Get the Most of Your Gasoline

[PLFXpert 0]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12424285/

These are some interesting tips that might help some of ya'll

Edit: P.S. For those who might be a little slow this morning scroll down after the intro paragraph/advertisement for the tips.

It never occured to me about the windows down/AC off thing being LESS effective

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[skymama 37]

I also read that if you have to idle with the a/c on for more than 30 seconds that it actually takes less gas to turn the car off and back on. The article said that if you idle for an hour, you could burn a whole tank of gas!

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[PLFXpert 0]

Not all the tips they mentioned on the Today Show are on their website. One additional tip in particular stated turning your car on w/out the A/C and radio automatically on (meaning before you turn your car off, obviously you have to turn these things off---which I NEVER do).

My mom has ALWAYS done this and it annoys me When I get in the car on a hot summer day, when it's turned on I want it to IMMEDIATELY blast air in my face---I don't even care if it's warm air---it's better than the stagnant hot air already in the car.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[simplyputsi 0]

You know mythbusters did a test on the whole windows up windows down thing. I believe there was overall about a 1/2 mile to 1 mile difference in overall mileage.
Why oh why does this article not mention other alternatives. I must save over a gallon of gas a week on just letting my car coast down hills. I have a manual though so I can take it out of gear and do this easily. What kills me though is I watch people brake going downhill only to have to give it more gas on the uphill. It's ok to speed just a little people.
Now if only I can get rid of the weight in my trunk.

Skymama's #2 stalker -

[livendive 8]

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The article said that if you idle for an hour, you could burn a whole tank of gas!

I'd be curious what kind of car that is! When I'm playing geo-scribe on drilling projects in the dead of winter or heat of summer, I'll routinely idle my truck (gas engine) for 5-6 hours per day. I've never noticed a significant change in my miles per tank as a result, much less seen the needle move over the course of a day.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[yardhippie 0]

Quote

Quote

The article said that if you idle for an hour, you could burn a whole tank of gas!

I'd be curious what kind of car that is! When I'm playing geo-scribe on drilling projects in the dead of winter or heat of summer, I'll routinely idle my truck (gas engine) for 5-6 hours per day. I've never noticed a significant change in my miles per tank as a result, much less seen the needle move over the course of a day.

Blues,
Dave

agreed on that one. Back when I was racing I would routinely have my truck (tow vehicle) with a large gas engine run almost all day for different reasons with no noticable change in the fuel level.

just fyi:
an 8.4 liter 300hp diesel engine burns approx .6 gal/hr at idle with the a/c running.
(i dont know gas cuz they dont put them in tractors )

Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD
"What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me
"Anything you want." ~ female skydiver
Mohoso Rodriguez #865

[SpeedRacer 1]

On a hot day it helps if you open all the doors & let the car air out for a few minutes before getting inside & starting it up.

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[briguy 0]

that article has some crap in it:

buy gas early in the morning beacuse the gas is cooler?

BS.

gas is stored in underground tanks. ever been in a basement at 10am vs at 1pm?

no difference.

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[ChrisL 2]

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that article has some crap in it:

buy gas early in the morning beacuse the gas is cooler?

BS.

gas is stored in underground tanks. ever been in a basement at 10am vs at 1pm?

no difference.

Gotta agree with ya on that. That large a volume of gas in a buried tank the temp is not going to change significantly during the day.

__

My mighty steed

[Sockpuppet 0]

Just get a car that does crazy gas mileage.

Runnnig your car on chip fat is a good way. A while back in Wales there was a shortage of cooking oil a the local ASDA (supermarket owned by WALMART) as they were selling 25L of oil for less than 25L of diesel.

People were just filling up in the car park. Crazy.

------
Two of the three voices in my head agree with you. It might actually be unanimous but voice three only speaks Welsh.

[PLFXpert 0]

Ho---Humm.

I think at this point, if the article told people pink cars get better gas mileage people would try it

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[shaggio 0]

Anyone here tried using a couple ounces of acetone in there gas yet?

[briguy 0]

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I think at this point, if the article told people pink cars get better gas mileage people would try it

i agree. edmunds did a test that disproved the whole windows up vs. ac argument. they found no difference.

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[simplyputsi 0]

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Anyone here tried using a couple ounces of acetone in there gas yet?

somebody did, you'll have to go find the 25% better gas mileage thread. I think that was what it was called.

Skymama's #2 stalker -

[sunshine 2]

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I think at this point, if the article told people pink cars get better gas mileage people would try

Pink car? I'm all for that!!

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[Broke 0]

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Anyone here tried using a couple ounces of acetone in there gas yet?

No appreciable differance. Here are a couple of things that I have noticed work for me.
Drive conservatively. That can save you a lot of gas.
I am not a fan of the whole shutting your car off at intersections, because if you live in an area with a lot of lights that may do more harm to your vehicle overall. However you will save some gas by shifting your car into neutral at a trafic light. It decreases the load on the engine while ideling.
Tune your car up.
Keep your tires inflated properly. Not only will this keep you safer, but you'll save gas, and additional wear and tear onyour vehicle.

Divot your source for all things Hillbilly.
Anvil Brother 84
SCR 14192

[GrumpySmurf 0]

Silly factoid:
Cruising at 55 mph down the highway will burn just as much gas as sitting at idle and having the A/C clutch engaged at a 100% duty cycle (i.e. city driving in high temp, high humidity).

Some may think the A/C burns a tonne of gas, when in fact alot of cars are at thier most efficient fuel wise vs increasing speed cruising at 55 mph. As you start going above 55, your efficiency drops, quickly.

Alot of the time, you don't have direct control over the A/C anyways, even if the LED is off on the HVAC ECU. If the HVAC is in the Defrost position, it will frequently force the A/C compressor clutch to engage, to get the humidity out of the air and prevent the windshield from fogging up.

One thing to try to turn the A/C on and off while at a stop on a rather hot and humid day - watch your tach when you do. Try doing so on a not so hot and humid day and watch the tach.

Side note: saw an interesting fact on the back of BC Transit Bus today - 10 seconds of idling burns more gas than turning your car off and on.