Archives

Hi Hypermilers,

Just finished a 400 mi. trip across my home privince to spend my college spring break biking and spending time with family and friends. I completed the trip using less than a full tank (56 L.) with an average of 27 mpgUS (EPA rating of 23.)

I've used regular unleaded gasoline, just wondering if I would have done better with a higher octane fuel. (Premium/Supreme). If you have any info, It would be appreciated.

Hi MontanaMiler, there is another thread going on now about use of premium/supreme/high-test/ethyl, for getting a MPG increase. Some think it does, some think it does not. Some are mentioning the newness of the vehicle and the ability of an ECU to make compensations. I'm not sure who to follow. In years past, some would run an occasional tank of premium to "clean out the motor," but even that might just be a waste of good money for a car designed to be run on 87 octane.

What is your vehicle? Is it rated for regular or premium? Getting 27 instead of 23 is pretty good. You should be proud. Are your tires pumped up? What oil are you running on? Did you use cruise control, or drive without shoes? There are many variables. What hypermiling techniques die you use on this trip?

Hi MontanaMiler, there is another thread going on now about use of premium/supreme/high-test/ethyl, for getting a MPG increase. Some think it does, some think it does not. Some are mentioning the newness of the vehicle and the ability of an ECU to make compensations. I'm not sure who to follow. In years past, some would run an occasional tank of premium to "clean out the motor," but even that might just be a waste of good money for a car designed to be run on 87 octane.

What is your vehicle? Is it rated for regular or premium? Getting 27 instead of 23 is pretty good. You should be proud. Are your tires pumped up? What oil are you running on? Did you use cruise control, or drive without shoes? There are many variables. What hypermiling techniques die you use on this trip?

Vehicle: '05 Pontiac Montana, modified to fit wheelchair and ramp.
Manufacteur Rating: Unleaded 87 or higher

On this trip, tire pressures were according to manufacturer's rating (35 PSI). I did use CC for simplicity's sake, set on 90 kph. No real hypermiling techniques used as suchother then coasting on downhills.

Well then, you did fantastic. If you could move those tires up a few pounds to the max rating on the tires, you could see an increase on the return trip, but your numbers are pretty good.

If you can drive so you can feel the accelerator, you can "feel" where you may be modulating it too much, perhaps wasting a little gas. You can also reach a speed and "feather" the throttle back just a hair, maintain speed and actually help MPG.

I did notice on my son's car, that if I had cc engaged, if I took the lever to neutral, the engine would race (not good) until I stabbed the brakes. Hope your experiences are better than mine on that score.

You've been on this site for quite awhile, how are you doing? By the way, have you had a chance to look at the other threads on premium fuel?

Well even if premium yielded better efficiency over regular, when you factor in the price difference it wouldn't matter.

Gonna just use AAA's prices for gas here:
$3.617 for regular
$3.840 for middle
$3.979 for premium... shoot almost $4 now?

Ok, mid compared to reg, you must get (3.840/3.617) 6% better fuel economy to make up for the price difference. Regular compared to premium, (3.979/3.617) 10% better fuel economy to make up for the price difference.

If you can drive so you can feel the accelerator, you can "feel" where you may be modulating it too much, perhaps wasting a little gas.

It should be noted that I operate with hand controls and so therefore I do not fully understand this quote

It should be noted that I operate with hand controls and so therefore I do not fully understand this quote

Gas controls are ultimatily connected to springs. The pressure from the spring will give feedback to an alert driver that can- along with engine sounds- tell him whether the engine's lugging, throttled up too much, or running as it should. Hand controls give the same feedback, but are much stiffer and harder to feel because of the short travel compared to a foot pedal.

Hey MontanaMiler, I understand the use of hand controls. It is only my opinion, but your hands are probably more sensitive to small changes than my feet. What I was trying to get across was that if you can sense small changes in your accelerator controls, you can tell when you are moving it forward or back unnecessarily. If you can better control such modulations, your MPG should increase.

As to feathering, the same applies. Once at speed, release a little pressure on the accelerator controls, and if you can get it just right, you will keep speed and again increase MPG.

All that said, it may not work for you using hand controls, and cc would make a long trip a lot less tiresome. As we know, falling asleep is not worth a few pennys in gasoline.

As to premium fuel, have you any ideas?