Archives

While in L what is the top speed the vehicle can be driven in and for how long a duration? Would this gear be safe for highway speeds? If it is safe to drive in L does it afford better mpg than D? Thanks

Basically, L prevents the automatic transmission from upshifting to a higher gear. It's like staying in first or second gear in a manual transmission. I rarely use it. On occasion, I'll use it going down a mountain, but not every time. I would not use it at highway speeds.

Hi Michael:

___L works different in the FEH/MMH twins. You can drive around in L yet have all the ratios available to you. Stronger regen is the result. And the ICE shuts down easier in L for some reason?

___Lone Ranger, I do not know but hopefully one of the FEH detail guys will come along and provide you with a definitive answer very soon. Since you have all the ratios, there should not be any problem but I would be guessing when making that statement.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

It does seem strange that they would even have 2 & D if that is the case! H

Wayne and Lone Ranger,

Sorry, I missed the FEH part. I should take more time to read before I post. ;)

Pravus Prime or GaryG could probably give you a definite number for top speed in L. I know I've gone as fast as 50mph (accidentally :o)

In a response on your ScanGauge thread, I sent you the links for both of their FEH articles (as well as Wayne's (xcel's) more general article about hypermiling). When you read the FEH articles, you'll read about the Low Gear Advantage (LGA) - the technique of using L for regen, because it really sends a lot more energy to the HV battery, especially when your SoC is at it's lowest. When I first started learning about hypermiling my FEH, the LGA immediately got me an additional 3+mpg :)

While in L what is the top speed the vehicle can be driven in and for how long a duration? Would this gear be safe for highway speeds? If it is safe to drive in L does it afford better mpg than D? Thanks

The top speed in "L" is the same in "D" and it is safe to drive in "L" at highway speeds. "L" is no different than "D" except when you let off the gas pedal to coast. In "L", you get a much higher degree of regen than you do in "D". Understand that you don't have to apply the brakes to get regen braking to charge the HV battery.

For hypermiling, I drive my FEH like a manual transmission. I avoid using the brake pedal as much as possible by shifting to "L" when I need to slowdown or stop. This prevents wear on the friction brakes and charges the battery and shuts down the engine below 40mph to boot. For acceleration, I shift to "D" which is the most efficient way to accelerate. For coasting, I shift to neutral which eliminates all regen and has a 36% longer distances coast ability than "D". In city driving, I'm shifting the FEH almost as much as a race car in the 12 hour Sebring race.

If you look at the steady state speed test in the article I wrote on the home page, I placed a note about driving in "L". Your owner manual states that "D" is the most economical gear to drive in. I confirmed this during my steady state speed test and do not recommend driving in "L". The reason for the decrease in efficiency is regen is still occurring between acceleration and deceleration, you don't notice it at the gas pedal. This also is the case with the cruise control on. For this reason, I shift out of "L" as soon as I have finished with regen and braking, back to "D" to maintain speed or "N" to coast. All this shifting is out of habit to me now because I've been doing it for so long.

GaryG

Thanks. I've had the '07 FEH since last May and have been struggling to make mileage. Since finding this site and other related ones a short time ago my driving techniques have improved immensely. I'm still learning and not up on all the tips and clues to squeeze all the miles out of the car yet. I just received the new SGII and trying to program new commands into it. I drive 6 days on Chicago expressways and the reminder local, so 60/40. It is unbelievable how knowledgeable everyone here is about the FEH. I keep switching back and forth between the TRIP MPG and the multiple command screen MPG. Should I even be concerned with MPG on the multi command screen? I also inflated the tire to 44#s. Having read about the cabin air filter I checked mine and found that it doesn't have one. I went to Ford and the parts manager couldn't find one except for a rectangle design. I still can't figure how to block the front without have to take apart the grill. Is there a secret? Thanks again.

Lone Ranger, we do indeed have some very knowledgeable FEH experts around here. :)

About the trip mpg readout -- I use this heavily to get my trip numbers up. I also was switching back and forth between that screen and the Gauges screen but the newest version of the ScanGauge (which you now have!) has a feature called X-Gauge which allows you to program in extra gauges. The example in the user manual will walk you through programming that particular gauge. I now leave it on the Gauges screen all the time (except to check miles, consumption, and gallons left when I stop) and I have Current Trip, Instantaneous MPG, Water Temperature, and Voltage showing. :D

Give that a try and you should be able to stop flipping back and forth between screens. I do use the instantaneous mpg readout for several things -- I think it is helpful to see both at the same time. Honda obviously thought so as well because their hybrid vehicles display both at the same time.

As for the grill block, I'm not sure about other people but I know that Debbie just covered the outside of hers with cardboard held on (and covered) with (clear) strapping tape -- this also happens to "water proof" the setup.

Good luck with your efforts and keep posting!

Lone Ranger, do you have the NAV screen in your FEH?

When I bought mine, I wanted the NAV, not for navigation, but for the Energy Flow & Fuel Economy screens. Before I got my SGII, I flipped back & forth between those 2 screens for feedback on how my driving affected my FE.

When I got my SGII, at first the 4-gauge display was too much info for me to follow while I was driving, so I used the trip average on the SGII in combination with the Energy Flow screen (which shows, among other things, your HV battery Soc) on the NAV display.

I used that combo until the temps dropped in Nov./Dec.; now I use the Energy Flow screen on the NAV, occasionally flipping to the FE screen, & on my SGII I have FWT (to monitor my engine temp so I have some idea when the engine may kick in to warm itself up), RPM (I'm getting better at controlling these :)), MPG (this is the instantaneous mpg - I use it in conjunction w/RPM when the engine kicks in, to get myself back to EV ASAP), & GPH (I don't really pay too much attention to this one; I just needed something for that 4th spot :o).

As I said before, give yourself time to become accustomed to this information & these techniques - I know from my own experience how overwhelming they can be, taken all at once :eek: But *very* much worth the effort, in this vehicle.

Depending on what part of the Chicago area you are from, & how you feel about going a bit ;) out of your way, I'd like to invite you to our Milwaukee Hybrid Group meeting ion Feb. 16 in Oak Creek (suburb south of Mitchell Field) Here's our homepage: http://www.milwaukeehybridgroup.com/

It would be great to have another FEH driver there (although I've enjoyed being unique :)), & I'd be happy to answer any questions or show you how I've been able to get the mpg's I have :) :)

I'm still learning and not up on all the tips and clues to squeeze all the miles out of the car yet. I just received the new SGII and trying to program new commands into it. It is unbelievable how knowledgeable everyone here is about the FEH. I keep switching back and forth between the TRIP MPG and the multiple command screen MPG. Should I even be concerned with MPG on the multi command screen?

It's been exciting to me since Feb. '05 exploring and learning techniques to improve my mileage and I have to say Wayne Gerdes is the one I have to thank the most. It was also Ray Martin who discovered what the heck Ford did with "Low Gear" and this was a major breakthrough in my mileage also. It was strange, but I took Ray's word and tried "L" gear at highway speeds which lead up to my post on the LGA. Many of the first '05 owners are still around that took that first chance buying the FEH and most are still happy they did.

The Scangauge was the next big excitement when we learned in November of '05 it was programmed to work with Hybrids. It looked like crap then and was 10 times the size, but that didn't matter. The information it gave us was worth putting that ugly thing on our dash.

Now that Carl has join the group and hooked up with Ron Delong at LL, we now have an even better Scangauge II with SoC and many other gauges. Monitoring SoC has always been my first screen choice on my Nav Sys, but now it's my first choice on the SGII. That and Today's Trip is now my main choice to monitor on my SGII. Now that I have two SGII's, I monitor Today's Trip on one, SoC, Water Temp, Load and Instant MPG on the other. I still monitor energy flow on the Nav Sys and change Load and water temp around sometimes. Having two SGII's is what I recommend because changing the gauges around while driving is a pain and is dangerous IMO.

GaryG

(I *knew* I was forgetting something :o)

As Sean mentioned, my grille-block is just cardboard that I wrapped in clear tape & taped to the front of my grille. It isn't pretty at the best of times, & right now after snow & rain, it looks kind of sad :( But it gets the job done :)

Or you could check out this thread: http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7661&highlight=daox+block

Daox is also a member of our Milwaukee Hybrid Group, & I really like what he's done with the grille block he made for his Matrix :) When I need to replace mine, I'll probably go this route :) :) :)

Many of the first '05 owners are still around that took that first chance buying the FEH and most are still happy they did.
GaryG

:) :) :) :) :)

I don't have the Nav system as I bought the last '07 off the lot and was lucky to take advantage of the 0% fin. So, my only ref is the SGII. I saw the grill cover and it gave me an idea, just have to find the right parts. I'll have to see how my schedule is for Feb 2.