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Thread: Increasing your MPG. What Do You Think?

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2000
    Posts
    6,939

    Default Increasing your MPG. What Do You Think?

    I was reading an article on a site yesterday about getting the most out of every gallon of gas. One of those suggestions was to "lighten" the load. In other words, get all the stuff your hauling around in the back seat and trunk. Seems reasonable.

    That same day I went and filled up the tank ($ 60.00). Driving away with a full tank, that article came to mind about lightening the load. Well here I am with 20 gallons of gas with most of it just going along for the ride. So I was wondering would I get more MPG if I just bought 1/2 tank? Less weight means more MPG. Yeah I would have to stop more often to get another 1/2 tank, but would my MPG increase using this method.

    K2WH
    Doing, Working, Repairing and Building Radio Since 1969.......

    WA2AEH (1969)

    K2WH (2000)

    VP2V/K2WH B.V.I (Vacapedition 2013)



    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Icomportablerigs/
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HallicraftersRadios/

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Hercules, Calif
    Posts
    1,611

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by K2WH View Post
    I was reading an article on a site yesterday about getting the most out of every gallon of gas. One of those suggestions was to "lighten" the load. In other words, get all the stuff your hauling around in the back seat and trunk. Seems reasonable.

    That same day I went and filled up the tank ($ 60.00). Driving away with a full tank, that article came to mind about lightening the load. Well here I am with 20 gallons of gas with most of it just going along for the ride. So I was wondering would I get more MPG if I just bought 1/2 tank? Less weight means more MPG. Yeah I would have to stop more often to get another 1/2 tank, but would my MPG increase using this method.

    K2WH
    Well water weighs about 8 1/2 # per gallon, gasoline probably about half that. If you have a 15 gallon tank then full weights around 60 pounds or so? Need to get some math majors need to figure out the energy consumed to go from stop to say 70mph with a 3030 pound car Vs a 3060 pound car (1% difference). Once your at steady cruising speed, wind-drag represents the largest energy cost. I suspect your right foot acceleration rate habits from stop signs has a much bigger impact then how much fuel your packing.
    Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.
    WA6TKD, Larry

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Ceti Alpha 5... otherwise known as Texas.
    Posts
    16,134

    Default

    What Larry said in his last sentence.

    You might be interested in this: http://www.cleanmpg.com/

  4. #4

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by WA6TKD View Post
    Well water weighs about 8 1/2 # per gallon, gasoline probably about half that.
    Gas runs *around* 6 pounds per gallon, depending on temperature. Closer to 5.7 for the warmer months...

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Floresville Texas
    Posts
    1,417

    Default

    Gasoline weighs 6.15 lbs / gal. at 68 degrees F.

    BUT, the price is increasing so fast, that if you wait to buy more when your tank is less full, the price will likely have gone up, and you lose in the long run.

    You just can't win !
    73, Randy
    K5RCD
    South Texas.
    ARRL VE
    http://www.k5rcd.org

  6. #6

    Default

    Silicone based polish makes it slicker in the wind. Hand to God. True story.
    The Voice Of Seasoning

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    nr Bristol, TN
    Posts
    7,739

    Default

    Way back when, installing an intake manifold vacuum gauge and paying attention to it while driving could make a big difference.
    "Where the people fear the government you have tyranny. Where the government fears the people you have liberty."
    John Basil Barnhill

    "The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."
    Plato


  8. #8

    Default

    Cheaper crude or no food...

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Beautiful Downtown Colorado. (Montrose, SW corner)
    Posts
    24,884

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by KG4CGC View Post
    Silicone based polish makes it slicker in the wind. Hand to God. True story.
    I thot that was what Speedos were for.

    Way back I read that every 100# changes MPG by about 1%. Sure that is an average and not too accurate.

    (Now if I could find a lighter wife-----)

    TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Marlborough, NH - Live Free or Die
    Posts
    3,340

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by KG4CGC View Post
    Silicone based polish makes it slicker in the wind. Hand to God. True story.
    Ya mean I cans take dem mag-a-nets off the fool line now?
    The US is based on Capitalism.
    Not Socialism or Communism.
    If you want to be part of the 1%, Work Harder! Make it the 2%!
    No one is stopping you... But Yourself.

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