Wow, JC Whitney is still around? I'm 56 and I remember my dad getting those catalogs when I was a kid. I liked looking through them. I don't remember the gas pills, but I do remember the things that were supposed to double your mileage by burning water! I saw a thing on the Fox TV consumer report called "Deal or Dud" about instruction books that supposedly show you how to make devices that burn water and other stupid gas saving gizmos. Most were complete duds, but there are a lot of suckers in the world that will buy anything. The only one that actually worked was a display that showed you your instantaneous mileage as you drove and it helped some people moderate their driving habits. That really worked for me. On my '03 6MT on the Fuel economy page of the Nav system there is a gauge that displays instantaneous mileage. It is shaped like a leaf (I've always thought it a green leaf to be an ironic image for a sports car, would be more appropriate on a hybrid). Zero is at the bottom and 30+mpg is the top. When you are doing good, it is all green. As you add throttle the green recedes from the top. I watch that and my tach and it really helps me lighten my right foot and shift at lower rpm. I'm half way through my tank of gas and I've gone from 16 to 22 mpg in city driving at an average speed of 22 mph without doing pulse and glide or hypermileing or turning of the friggin' car when it's moving. That's just stupid, though I will occasionally kill the motor when I'm going to be sitting still for a significant time. I wonder how much gas it takes to start the motor? I'm just driving more conservatively, without being obnoxious and it's really working. I have always liked the feeling of power, the G forces of acceleration and the sound of a throaty exhaust note, but I didn't really realize how much of a lead foot I have been all my life. Holy s**t. I just read my post. I'ts official, I'm old. Argh!

 

Good point, Lush. It's not about being on the extreme of either end (gas-guzzling or hypermiling), but just driving moderately.

 

That drive on River into the City is great when there is no traffic at say 630 am. That winding road along the river into center city by the museum and through the largest metro green area in the country is unbelieveable and a fun road to haul butt on if you get the open space in front of you. I take River even if the brutal skukill is moving along. I've seen some dummazzes on that road tho. This area may be the worst for a mix of aggressive and retarded drivers. O except South FLA. Mix up some starbux infused go getters with the elderly who drive Grand Marquis's at 40 on I-95...theres some fun.

 

Thanks Tegraphile, you're smellin' what I'm cookin'. My first tank I got 20 mpg at a blazing average speed of 19 mph!. This tank I'm getting 21 mpg and moving at an average 22 mph. Now this isn't me driving like a slug. I do the speed limit, of better some places. I live in downtown Philly and it's all 2 lane roads with stop signs or lights at every intersection and lots of traffic. I used to average 15-16 mpg per tank of gas. I have improved my mileage by at least 25%. I could easily coax a few more miles out a gallon, but I would have to drive like a real jerk to do that. I am driving moderately and staying out of the way of faster traffic ALWAYS. I still punch it to pass any a$$whole who doesn't know how to drive, and I go 55-60 on the expressway (legal limit is 50, but c'mon, nobody goes 50 around here). It's getting easier to drive this way. The first few weeks it was excruciating, but I'm adjusting and making a game out of it.

I'm going to add another few tricks. I'm only going to fill my tank half full. Those 10 gallons of fuel weigh about 60 lbs. The fuel economy computer in my nav system is dead on, so I should be able to keep accurate stats. I also have about 20 pounds of junk in my car which I'm going to clean out. That should help.

Does anybody know if using regular instead of premium will affect efficiency? I know the computer will retard the timing so the engine won't knock. I'll have less power available, but I'm not really using all that power very much. I just wonder if it will lower my mileage or not.