watercop
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2002
- Location
- Clay County, FL
An \'Ernie\' trip - 75 mpg...
My latest tank:
855.8 miles
11.989 gal
71.38 mpg
Approx 700 of those miles traveled on a round trip to Opelika, AL on back roads at 1600 rpm / 51 mph. I was able to travel at night so managed to get by with very little AC. Given that about 150 miles before the trip were several days of daytime local driving at an estimated 55 mpg the trip itself was very likely at 75-76 mpg. I calculated that via a weighted average
I believe 75 mpg is approaching an upper limit for real world results, at least in terrain with any hills. Certainly I could drive more slowly, maybe as slow as 40 mph / 1200 rpm, but not on any grade at all. I would have had to downshift regularly, which I'm not willing to do.
I chose extremely lightly traveled back roads so as not to inconvenience too many other drivers. I don't recall hearing any shots fired.
At 1600 rpm the engine still pulls smoothly and strongly enough to take the hills on the back roads of western Georgia and central Alabama. I did do some momentum management, coasting down some of the steeper grades and feathering up the upgrades. Mostly I let the cruise control have it.
I shouldn't have to say this but both the immediate prior fill and this one were complete - clear fuel to the top of the neck with the car sitting flat. The approx 12 gallons added was consistent with my fuel guage which indicated 5/16ths remaining.
My latest tank:
855.8 miles
11.989 gal
71.38 mpg
Approx 700 of those miles traveled on a round trip to Opelika, AL on back roads at 1600 rpm / 51 mph. I was able to travel at night so managed to get by with very little AC. Given that about 150 miles before the trip were several days of daytime local driving at an estimated 55 mpg the trip itself was very likely at 75-76 mpg. I calculated that via a weighted average
I believe 75 mpg is approaching an upper limit for real world results, at least in terrain with any hills. Certainly I could drive more slowly, maybe as slow as 40 mph / 1200 rpm, but not on any grade at all. I would have had to downshift regularly, which I'm not willing to do.
I chose extremely lightly traveled back roads so as not to inconvenience too many other drivers. I don't recall hearing any shots fired.
At 1600 rpm the engine still pulls smoothly and strongly enough to take the hills on the back roads of western Georgia and central Alabama. I did do some momentum management, coasting down some of the steeper grades and feathering up the upgrades. Mostly I let the cruise control have it.
I shouldn't have to say this but both the immediate prior fill and this one were complete - clear fuel to the top of the neck with the car sitting flat. The approx 12 gallons added was consistent with my fuel guage which indicated 5/16ths remaining.