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Hypermiling

There's some good ideas that actually work to save fuel, it doesn't take much. I've always been confused by people that speed up to get to a traffic light that is red, my wife sometimes does this.
I drive a manual trans truck to commute and find that it is much nicer in rush hour traffic than an automatic, contrary to what most people think. A manual transmission allows me to choose the correct gear to maintain speed, even though the term speed sounds kind of silly to describe traffic around here in the mornings.
I try to keep a smooth steady pace but here if you leave enough room for a car in front of you, you will get another car in front of you, always.
I'm not clear on how the face out parking thing saves fuel. True, if you back in it is easier to pull out, saving some of the fuel it takes to get going. Didn't you already spend that fuel by stopping and backing in when you parked the car? The only advantage I can see is that you spend a little less fuel because you do it when your engine is warmed up, is that the thinking?
I'm a bit envious of the cars with a fuel economy gauge, I wish I could put one on my car. It would be nice to know the difference you were making at the time you were doing it.
 
KJUN said:
Remember that if it is a slanted parking spot, you can get a ticket for "parking against the flow" in many states. Plus, it is just rude to do drive up the down row if it is a "one way" row. LOL.
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For some reason here they have slanted two-ways. And no place to put your shopping carts, they just have people who go around and pick them up. Actually, they want to bring your groceries out to your car for you, too.
 
alan said:
I'm not clear on how the face out parking thing saves fuel. True, if you back in it is easier to pull out, saving some of the fuel it takes to get going. Didn't you already spend that fuel by stopping and backing in when you parked the car? The only advantage I can see is that you spend a little less fuel because you do it when your engine is warmed up, is that the thinking?
I'm a bit envious of the cars with a fuel economy gauge, I wish I could put one on my car. It would be nice to know the difference you were making at the time you were doing it.
Click to expand...

Alan, you pull through to the next space so you're facing out. Then you don't have to back up and brake. Braking is bad. If you're _really_ lucky, you can "potential park," where you "face out" in the highest part of the parking lot, and get to coast as you leave the spot! Sadly, all parking lots are flat in Florida...

I think people speed up to red lights because it is easier. You drive one speed, then you stop. Then you resume that speed as quickly as possible. It takes much more attention to actually watch the traffic flow and try to avoid ever coming to a dead stop at a light.

I just read in Florida traffic laws yesterday that you are always required to maintain a space in front of you big enough for another car to enter the traffic flow without interrupting the flow. Like anyone "normal" driver does that! I hate it when people won't let anyone in. But maybe that's because no one uses a signal to change lanes (much less turn) here.

Alan, you _can_ have a fuel economy guage in your car, providing your car has an ODBII port, which if it is I _think_ post 1998 it will. For a mere $160 or so. Plugs right in, tells you everything your car's computer knows, including how many gallons remain in the gas tank. I haven't had a gas guage on this vehicle or the previous vehicle, so say since 1993 or so. It's driving me nuts! This vehicle had one when I bought it, but the fuel sensor went out like a week after I got it, and the fuel sensor is part of the fuel filter, which is still fine and costs $300+ to replace, so my mechanic said just wait till the fuel filter fails. It's like insurance that it never will! So anyway, now that I worked OT the last two nights, maybe on Friday I can get one!! Then I can determine my most efficient highway and country speeds!

http://www.scangauge.com/
 
Nanci said:
Alan, you _can_ have a fuel economy guage in your car, providing your car has an ODBII port, which if it is I _think_ post 1998 it will.
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Yeah I'm aware of that, I maintain a fleet of trucks at work, some have OBDII gasoline engines. OBDII makes it easy, I have a nice diagnostic tool with software for them.
No, I have a 1987 Volvo 740, 10 years before OBDII. There are gauges that work off of intake manifold vacuum but they don't really show fuel economy. The "old" Bosch fuel injection system on my Volvo still gets it 23-24mpg, 26-27mpg on a long cruise.
 
I don't know if this has come up yet, but.
Have any of you looked into dual fuel cars or trucks.....The conversion can pay for itself in less than a year, depending on mileage
 
A few years ago I was looking into making a propane commuter, but I'm a big fan of bicycles and that was cheaper. A dual fuel car would be an even better alternative, I ?think? it still gives you the option of shutting off the propane and using just petrol. There are a few places around here to refill your LPG, but not many.
 
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