fill tomorrow.

Not much in the way of rules, really. I don't think it's a problem if you fill tomorrow.

Ok, thanks.

On a more serious note, I think this is something that also needs a "simple" rule change. Something like, "The final fill must be reported within 10 days of the challenge completion."

I second that motion.

Noted. I will add it to the next challenge.

Topped off the tank last night to finish Winter Challenge. 326 miles and 4.104 gallons for a 79.43 MPG. A bit worse because of shorter trips, more traffic, more starts/stops.

Still a great Quarter for me:woot:

Now have another car for DW so I am feeling better about Division B in the Spring Challenge:)

updated the final 2 tanks, rolling the current one, well over half