View Full Version : Week of Feb 26th - Mar 4th, 2007
Bruce 02-26-2007, 06:10 AM About an inch of slushy snow on the ground and plenty in the air this morning. Forget about TCC lock...most of the time traffic was moving around 30, so I just feathered the gas and pulled a FAS where I could. Traffic was heavy on the expressway, the slow lane was covered with snow and speeds varied widely.
27.8 MPG for the first 1.7 miles, 39.2 for the rest; total was 37.5 MPG for 15.5 miles at 31°F. Not the greatest, but still better than EPA highway. Tank's still above 40, at 40.6.
brick 02-26-2007, 06:22 AM 2-3" of fluffy white snow at my location, which has formed a browny-red slush all over the roads. Once again not one ounce of trouble from the Prius, even in my un-plowed parking lot. I gave it a little too much accelerator from one particular stop sign and it stuttered a little, but as soon as it backed off the throttle enough to stop the spin it reapplied power untill slippage begane again. Rinse and repeat until speed is gained...really cool.
Oh, right...FE. Left with 47.8mpg on the tank and got in with 48.0mpg showing. Speeds were very low (20-30mph for 3/4 of the ride) so I kept working the EV switch once it was up to temp. That thing was well worth the money I paid for it.
Skwyre7 02-26-2007, 07:59 AM I left a couple minutes late this morning and got stuck in traffic (read idiot drivers). I managed 56.2 MPG at 36ºF.
ericbecky 02-26-2007, 08:04 AM After 15 inches of wet snow over the weekend, the roads are clear and just a little damp.
30 miles coming in to work at 30 degrees.
74.4 mpg.
locutus 02-26-2007, 09:04 AM As Eric mentioned, over a foot of wet slushy stuff this weekend. A few short trips which were fine (aside from the MPG hit) except that on the way back from one I managed to get beached at the end of my driveway. Ran the SOC down to 4 rocking it back and forth to get unstuck after shoveling myself out. It's almost spring! ;)
This morning, 7.0 miles / 55.6 MPG (starting SOC: 4, roads mostly clear but wet, 30F). Tank avg sitting at 61.2 with 5 pips remaining.
tbaleno 02-26-2007, 09:35 AM Wet slushy stuff here as well. Still in the low 40s for mileage.
Bruce 02-26-2007, 02:11 PM Went down to our other facility...roads were wet but clear, snow was in the air on the way down. I just mostly DWL'd at a constant TPS of 17, FASing for interchanges and a couple of long, steep dowhills. No drafting -- there was a lot of salt on the roads, and I didn't want a chunk taking out my windshield.
43.1 MPG for 33.7 miles at 36°F on the way down;
44.4 MPG for 33.0 miles at 33°F on the way back.
I'll need to check back through my previous logs to see if this is better or worse than drafting. I usually speed up to keep up with trucks while drafting, so it's tough to tell if there's any net benefit (other than getting there faster).
Edit: the averages were definitely better today than with drafting, although temps are also about 20-30°F higher today. Hard to tell.
diamondlarry 02-26-2007, 02:29 PM Today started out around 24F and ended up ~34F.
Segment A-45.5-5.8 miles
B-53.8-9.6 miles
C-59.8-9.6 miles
D-59.3-6.3 miles
Average for the day was 53.9 Tank is sitting at 53.5.
mparrish 02-26-2007, 03:23 PM New tank is at 67.3 after 100 miles. I had a lot of neighborhood (no highway) driving this weekend, and got 81 into work today. The odometer is approaching 4000 miles, and the temperatures are in the 70s. Either weather, or break in, or both is really, really helping.
This weekend I have a 250 mile highway trip, so the mileage will drop. Hopefully I can keep the tank above 60.
I had to use the AC Sunday because full blast vent just wasn't quite enough with the heat. Oh boy. AC hit will start in March, and last until November. I'll still take the heat versus April Fools Day 1997 3 feet New England snow storms though :)
How hot can it get down here? The all time high in Austin was 113 in 2000. That's not a Phoenix dry 113. That's a Houston/Miami/New York/Boston humid 113. People were walking around town gingerly, like they were walking on ice or something. "Must conserve energy to avoid heat stroke.........." Down here the ICE has to cool down to reach peak operating temperature in August ;)
Note: For previous weeks, look here, and for later weeks, look here.
Week started out good. Fair weather and moderate temperatures.
# Notes Start End mpg_ Trip T 50W Er±
== ========= trip mpg_SoC trip mpg_SoC avg mi °F car_mpg
01:Drive in to work Mon Feb 26 383.5 56.5 5 397.9 56.6 5 59.40 14.4 56.5 6.0 3.0
02:Drive home from work Mon. 397.9 56.6 5 412.1 56.9 5 66.82 14.2 70.5 2.0 3.9
03:Drive in Feb 27 412.1 56.9 5 426.4 57.0 5 60.04 14.3 63.0 4.5 3.2
04:Drive home 426.4 57.0 5 440.8 57.3 5 67.88 14.4 75.0 3.5 4.2
05:Trip to video store 440.8 57.3 5 443.7 57.3 4 57.30 2.9 68.0 0.5 16.
06:Drive in Feb 28 443.7 57.3 4 458.0 57.5 5 64.48 14.3 69.0 3.5 3.9
07:Drive home 458.0 57.5 5 472.2 57.7 5 64.99 14.2 76.0 4.0 4.1
08:Groceries 472.2 57.7 5 482.9 57.9 4 68.36 10.7 76.0 4.0 6.2
09:Drive in Mar 1 482.9 57.9 4 497.2 58.2 4 70.54 14.3 70.0 3.5 5.0
10:Trip to gas station 497.2 58.2 4 507.0 58.3 4 63.87 9.8 71.5 3.5 6.1
11:Trip home 0.0 0.0 4 4.9 68.5 4 68.50 4.9 68.0 2.0 0.1
12:Went to get cake 4.9 68.5 4 26.9 70.4 6 70.84 22.0 62.5 6.0 0.1
13:Trip back home 26.9 70.4 6 44.9 71.3 6 72.69 18.0 65.0 4.0 0.2
14:Groceries by way of school 44.9 71.3 6 64.5 71.6 4 72.30 19.6 77.0 4.0 0.3
15:Trip back home 64.5 71.6 4 75.1 70.4 6 63.88 10.6 73.0 3.0 0.6
16:Trip to haircut 75.1 70.4 6 78.9 70.8 4 79.76 3.8 71.5 4.0 0.0
17:Trip back from haircut 78.9 70.8 4 80.7 69.9 4 44.89 1.8 67.0 0.5 2.7
18:Other driver 80.7 69.9 4 105.6 61.1 7 43.39 24.9 67.0 ? 0.2
Weeks stats *:
Current city 80.80% Goal EPA_mpg for current city/hwy split = 58.27_mpg
Current hwy 19.20% Current_mpg for current city/hwy split = 66.66_mpg
Difference = 114.40%
Tank stats *:
Current city 84.63% Goal EPA_mpg for current city/hwy split = 58.62_mpg
Current hwy 15.37% Current_mpg for current city/hwy split = 69.90_mpgKey:
Start_Trip = The trip/tank mileage when I started the drive.
Start_mpg = The tanks mpg via the FCD at the start of the drive.
Start_SoC = The number of bars on the battery icon at the start of the drive.
End_Trip = The trip/tank mileage when I finished the drive.
End_mpg = The tanks mpg via the FCD at the end of the drive.
End_SoC = The number of bars on the battery icon at the end of the drive.
mpg_avg = The calculated mpg for this drive.
Trip_mi = The length of this drive.
T_°F = The average temperature for this drive
50W_car = The number of green regen cars that show on my consumption screen
Er±mpg = The range of error associated with mpg_avg
* Other drivers omitted from statistics
11011011
brick 02-27-2007, 06:20 AM Banner run this morning against the odds. I woke up to find temperatures at 32F and about a half inch of icy snow on the car. After some scraping and brushing I found that I didn't have to defrost and, most importantly, EV mode engaged! So off down the big hill I went for more than a mile, re-engaging the ICE just before the bottom. The roads were slushy and after a while I was like "Hey, where is everybody?" I must have been driving too fast because nobody showed up behind me after the first two miles. That was the biggest stroke of luck of them all, and I was finally able to run this commute exactly as I want to: P&G (albeit imperfectly) to the highway. I started out at about 132 miles on the tank with 48.0mpg showing on the MFD and brought it up to 49.0mpg after 11 miles of back road P&G driving through the slushy winter wonderland. Then, miracle of miracles, the highway was all jammed up and nobody was going more than 50-55mph. That's prime warp-stealth territory for a Prius II so, naturally, I built a buffer and did my best to DWB through the mess. The result, even after the highway was 49.1mpg on the tank which makes for a 59.8mpg trip...probably more like 57mpg when you correct for the MFD's optimism. I'm pretty psyched about that. :D
I can't wait to get the snow tires off this beast and some fresh oil in the crank case.
JimboK 02-27-2007, 06:39 AM I'm still trying to hold onto a 60+ MPG tank (first ever), but as expected, my relatively short full time commutes are pulling it down: now at 62.8, a little over 300 miles, 4 pips left.
But a reality check keeps things in perspective. I'm whining a tad about these commutes in the low to mid 50s. But last year at this time they were in the low 40s. Same weather, different driving.
I finally broke down and ordered a block heater. I know, I'm a little slow. What finally moved me to buy was an offer from a fellow Prius owner to install it.
Skwyre7 02-27-2007, 06:48 AM Tim, great run!
Jim, make sure you pay attention during the EBH install, so you can help me out if I need it next fall. ;)
This morning I was running a little late, but managed to get out of the door just in time to hit surprisingly little traffic. I think the Prius was still asleep though because the ICE didn't want to turn off. I did manage 57.1 MPG at 37ºF, so it was OK. I got some really good P&G's in at the end of my commute, which I don't normally get due to traffic.
Chuck 02-27-2007, 07:47 AM Got 78mpg at 45F
locutus 02-27-2007, 09:04 AM Nice start to the new tank mparrish! I'll take your "might need to use AC" temps any day. ;)
Managed just 50.8 / 6.1 miles /34F home from work yesterday, with 2 instances of traffic "WTF" that caused me to have to brake sharply, once in the middle of a glide and once during a pulse. Argh.
This morning was better. 68.0 / 7.0 miles / 30F, with traffic in the "A-/B+" range and hitting a very short light I normally miss. :cool:
Tank still sitting at 61.2.
Note: For previous best trips, look here, and for later best trips, look here.
This week has been pretty good so far. Had a great commute home last night at 66.8, the drive in this morning was only 60 due to a particularly problematic warmup which caused a few failed glides. Good news is the consumption screen looks a lot better than the MPG, since the 10 minutes of warmup < 25 mpg rolled off the display.
All but one of the bars > 75 mpg.
http://www.dkbryant.com/images/ConsumptionFeb27.jpg
Note: For previous screens, look here, and for later screens, look here.
laurieaw 02-27-2007, 01:55 PM whew, nothing like 14 inches of snow to make you realize just how low the front cowling is on a HCH. ok, so i didn't try to drive in it until yesterday (monday) when at least some of the roads had been plowed.
when i left for work, our main road was still slick and snow covered, and my less than appreciated hubby said he needed the 4 wheel drive truck today.....yea, since he was off work, right.
the main 4 lane was still iffy, so i erred on the cautious side, driving with a light foot and easy acceleration, as i generally do when i am not sure if the surface is icy or just wet. i wasn't even paying attention to the gauges, and was pleasantly surprised to find it read 65.7 when i pulled in the parking lot. and that's with snow tires!!
i headed home about 7pm, after riding the horse, to find snow flurries which on occasion obliterated the center line on the back roads i use going home from the barn. i found it stressful, and drove about 40-45. between that drive and the commute on dry pavement this morning, i am still showing 57.1. guess i can still do it as long as it's not -20.
i am not getting too smug, because we have another double digit snow storm approaching with the weather guessers telling us to expect another foot or more. i think i will work from home.
diamondlarry 02-27-2007, 04:27 PM [QUOTE=laurieaw;21381]
the main 4 lane was still iffy, so i erred on the cautious side, driving with a light foot and easy acceleration, as i generally do when i am not sure if the surface is icy or just wet. i wasn't even paying attention to the gauges, and was pleasantly surprised to find it read 65.7 when i pulled in the parking lot. and that's with snow tires!!
QUOTE]
Nice work in the snow!:)
Today was a good day. Temps started at ~28F and ended up at ~35F. Today was one of the days that I have some extra driving ie., taking my daughter to voice lessons.
Segment 1) 45.6-5.8 miles
2) 59.3-9.6 miles
3) 60.1-9.6 miles
4) 66.2-6.3 miles
5) 64.1-5.5 miles
6) 71.7-5.5 miles
7) 71.0-4.8 miles
8) 65.0-4.8 miles
The day ended at 60.7:woot: for an average after 51.4 miles at an average 29 mph.
locutus 02-27-2007, 10:09 PM This unplowed slushy stuff on the side roads needs to go. :( Feels like I'm dragging a block of concrete behind me or something. Secondary roads are OK, at least until later this week when we're supposed to get more. At least temps are warm enough to make full discretionary use of the EV switch. :)
More trips today:
- 53.6 / 6.1 miles / 34F
- 76.1 / 11.2 miles / 34F
- 62.0 / 11.6 miles / 32F
Today's avg is 66.1 MPG, tank average at 61.6 / 252 miles / just went to 4 pips.
brick 02-28-2007, 06:16 AM The stars and planets were all out of whack this morning...probably restoring the balance after yesterday's run. I got out this morning to find frost not only on th e outside of the car, but covering the inside of the windshield. So I sat there until it went away, but I had to keep defrosting all the way in to keep it clear. We must have had an air change or something. On top of it there some *** in a Wrangler tailgating me the whole way in, and much as I tried I just couldn't ignore him. So I only barely got it back up above the 49mpg mark by the end of the trip.
Hi All:
___Temps of 28 - 29 degrees, very slight head wind w/ a 48.0 result. 50 + is a great way to start off a new tank ;)
___Good Luck
___Wayne
Skwyre7 02-28-2007, 07:12 AM My trip home yesterday was 55.3 MPG at 66ºF, ending at 56.2 MPG for the day.
This morning I got out of the house a few minutes early and had a pleasant drive in to work. 58.2 MPG at 36ºF.
Chuck 02-28-2007, 07:46 AM Got 77mpg at 55F.
Note: For previous best trips, look here, and for later best trips, look here.
Last three trips went quite well. Think I'm coming out of break-in and the start of Summer in Texas helps as well. Drive home yesterday was a new tank best of 67.88. That trip included powering down for 2 hours for a parent teacher conference. Had to run a short errand which pulled down the weeks average a bit, but still managed a 57.3 on it. Drive in this morning was 64.4. Since I calculate using the FCD/Trip, the possible rounding errors get huge during the end of the tank.
Tank average up to 57.5, with two pips. Should be able to hit the goal of 58 as long as I can stay behind the wheel for the rest of the week. The three legs that I didn't drive on last week really cratered my tank average (before=62.7, after=56.5).
Anyway, week's trip log is updated. Wish me luck.
laurieaw 02-28-2007, 09:58 AM i encountered a very rare species on the road today........a chevy SUV who drove 55 all the way into my work. i was stunned.......at first i tucked myself in behind him, but quickly realized that i was getting the brunt of the fuming tailgaters, so i moved in front of him and drove the same speed. by the time the maniacs flew past him, they were far enough ahead they could cut in front of me without endangering my life. this was on the 4 lane which has a 65 mph limit.....
when i pulled into the lot at work, my readout was at 55.6mpg.
we are looking at a major snow event starting this evening. my car should get great mileage because if we get the foot or more that is predicted, it's not leaving the garage. i have two routes to the 4 lane.......one is 2 miles of dirt which generally isn't plowed until 2 days later when they can get in with the road grader. the other is 10 miles through our small town, with 4 miles on our tar road, which isn't high on the priority list of first roads to be plowed in the county. that leaves it pretty snow covered, and the winds that are coming are expected to create blizzard conditions in rural areas.........ya gotta love minnesota......i think :(
Chuck 02-28-2007, 10:00 AM Beleated congratulations on Dan's run Tuesday morning. :woot:
mparrish 02-28-2007, 01:51 PM Tank is at 67.0 after 201 miles. Woohoo! Like Dan, I'm enjoying these temps. I've been fluctuating between 64 & 68 for 4 days now, going up as I go into work (~80), down as I head back home(~60), and slightly down when running errands (~65).
And a new record to work today! Wednesday I work half days, and go in around 1:00. Traffic is always much lighter, so I afford myself the luxury of "driving somewhat like Wayne" that one day (y'all know what I mean......see Mother Jones :) ). Why? in addition to liking records, I am inching closer and closer to the magical 100 mpg on my 12 mile 500 foot decline commute.
The previous record was 89. Today was 93! More use of EV, minor route changes to go a tad slower, better temperatures................just some adjustments on the margins mainly.......in addition to the usual.
I'm running out of things to do, but surely I can squeeze 7 more mpgs out of that route :)
Hi Mparrish:
The previous record was 89. Today was 93! More use of EV, minor route changes to go a tad slower, better temperatures................just some adjustments on the margins mainly.......in addition to the usual.
I'm running out of things to do, but surely I can squeeze 7 more mpgs out of that route :)___D@mn!
___Time to get those Integrity’s up to 60 + and pray for a tail wind :D
___Good Luck
___Wayne
Chuck 02-28-2007, 02:52 PM Time to get those Integrity’s up to 60 + and pray for a tail wind :D
Last Saturday in Fort Worth the tail winds was 50mph....if only there were less people doing 80....
CoasterToasterXB 02-28-2007, 03:54 PM Just drove down the Park Way in NJ. I traveled 45.3 miles an averaged 43.7 mpg. No one would let me draft off them.:(
JimboK 02-28-2007, 05:42 PM I made some time for myself last night and went to see a local blues band at a club across town (Skwyre7, not far from your office). Favorable traffic and temperatures. I took pics of the Scangauge and MFD when I got there:
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/medium/SG_2-27-06.jpg
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/medium/MFD_2-27-06.jpg
I was off work today and had several items of personal business to tend to, again with good weather (near 60F) and traffic. Today's MPG was 65, and the tank MPG is 63.9 Looks like I'll be able to make this a 60 MPG tank.
diamondlarry 02-28-2007, 07:33 PM Temps in the low to mid 30'sF. Grocery shopping day and taking my daughter to youth group added some extra miles. First segment this morning I forgot to look at the mpg before I reset and I forgot to look at the miles for segment 4.
1) **.*-5.8 miles
2) 60.3-9.6
3) 60.5-9.6
4) 52.3-***
5) 59.5-9.1
6) 67.1-3.8(pizza run:) )
7) 62.6-3.8 " " "
8) 55.6-5.2
9) 74.0-5.2
10) 62.1-5.2
11) 76.3-5.2
Average for today: 59.6
Bruce 02-28-2007, 07:54 PM I've been pretty busy lately, so I haven't checked in much...I had jury duty yesterday and did a shortened version of my commute to take the train downtown. I still managed over 40 MPG for only 12 miles. The last segment was the first I've seen over 50 MPG.
I had another trip to our company's other facility today and managed 46-47 MPG at around 42°F, then got caught in rush hour traffic after work and did some shopping. Surprisingly, with heavy P&G the segments were around 38 MPG despite the stops and housing tours...better than EPA highway. Gotta love warmer temperatures. Tank's currently at 41.9 MPG -- way better than any of my others to date, although it's not finished yet.
I've been getting better about leaving the vent on cold and fan off during warmup, then turning it up a notch on hot once warmed up to keep the radiator fan from kicking in. The radiator fan can be a major hit on the alternator (or the battery if I'm stopped at a light in IG-II). Sooner or later, I'll have to remove some of the radiator block.
Is it better for FE to keep the water temp higher (toward 200) or lower (toward 170) using the ventilation? I certainly would want to keep it below 200 to keep the radiator fan from kicking in, and it seems like I'd lose less to the water pump if the temperature was lower, but I also know a lot of guys will put in 195 degree thermostats to bump up FE.
9) 74.0-5.2
10) 62.1-5.2
11) 76.3-5.2DAAANNNNGGG!!!! That's amazing! What's your config? Are there sails or teflon involved?.
Can't touch your 70's. I finished the day with a 64.9 and 68.3. I'd brag the 68, but I had to eat SoC to get it.
Bruce 03-01-2007, 05:43 AM This morning's commute:
Segment A: 1.7 miles, 30.8 MPG
Segment B: 5.3 miles, 37.9 MPG
Segment C: 8.4 miles, 47.6 MPG
Total: 15.3 miles, 41.5 MPG, 21°F
I've misjudged the pavement change at the cloverleaf on my exit a few times, seeing the change from asphalt to concrete, thinking it was ice, hitting the brakes and ruining my FAS.
This morning, it really was ice, and I hit it doing about 45. :eek: I drifted to the outside of the turn before hooking up on dry pavement again. I'm a bit shaken up but everything is fine.
I guess I'll need to start my FAS for the exit a bit earlier when it's below freezing.
brick 03-01-2007, 06:13 AM Nothing too special this morning. My tank was on its way up with morning temps closer to freezing, but it was in the low 20s with frost today. I seem to have hit equilibrium at about 49.2mpg. Warmer afternoon temps help me, but only to the extent that I don't fall too far off of that mark. Things are much nastier in that direction.
Hi All:
___31 - 33 degrees F, snow/sleet and heavy rain and a 10 – 15 + mph side wind heading home yesterday. 46.1 shown. This morning’s drive in with the same although slightly warmer at 32 - 34 degrees F, 45.1.
___Good Luck
___Wayne
Skwyre7 03-01-2007, 07:08 AM JimboK, nice trip!
I had a daily average of about 57 MPG yesterday. I had some short trips, which somewhat hurt. The car wasn't off for very long, so it didn't have much time to cool down, so that was helpful.
My morning commute was 63.1 MPG at 43ºF.
Chuck 03-01-2007, 08:17 AM 84mpg at 60F this morning.
You should see me snaking 150yards down my alley with P&G to get just enough momentium to coast 0.25-mile downhill. If someone else does not come to mind, the intersection I coast to is Old Orchard Drive - a street within 10 miles of a couple of members here. :D
PaleMelanesian 03-01-2007, 08:30 AM Filled up this morning - 42.7mpg over 287 miles.
Weather has been beautiful. I had an 80-mile round trip that required interstate driving. I drafted the slowest thing around, a semi going about 75mph! :eek: That trip had to drop my average some.
Chuck 03-01-2007, 08:39 AM ...I drafted the slowest thing around, a semi going about 75mph! :eek: That trip had to drop my average some.
That depends on how close you were. If you were willing to get less than ten feet of the big rig, fuel economy would increase 20% over the same speed without drafting. My coolant temperature rises 7F getting that close. Of course, this is a risk many are not willing to take.
PaleMelanesian 03-01-2007, 08:51 AM I stayed about a second behind him. I'm not willing to get that close!!
Chuck 03-01-2007, 08:56 AM Good thing is you still got some help!
PaleMelanesian 03-01-2007, 09:09 AM Yeah! I needed all the help I could get! 30 miles of interstate, 75 mph in a 70 zone, and we didn't pass a single person the whole time.
Note: For previous best trips, look here, and for later best trips, look here.
New lifetime best!
:eek:
Holy cow! I actually squeezed out a 70.5 mpg this morning (give or take 5.0 mpg). Had a cross wind, turn into a tail wind and back into a cross wind. As soon as I got on the highway It was a strong tailwind, and gave me around 60 for that 3.6 mi segment.
That brings my tank average (excluding other drivers) up to 63.16, and the weeks average up to 64.77
Anyway, week's trip log is updated.
Chuck 03-01-2007, 10:42 AM One example of drafting.
Back in 1999, I think someone at Car & Drive was making a bet on getting 100mpg out of the just released Honda Insight. He got 124mpg over around 100 miles in Ohio (I think). It was not done by going at 40mpg (some here have done that - I came very close last year).
What he did was get another driver to attach a big board behind his Ford Explorer and draft behind it. :D
PaleMelanesian 03-01-2007, 10:48 AM I remember that one. I believe it was an Excursion. They had the split rear doors open straight back, too. It made even more of a shield around the sides.
edit: Here's the story: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/3237/road-test-how-we-won-the-insight-fuel-economy-challenge-without-cheating-much.html
Chuck 03-01-2007, 10:59 AM I stand corrected - it was an Excursion. My recollection is a bit fuzzy....
PaleMelanesian 03-01-2007, 11:04 AM Eh, it was 7 years ago.
Chuck 03-01-2007, 11:05 AM Yeah, on the way to HybridFest 2006, I was so close I missed the sign that read "Hope, AR - the birthplace of Pres. Bill Clinton". Also left Madison, Wis and was gloating about getting 88mpg behind a big rig...until I realized I took the exit to Minneapolis - not Chicago. :eek:
But that groove came at an unnerving price. That close to the SUV, the view out the Insight was entirely blocked by the Excursion. Never before have I so closely pondered the cargo area of a sport-utility vehicle, or the back of another motorist's head, for so long. Worse, the Excursion's brake lights were obscured by its open cargo doors. To avoid calamity, we asked Sherman to raise one hand when he was about to brake. If he saw John Law, he was to wave that same hand frantically. Over the course of 195 miles, that happened three times. It was not a relaxing drive
diamondlarry 03-01-2007, 02:58 PM DAAANNNNGGG!!!! That's amazing! What's your config? Are there sails or teflon involved?.
Can't touch your 70's. I finished the day with a 64.9 and 68.3. I'd brag the 68, but I had to eat SoC to get it.
No sails or teflon but some really exhausted hamsters.:D Actually, it had to do with some very well placed hills. Also, on the 70+ segments the wind played a small part. The wind was mostly out of the east with a slight southern component mixed in. On the two 5.2 mile segments, I started out heading west for ~3/4 mile(tailwind) then turned north(cross-wind/slight tailwind) for 4 miles then turned east for ~.3 miles(headwind). On the northbound portion there were stops(ok, I'm a hypermiler so they weren't complete stops:) ) at the 1st and 2nd miles with a 2 mile non-stop stretch. Just like the three most important things in business, in FE its: route, route, and route.
Today wasn't quite so good but still not bad. After 31+ miles I averaged 56.4 for the day with a high segment of 62.6(6.3 miles) and the low segment of 51.2(5.8 miles).
Hi All:
___37 - 43 degree temps and heavy/light rain with a 10 - 15 mph tail wind trying to offset the rain all the way home. 47.7 mpg result or ~ 50 with the offset. I am not at all disappointed with that given the conditions for now but spring is defnelty on its way and then this forums membership is going to explode out of the gate :D
___Good Luck
___Wayne
Bruce 03-01-2007, 05:05 PM Made a stop on the way home and came up with 37 MPG for 14.2 miles total. This happened to come out to less mileage than my normal commute, so I may need to look into whether or not it's worth the trouble (more stoplights and rougher roads).
Tank's still above 41 MPG at 395 miles. I've still got at least 3.5 gallons left; the low fuel light hasn't come on yet. My first 450 mile tank should be in the bag, 500 miles if I really push it.
psyshack 03-01-2007, 08:01 PM Turned in a tank today of 44.29 mpg.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/2741/cat/535
Filled up today. The tank's FCD showed 58.3, but pen and paper came out to 55.5. The trip totals were 63.87 on the way to station, and 68.50 the way home.
If I factor out the other drivers it makes the tank total (pen and paper) 58.7. A lifetime best. Also makes my last two tanks hypermiled.
I'll add the tank a bit later.
brick 03-02-2007, 06:22 AM Really lovely weather this morning. At least it warmed up above freezing and turned the ice to slush for the ride in. Brought the tank up to 49.6mpg, and the fourth pip is just barely hanging in there after crossing the 250 mile mark. With any luck I'll miss the worst of the rain during the day today.
Skwyre7 03-02-2007, 06:29 AM It was a wonderful 63ºF this morning. Unfortunately, the warm weather brought rain. And rain brings out the idiot drivers. 62.8 MPG this morning, including a few near misses of those drivers (some on purpose :mad:) and a couple mistimed lights. Oh well.
Bruce 03-02-2007, 06:47 AM 41.x for the ride across town last night; the car was still warm from the commute.
1" of snow overnight followed by rain made for lots of slush and standing water on the roads. I had a tough time gauging how well the car would coast, but overall I came up short a lot more often than I came in hot.
I was still freaked about the cloverleaf this morning, started the FAS early and braked anyway. 36.7 MPG for 19 miles at 34°F.
As best I can tell from other forums, it looks like I should ideally keep the coolant temp in the 186-200°F range with the ventilation and grille blocking -- as hot as possible without using the radiator fan, which sucks substantial power.
Hi All:
___30 – 40 mph side winds in 28 – 29 degree temps w/ some snow. Horrid, absolutely horrid. 40.7 was the result :( :( :(
___Good Luck
___Wayne
Chuck 03-02-2007, 07:46 AM Well, got 75.6mpg at 40F.
Funny thing is while I was P&G out of my neighborhood, I was passed by a Ranger pickup truck. :D
locutus 03-02-2007, 10:06 AM I don't have all segments in front of me for the past few days, but my selective memory can pick out the best few. ;) It's been near freezing all week here, adding a fraction of an inch of snow both yesterday and today (just enough to add more drag and kill conservation of momentum around corners :( ).
80.8 / 11.6 miles / ~32F
69.2 / 7.0 miles / ~32F
The rest were in the 50s (6 mile commute home with a net elevation gain) or low 60s (most commutes to work).
This morning was 60.4 / 7.0 miles in light snow and a head/cross wind.
Current tank is hanging on to 62.0 with 3 pips remaining.
dcoyne78 03-02-2007, 01:30 PM I don't have all segments in front of me for the past few days, but my selective memory can pick out the best few. ;) It's been near freezing all week here, adding a fraction of an inch of snow both yesterday and today (just enough to add more drag and kill conservation of momentum around corners :( ).
80.8 / 11.6 miles / ~32F
69.2 / 7.0 miles / ~32F
The rest were in the 50s (6 mile commute home with a net elevation gain) or low 60s (most commutes to work).
This morning was 60.4 / 7.0 miles in light snow and a head/cross wind.
Current tank is hanging on to 62.0 with 3 pips remaining.
The results in the 60s and 70s by several drivers in VA and TX are impressive, but this 62 mpg tank in Wisconson in Feb is really something special, only a few other drivers could accomplish such a feat! (Wayne no doubt.) Congrats Locutus!
Dennis (who is struggling to get a 55 mpg tank currently.)
psyshack 03-02-2007, 02:04 PM It would seem the Civic is coming back to me and I to it. 39f this am,, 15 mph head wind out of the NW. Got 44 mpg...
psy
diamondlarry 03-02-2007, 02:41 PM Temps were from 30-34F today. We also had some of Xcel's nasty winds. Sustained winds are from 20-25 mph with gusts into the mid to high 30's. Along with the monsoon winds we also got 3-4" of sky poop.:(
1) 46.2-5.8 miles
2) 55.0-9.6 miles
3) 56.9-9.6 miles
4) 51.3-6.3 miles
Average for the day was 52.3.
brick 03-02-2007, 05:55 PM I just turned in a tank that worked out to 56.5mpg, though the MFD only said 49.6. That just about balances out the super-pessimistic fill that I had ten days ago.
On another note, 10 days makes a huge difference to the gas price! This fill cost me fully 22 cents more per gallon than the last. Not that it matters, but that's impressive.
Hi All:
___Heavy traffic which actually helped in the 20 - 40 mph side winds and almost white out conditions in some areas. I wish it would stop snowing for just my commute is all I ask … P&G’ed for probably 25 miles w/ a 45.9 to show for the effort. I cannot wait until the warm temps, clear roads and lighter breezes arrive. Maybe a nice tail wind with those clear roads and 70 + degrees favorable to hypermiling :)
___Dcoyne, let me tell you, Jared is in a world all his own and I have no doubt it would take me months to work up to a level even close to what he has achieved this winter. I am just proud as punch to see the numbers he outputs given the terrible conditions we have seen these past 6 weeks. And then the VA. and TX. contingent showing all of us what we have to look forward to in the not to distant future! I know you and Tim cannot wait to stretch your wings with decent temps on their way … someday ;)
___Good Luck
___Wayne
mparrish 03-02-2007, 10:32 PM We had a freak ice storm & cold spell down in Central Texas this past January, for which ironically I'm quite thankful. Posting great segments suddenly became about as easy as carrying a huge Steinway on my back. I immediately became impressed with the great numbers in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Maine, Connecticut, & elsewhere.
Enjoyable trip today. Two hour 120 mile highway trip at 59.4 mpg. Tank down from 66.7 to 64.2. Total miles at 360. I'm much more confident about maintaining a 60 mpg tank even after the return trip.
I made the same 120 mile trip back in December, after purchasing my beloved Prius. That roundtrip mpg was 47. So breakin and temperatures and reading some good Hobbit stuff on highway driving has boosted it over 12 mpg in just over two months.
Unfortunately, those state highways don't have a lot of big rigs for drafting. That's still on my to do list.................Creep up to one on a highway trip, match speed, and compare mpg in drafting vs surfing lane. Maybe I'll get lucky on the way back.
Note: For previous best trips, look here, and for later best trips, look here.
Still can't touch locutus cold weather driving, but in TX I had a really great day today. My entire days average came out to be 70.0.
Grabed a screen shot from 15-20 minutes into my best trip of the day. At the time of the screenshot my trip average was up to 80. By the time I got to my destination (3.6 miles of highway later) my trip average leveled out at 72.7.
New Lifetime Best :woot:
http://www.dkbryant.com/images/ConsumptionMar02.jpg
Note: For previous screens, look here, and for later screens, look here.
Weeks log updated as well.
Bruce 03-03-2007, 06:00 AM I left work late to very little traffic and managed 38.5 MPG for 15.1 miles at 38°F. With nobody behind me, I could P&G every little hill. Best homeward commute I can recall so far, and the first time I can remember having one better than the morning commute. It's usually worse with the elevation gain, traffic and prevailing headwind.
Tank's at 41.3 MPG, 440 miles. The low fuel light came on at 425 miles, which I'm sure is a new record for me; it's usually on by 400. Considering most GM gas vehicles except the Camaro are designed for a 400-mile highway range, I guess I'm doing okay for 15-35 mile trips. I have a lot of highway miles on this tank from inter-facility commutes, so the next will probably be shorter unless the temps warm up substantially.
Scangauge claims 99 miles/2.4 gallons left. I'll probably fill up Tuesday night at 485 miles to be safe, barring any other trips.
I think my dad has managed a 530-mile tank on a long trip, just driving 75 MPH and filling until it spills. I suppose I could squeeze out some more capacity by always filling until auto shutoff, then adding 1/2 gallon, but then it gets tricky if I happen to pick up gas at a full-serve only station (locking the pump nozzle on is illegal for self-serve in MA, so stations with locking nozzles are full-serve only). As it is, I usually need to tell the attendant to not top it off.
Hi All:
___Wonderful 20 - 23 degrees F, flurries, and 15 - 20 mph winds from the side. Barely broke 40 w/ a 40.4 number this morning. How pathetic :(
___Good Luck
___Wayne
JimboK 03-03-2007, 03:09 PM Oh, the fickle Prius bladder! As I've been telling ya'll, I've been hoping the current tank would be the first at 60+ MPG. Until after today's fillup and doing the math, that is. (I use calculated FE for my database entries.)
The MFD showed 63.0 MPG and the ScanGauge 61.9 @ 517 miles. Today was pretty warm (upper 60s), so I figured the bladder might be a little more flexible and take a tad more than what the instruments suggested, maybe 8.5 to 9 gallons. But 10 stinking gallons?! 51.7 MPG!! Ugghh!!!
I know it will work out in the long run, but the calculated MPG has never been this far off from the instruments. And it makes it that much longer before the database will show Hypermiler status. Can I be an honorary Hypermiler? Pretty please??
locutus 03-04-2007, 01:38 AM dcoyne78, xcel, Dan - thank you for the kind words and encouragement. :) Can't wait for spring to shoot for what mparrish and Dan have been posting. Ah, 70+MPG daily averages. :cool:
JimboK - the bladder giveth, and the bladder taketh away. :( I haven't had one quite as bad as your current one but it was close - 58.4 MFD-reported / a sub-EPA 49.6 calculated. Ugh. It does balance out though - over 36 tanks the MFD has been, on average, 2.1% optimistic for me. You might have a big swing back on the next tank (as brick did) or it might take a few.
More trips tomorrow for me (nothing today). The forecast is looking up over the next week - mid-30s, sunny, and no more white stuff. :D
diamondlarry 03-04-2007, 06:17 AM Locutus, Thanks for posting your results. Since I live in northern IN it gives me an idea of what I could expect if I were to buy a Prius.
Tony, I saw a picture of the statue of Priapus on the History Channel last night.:eek: :D
Hi All:
___As the week comes to a close, let us hope temps and weather conditions improve for everyone.
___Jared, you have become one of the best far northern states - Prius driver in the country in all less then a year!
___Jim, we can only hope the bladder issue goes away with the next iteration. If every other PZEV rated automobile in the country can do without a bladdered tank including Camry PZEV’s, Toyota just has to get rid of it for the next go around! I hope ;)
___23 - 26 degrees going home last night w/ the same 15 + mph winds from the side. 43.7 to show. Coming in this morning, it was again in the teens (15 - 18 degrees F) with a slightly lighter side wind (10 - 15 mph) and a lousy 40.3 :( Fill up right after work and hope to see better days in the near future.
___Good Luck
___Wayne
brick 03-04-2007, 04:26 PM Well, I had a really fantastic weekend of driving. Started out on Saturday morning with my trip to Mike's place to help pull the engine/trans out of his donor Insight. The first part of that trip was a nasty haul up-hill on I-84, but the payoff was tooling around on about 20 miles of really beautiful rolling New England back roads.
From there I continued on to some family stuff in Rhode Island, which was another 30 miles on some of those great roads and getting pretty decent mileage. Unfortunately the magnitude of some of those hills knocked down the segment FE, but the MFD was solidly in the 52-53mpg range. I used a mix of DWL and Warp Stealth depending on what I had to work with.
Finally, I headed back home this morning. Usually I just head west on the "obvious" interstate route. But my experience driving through eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island prompted me to look for a better way. Turns out that the better way is a whole lot better! By looking for non-obvious back roads I managed to knock the segment length down from 105 miles to 64 miles, and shaved about 20 minutes off of the trip time despite much slower speeds. Even better, I was pretty much on my own out there. It appears that the crazy idiots pretty much stick to the highways and leave these 40-50mph state routes for those of us who want to enjoy the ride. Again, there were Monster (with a capital M) hills to contend with, that knocked the segment FE way down. But right now the MFD is showing 170 miles on the tank and 52.6mpg, which is just fine by me! I just can't wait to take the same route in the opposite direction (net loss in altitude) to see what kind of FE can be cranked out of it.
It's just too bad tomorrow is Monday. :(
brucepick 03-04-2007, 06:44 PM Hello Brick,
I may have done a similar trip a couple years ago. Meriden, CT to Warwick RI (Provicence shopping areas). I took 17 East from Meriden, got to 138 East in CT which took me to !-95 in RI. A very nice ride and quite direct.
Hi Tim:
___Time to get rid of those infernal snow tires!
___Temps from 28 - 31 degrees F, strong 15 - 20 mph side winds and decent traffic through Chicago this afternoon. I was very happy with the 48.7 mpg result.
___Good Luck
___Wayne
dcoyne78 03-06-2007, 10:22 AM Locutus, Thanks for posting your results. Since I live in northern IN it gives me an idea of what I could expect if I were to buy a Prius.
Tony, I saw a picture of the statue of Priapus on the History Channel last night.:eek: :D
Once you get used to the Prius, with the kind of FE you get from your Saturn, I have no doubt that in mild weather (Sept, Oct, April, May) you will see tanks in the high 70s or low 80s, as the weather warms up more we will be seeing those kinds tanks from locutus and others as well. In the dead of winter it is hard to keep tanks in the 50s, but you may be able to do it.
Dennis
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