Fuel/Acetone discussion

I do these things and I get 25.1 mpg in a 2001 GMC clubcab 2x2. My wife's Pontiac van gets 34mpg on highway trip at highway speed
Now if you think I'm all wet try my suggestions and you can't help but get better fuel mileage...It raining here and I couldn't do anything at the farm..could you tell?..Mike in Exeter Ontario

In 1999 I went to drive a Peterbuilt with 500hp Cat pulling Super B trains, grossing 140,000 lbs. Now I am not a career truck driver, at that time had never driven a truck over 70,000 lbs gross. This employer owned a fleet of 35 trucks all with that same Cat engine and same transmission and rear end ratios. Every two weeks your fuel milage amoung other things were calculated from the onboard computer. I came in in 9th place, and 1st place for the guys hauling Super B trains. Those other 8 guys did have some road miles on single trailers grossing about 110,000. This set a few of the old career truck drivers on their ear. Some actually wanted to know how I did it. My advice even for that big rig was much the same as yours, one exception, pulling 140,000 lbs. as much as possible you wait for down grade to accelerate from 30 mph to 60 mph. I later drove another truck with that Scan device, giving you constant readout on fuel milage. In my opinion a great little option for someone with bad habits. I found a few of my own.

You mention tires, and tire inflation is very important, but equally important is the condition of tires themselves. It is surprising the number of folks driving with broken radials. Retread tires are another one that can cost fuel milage. Fine if they are in good condition but many are not. I talked my current employer into getting rid of retreads on one trailer. That was 6 months ago, yes we did get fuel savings, and yes MTO guys are no longer taking time to inspect the tires at scales. There are good reasons for these inspections, mainly the lifted tire recaps lieing along our roadsides.

I know I have dwelled on heavy trucks, however as a percentage guys, your full size pickup or minivan will be no different. As I told a guy on the CB radio one day when he asked how I ever managed to get by some road construction with Peterbuilt and Super B train. He had warned in advance, I should take an alternate route. When ask how I ever got through, my responce," This rig is a lot closer to a Honda Civic on manuverability than most folks would ever believe."

Anyway, by installing a transmission with higher gearing (numerically lower) in my car when I needed a new tranny, I now get 45 miles per gallon from my del Sol. This is with about 25% city and 75% highway miles at 75 mph on the highway. Of course it is a relatively light, 2 seater car with a 1.5 liter 4 banger that only has 100 horsepower... economy with style.

For my 01 Accord I have a ScanGauge that tells me mpg in real-time and also has a trip computer built into it. I can use the mpg meter to keep my foot out of it at the right times to save fuel/raise economy. Every little thing helps.

Anyway, there must be some way of determining fuel flow because Gallons Per Hour is a choice for one of the readouts.

It updates every 2 seconds or something like that. It can read anything that your ECU knows. My Accord will show everything except fuel pressure.

I have to say it has really helped me improve my driving habits for mpg. I was making 24 mpg in town and now can usually pull 28 from it by watching the gauge.