Ways to save fuel.

AJ · 07-22-2005

1. Avoid High Speeds. As your speed increases, your aerodynamic drag increases in an exponential fashion. Driving 62 mph (100 km/h) vs 75 mph (120 km/h) will reduce fuel consumption by about 15%.

2. Do Not Accelerate or Brake Hard. By anticipating the traffic and applying slow steady acceleration and braking, fuel economy may increase by as much as 20%.

3. Keep Tires Properly Inflated. Keep tire air pressure at the level recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. A single tire under inflated by 2 PSI, increases fuel consumption by 1%.

4. Use A/C Sparingly. When the air conditioner is on it puts extra load on the engine forcing more fuel to be used (by about 20%). The defrost position on most vehicles also uses the air conditioner.

5. Keep Windows Closed. Windows open, especially at highway speeds, increase drag and result in decreased fuel economy of up to 10%.

6. Service Vehicle Regularly. Proper maintenance avoids poor fuel economy related to dirty air filters, old spark plugs or low fluid levels.

7. Use Cruise Control. Maintaining a constant speed over long distances often saves gas.

8. Avoid Heavy Loads. Remove the sand bags from your trunk in the spring and pack lightly for long trips.

9. Avoid Long Idles. If you anticipate being stopped for more than 1 minute, shut off the car. Restarting the car uses less fuel than letting it idle for this time.

10. Purchase a Fuel Efficient Vehicle. When buying a new vehicle examine the vehicle's rated fuel efficiency. Usually choosing a small vehicle with a manual transmission will provide you with great fuel economy.

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All true? Have a variation or another tip? Discuss.

Onefast99gsx · 07-22-2005

Looks Good dsmstyle!

MustGoFaster · 07-22-2005

2. Do Not Accelerate or Brake Hard. By anticipating the traffic and applying slow steady acceleration and braking, fuel economy may increase by as much as 20%.

WTF does braking hard have to do with using gas?

AJ · 07-22-2005

Fuck if I know. That's for you guys to figure out. This was all pulled off another site.

Pimpin Dsmstyle · 07-22-2005

Well if your on a highway and slam on your brakes coming up to a light... and traffic starts moving as you slow down further and further... you have to accelerate more to get to the speed you were previously at.

On the other hand if you slow down gradually, you wont have to regain as much speed.

That only really applies if you need to accelerate back to speed. Slowing down quickly to sit at a light really wouldn't matter.

Acceleration uses the majority of your gas. Hense the reason you get better gas mileage on road trips and constant highway / freeway use.

Pimpin Dsmstyle · 07-22-2005

ALLEN! "Ways to save fuel" - You used the word safe incorrectly! Muhaha.

Glad to see that I'm not the only imperfect person aboard this lovely site!

AJ · 07-22-2005

I'm the poster child for fuck ups on this site.

CVD · 07-23-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSMStyle

Purchase a Fuel Efficient Vehicle. When buying a new vehicle examine the vehicle's rated fuel efficiency. Usually choosing a small vehicle with a manual transmission will provide you with great fuel economy.

Yes, please. Everyone do this.

john · 07-23-2005

Buy a motorcylce

, sell the dsm, and be happy.

Pimpin Dsmstyle · 07-23-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by john

Buy a motorcylce

, sell the dsm, and be happy.

Then you can have 2 wheels in the winter!!! Wouldn't that just be cool... not so much. Bikes are great and all, but they are just asking for death. Impossible to see at times.

And whoever sells their DSM to get a bike should be banned for eternity!

91nbtsi · 07-23-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by MustGoFaster

2. Do Not Accelerate or Brake Hard. By anticipating the traffic and applying slow steady acceleration and braking, fuel economy may increase by as much as 20%.

WTF does braking hard have to do with using gas?

Because when your engine is doing the braking, it will shut off the injectors completely, thus saving more fuel than just slamming the brakes on.

**Kracka** · 07-23-2005

Slow grandma-style acceleration consumes more fuel than a moderate rapid acceleration to cruising speed.

**Halon** · 07-23-2005

I've also heard that at hwy speeds, you are better off using AC rather then having your windows down. Apparently having the windows down at that speed causes a ton of drag and actually makes you get worse milage then just having them up and the AC on. Anyone else heard this?

AJ · 07-23-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ju-on

I've also heard that at hwy speeds, you are better off using AC rather then having your windows down. Apparently having the windows down at that speed causes a ton of drag and actually makes you get worse milage then just having them up and the AC on. Anyone else heard this?

Mythbusters did an episode on this. I can't remember which way it went though.

91nbtsi · 07-23-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ju-on

I've also heard that at hwy speeds, you are better off using AC rather then having your windows down. Apparently having the windows down at that speed causes a ton of drag and actually makes you get worse milage then just having them up and the AC on. Anyone else heard this?

That would probably depend on the aerodynamics of the car you are driving. If when you open the windows it becomes a giant wind-sock, then you probably are better off using the air. Otherwise, the A/C compressor obviously takes power/energy to rotate and compress the refrigerant. Doesn't really matter to me, as long as I have A/C that works, I am going to use it!!

StealthGST · 07-23-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSMStyle

Mythbusters did an episode on this. I can't remember which way it went though.

The bullshit ford computer monitoring said that it was more fuel efficient to run the A/C, but in reality it was worse to drive with the A/C on over driving with the windows down.

StealthGST · 07-23-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by 91nbtsi

That would probably depend on the aerodynamics of the car you are driving. If when you open the windows it becomes a giant wind-sock, then you probably are better off using the air. Otherwise, the A/C compressor obviously takes power/energy to rotate and compress the refrigerant. Doesn't really matter to me, as long as I have A/C that works, I am going to use it!!

I was going to say this... My eclipse barely flows any air in with the windows down at highway speed, whereas my 1996 Ciera is terrible, it blasts your head back into the seat.

**Goat Blower** · 07-23-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by 91nbtsi

Because when your engine is doing the braking, it will shut off the injectors completely, thus saving more fuel than just slamming the brakes on.

If your injectors shut off completely, your engine would stall. And letting off the gas using the engine for braking is the same as using your brakes since your taking your foot off the gas and applying it to the brake. Except for those two-footed drivers out there.

I'd venture to say it's probably crap, but if it has any merit, it'd be more from gradually letting off the gas allowing a smooth transition for the ECU signal to the injectors and the injectors themselves. Snapping your foot off the gas quickly causes the ECU to quickly make up for the throttle plate shutting and a vacuum caused from this in the intake manifold for a few milliseconds. The resulting back up in pressure throws off the mass air sensor causing a quick blip from the injectors. This is of course speculation as I'd guess you'd save about $.20 a month in gas from actually doing this.

A few to add: tape all your body seams with Honda tape and remove your antenna and door mirrors. All the aerodynamic drag can really cause havoc with your 20mpg DSM.

**Shane@DBPerformance** · 07-26-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goat Blower

If your injectors shut off completely, your engine would stall.

They come back on at 1500RPMs or whatever RPM your ECU is programmed to come back by alive after decel fuel cut.

91nbtsi · 07-26-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goat Blower

If your injectors shut off completely, your engine would stall. And letting off the gas using the engine for braking is the same as using your brakes since your taking your foot off the gas and applying it to the brake. Except for those two-footed drivers out there.

Um, they shut off completely. As Shane said, they come back on at whatever rpm your decel fuel is set to shutoff, be it in your stock ecu or whatever you use.

Just because you let off the gas doesn't mean you have to step on the brakes, does it? haha. If you let the engine do more of the braking, before you hit the brakes, it will save a small amount of fuel each time..not saying you are even going to notice, but it will.