Fuel saving attempt..but does it work?

**zythum24** · 9-4-05, 2:39

OK, so I've been driving along with the same tank of gas for the past week. I drove about 40 miles roundtrip tonight with my wife to visit her parents. In an afforst to save gas I adjusted my driving habits. On the way there I drove about 58 mph (all highway) and on the way back I drove 50 mph. Rpm's were at about 2500 on the drive home.
Now, I normally drive anywhere between 60-70 on this drive and it takes me about 16-20 minutes. Today took me about 25-27 minutes to drive home, I don't know the exact time.
So here is my question. I am driving slow, so per mile I am saving fuel. But along the same lines, I am also driving for a longer amount of time, car being on longer as well. How much am I really saving at the end of the drive or am I not looking at this properly.

**Thomas** · 9-4-05, 2:54

it shouldnt have been a 10 minute difference...truthfully, you probably only save 3-5 minutes hauling ass instead of driving slower and more efficiently...so unless your on the road for about 5 hours, then it will better in the long run for your gas mileage to drive slower at lower rpm....come to think of it, if your hauling ass, your at a higher rpm, and the longer you drive like that the more gas you waste...so yeah, unless you save an hour on your trip then your using more gas...sorry if this didnt make much sense....

**On sale** · 9-4-05, 3:19

I guess it depneds on where you have stick or auto. 10 minutes of driving does not save gas. Think about thr gas for electric system, AC, & headlight light & power for stereo. Then the brake pad usage.

Think about you in a traffic jam inside the freeway. You stuck inside & drive 10MPH for half an hour & I assume you will be at your lower RPM. You will consum more gas then driving 60MPH in 10 min.

**zythum24** · 9-4-05, 3:28

Its a MTX.
I understand that one ride won't make a difference, espcially the 10 minutes or so. I'm looking at the big picture and really wondering if in the long run slowing down a bit and driving for a longer period of time vs. faster while driving for a shorter period of time makes a difference in the efficiency.
According to what you are saying On sale, it's better to drive faster, but I can't see comparing stop and go traffic to this situation.

**On sale** · 9-4-05, 3:45

I heard people sell some chip on ebay say it will make your ride use less gas. But it is up to you whether the chip works or not.

MTX consume less gas than ATX.

**zythum24** · 9-4-05, 3:48

The chip is bogus.

89_Mazda_MX6 · 9-4-05, 3:49

I have recently taken a second job delivering pizza ,AWEFULL time to do that I know, the gas price sky rocketed 5 days after I started there. But anyway, I have put in NGK plugs, and a performance filter (with cold air flow). It said on the package, and everywhere else i've read, that the filter and plugs increase your gas milegae, and I have seen a bit of an increase, but what other things do you all suggest to save on gas?

I posted this question in (Gas mileage saving tips?)this forum, and have gotten some good tips ( and some pointless tips ). I read about one guy removing his spoiler to reduce on the drag, therefor increasing gas mileage. What do you think, is something that will actually work? If so, I will do it too, I drive ALOT of miles a day, and gas here is $3.39 a gallon, so ANY increase is helpfull!

Also, I have read about changing the EGR (sp?) valve, and that it will also increase my gas mileage. Again, if it works, i'll do it! If I can do 100 little things to save gas, i'll do all 100 of them!

**retsamaksrepus** · 9-4-05, 14:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by 89_Mazda_MX6

Also, I have read about changing the EGR (sp?) valve, and that it will also increase my gas mileage. Again, if it works, i'll do it!

You don't necissarely have to replace it. Just clean it. Theres a write up in the FAQ about it, do a search or just browse the FAQ until you find it.

**Aussomea** · 9-4-05, 18:32

the amount of gas wasted by driving fast is different for every car. in my accord, whenever i beat on it and drove fast i'd get 22mpg, when i babied it and went slow it got 23 mpg. not that much better, but on my grand prix, when i beat the hell out of it, it'll get 16mpg and when i baby it it'll get 24mpg. just go a whole tank of gas going slow and check what you mileage is. IIRC both of my mx6s got about the same mileage no matter how i drove them.

**dsr30** · 9-4-05, 18:46

i notice about a 5mpg difference between driving fast and babying the 6

**rcoolb2002** · 9-4-05, 20:10

Every car has an "optimal" speed; essentially the speed at which your car gets the best mpg/m. This is based on gearing, etc. The only way to really determine this would be to take the exact same trip under ideal circumstances at different set speeds and compare gas comsumption.

or you could get one of these and find out what your optimal mpg is.
http://www.porcine.com/gps/mpg/mpg.html

**retsamaksrepus** · 9-4-05, 23:56

I used to shift around 3k rpms and use all of the pedal. I used to get around 22-24 mpg depending on highway or city driving. I then switched to shifting at 2.5k rmps and using the pdal sparingly and now get around 25-30 mpg depending on highway or city driving. l

**zythum24** · 9-5-05, 2:19

Well, I am testing out the drive slower, shift sooner and take it easy on the pedal theory. I've used a little under half a tank and I've done about 130 miles so far. It's average so far too. (Bear in mind it's a 6 cyl with a header installed). I'll bring this post back to life when I'm done with the experiment.

**raver6url** · 9-5-05, 2:54

i got 37 miles to the gallon driving for 2 hours on the highway at 85mph

**raver6url** · 9-5-05, 2:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by On sale

Think about thr gas for electric system, AC, & headlight light & power for stereo.

since when do headlights and stereos use gas?or am i being blonde and misunderstanding this?

9-4-05, 2:54	#2 (permalink)
Thomas Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Valdosta, GA, USA iTrader: (0)	it shouldnt have been a 10 minute difference...truthfully, you probably only save 3-5 minutes hauling ass instead of driving slower and more efficiently...so unless your on the road for about 5 hours, then it will better in the long run for your gas mileage to drive slower at lower rpm....come to think of it, if your hauling ass, your at a higher rpm, and the longer you drive like that the more gas you waste...so yeah, unless you save an hour on your trip then your using more gas...sorry if this didnt make much sense....
	Honda Man.

9-4-05, 3:19	#3 (permalink)
On sale Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: California, CA, USA Age: 30 iTrader: (0)	I guess it depneds on where you have stick or auto. 10 minutes of driving does not save gas. Think about thr gas for electric system, AC, & headlight light & power for stereo. Then the brake pad usage. Think about you in a traffic jam inside the freeway. You stuck inside & drive 10MPH for half an hour & I assume you will be at your lower RPM. You will consum more gas then driving 60MPH in 10 min.
	Just sold my 911 & got a 08 750i, but crashed........ My Rides: 01 740IL, 93 MX6, 99 Z3, 05 CLK 500AMG My Wife: 03 ML 350, 01 CL500

9-4-05, 3:45	#5 (permalink)
On sale Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: California, CA, USA Age: 30 iTrader: (0)	I heard people sell some chip on ebay say it will make your ride use less gas. But it is up to you whether the chip works or not. MTX consume less gas than ATX.
	Just sold my 911 & got a 08 750i, but crashed........ My Rides: 01 740IL, 93 MX6, 99 Z3, 05 CLK 500AMG My Wife: 03 ML 350, 01 CL500

9-4-05, 3:49	#7 (permalink)
89_Mazda_MX6 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Adams (SE of Clarksville), TN, USA Age: 33 iTrader: (0)	I have recently taken a second job delivering pizza ,AWEFULL time to do that I know, the gas price sky rocketed 5 days after I started there. But anyway, I have put in NGK plugs, and a performance filter (with cold air flow). It said on the package, and everywhere else i've read, that the filter and plugs increase your gas milegae, and I have seen a bit of an increase, but what other things do you all suggest to save on gas? I posted this question in (Gas mileage saving tips?)this forum, and have gotten some good tips ( and some pointless tips ). I read about one guy removing his spoiler to reduce on the drag, therefor increasing gas mileage. What do you think, is something that will actually work? If so, I will do it too, I drive ALOT of miles a day, and gas here is $3.39 a gallon, so ANY increase is helpfull! Also, I have read about changing the EGR (sp?) valve, and that it will also increase my gas mileage. Again, if it works, i'll do it! If I can do 100 little things to save gas, i'll do all 100 of them!
	Pics of my MX6 http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2070830/1

9-4-05, 18:32	#9 (permalink)
Aussomea Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Cincinnati, OH, USA Age: 22 iTrader: (0)	the amount of gas wasted by driving fast is different for every car. in my accord, whenever i beat on it and drove fast i'd get 22mpg, when i babied it and went slow it got 23 mpg. not that much better, but on my grand prix, when i beat the hell out of it, it'll get 16mpg and when i baby it it'll get 24mpg. just go a whole tank of gas going slow and check what you mileage is. IIRC both of my mx6s got about the same mileage no matter how i drove them.
	1999 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP 2 tons of 13.9 @ 100.84 1984 Mazda RX7 Project Muscle Car Wannabe 1993 Mazda MX6 LS Sold 1995 Mazda MX6 RS Sold

9-4-05, 18:46	#10 (permalink)
dsr30 DSR Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Salem, VA, USA Age: 29 iTrader: (0)	i notice about a 5mpg difference between driving fast and babying the 6
	If my reply is helpful please leave me some karma http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...page_id=761672 Running a FASTEST95PGT built megasquirt, great service and support, Jeff's the man. Illuminas, PGT 16" rims, hood pins, ZE cams, RR front mount insert, ATX-MTX, mx3 flywheel, XTD 6 puck clutch, MSD Blaster 2, Civic STS, Walbro 255lph, ph8A oil filter, Clutched Eaton M62, Nissan 370cc Injectors, MSnS-E, M3 Mirrors

9-4-05, 20:10	#11 (permalink)
rcoolb2002 Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Baltimore, MD, USA iTrader: (0)	Every car has an "optimal" speed; essentially the speed at which your car gets the best mpg/m. This is based on gearing, etc. The only way to really determine this would be to take the exact same trip under ideal circumstances at different set speeds and compare gas comsumption. or you could get one of these and find out what your optimal mpg is. http://www.porcine.com/gps/mpg/mpg.html
	MHOC: Fastest member: 2003 CBR 954rr 1996 Eclipse RS: 2.4dohc Hahn Racecraft manifold/fmic/3"piping, .61trim t3/t4, 3" exhaust, full suspension 1990 Integra LS: Full suspension, lots of dents

9-5-05, 2:54	#14 (permalink)
raver6url Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: seminhole, FL, USA iTrader: (0)	i got 37 miles to the gallon driving for 2 hours on the highway at 85mph
	DEVIANT http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/733369 if i helped you.....some karma will help me.....