[SustainableTompkins] How to improve gas mileage

[Andy Bailey Goodell]

To get better gas mileage, it's a combination of many things that each help
a few percent, but for me adds up to 75% better fuel economy and less than
half the fuel consumed because of shorter trips, and then I also save much
more by just not driving when I could walk or bike instead.

Here's a list of the safe and easy ones:
Finding the shortest route, avoiding stop signs/lights, properly inflating
tires, taking out all extra weight, improving aerodynamics (take off roof
racks/boxes/bags), accelerate moderately, find the car's most efficient
speed, use as little throttle as possible for the grade and speed needed,
reducing the need for braking by anticipating stops, turning off the engine
at stops, learning traffic light patterns, coast at any time possible, let
speed reduce going up hills...

My Subaru is rated for 20mpg city and 27mpg highway, and by doing those
things listed above I was getting 32mpg city and 40mpg highway. For work I
drive a Chevy Venture (7 person van, often with 7 people in it) rated 16mpg
city and 23mpg highway and I consistently got 26mpg in the warmer months and
22mpg in the cold. While 26mpg doesn't seem like a high number, the fact
that it was in a full van during city driving conditions makes it better
than driving a Prius. People-miles-per-gallon is more important than
vehicle-miles-per-gallon because a van with 7 people at 26mpg is 182pmpg
while a Prius with one person could be both 55mpg and 55pmpg. 

If anyone has questions on driving efficiently, don't hesitate to ask. I've
offered my time in Oneonta to show people how to drive more efficiently and
received responses from people wanting to learn, and I would gladly do the
same in the Ithaca area when I move there this summer. I've posted my 7-page
guide to driving more efficiently on the Environmental Work Group of Central
New York website at http://oneonta-region.wikispot.org/Car_Share.

Andy Goodell
1894 Charlotte Creek Road
Oneonta, NY 13820
(603) 831-0356
http://geekguyandy.com

-----Original Message-----
From: sustainabletompkins-bounces at lists.mutualaid.org
[mailto:sustainabletompkins-bounces at lists.mutualaid.org] On Behalf Of
Margaret McCasland
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 9:27 AM
To: Sustainable Tompkins County listserv
Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] I hate to drought on your hybrid parade
but...

Please, please, tell me how!  I have been driving more slowly, more gradual
starts and stops, checking tire pressure, but what other techniques might
help?  I'm still around 25 mpg, last I checked (I stopped filling the tank,
so that I'm driving less weight around, so I'm not calculating actual mpg).

Thanks, Margaret

PS a hole in your exhaust system is a great way to keep your starts
gradual--fear of a ticket!  But I do plan on getting it fixed and keeping
the Subaru a while longer.


>Definitely, the best choice for a car is one that already exists, not 
>trading in a 2007 hybrid for a 2008 hybrid. And sometimes the thinking 
>of needing something different is just our wonderful American way of 
>consumption. I was tired of getting 23 MPG in my 97 Subaru Legacy 
>Wagon, and instead of going out and buying a new/different car, I took 
>the time to learn how to drive efficiently. We have all heard how to do 
>it, but it just takes the patience to actually do it. I can now get 40 
>miles per gallon in the same car, without ANY modifications to the car, 
>simply just changing driving technique. I also drive the shortest 
>distance route, even if it means taking more time because it saves gas. 
>My drive to see my family a few times a year takes a few more hours, 
>but uses 45% of the gas that it used to. So if you want to drive a more 
>efficient car, don't empty your pockets just yet. Learn how to drive 
>efficiently, find the shortest route, and then when your car is really 
>dead, it might be better to buy the new hybrid or electric if you are still
going to use a car.
>
>Andy Goodell
>1894 Charlotte Creek Road
>Oneonta, NY 13820
>(603) 831-0356
>http://geekguyandy.com
>
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