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I am new to hypermiling and I own a 1995 Escort with 55,000 original miles, 1.9 liter 4 cyl. engine, auto trans. with OD. I would normally get 28 to 30 MPG driving like an idiot like most people do, which is not bad. But with the cost of gas triple what it was just a few years ago, that is not good enough anymore. So I discovered this site after reading the Readers Digest article about Wayne and the Hybridfest, and in 2 weeks I am up to 40 MPG. THIS IS AMAZING! Now I know that most of the content on this site is geared toward the hybrids, which is great. But I would like to let all the non-hybrid owners who might visit this site know that it is possible to do this with any car. I can't express my enthusiasm enough. I tell everyone I know what I am doing with my cars and I think I am slowly getting through. I want to scream at every driver that rides my tail, passes me by flooring it, then ends up my next door neighbor at the next traffic light as I glide past them in the right lane. But then my snarling mouth takes on a SEG (use your imagination) whenever I see that long line of cars, saving gas, stuck behind the IDIOT going 49 mph.

Great Job, those are impressive numbers for an Escort. What types of techniques are you doing?

I'm glad you are here. This place is truly fantastic. You will learn a lot.

Thanks. I accelerate very slowly, keeping my rpm below 2000. I glide in neutral on every hill, as I approach a turn, and every traffic light I may have to stop at. I have all my traffic lights figured out, I rarely touch my brakes. And mostly keep it to 50 mph or less. I am still dumbfounded that it only takes me 5 extra minutes to commute 33 miles to work!

Hi Savin$:
Now I know that most of the content on this site is geared toward the hybrids, which is great. But I would like to let all the non-hybrid owners who might visit this site know that it is possible to do this with any car.___See the sigs for what this site is all about. It is for everything from the big rigs to motorcycles and everything in between ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Yeah I always hate how the news makes it sound like you must drive a hybrid to save gas.

Anyways, I don't think you've said that you pumped up the air in your tires to their sidewall max pressure. Do that and maybe you could pull it up to 45 cause 45mpg is definitely within reach. 50 and above is gonna be a stretch.

40MPG is certainly a milestone.

As for this being a hybrid-oriented site, going into the mileage logs and checking the numbers of gas cars vs hybrids will show that hybrids are the minority on here.

Or check the sigs in the Daily Grind forum. Maybe we can convince kngkeith to start a mileage log for his semi ;).

Way to go! I too just joined this site a couple days ago...I just filled up after my first hypermiled tank in my 96 Escort Automatic and proudly report that I went from a pre-hypermile 29 mpg to almost 38 mpg...on my FIRST tank! I'm so excited and I too want to thank the Hypermiling Veterans of this site for refining and sharing the techniques...I'm shooting for 50 mpg by end of summer...I know it's a stretch but we gotta have goals!

Old Escort Junker Hypermilers Unite!

Congratulations! That is a wonderful milestone for your driving!

As Warthog1984 mentioned, this site is for ANYONE -- check out my sig. I now have an Insight but I didn't NEED one... I only have it because I really wanted one. :)

The Elantra is still turning out fantastic numbers and I'll need it for that babyseat I'll be hauling around in a few months. :o

Thanks for the support. Yes I have maxed out the tires and it definitely contributed. And yes, I have checked the mileage logs and I know now that there are many more gasoline only cars here. I guess what I meant was that when I first checked out this site, most of the articles and news items that were posted were about hybrids, so my first impression was that it was a hybrid oriented site. So I hope other newcomers don't just look at the home page and decide this is not for them. Even the threads on this Ford forum are mostly about the FEH. I would love to know what kind of MPG kngkeith gets in his semi. I have no clue what a semi gets. Way to go lgsnpr. I have owned 3 escorts and I bought one for my daughter last summer to take to college. She comes home next week and she will definitely be getting a lesson on hypermiling from dear old dad. And congrats on the baby R.L.C. Just remember to roll down your window once in a while to give him/her some air :-) My next steps are possibly synthetic oil and tranny fluid. Does anybody have any input on these? I know synthetic tranny fluid makes the gears run cooler. Is that good or bad?

I'm running 5w20 Mobil 1 synthetic in my 1998 Escort 2.0 SOHC with Manual Trans. Also using Mobil 1 ATF in the trans. I've got 183000 miles on it and it purrs like a kitten.

I'm also new to this site this week. I drive a 98 escort auto station wagon I went from 29mpg. to 36 mpg. I work construction and have to hall about 400 lbs. of tools thanks for your story I'm shooting for 40mpg. next week.

Hi all,

It's been awhile (several months, actually) since I last posted but I drive a '97 Ford Escort (manual tranny). I've been averaging around 42mpg through the winter pre-scanguage but recently got a scanguage and have been refining my P&G technique, which has brought the single greatest improvement to my average trip FE after the SGII, of course.
Previously, I would average around 45 in the summer but so far I'm over 50 :eek: with the use of some recently posted elevation maps, the aforementioned scanguage and experimentation with P&G rhythms. Be assured you can easily do 45 in an escort, 50 is a stretch but not that much. I live in Northern VA nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountain traveling around 40 miles a day over very hilly terrain. I can't even begin to think what these techniques and an Escort could do on relatively level ground! 60's anyone?

If anyone wants to know my setup and techniques in detail just reply and I'm happy to post. I'm pretty sure my next tank will average 50 plus for the first time (46 was my previous best). Go escorts!

Midiman

Hi Midiman:

___50 in an Escort? Impossible :D :D :D

___Congrats and it is nice to see you pushing for more. It should give others ideas as to how to take on their own routes and decrease their consumption further as well. Nothing like a leader to show them how it’s done and you sir are doing just that. Very inspirational given how most are driving today and I want to thank you for it!

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I'm new also. I drive a 2003 Focus with about 107,000 miles on it. I drive into Boston traffic every day and my best tank so far is 43.39 mpg. I have a 2.3 liter engine pzev. I love the car. I ordered a scan guage 2 from this site and hopefully I can refine my technique a little. (Thanks Wayne, you provide a great service, and those interested can save some money thanks to your efforts.)
My car is a five speed standard though, which I think is a great advantage for hypermiling.
I tried 0w20 synthetic oil and it seems to have helped, but like many will tell you here, you will gain the most from technique. I wonder what would be the best new focus model for hypermiling? I wonder if say a zx3 would do better than a four door sedan? I try to use cruise control for most of my commute at 50 to 55mph. In traffic I try to coast in nuetral as much as possible timing my glides on the downhill. I run my tires at max psi, which is 50 psi for my tires. I have actually learned to enjoy watching everyone zip around me. I will occasionally put my flashers momentarily on if a truck is baring down on me hard and I think the trucks appreciate the heads up. Everyone thinks I'm nuts, but I'm sure that is something that almost everyone on this sight would say. I would like to try the mileage logs, but I'm not sure how.

Welcome, BostonDriver!! Looks like you are off to a great start!

To add a vehicle to the logs just click on the "Mileage Logs" link in the green menu to the left and then click on the "Add Vehicle" link at the top left of the resulting page. Enter the requested info (be sure to select the propulsion type from the drop down menu!) and then you'll see your vehicle listed at the top of the mileage logs. Make sure you use the EPA ratings that were on the sales sticker for your car when new. You'll see an "Add Tanks" link to the left of it which allows you to enter your data.

It is good to have you here!!

Hi BostonDriver:

___Wow, a Focus … with a stick … and it’s a PZEV? Talk about a hypermiling and clean machine! Nice ride for exactly what and I suspect you are currently or will soon see in the not to distant future :D

___Definitely keep us updated as to your progress. I have a kind of kinship with the Focus’ given the Ranger’s 2.3 lacks only the balance shaft and of course the MAF and robust CAT for its PZEV emissions. I have always wondered what the Ranger would do with 700 less pounds and a far more aerodynamic body attached. Kind of exactly like what you own ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne