An Experiment in Gas Mileage
John Neff, from AutoBlog, suggested an experiment: Drive normally for a tank of gas, and record the
number of miles you get on the tank. Then follow standard gas-mileage reducing tips from places like the US Government and Edmunds.com, and see if you're able to do any
better. I volunteered.My car: A 2001 Honda Civic, 4 doors, 2 carseats, manual transmission
My gas: 7-11 regular
My normal driving: I live in Fredericksburg, VA, a sort of suburban sleeper town to Washington, D.C. My normal driving is around town--running the kids and myself back and forth to school, going to the grocery store, heading out to dinner. I work at home, so I don't commute.
What I'll do differently: The standard driving advice to reduce your gas mileage includes keeping your car maintained and empty, driving more slowly and in higher gears, planning ahead in places like stoplights to avoid using the gas when you're about to stop, avoiding aggressive driving, and using the air conditioner at highway speeds and rolling the windows down when you're in stop and go traffic. I'm about 2,000 miles overdue for my Honda scheduled maintenence, so I'll have that done after I record the miles from the first tank but before I fill up for the second tank. I'll also have them check my tire pressure and change the air filter, if they're not part of the 70K package.
My gas gauge right now shows that I've driven 130 miles and have a little less than 2/3 of a tank left. I'll post when I've finished this tank and give you the stats. Please join me in this experiment!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Charles S 5:19PM (4/26/2006)
One silly thing, but it may make a difference...
If you are going to fill up gas at 7-11, go ahead and fill it up at the same exact pump. I used to fill up at a gas station that has an incline. The amount of fuel I can put into the tank before it shut itself off, would differ if my driver side was facing up the hill, or facing down the hill. If I have guess, maybe the shut-off sensitivity could be different from pump to pump... The difference may be slight, but who knows...
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oneighturbo 5:52PM (4/26/2006)
I just did this on my last tank and added about 12 or more extra miles (city). Thats about one days commute.
I believe a lot of gas savings can be found this way by simply maintaining your vehicle.
I've been observing drivers as well and everyone is solo and most dont seem to care driving with a heavy foot and still slinging in and out of traffic only to cathc the next light.
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h2ofrolic 8:07PM (4/26/2006)
I've tried a similar experiment while driving on 2-lane country roads in a 99 Forester. While I may get 24-26 mpg highway driving aggressively, I've been able to push the mileage up to 29 or 30 by following gas-mileage tips (and common sense). The difference is surprising.
Although on-board trip computers may not be terrible accurate, I believe that having one that keeps tabs on mileage (the 99 Forester doesn't have one) can be very helpful for those of us that are trying to make an effort to conserve whenever possible.
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Nathan Sweeney 10:32PM (4/29/2006)
I was able to go from an average of 24 mpg to just over 30 mpg in my car, though it is much less fun to drive in that manner.
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Dave 10:57PM (4/29/2006)
Not sure if it makes a huge difference, but here's some anecdotal advice from an inexpert source.
I've read (can't remember where) that checking the brakes can also make a difference in gas mileage. If I remember correctly, the civic has discs in front and drums in the rear. This applies more to front than to rear brakes, but I'm sure working on the rears wouldn't hurt either. Make sure that the front brake pistons move smoothly both directions in the caliper's cylinders. If they're dragging against the rotor, it can be like driving with the brakes on. Your car is new enough that it shouldn't be too much of an issue, but (again, from what i've heard) it can really be a help to older cars whose brakes need the overhaul.
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Road Tester 11:45AM (4/30/2006)
I've tried the same, and seen increases in fuel economy in excess of 10%. Expecially in city driving, a smooth driving style and do wonders.
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