fuel economy experiment....

[Bumble G]

OK,

So I decide to run a little experiment on my P5 to see what fuel economy would be if I shift @ 3000rpm or just below.
I got a 5spd all stock P5 I filled the tank with recomended 87 octane fuel reset the trip o/d ang go.

So far I got 223km on 1/4 tank. this is mixed highway/city driving(about 50/50). This is the best milage I've seen on my car.

If I do some rough calculations:
assume 1/4 tank = 1/4 of 55L = 13.75L

using the equation:(if my math is wrong please let me know)

xL/100km = 13.75L/223km
and solving for x

that's = 6.166L/100km or 38mpg http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

I'll let you all know how it goes. I'll run it on two maybee 3 tankfulls and average it out.

[ChopstickHero]

you'll probably run about 560km...
i've done this experiment a few months ago and the magic number i reached (right when the gas light comes on) is 550-560. which comes out to about 8.0L/100km... not bad either. are you running the AC or not, windows up or down, passengers or no passengers? cuz that'll affect your mileage significantly.

[Bumble G]

actually I would say 60% with passenger. no ac. windows down.

[ALS-protege]

Ran a similar experiment...
Filled my tank and continued to drive like always...
Both Highway and regular steets...A/C or no A/C...
I clocked at 610-615km before I had to fill up again...
And this was done before I did all my Mods.
Passengers: no more than 1 extra person...

Not Bad eh!

[Silvermp5]

From my experience, I have noticed the second half of the tank to go down faster than the first half. On average I get about 560 km on a full tank and that's just before the light comes on.

[Protege5girl]

I'm still getting crappy fuel mileage...light goes on between 380-430kms.

Most of my driving is city.

[MP5Navy]

I do a 50/50 mix of city and highway and my light comes on at 470km. I have driven 60kms with the light on. Anyone else have a longer record? Just wanna know how long I can drive on fumes for.

[ChopstickHero]

I've driven on fumes for about the same Dave... that night we were leaving Darknights and i had to pull off at Spadina! I had the gas light ON when i got to DKN... and it was still on all the way downtown...

it's kind of exciting playing chicken with the gas light... but i'll try and keep that a secret fetish of mine.....

http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif

[Kranberry]

I don't think the needle is very accurate when it comes to 1/4 tank or not. I usually get the most mileage out of the 1st quarter and by 2nd quarter it lowers a bit and 3rd quarter gets sucked up really quickly.

One thing that I liked when I drove a Toyota Prius was they had this LCD screen with fuel mileage/consumption on it that calculated how much fuel you used and your mileage. Was pretty cool and pretty accurate from when I filled the tank up.

I was getting high 4s and low 5s on that car, with 1-3 passengers and a mix of 40/60 city/hwy driving. Man that car is fuel efficient...no HP, no kick, but kinda cool driving down a street with no sound coming out of the engine when you are coasting. http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif You can easily sneak up on someone and honk them and scare the shit out of them because they didn't hear you come up to them. http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[midnightblue97lx]

Well, I don't have a p5, but this is typical for me: Fill it, reset the trip odo. I'll usually get about 50km before the needle even goes below the full mark. 125km usually, sometimes more on the first quarter 250 for the first half tank, and then maybe 200 on the last half if I'm lucky, like if its all highway driving. But I usuall fill it up when it hits about half a tank so I don't really pay attention to that because I hate having less than that. I think I've seen my fuel light on twice, maybe 3 times since I got the car.

It varies alot for me. I've gotten 300 on the first half, and I've gotten less than 200 at times. My driving isn't very fuel efficient at times.

[ReMuXieD]

i agree with kranberry. the needle goes slowly b4 half tank, then it drains like a bitch after that.. this is auto tranny that is.....
usually get 400km give or take, 80/20 city/highway

[hondakilla]

Beat the navy-71kms after the light went on but I wouldn't recommend that many because I did it on the way to the states speeding through New York. I had gone 45 kms with the light on and saw a sign saying "next rest stop 10 miles" so I took the car up to 200km an hour (pretty sweet but big risk) and coasted for like 6 kms. My heart was in my mouth because I didn't want to run out and have air in my fuel lines!

[ken]

I usually get about 600km/tank. A couple of weeks ago I drove home from Missisauga after the light came on in rush hour. That's about a 50 km trip for me. I pumped 52L and change. That's the closest I've gotten to empty. Anyone ever run out of gas?

[Protege5girl]

Nope, but I heard of someone putting 56l of gas in their 55l tank.

[MP5Navy]

Hondakilla if you say you did 71kms on the light I will try to beat that record. I am fascinated by how much we can drive our cars with the light on. It's exciting and makes all my friends nervous. It's nice to know where the limit is.

[Protege5 Kid]

Brent's done 100KM with the light on! He's the Man!

[hondakilla]

100KMs on the light!!!!!! WOW!

I bow down to the master.....

[bluezoom]

I've started using a Palm app called jMileage - only three tanks so far...

1. Toronto to Montreal - 7.19 L/100Km. Windows up, roof open, A/C off, ~125 Km/h
2. Montreal to Toronto - 6.68 L/100Km. Windows up, roof tilted, A/C off, cruise set to ~115 Km/h
3. city driving - 8.03 L/100Km. Damn it's hot! Sweet sweet air conditioning http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[pawood]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (bluezoom @ Aug. 05 2002,12:41)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I've started using a Palm app called jMileage - only three tanks so far...

1. Toronto to Montreal - 7.19 L/100Km.  Windows up, roof open, A/C off, ~125 Km/h
2. Montreal to Toronto - 6.68 L/100Km.  Windows up, roof tilted, A/C off, cruise set to ~115 Km/h
3. city driving             - 8.03 L/100Km.  Damn it's hot!  Sweet sweet air conditioning  http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I have a Palm Vx, where did you get that program and how does it work? I'm finding that my mileage has dropped since putting on the Ractive Superflow, so I'm concerned with tracking down the problem... besides a lead foot and having too much fun with the car.

[CarDemon]

I've enjoyed your experiments and I cringe at the thought of running out of gas.
Anywhere below 1/4 tank and I get anxiety attacks.
Remember the movie 'Deliverance' 1974(pawood)
I don't wanna get caught out in the boonies and raped by some hillbillies.

I did 507km mostly highway and the needle was near Empty and I started to sweat.
I started to draft behind a tractor trailer(my first major stone chip), and tried not to make sudden turns or acceleration manouvers;Just incase the fuel went to one side of the tank and starved some intake line,pump or something. http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/baaa.gif

[ALS-protege]

I agree with PAEWOOD...
I think my mileage has dropped ever since getting my Ractive Intake..
I thought my fuel economy should improve?

My Story...
This is why I love this car....
Drove from Mississauga to Cleavland, Ohio..
5 hour drive....My Gas was full from the start...
Got there in Half a tank only...I was very impressed.
That ride was no less than 490km.

[CarDemon]

To Buena &amp; Pawood:
How significant is the drop in mileage?
It seems enough for you guys to really notice.
In a few weeks time I'll be making or buying an intake system.

[ALS-protege]

My driving pattern hasn't changed to much since adding the new mods to my car...I really noticed it drop faster than b4 from full tank to 3/4's....and then naturally from half to empty seems to be quicker...
I just filled my car tonight and reset my km gauge...I will commit myself not to put gas till I am almost empty..
Will post the outcome...with details of driving conditions.

So b4 I did the new mods, I reached close to 615kms...
We'll see by the end of this week...

[pawood]

My mileage has dropped to 460 kms from 530 kms. I wonder whether you shouldn't pull the battery wire for ten minutes to reset all the computer crap might be an idea. When I add the exhaust I expect to gain, not lose, mileage when driving in the &quot;grandpa&quot; range of 3500 rpm. I wonder whether my car isn't running rich since adding the Ractive Superflow.

Any ideas?? :|

[Bill_Stats]

I have not seen a drop in mileage at all.
I drove to Ottawa this past weekend and get around 600kms from the tank - 643ish in fact!!
On the way home I drove at an average of 140km/hour- ya I know, what held me back...
Still had good numbers - around 590ish kms.

It must be the NEW Front stabilizer I put on.....looks awesome!!

[Silvermp5]

I have a ractive intake and a muffler, my mileage seems to be the same around there, I get an average of 550 km on a full tank, that's just when the light comes on. It also depends on how much stop and go traffic I am in. at a 3/4 tank I am at about 470-500 kms. When the light comes on, you should be able to go an extra 100 kms at least in most cars.

After you put the intake you need to unplug the battery for about 10 min to reset the computer. If you don't do this your intake is useless

[jali-p5]

just want to say hi to everyone cause i'm new to this group...

i've been using the jMileage program on my Handspring, which you can download for free from places like palmgear.com, and by it's calculation, i'm averaging about 9.145L/100km on my P5. the best i've done is somewhere in the high 7's and the worst in the mid to high-10's, but usually it's in the low 9's. on average i can get about 300km on half a tank and usually fill up about 41L after driving for 3/4 tank and 450kms. so by my calculations, that would mean i can get roughly 600km on a full tank. this is all with 50/50 city/highway, mind you though city for me is still 70-80km/h on 5th gear, and highway is usually 130-160km/h on 5th gear......shhhhh.... http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif

will the fuel grade affect your mileage? (i.e. if you put higher octane or will that only keep your engine burning cleaner)

oh, btw, i think when we post our L/100km, we should say what type of car we're driving cause P5's compared to other proteges like the 1.6L will be worst. just a thought...

[ChopstickHero]

with the gas prices like they are today, i'm glad we drive proteges. imagine filling up a luxury car 60L with premium gas?! $50-$60 of gas at least!

[pawood]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Silvermp5 @ Aug. 07 2002,11:56)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">After you put the intake you need to unplug the battery for about 10 min to reset the computer.  If you don't do this your intake is useless[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I thought you might have to reset the computer but wasn't sure. Thanks for the info!

[jali-p5]

so you sure you HAVE to disconnect the battery for 10 mins before any improvements from your intake show up? i installed my CAI and noticed that pick up was a little better especially when the A/C was on......maybe it was just my imagination playing tricks on me cause of all the excitement.......

[Bumble G]

Ok first tank. 616.5km and filled it up with 48.278L. works out to 7.83L/100km or 30.08mpg.

when I fill the tank after the pump stops by itself I put in at least 2L more. Do you guys/gals just leave it at the first stop or fill it til it's full.

[Protege5girl]

615kms on only 48l!!!!! What is wrong with my car??????????? I have never got more than 520ish and that was filling up with like 52l.

[bluezoom]

Pawood - and everybody else -you can find jMileage at
http://www.freewarepalm.com/calculator/jmileage.shtml

It's pretty straight forward to use. Each time you fill up, just enter the mileage, refill quantity, and the cost per litre. It even calculates your average cost per kilometre and average cost per day. The best part is that it's freeware, so check it out!

[frankied]

I think you will find that when the fuel light first goes on there is still at least 10 and more likely 12 litres in the tank (that is what I found anyways). You can verify this yourself, by filling up soon after the light comes on.  Subtract the # of litres it takes to fill it right up from 55, and you have the quantity that was still in your tank.  Then if your mileage  normally runs 10 litres/100KM , for example (which would be worst case with aggressive driving and/or city driving) ,  the 10-12 litres still in the tank when the light comes on would have taken you another 100-120 km!

[lizard]

I have an automatic and the best i ever did was about 645km on highway with two people and a 100lb beast going about 110-130 to and from the cottage country.

In the city I get aroudn 550 to 560 per tank on an automatic transmission.
L:&gt;~

[lizard]

Hey Frankied,
Either that or bring a can of gas and let the fuel run out. Thats really the only accurate way of doing it. I think I will try this before winter.
L:&gt;~

[ALS-protege]

OK, Here goes...
I filled my car up...spent $28 [gas was low at the time]...Did my usual driving, city and Highway..A/C on only when needed...did not put the pedal to the metal..
From full to Half..= close to 300KM's
From Half to empty [till light turned on] = less than 200km's..
So in total...I got less than 500km's on a full tank...More like 475km's only...
Before I got my intake in...I was averaging 575 - 620 km's.

Who says adding an Air Intake will help reduce my gas usage???  
If this keeps up...might want to put my Stock one back...And sell my Ractive Intake...[Less than a month old]
If I do decide to sell it...it'll be posted in the &quot;For Sale&quot; Section.

I'm doing the test again...I am at Half now...And put on almost 300KM's....Looks like the pattern is the same...
http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[hondakilla]

Am I the only one that finds it hard to believe that an intake can reduce your fuel efficiency by 100kms!
I am not saying I don't believe your efficiency has gone down but I don't see how it could be because of an intake that maybe adds 3-5hp! If that was the case then in theory you should never clean your filter because you would get better gas mileage with a dirty filter.......I confused.......can anyone shed some light on this? 100km drop in gas mileage because of an intake just sounds wrong to me!

[jali-p5]

i agree that a 100km drop is a little harsh and i'm not sure if buena was getting 575-620 by the time the light goes on or whether it's on a completely empty tank (i.e. fill-up close to 55L of gas). I can barely get that mileage on my car even when i had the stock intake, especially by the time the light goes on which is like a little past 3/4 tank. I think i'm averaging 450 on 3/4 tank, so 600 on a full tank.

I remember reading somewhere that you have to disconnect your battery for like 10 mins in order for your ECU to recognize the new intake. Not sure if that makes a difference. I haven't done it yet, but I'm going to do that tonight.

[midnightp5]

Every one that has nice dubs should keep in mind that if the outside diameter of the rubber is greater than the outside diameter of the OEM rubber, your trip switch will read less mileage than you actually drove.

Excact oposite if it's smaller OD.

[pawood]

Resetting the computer is a definite! And most of the simple mods we do (intake and exhaust) do little for mileage 'cause once they're on we like to hear them... so we get a bit heavier on the throttle.

An area of gas mileage that concerns me (which can work... but don't try this one at home) is a water injector [I played with one of these things on a '66 Mercury Monterey Police Special {6 miles to the gallon}. We got it up to 12 miles to the gallon before the nasty noises happened]. Strange to say, but water in the gas (at the right mix) does help gas mileage; as far as I understood it had to do with fuel temperature and air density through the throttle.

BMW did a study in the mid 1970's that showed that throttle rocking (pulsing the throttle as you drove), excessive pressure in the tires (50 to 70 psi), and driving with the windows shut got you better mileage than timing, header mods, and coil changes!

What Car and Driver finally decided was that no matter what changes you made to air and gas flow, you were always going to improve performance and sacrifice mileage to do it.

By the way.. the best result BMW got was porting and polishing the heads along with intake and exhaust manifold and then adding a fuel restricter... except you burnt the top of the pistons in 20,000 miles! http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/baaa.gif

[markque]

I suppose I should reset my computer but I'm not sure if it will set off the factory alarm - will have to check the manual.
I can tell you, after installing the short ram and muffler, I took day trips around SW Ont. One trip returned 35 mpg, the next 36 mpg, the last 34 mpg. This is on my auto with cruise set between 90-110 km/hr, with a few bursts beyond. Some of it was with air on, some off. One trip to Collingwood had the auto downshifting regularly to climb the steep hills.
I was rather pleased. However, if I'll benefit by resetting the computer, I'll do that.

Mark http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[freak005]

Okay,

Just waded through this thread, and thought I'd pipe in with my numbers...

Best Mileage from a tank: 37.58 mpg or 7.52 L/1000km.
Worst: 26.71 mpg or 10.57 L/1000km

Most Kms between fills: 660.9
Fewest: 433
Most Litres put in at a fill: 52.62
Fewest: 41.97

The only two that happened on the same fill-up were fewest Litres and fewest Kms, that was before I realized how early the fuel light comes on. I now routinely gauge the 'bottom' of my tank by driving 100km after the light shines. Sometimes I get a little nervous, if I know my driving hasn't been 'efficient', and don't push it the full 100km.

I'd say my driving is 60/40 hwy/cty... although, my city driving isn't as horribly stop-and-go as Toronto city driving.

I find the biggest difference maker between good/bad mileage is shifting early/late.

[jali-p5]

WOW!!! I wish i could get 7.52L/1000km or even getting 10.57/1000km.....i would have to fill up only once a month, at most twice a month.......hehehehe....... http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

i have the same problem with the resetting of my ECU cause i have a backup siren, but lost the keys to turn it off....oops.....so if i disconnect my battery to reset the ECU, i will definitely go deaf and make everyone around me pissed........ http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif

[Bumble G]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (freak005 @ Aug. 20 2002,1:59)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Best Mileage from a tank:    37.58 mpg or 7.52 L/1000km.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
did you use US galons or UK galons for the calculation?

1 UK galon = 1.2 US galons
ALSO
1 UK galon = 4.546L
1 US galon = 3.785L


so
7.52L/100km = 31.278 US mi/gal = 37.563 UK mi/gal
(note I used Vesaverter to do the math)

[jali-p5]

i think you answered your own question there didn't you?? http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[freak005]

Yes, okay, that post contained some errors... accidentally added a couple of zeroes, and I guess I must be using the incorrect Gallon... although I can't remember where I nabbed the conversion... but I know it contained both... so either I looked at it cross-eyed and used the wrong one, or the site I got it from had it wrong, either is possible.

Corrected Best: 31.32 MPG or 7.52 L/100km

Corrected Worst: 22.26 MPG or 10.57 L/100km

(difference between my MPG and Bumbles may have to do with the number of decimals used for conversion, and/or rounding.. not sure... but they're close enough)

[markque]

My post was in Imperial mpg. US would be lower.  (4.5L per Imperial gallon, 3.8L per US gallon) Seems that my 36 mpg was amongst the best here. Most posts seems to reveal people cruising @ 130-140 km/hr. Do you guys have radar devices or can you afford to chance traffic tickets and demerits?
I did reset my computer. Horn only beeped once so it didn't set off my alarm. Reseting the clock on my KOSS produced a CUSS! Not an intuitive-oriented company...
Haven't had the opportunity to test for increased power, breathability, or mileage since the reset. I've only been zipping around town and I'm &quot;grounded&quot; this weekend (on call).
BTW, I have a very simple formula for calculating mpg for those who weren't in the educational system during both Imperial rule and Mighty Metric. Take your tripmeter's reading (total km) divide by the number of litres to fill up, multiply that number by 2.8 and that's it - an accurate reading. Helps if you keep a small, cheap calculator in the car but they don't usually work well in winter. Damn those frozen LCDs...not good for the laptop either.

Mark  http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[taxmasta]

570-590 per tank

[CarDemon]

Man on man!
I don't know how some of us do it.
I decided to run the gas till I saw the fuel light come on and still go a little further.

It seems to me as if I excercise my own 'fear factor' to the limit. The anxiety produced driving around town where a gas station is on every block and having roadside assistance does not calm my fears.

All in all, I end up filling up with 45L being the most to date, not even nearing 52L maximum stated in the brochure stats. This results leaves me that comforting cushion zone.., I could have gone further.

I will not do this again as I don't think it is good practise for the car mechanicals to be sipping fuel from the very bottom of the tank. Although it is a new car, the knowledge of my own personal driving style and weekly runs will be used in 2 major ways..,

1)While taking long distance trips.
and
2.)Waiting that extra day or two till the gas price goes down so it is more economical to buy.

[Jika]

Before I added my Ractive intake, I was getting roughly 150KM per 1/4 tank. I could usually count on at least 600 Km before the light went on, 50/50 city highway. One trip I did mostly highway got me just over 700KM on a tank of Sunoco Ultra 94. Maybe you guys only getting 450 - 550 to a tank are shifting too high, accelling too hard, etc?

Also at what point does everyone usually shift at? One guy at work says I run my car at a lower rev then he would. For normal driving, I will shift anywhere between 2500-3000, and keep my revs around 2000. He also wonders why I use my fifth gear in-town. I only use fifth when I'm above 60KM.

[Orange]

Wow, Jika! You shift at really low rev! I used to do that with my Gen1 Pro. But now, with my MP3, the rev goes to 3,500 in no time. I usually shift between 3,500 to 4,500 rpm. (My hp &amp; torque peaks at 4,200rpm) And I don't go to 5th until I'm over 90km on highway.

Shifting at higher rev does affect the mileage, but not too much. I used to be able to get an average of 580 to 600km per tank on my Gen1 Pro, shifting at about 2,500 to 3,000rpm. Now, I get about 550km per tank. (I believe the tanks are similar size 'cause I fill up about the same quantity as before.)

And higher octane fuel does not really give you more mileage. I used to use Ultra94 when I first got my Gen1 Pro, and got average 580 to 600km per tank. The last year, when gas prices started to go crazy, I went back to Sunoco 87. The mileage stays about the same.

[Gen1GT]

there was an article in Road and Track sometime back about gas mileage, and shift points. Basically, it said that if you slowly build speed, taking it easy on the gas, and shifting at 4000 rpm, you will use more gas, than if you floor it, shifting throught the gears at 3000rpm. The premise is that your car is spending less time in the higher rev range, as you get up to speed quicker, which allows you to travel a greater distance at a lower rpm. But if you let your revs build slowly, and shift at a higher rpm, your car spends more time in higher revs, which uses more fuel. So basically, if you can get your car to 100kph, within 500m, while shifting at 3000rpm, you will use less gas, than if you took 1000m, shifting at 4000rpm. Does any of this make sense?

[pawood]

You want ugly!? I often shift from 3 to 5, and that seems to work.5th is supposed to be overdrive and going there ahead of 4th has worked for me consistently. I have never burned a clutch, but that could be the way I drive. ... just an idea....

[Gen1GT]

Just for the record though, I'm not sure I ever shift before 6000rpm http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

legal disclaimer: anything said, or implied in the preceding message, was not meant to harm, offend, reject or insult anyone on the TOprotege.com message board. I apologize in advance for any such implications...

[Jika]

a bit off topic but somewhat funny nonetheless:

 you know that whistle you get sometimes when you're flying down the road (read somewhere it's caused by the crappy OEM wipers),  I actually had someone convinced that my car was so aerodynamic the wind simply whistled off the glass and thats how I knew I was getting the best fuel economy.  

http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/baaa.gif
http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/withstupid.gif

this is the girl who drove her mom's saturn into the ditch to avoid killing an already dead racoon on the road.  The scary thing is she's fully licensed. http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif

[Jika]

I don't know how it happened, the planets must have been aligned or something, but i had a '95 protege s 1.8L AUTO.
The gas gods must have been smiling down on me that weekend because when i went to my cottage and camping in the same weekend (99% highway 90-110 KMH most of the time) i got 900km out of that tank of gas, which happened to be ultra 94 http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif i was astonished when i saw that a trip which is normally one tank round trip (550K total) left my needle hovering around the halfway mark.

The only thing i had on that car was a K&amp;N filter in the stock airbox. This guy at work had a shitload of STP gas saver he used to use, i don't know if he put that in my tank before i left or not, or even if that shit works.

So to celebrate the extra cash I got wasted at my buddies house.

[CarDemon]

After hearing some impressive numbers. I gotta admit that I want to start a more disciplined approach to my driving to get even more better fuel economy.

In my earlier on-line days I started a post called &quot;To Shift or Not to Shift&quot;. It was supposed to be an open forum and discussion on optimum shift points, and cruising RPM's but individual preferences and other varying conditions made it inconclusive.

I listened and learned from some veterans and concluded that not everyone really cared.

I was prompted to write that based on some punky teenagers, I was a passenger in their new Integra's and Civics. HOnda's are said to have one of the best forgiving clutch mechanisms in the business next to BMW left me frustrated with those punks. They lacked co-ordination and could not modulate their impressive machines to their full potential. So I left it at that.

With new additions to my car as my weighty dual 10&quot; bandpass soundbox in my trunk, new Vibrant muffler must change things abit. I want to pull the battery cable and reset the computer. I will fill up and drive with the smoothest and smartest shifts appropriate for each gear and speed.

I often lose the discipline when I see half tank is not better than 300km or &gt;, and then I get discouraged and drive hard.
http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blush.gif