Noob from E. Texas

[jcp123]

Just thought I'd say hello.

Says I should post some details about my commute.

It has been 12 miles each way, though it'll be getting longer soon since I'm both starting a new job and going to a new school. But here are the constants:

Car: '04 Focus SVT. 2.0l DOHC 16v I4 with variable valve timing on the intake cam and a 6-speed manual. Really the car is intended more for performance than for mileage, though the latter is arguable considering I've never had a vehicle that averaged better than 16mpg before . I have replaced the spark plugs already, I also plan on adding a K+N air filter, FRPP 9mm plug wires, a DiabloSport tuner, and a high-glow catalytic converter. These are modifications intended to add torque to the midrange, any fuel economy benefits or decreases will be incidental.

Commute: 6 miles on a two-lane country road, fully paved, but with rolling hills. Speed limit is 50, but the car seems to like 55-60 better as that puts it "on cam" at 2200-2500rpm (torque plateaus at 2200 and only builds a few more lb-ft between there and its peak at 5500). I typically drive at 50-53. Only one stop sign in this part of the drive. Better to use cruise on here? I know cruise isn't all that smart when dealing with hills.

About 1.2 miles on a 4-lane state highway, again with rolling hills. Ends at a signal. Speed is 55-60.

The rest of my driving will be pretty typical in-town stuff. One is on the "loop", which here is a 6-lane highway of sorts that encircles the city. There are many signals. The infamous rolling hills are toned down a bit on this road, however. Speed limit is 50, though it will often flow at 40-45.

Driving style: I'm usually pretty sedate, but I do dip into the horsepower of this car from time to time - maybe once or twice per tank. Shift out at 2200-2500rpm, try to cruise at 2200rpm.

Results so far: Have gotten a best in-town tank of 25.7mpg, well above EPA estimates, but others have ranged as low as 21.8. Best highway tank was last week at 33.323mpg, cruise set to 60-65 at varying points with a 200lb passenger and 80lbs of luggage on the second half of the trip, as well as ~50 miles of in-town/stop and go driving. Cycled a/c on and off. Overall average so far is 26.81mpg, with roughly 70/30 commute/freeway mix. Take the highway miles out, and it comes out to about 24mpg.

[psyshack]

Hello

Those cars can be fun rides.

I would start with the tire pressure. Make sure there at sidewall max psi or close. You can work into the higher pressures a little at a time if you want. Also start looking into load driving. Start working on your light timing and turning the engine off at stop lights. These 3 or 4 tools put to use should nab the 35 mpg tank you want to see. If not more.

Your planed mods will more than likely hurt your mpg. I would think 40 mpg would be in the bag if your work on it and slowly advance your skills. Start with the easy stuff mentioned above and see what you get. Also get a scangauge if you need to mod. Will be worth more over all than all the mods you mentioned.

Enjoy
psy

[Dan]

Welcome fellow Texan!

Some other good suggestions will probably be a ScanGauge. It's real useful in figuring out where your peak efficiency is. Not knowing your car too well, I'd guess that your best efficiency would be <2000 RPM, but gauge would tell better than I.

There are lots of tricks out there and the threads here will give you a good start.

I'd check out the Articles section. Also look at the Beating the EPA article. The Daily Grind weekly thread also helps to hear some good ideas.

You can also check the map for fellow hypermilers in your area.

11011011

[Chuck]

Excellent advice from psyshack and Dan.

Go with ScanGage.

If you have a vehicle older than 96, a vacuum gage is the next best thing.

[jcp123]

Thanks for the tips!

Ordered a ScanGauge yesterday, actually. Tire pressure I keep at 35 front and 32 rear, which is 3psi above spec, I check it religiously ever week. I'll try even higher.

Light timing is something I think I'm in the amateur stages of doing. Rather than cruising under power up to lights, I drive as far ahead as the hills here allow me to see and coast up to lights, trying to conserve my inertia, but that's about as far as I've gotten.

I also use the car's handling to my advantage and make any turns I have to do at higher speed, again conserving my inertia.

What kind of strategies are best for dealing with these rolling hills? I know they can really kill gas mileage. Most are ~100 yard incline or declines, so is cruise control passable on these, or is it best for me to get off the pedal on declines and let some speed slip on inclines?

[PaleMelanesian]

My last set of tires I kept at 35, 3 above the recommended 32. I was faithful about checking and maintaining that. They wore out on the edges and not in the middle. You'll see better treadwear if you put them up higher. Most likely, yours are rated to 44, and I'd use that.

You'll most likely get the best results staying out of the variable part of your valve timing.

I'm in Longview, so I know the area. 2-lane road, rolling hills, 50mph speed limit for the first half, then in town the second half? Sounds just like my drive. Try gaining up to 55-60 at the bottom of the hill, the bleed off to below 50 a the peak, then gain again at the bottom. Kind of like a roller coaster. I'd stay out of cruise. It tends to be dumb and not know what to do with hills.

[Chuck]

I'll concurr with PaleMelanesian on cruise controls.

Most here probably drive better than a cruise control.

Cruise controls are at their worst on non-performance cars (i.e. built for FE) and hills.

Gradually speeding up prior to a hill will result in better fuel economy than a cruise control.

[jcp123]

Alright, sounds good, thank you guys. I had kind of thought that was what to do with cruise around here, but this makes it concrete!

As to the tires, I'm now running them at 38/35...still well below the 44 max, allowing for some expansion when it heats up...I'll watch it over the next little while and up the pressures step by step.