bebbenga
01-29-2007, 08:33 AM
Regarding High Mileage- Just felt I needed to share my story, that any car can get good mileage!
Brad Zender, age 53,former owner of my 94 Lincoln TownCar, 4.6 liter V-8,, taught me just a few of these tricks to driving, which results in my averaging 20.3 mpg in the Lincoln on my 16 mile roundtrip commute. This barely gets the car warmed up going 8 miles to work and is in low hilly country with three stop signs. I rarely go over 55 mph. It also makes the car last longer with fewer repairs. On HWY trips of 100 or more miles, the 94 Lincoln gets 22-23mpg depending on speed of 65 or 70mph.
1. At a stop, always release brake, let car roll forward on it own, then gently apply gas. (This also makes your U-joints and tranny last 227,0000 miles and going.)
2. Never accelerate hard, getting up to speed (55-65) or passing. This makes for more mpg and makes a tranny last 227K plus.
3.Let the car warm up a minute or two before driving. It wastes fuel but makes the car last longer. The colder, the longer the warm up, at least where the heat guage starts to move. It may waste less fuel in the long run in cold climates like Minnesnowta.
4. COAST- pull the foot off gas more than 1/4 mile from stop, you will learn how long it take your car to be down to 20mpg or less. The Lincoln at 55, will still be doing 30 mph with a 1/4 mile coast, Its heavy and the tranny does not downshift til hits 35 mph.
5. Use Cruise Control- for most people this helps mileage, as we are not trained hypermilers.
6. Drive 55-60 mph, most cars in Overdrive get the best mileage at this speed.
My other High Gas Mileage Vechile is a 1981 Freeway by HMV, an enclosed three wheeler, with 16 hp garden tractor engine that averages 60 mpg on highway.
Good luck and good mileage!
Bryan Ebbenga
Kasota, MN
Brad Zender, age 53,former owner of my 94 Lincoln TownCar, 4.6 liter V-8,, taught me just a few of these tricks to driving, which results in my averaging 20.3 mpg in the Lincoln on my 16 mile roundtrip commute. This barely gets the car warmed up going 8 miles to work and is in low hilly country with three stop signs. I rarely go over 55 mph. It also makes the car last longer with fewer repairs. On HWY trips of 100 or more miles, the 94 Lincoln gets 22-23mpg depending on speed of 65 or 70mph.
1. At a stop, always release brake, let car roll forward on it own, then gently apply gas. (This also makes your U-joints and tranny last 227,0000 miles and going.)
2. Never accelerate hard, getting up to speed (55-65) or passing. This makes for more mpg and makes a tranny last 227K plus.
3.Let the car warm up a minute or two before driving. It wastes fuel but makes the car last longer. The colder, the longer the warm up, at least where the heat guage starts to move. It may waste less fuel in the long run in cold climates like Minnesnowta.
4. COAST- pull the foot off gas more than 1/4 mile from stop, you will learn how long it take your car to be down to 20mpg or less. The Lincoln at 55, will still be doing 30 mph with a 1/4 mile coast, Its heavy and the tranny does not downshift til hits 35 mph.
5. Use Cruise Control- for most people this helps mileage, as we are not trained hypermilers.
6. Drive 55-60 mph, most cars in Overdrive get the best mileage at this speed.
My other High Gas Mileage Vechile is a 1981 Freeway by HMV, an enclosed three wheeler, with 16 hp garden tractor engine that averages 60 mpg on highway.
Good luck and good mileage!
Bryan Ebbenga
Kasota, MN