"hybridizing" your car?

[NCPete]

A while back I read a news story about a group of people that call themselves "ultra-mileagers" - people in search of the best potential mileage available from their run-of-the-mill cars - not hybrids, or diesels or anything fancy. one of them achieved something in the range of 187 miles per gallon on an urban test loop 20 miles long. (certified, too!)

please note that I drive a 96 Saturn SL1, 1.9L four cylinder, 5 speed, with 247,000 miles on it - which leaks more oil than it burns. (really need to replace that valve cover gasket)

I have chosen to apply some of his tips to my driving habits, with the disclaimer that some of these habits may actually not be legal in this state:

coasting with the motor off whenever possible. I have several relatively long hills in my commute home, and in my regular route when visiting past-due accounts. motor is off on ever one of them.

for that matter, the motor is off whenever possible, anyways. Long stop light? it goes off as I am coasting up to it.

restarting??? roll start when and where possible and convenient.

NO MORE JACK-RABBIT starts. you remember these, our father sdiscouraged you from this practice, concerned that you use excess fuel, and might actually hurt his car. Well, your father may have discouraged you, mine told me that STOP is an acronym for Squeal Tires On Pavement.

Highway speeds are now regularly kept no higher than 65 - this in a car that has proven itself before with 42 mpg on the highway (some 200,000 miles ago) at higher speeds - around 70 to 75. I suspect that the car wouldn't pull those miles these days, so why try to push it?

Drafting. not like in NASCAR where bumpers nearly have to touch for an effective draft, but behind guys in pickup trucks I can still keep a safe distance, and take advantage of the fact that they are punching a big hole in the wind.

I have a 19 mile commute, and I probably have the motor off for about 5 miles of it coming home, and maybe 1 - 2 miles on the way in to work. This has not significantly negatively affected my commute time, and makes my car effectively an electric car for 18% of my drive. It only took a week to see results. My recent fill up reflected 35 miles per gallon in the Saturn, where normally I have been able to expect 29-30 mpg. That means almost a 15% improvement in mileage by changing my habits.

What can you do to improve yours?

[cskipper]

Interesting. I think I'd be too chicken to drive with the engine off. Weren't we all told that it too more fuel to restart the engine than it used idling at a light?

[NCPete]

yep, but whose rule is that, anyways? besides, my motor has been off for a few hundred yards by the time I get to most lights, anyways, and if I time it right, I can just roll start the car in 2nd or 3rd, doesn't activate rich start conditions, which I think FI cars are probably smart enough not to activate, when the motor is already warm, anyways???

[Glennbear]

I would be hesitant also but for a different reason, I want to be able to make powered movements immediately without having to restart due to emergent conditions E.G. - sudden appearence of emergency vehicle behind me. Another consideration is that with engine off the water pump is not circulating nor is the oil pump so engine is sitting with hot fluids in internal passages which never have a chance to cool off completely unlike a toatl shutdown when parking. Excuse my rambling.

[cskipper]

Funny - as I was posting, I was wondering who's rule that was too

[Glennbear]

Just occured to me...........with engine off brake booster and power steering pump are non functional, not a good thing

[NCPete]

true, but not concerned about that. The car responds well, even after the steering boost has subsided, and the brake's work fine, too. but, coasting, I am never that close to someone ahead of me that an emergency manouever (six different tries, would some one please tell me how to spell that word?) would be an issue.

[Gotcha6]

I'm assuming you don't have power steering issues when you coast. Loss of control from this condition could be fatal in the right wrong circumstances. Also, brake boosters usually operate off manifold vacuum or the power steering hydraulics. If you're just driving rural roads you may be able to do all this, and congrats for being able to do so. My driving is usually in and around the idiots in Charlotte & surrounding towns so I need to have control at all times.
I have, though, like you, limited my speeds (I don't usually go over the limit anyhow, too much experience with a Rescue Squad) and even my interstate driving when necessary around town, reduced my 'jackrabbit' starts, and I coast up to the light whenever I can, hoping to get there just as it changes.

[DaveO]

I don't pay for gas, I drive a company vehicle. Of course I can't go any where far with it, but where do I need to go, my shop is where I want to be, with an occasional side trip to Lowe's and the beer store, 2 miles away

Dave

[Gotcha6]

I think it's spelled 'maneuver' int the US.

[NCPete]

restarts are easy. the car is always in gear - enabling a rolling start in seconds. shut down as I perform it (turning the key off - just like at home) shouldn't harm it anymore than regular shut down. In fact, cool air is still moving over the cooling surfaces, which is not available when we shut down at home, work, or your favorite woodworking supply store. My practice is essentially no different than that which is controlled by the computer in hybrids. Not driving a Turbo (where coking of oil in the turbo passages can be a real problem when not allowed to cool properly) I am not concerned about leaving oil in the motor, any more than I am when I park it for the day, or night. When I shut down on the road, I let the car idle down before turning the key off.

I figure my experience with a higher than average mileage car would certainly test any issues with durability for other drivers.

[NCPete]

Originally Posted by cskipper

Funny - as I was posting, I was wondering who's rule that was too

Probably the oil companies' rule??? gotta ensure that $100 billion profit.

[NCPete]

thanks!

[NCPete]

Originally Posted by DaveO

the beer store, 2 miles away

Dave

That is just a little farther than mine, which is only a 20 minute walk, one way. unless I want better beer. That is an 8 mile drive

I see myself doing a lot more walking this year - partly because of fuel costs, partly because my 9 y.o. son is becoming more aware of the environment, and partly because I should lose at least 30 pounds. That tasty beverage sure does taste good after a three mile walk, too!

[junquecol]

Want better fuel mileage, buy a Honda Civic. I have a ninety model which I installed a dog door for. It had been in an accident, and insurance company totaled it. The buy back was $293. Car had 187K on it, new Michelins, new Die Hard battery, but needed a clutch. Took it to my son's shop, ripped the old clutch out one night, turned flywheel next day, and replaced the clutch. Total parts and machine shop was less than $100 Car now has 267K on it. Made a quick trip to GSO last week for a funeral, and got 43 MPG. Around town, I regularly get 38- 39 MPG. It does seem like the car companies could have improved gas mileage over the last twenty years. The old Honda CRX's got 55-60 to the gallon, but didn't have AC. Little 1.0 liter engine, and carburated. Had they had fuel injection, they probably would have been in the seventies for gas mileage. Around our house, we consider a car with less than 150K NEW. My 86 Nissian pickup has a half a million on it. Yes, I said 500K miles. Most of those were with a trailer on the rear. I replaced the head gasket and timing chain at about 250K. It goes 7500 miles between oil changes. Only once have I added oil between changes, and that was because the oil pressure switch was leaking. Oh yeah, I bought this truck from my former employer for $1800. At that time it had only 87 K on it.