slobin@ucbvax.UUCP (Dan I. Slobin) (04/10/84)
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[*]
There have been discussions of MPGs for individual cars and RPM ranges
in this group recently, but none giving tips for actually saving gas.
How about it? What do you do to save gas? Please send all your
gas-saving tips to me and I'll post a summary to the group.
UUCP: {most major machines}!ucbvax!ucbkim!slobin
CSNET: slobin@BERKELEY
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From ihnp4!houxm!houxf!dma Thu Apr 5 06:07:22 1984
Subject: Re: gas-saving tips?
References: <96@ucbvax.UUCP>
The simplest gas saving technique of all is not driving. We
deliberately bought a house within walking distance of a variety of
stores and half a block from the bus line. In addition, I carpool to
work. We get by with one car and drive it less than 8000 miles a year.
I think gallons/year/family is a more meaningful number than mpg.
Doug Anderson houxf!dma
AT&T Bell Laboratories
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From decvax!wivax!tackett Thu Apr 5 06:35:55 1984
Subject: Re: gas-saving tips?
References: <96@ucbvax.UUCP>
Smooth driving. Find a speed you can maintain absolutely steady given
the road and traffic conditions. Most people lunge at the bumper in
front, then back off, often using the brake(!).
Watch the road far enough ahead and think far enough ahead that any
adjustments in your speed are gradual.
Keep tires inflated to as high a pressure as possible without exceeding
the maximum on the tire or in your owner's manual, whichever is lower.
Maintain front end alignment, engine tune, and wheel bearing packing.
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From ihnp4!ihuxl!dcn Thu Apr 5 08:14:38 1984
Subject: Re: gas-saving tips?
In-Reply-To: your article <96@ucbvax.UUCP>
I use the BMW method (explained in some back issue of Road & Track) on
my Saab Turbo. This consists of fast acceleration combined with early
upshifts. I think the recommended amount was 3/4 full throttle and
upshift at about 2000 RPM. It seems to help a lot in town. My mileage
seeme to increase from 23 to 25, but I haven't done any serious
experiments. Caution: you need a strong engine with low-end torque to
shift this early. I drive my brother's Scirocco the same way, and it
seems to work better shifting at 2500 RPM. I get lazy on the highway
and use my cruise control at about 60 mph, which results in 30 mpg.
Dave Newkirk, ihnp4!ihuxl!dcn
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From decvax!harpo!utah-cs!hansen Thu Apr 5 08:54:44 1984
Subject: save gas?
Why I just park my car and ride my bike ... the MPG is incredible!
Chuck Hansen {...[harpo][hp-labs]!utah-cs!hansen}
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From an@hou2h.UUCP (A.NGUYEN) Sat Feb 5 22:28:16 206
Subject: Re: gas-saving tips?
References: <96@ucbvax.UUCP>
A while back, Rod & Truck ran a piece on BMW's official gas saving
technique: accelerate HARD but shift EARLY. Presumably the idea
is to operate the engine near its peak efficiency range, ie. full
throttle, while avoiding high rpm's. I tried accelerating under
3/4 to full throttle AND shifting at 3000 rpm, and results are
terribly ho-hum. Not bad, mind you, just not significantly better
than anything else. Any Bimmer fanatics care to comment?
Au
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From jlw@ariel.UUCP Sat Feb 5 22:28:16 206
Subject: Re: gas-saving tips?
References: <96@ucbvax.UUCP> <382@hou2h.UUCP>
The BMW technique called for accelerating hard up to 2000 rpm only
and then shifting. The ETA engine in the 528e and what I pre-
sume is in the recently advertized 325e uses this principle.
It is tuned for plenty of low speed torque, high mileage, and
low red-line. The red line on the 528e is of the order of 4700
rpm (shades of beetles :-)) and don't try upping it or you'll bend
some valves. They weakened the valve springs to lower the
drag. Sigh.
Joseph L. Wood, III
AT&T Information Systems
Laboratories, Holmdel
(201) 834-3759
ariel!jlw
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From ihnp4!ihuxx!robert1 Fri Apr 6 19:49:01 1984
Subject: Re: gas-saving tips?
In-Reply-To: your article <96@ucbvax.UUCP>
- Follow the advice of my upshift indicator (no-fun alter-ego) and
upshift at the earliest moment, espec. when on a steady pace.
- avoid making eye contact with drivers of pseudo-sports cars
- walk or carpool
- veg out
- review the quantity of my gasoline credit cards purchases
from time to time
- do not connect my radar detector
- review my gas purchases/miles driven (MPG) records
- apply slight apexing, allowing me to conserve a greater % of my
momentum through a turn (less braking, less acceleration afterwards)
happy trails,
Robert Duncan
ihnp4!ihuxx!robert1
AT&T Bell Laboratories @ Naperville, IL
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