Comments please!
Thanks!
Kyle

Y34 Spottings: 4

I do this every time, and I reset the odometer to see the range and miles per tank. That is how I can calculate the difference in range. It is the only way to do it I think.

It is amazing what you can get with this car considering there is no northstar effect going on....or so we know. I hope to hit 22mpg 100% city driving this next tank.

KTW

Y34 Spottings: 4

what are you doing putting the car in neutral down hills?!!

Y34 Spottings: 4

Peace, Kyle

P.S. Dont worry about those WOT blasts...plenty will keep me sending smoke from the back tires in the round-abouts here. haha

I usually get 22 which is pretty good for a car this size.

That is nuts! $3.85!!! Then again it is 93, and I only can get the lowly 91. His is about what I normally get on the high side of 24-26ish. I had once averaged 29 for a whole tank coming down from the mountains...it was quite the moment....until I got pulled over for excess speed.
Cops all ways have to rain on my parade! haha

KTW

I think I might go every 2 tanks between resets though just so the occasional WOT "cleanout procedures" get averaged in a bit better...

I'm getting pretty good at not letting the RPM get over 2200-2500 as I leave from a light.

Quote, originally posted by ftwklg »

3.85 for 93 I would crap my pants and stock up, passed a gas station yesterday 4.17 for 91!!!! I gave the M to my wife to drive for a few weeks seeming how her commute is 4 miles round trip and mine is just over 50. And before anyone starts the you gave your wife your M to drive!!! stuff, she actually takes care of her cars unlike most female drivers.

Here in St.Louis it $3.79 for 91. I think i'm going to have give the car to the misses for her to drive. She catches the train which is like 2 miles from her house. But that would mean i would have to drive her Focus. Nothing wrong with that but for some reason a 272lb(i've lost 5 lbs) 6'2' in a focus, just doesn't sound right.

Uummmmm... Can I please get ummmm $4.26 on pump 6 in that black car with the rims, please... ummm, thank you

Hmm… We are at $3.70 here in Albuquerque and 3.93 in some of the surrounding small cities, but I’m not complaining about it. My only gripe(sp) is having 4 different cars to put gas in. Oh, I'll be posting barrels of rice and crates of eggs on eBay to help with my gas price woes. Stay tuned and look for my eBay sales under food/commodities. LOL I’ve gotten use to the gas prices, but to stay on topic; I can’t remember the last time I filled the M up If I remember right, I recorded 19mpg’s, but I drive it like a limo 90% of the time.

This is my next gas saver. Looks better than the Larry David Hybrid Prius

Modified by CakeDaddy at 12:18 PM 4/23/2008

El Demonio Negro :
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2690246
Eibach Springs & Foose Rims
Front 20x8.5 +34mm 245/35
Rear 20x9.5 +40mm 265/30

91 V6 Acura Legend(W/ Turb0)...worst gas mileage 11.5 mpg

79 Firebird 350/350 over carbed at 6mpg

Glad to NOT be driving them now!
KTW

Quote, originally posted by DRIPS »

what are you doing putting the car in neutral down hills?!!

I know you were joking, but, just as a word of warning for those who might be tempted to do this.

Please DON'T put the car in neutral down even a gentle hill, or for any length of time (miles down a long gentle slope ... coming back from Lake Tahoe, for example). The ATF inside the transmission stops flowing, and the resulting heat buildup could be seriously detrimental to the life of the transmission.

For the same reason, the car should never, NEVER be towed with the drive wheels on the ground - don't let the tow truck driver convince you "Oh, it is in neutral"! Ideally flat-bed the car, and the next best thing is to dolly the wheels that are not in the air (front or back).

Z

If you leave the engine running, the fluid continues to circulate throughout the transmission. The engine turns the torque converter, the torque converter turns the pump, the pump circulates the oil just like it does when you're sitting in park. Only difference is that none of the clutches are receiving pressure to generate forward or reverse momentum.

You should definitely never tow or push the car more than a very short distance (i.e. to get out of harms way) with the engine off and the transmission in neutral - I agree here.

Can you refrence/document that information for us?

If not, I'm more inclined to believe info from, and do further independent verification of, the moderator's (szhosain's) contribution (having thousands of posts and) having previously guided me to good information.

My change in driving habits rests on your being able to back up your info.

Thank in advance.

What is everyone elses MPG?

K-Dubya

Turns out that Brian (wbrian63) is right.

I did some research and asked some experts who I thought had told me what I said in my post. They corrected me ... without wapping me on the side of the head too hard.

As long as the ATF is moving, then heat buildup will not be a problem. Personally, I would prefer not to move it to neutral ... the savings just coasting in gear should be good enough (according to my informal down-slope experiments with this) ... but you can do choose to put it in neutral down a slope - as long as the engine is still on, of course!

Z

Automatic Transmission Fluid Oxidation

Automatic transmission fluid will provide 80,000 miles of service before oxidation occurs under normal operating temperatures of about 174°F. Above normal operating temperatures, the oxidation rate doubles (useful life of fluid is cut in half) with each 20° increase in temperature.

The approximate life expectancy at various temperatures is as follows:
174°F 80,000 miles
195°F 50,000 miles
212°F 25,000 miles
235°F 12,000 miles
255°F 6,250 miles
275°F 3,000 miles
295°F 1,500 miles
315°F 750 miles
335°F 325 miles
355°F 160 miles
375°F 80 miles
390°F 40 miles
415°F Less than 30 minutes

This information clearly shows why transmission oil coolers and the various maintenance intervals are recommended for non ideal usage.

Above 270°F, the metals inside the transmission will warp and distort in varying degrees depending on the severity of overheat. Because this damage occurs and fluid life is so seriously impaired, rocking out of snow, mud or sand should never exceed a very few minutes.

Personally, I like to do a full transmission flush every 30,000 miles, so I am assured that it has the best conditions to operate under. Cheap insurance to extend the life of the transmission and avoid expensive replacements!

Z

Thanks to the MOD for the research and verification.

...and to wbrian63 for providing additional useful information.

Since the last fill up, I'm averaging 22.3 MPG and expecting 410-415 miles per tank.

I only drive 4 highway miles and 1 city mile to work every day and I can't stay away from only 16MPG?

I must have a bad O2 sensor or something?

My commute is 23 miles each way. 45% at 65-70mph, 25% at 55mph and 25% at 35mph or below. The remaining 5% is 70 and above. I normally do not see triple digits in a given week.

I coast to stops, (thanks shozain!) try to keep rpm well below 3K at any given point off the line but I will readily plant the pedal when I need to carve up traffic or avoid a "cellie" (chick/dude on phone, not paying attention).

I got to 21 by keeping the instant mileage meter up and observing where I could move the bands to 20 or above. It has taken some discipline but it can be done with some minor tweaks to driving style. I'd say the biggest return has come from keeping the RPM down off the line and the characteristics of my particular commute. I doubt "coasting" is adding that much to the mileage improvement.

I'm also re-setting the tripometer against gallons going in to make sure that the readout is not teasing me with good numbrs...

It is about to turn 50K.