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One thing I can say about driving exclusively for efficiency is that the attention and consistency it requires has brought me much more in tune with my car. It's at the point that I can discern "moods" indicating whether or not it wants to cooperate in my quest for efficiency. And the Accord has been quite moody since I started this tank on Sunday! Things were pretty normal until yesterday, when I had to drive around looking for a hidden Honda dealer to buy OEM oil filters. Boy did that car want to hypermile! It just felt right. It wanted to coast, it accelerated effortlessly, and the numbers came out great despite some adverse conditions. Today, on the other hand, it was like dragging a sleep deprived six-year-old through a furniture store. 90-ish highway miles to my parents place in light traffic and calm air that felt all wrong. It didn't matter how close to the floor my right foot was, I just kept on losing speed. It didn't want to coast and I kept checking the E-brake handle mindlessly to make sure that I hadn't been driving with it engaged. I can't explain it! The tires are pressed up nicely, it has the proper fluids (although it will get a nice oil change tomorrow :) ) and I was doing my best to follow the load and keep the speeds reasonable. I can't explain it! The ScanGauge said 39.7mpg for the trip but I don't think I believe it.

This isn't looking like a banner tank but I won't discount it yet. I'm at 240 miles and the needle is closer to half-tank than I would like it to be. (36mpg requires at least 270miles by half tank, 39mpg roughly 300 miles). Fortunately I should still be able to make it to May before I need to buy fuel again so I really shouldn't complain!

Anyway, I don't suppose there's much of a point to all of this. Just rambling on about driving :)

I know exactly what you are talking about. I too have had times I've checked the emergency brake. I've also gone so far as to engage it a bit and disengage it to make sure the brake wasn't stuck. (it never was ;) )

Today was such a day.

Kinda reminds me of 1-day driving to work and the FE is 50's and the very next day same route and approx. same driving style to the same place and the FE is 36's. :(

This is the tank from my trip to Ky. after I got home and drove to work for the week. Not like the 66.7 MPG going to Ky. This tank was driving at 65 MPH and hung up in stop and go traffic in Nashville, Tn. for approx. 1.5 hrs. in rush hour Friday Traffic. I then drove it to work and I guess taking all things into consideration this is not Bad. Looks like it has about 3/4 tank of fuel left and miles driven, 299.1 with 52.5 MPG still.:)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/medium/4_22_2006_Fuel_Gauge_Reading_Miles_MPG.jpg

I know exactly what you are talking about. I too have had times I've checked the emergency brake. I've also gone so far as to engage it a bit and disengage it to make sure the brake wasn't stuck. (it never was ;) )

Today was such a day.

Just yesterday I had the same experience on the way home from work. I was thinking maybe I had a slow leak in one of the tires. Something was not right. I ended up about 4 MPG lower than I expected.

Hi Brick:

___I think you can tell that each and everyone of us has seen or experienced a similar situation on any number of commutes. Just take it in stride as it usually comes down to a wind shift or temperature change you may not have noticed or that you can do much of anything about :(

___I am constantly looking for flags blowing in the breeze for magnitude and direction as I try and match this information with my present speed, direction, and overall direction to my destination. I usually cannot do anything about it but it does make me start calculating a likely segment FE before reaching said destination. May as well do something other then worrying about it, right ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I usually cannot do anything about it but it does make me start calculating a likely segment FE before reaching said destination.

It seems like a lot of use think the same way. I also make revisions as to what the segment will be when I encounter a bad situation. Of course I also then pull out some of the tricks I usualy keep locked away to try to compensate ;) It's like luke shooting at the death start but instead of obi-wan its wayne saying "use the fas tom".

Hi Tom:

___That was funny :D :D :D

___Good Luck

___Wayne