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Being new to the site, I'm trying to determine the best sequence of events to reach my MPG potential. So far, I've:
- raised my tires to 44 psi
- began watching my acceleration RPMs to keep them at usually 1800 and occasionally 2400
- am in the process of learning the LGA and loving it so far!
- refining my P&G, using Neutral for it now

Next I'm looking at removing my roof rack. So, I was wondering if anyone has measured the MPG improvement from this? And are there any special tools that I need (looks like a phillips screw driver to me)? And do I need to fill the holes were the screw were, once I remove it?

I searched through the threads, but couldn't find anything on this.

I'm mechcanically challenged :(, so please use simple terms and if you have pictures that's even better.

Thanks,
Rob

Hi Rob --

As I understand it, discussions about removing the FEH roof rack are more concerned with the *crossbars*, which are perpendicular to the air-stream; the tracks that the crossbars slide on aren't as much of a factor in terms of mpg's.

(My 2005FEH came with crossbars on the roof rack, which my husband removed for me after the first time we met Wayne (xcel) :D)

Everything else you're doing looks good - now you have to start posting your tanks :) :) & making plans to come to Hybridfest2008 :) :) :)

Being new to the site, I'm trying to determine the best sequence of events to reach my MPG potential. So far, I've:
- raised my tires to 44 psi
- began watching my acceleration RPMs to keep them at usually 1800 and occasionally 2400
- am in the process of learning the LGA and loving it so far!
- refining my P&G, using Neutral for it now

Next I'm looking at removing my roof rack. So, I was wondering if anyone has measured the MPG improvement from this? And are there any special tools that I need (looks like a phillips screw driver to me)? And do I need to fill the holes were the screw were, once I remove it?

I searched through the threads, but couldn't find anything on this.

I'm mechcanically challenged :(, so please use simple terms and if you have pictures that's even better.

Thanks,
Rob

I'm sure everything helps, but tire pressure is at the top of my list for improvements. I've never removed the cross bars and would never remove the rails and don't even worry about being loaded down with weight. This is a SUV and I treat it like a SUV and rely on driving skills to get the most improvements in MPG. Making sure the air filters, battery filters, wheel balance and alignment is fine tuned is my recommendation. Getting the long term fuel maps tuned is by far what makes or breaks MPG for me.

I would never drive without two SGII's any more either in my FEH. The battery SoC is the most important gauge for me as I do mostly EV driving. I now know exactly when to kick on the ICE and go EV for the best MPG possible. Wish I had it at the MPG Challenge this pass year.

GaryG

Debbie and GaryG, Thanks for the insight! I won't worry about the roof rack and concentrate more on the areas you mentioned.

Unfortunately, I'm already commited to being in North Carolina at the beach on July 19-20, so I'll have to depend on everyone's posts here to feel "virtually" there. It sounds like the Hybridfests in the past have been quite the experience from what I have read so far, so hopefully there will be another one next year.

I haven't read much about the filters yet, so I'll go through the threads on that. I hope I haven't gotten too far behind in the first 13k miles on this.