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Good morning all. :flag:

I started on a search for more info on the movie "Who killed the electric car" and found this site. Specifically Wayne's hypermiling article leading to the start of your hypermiling contest got me here. :woot: Way to go Wayne. AMAZING.

So I have been reading the site and checked out several of the articles in the articles section. Very interesting what you are able to do and the wide techniques you have. :confused:

Background: I have had a Pontiac Aztek since 2001. On my second with the '04. During that time I have always managed just over 20 mpg :) despite the city miles and EPA of 18 :( . Highway however is maxed at 24 mpg. I have never gotten above that. I do have the DIC with instant MPG. I found it interesting (read ‘toy) as it changes as I drive.

Questions: I guess my biggest challenge is the triggered lights in my area. They are spaced consistently at 1 mile apart though. Speed limits are 45. The last couple of days I have been tracking instant mpg at a few consistent speeds trying to see what is possible. Looks like low 30 mpg can easily be done at a constant throttle rate. So hopefully I can get to a 25 mpg average applying some of the techniques you have here. Any suggestions for timing the triggered lights and what can be applied during that mile of acceleration and stopping?

I already do Face Out as much as possible. I try to coast when I can too. Not to the amount you suggest though. I tried it a few times yesterday and today. I was surprised at the tolerance of other drivers for this. I will continue coasting more. I know I cannot turn off the ICE while moving due to the AWD’s auto transmission. I have removed a baffle in the intake to improve air flow into the engine. Here is a link to part of that job on AztekFanClub.com Custom Induced Cold Air Intake/Ram Air Box (http://www.aztekfanclub.com/SMF/index.php?topic=570.msg6841#msg6841)

Otherwise, I have since last year been riding my bike to work about 2 days a week average. The goal is MWF every week and I was able to achieve that most of the time. Now with the freezing temps in MI it is rare that I ride in. (2 times so far this week though!) I don’t like the freezing rain conditions. The main reason for the bike commute is exercise with the nice side benefit of not going to the pump every week/ week and a half for 14 gal of the stuff.

Photo of my mountain bike (not the commuter) inside Streak.
http://www.aztekfanclub.com/photos/albums/userpics/10038/NRS_N_Aztek.JPG

Welcome!!!

Looks like you have a good start.

I would put the baffle/resonator back in. Having it out wont do anything for mpg and I doubt it will do anything at all for HP or torque. It more than likely just makes your intake tract louder. All sorts of threads all over the net about that mode, be it a Honda or GM product.

Air up the tires and play with the throttle control. Maybe look at different routes.

Be Good,,, Or Bad At It

psy

I did check the tires last night. 30 psi to 35. I aired them up to 45 (sidewall says 44 max). Did the same for my wife's. Brand new tire as of saturday and one tire was at 20 psi :eek: :angry: Topped those off too.

Question on the MPG charting. I have data on my cars dateing back about a year. I would like to put it into the site. Can I enter old data? Second, what happens if I have a tank that I don't have the mileage for. EX: filled up and didn't keep my gallons or mileage reading. Is it just dropped and not calculated or should I add it to the next tank's miles?

I couldn't find any FAQ on the milage calculator. :confused:

Question on the MPG charting. I have data on my cars dateing back about a year. I would like to put it into the site. Can I enter old data? Second, what happens if I have a tank that I don't have the mileage for. EX: filled up and didn't keep my gallons or mileage reading. Is it just dropped and not calculated or should I add it to the next tank's miles?


Welcome to CleanMPG! I'm pretty sure it's ok to add old data. I did when I first joined and they didn't boot me out. ;) As for missing data, it wouldn't be too hard to figure out the miles travelled by using the data before and after a tank, but if you don't have the gallons used, you may have to leave that tank out. What do you think Tom? Wayne?

Welcome! It's funny, I've read and heard a lot of Aztec-bashing, but when I see it with the hatch opened up it looks to me like a giant Prius. Heard good things about the raw utility of that vehicle.

Anyway, I just want to offer some encouragement since I have been down the road of hypermiling a heavy AWD vehicle with an auto trans on the highway. My girlfriend drives a Volvo XC70, which sits a little lower to the ground but otherwise has many of the same limitations. She generally gets the EPA highway rating of 24mpg, sometimes as high as 26mpg after a little coaching from me. I take things a little further than she does, but I never even go as far as to put that car into neutral. That means driving to avoid using the brakes (DWB or Driving Without Brakes), keeping the engine load low by letting it lose a little speed up-hill and gaining a little speed on the way back down (DWL or Driving w/ load), keeping it in the 60-65mph range on the highway or less when roads and traffic permit, and generally just taking it easy. That's all very simple and easy to implement stuff, and under the right conditions can return numbers in the 30-32mpg range in that car. It's just a matter of keeping tabs on the instant fuel economy display to keep the number as high as you can, within reason.

Unfortunately this is a lousy time of year for gas mileage but things will get better as we get out of winter. Bumping up your tire pressure should make a modest but immediate improvement, too. Just pick the techniques that you feel comfortable with and always remember to put safety before that extra shred of fuel economy. Good luck!

Welcome!

What I've noticed about GMs is that their engines generally work most efficiently at higher intake air temps. The cold-air intake may be enriching the mix and burning more fuel than necessary. Although it may rob some horsepower, experimenting with the higher intake temps may yield some advantage.

Mastering the "driving style" aspect of FE will get you quite further. In addition, behind-the-scenes items like a hotter thermostat, low-rolling resistance tires at the next purchase, removing excess weight and making Streak more aerodynamic will add additional gains; for example, removing the roof rack, if the etc.

It won't be easy, but could become addictive :)

RH77

I have had the roof rack off the Aztek for most of it's life. The things are aerodynamically shaped anyway and the manual even states not to use them to carry a load. :rolleyes: I did use them once to carry a cooler and what a pig I was that day. The cooler is 2x2 1/2 feet on the front and 4 feet long. My highway mpg jumped down to 19 from the 24 I normally get.

Brick: sounds like cruise control is my enemy based on your suggestion of loosing speed going up a hill and recovering it on the down side. Time to strengthen my endurance in the right foot! That will definitely increase the concentration required.

The versatility is why I bought the Aztek. Being able to put my bike inside; hauling 4x8 sheets of plywood; or currently taking a baby stroller, pack and play, luggage, and the above cooler without removing the rear seats is a few examples. Kids sure take a lot of gear! :rolleyes: So worth it though. :Banane41:
P.S. Aztek not Aztec! :p :D

I pulled the rear seats (~80+ lbs) and put them in the garage. RH77 you mentioned lower resistance tires. How do you find out that? I guess I should do some searching here. BTW: I only gutted the air box. I didn’t do the cold air intake. It is still drawing air from the fender.

Thanks for the tips!