Gas Mileage

[mings]

There's another thing that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet... The electronic guage in the car that tells you your average needs to be reset every time you fill the tank, otherwise the average is calculated from multiple tanks and is less of an accurate glimpse into your current driving usage. Know what I mean?

Also, The speed is a concern. Until recently, many state roads had speed limits of 55 which was said to be the optimum speed for gas mileage - a throwback from the gas crisis in the 70's. The true speed is a little closer to 60, anything beyond that and more gas is being used to accelerate the car.

You can always ride the draft from a Tractor trailer & ride real close to their bumper. I know a guy who had a GMC Jimmy (notoriously bad gas mileage) and he got all the way across Montana on one tank of gas by drafting a trailer the whole time. Saved him tons of cash.

[ToplessRideFL]

The electronic guage in the car that tells you your average needs to be reset .

No I didnt know that..... hmmm no I havta read the book! Great suggestion Mings... thanks!

As for drafting.... I remember driving south on US 19 the 254 miles from Tallahasse to Clearwater Beach when I was in college... I used to get behind trucks and draft away.... Wouldnt use $3 IN GAS!! Of course I was young and still on Mother's insurance... and gas was 50 cents a gallon!

I run the A/C with the sun roof open

I have been known to run the A/C and/or the heater with the top down....

[RIPH]

Hi Topless

Mrs RIPH has a 2001 Sebring ragtop with 50,000 miles on it. We always put regular in and the mileage varies from about 20 in city to 30 on the highway. You will need to check the tires regularly as the air goes down. We keep them at 33 to 34. Running the air or not really does not effect the mileage at all, nor does having a ragtop day.....We will cruise on I 75 doing 70 or so, top down and that is when we seem to get the best mileage....however when we are creeping in traffic by the water, the mileage goes down to 20....If you have the little computer thingie on the dash, all you need to do to reset is push the left and right buttons together on each function for about 2 seconds. You'll hear a beep and the display will read zero....

[ToplessRideFL]

Hi Topless

Mrs RIPH has a 2001 Sebring ragtop with 50,000 miles on it. We always put regular in and the mileage varies from about 20 in city to 30 on the highway. You will need to check the tires regularly as the air goes down. We keep them at 33 to 34. Running the air or not really does not effect the mileage at all, nor does having a ragtop day.....We will cruise on I 75 doing 70 or so, top down and that is when we seem to get the best mileage....however when we are creeping in traffic by the water, the mileage goes down to 20....If you have the little computer thingie on the dash, all you need to do to reset is push the left and right buttons together on each function for about 2 seconds. You'll hear a beep and the display will read zero....

Awesome advice.... TY TY! And btw.... arent we neighbors??? You'll have to make it to our next phlocking!

[Lightning Bolt]

Hi Topless

Mrs RIPH has a 2001 Sebring ragtop with 50,000 miles on it. We always put regular in and the mileage varies from about 20 in city to 30 on the highway. You will need to check the tires regularly as the air goes down. We keep them at 33 to 34. Running the air or not really does not effect the mileage at all, nor does having a ragtop day.....We will cruise on I 75 doing 70 or so, top down and that is when we seem to get the best mileage....however when we are creeping in traffic by the water, the mileage goes down to 20....If you have the little computer thingie on the dash, all you need to do to reset is push the left and right buttons together on each function for about 2 seconds. You'll hear a beep and the display will read zero....

Awesome advice.... TY TY! And btw.... arent we neighbors??? You'll have to make it to our next phlocking!

Here'a site with some great common sense ideas for efficiency.
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top ... ticle.html

As far as A/C and "top-down" goes, unfortunately, it's just not as simple as RIPH makes it sound, but you can believe what you want to believe....

"Use your air conditioner as sparingly as possible, because your engine uses extra energy to power the air conditioner compressor.
Fuel consumption can be increased by up to 10 percent on the highway and up to 15 percent in the city when you don't use your air conditioner."

"Running your air conditioner does cause your vehicle to consume more fuel, but driving with your windows rolled down can be even worse
due to the increase of drag on the vehicle. If you are driving slowly, such as around town or in city traffic, then you are better off leaving your windows open, if at all possible.
For highway driving, roll up the windows and turn the air conditioning on."

[CaptainP]

I drive an SUV that gets me around 25 MPG.

[Pole]

I have been known to run the A/C and/or the heater with the top down....

Top down with the heat on is becoming the norm here in the midwest lately. Morning drive into work is getting chilly. No a/c in the car though. Hot days in the summer require driving the other car.

[Pole]

I drive an SUV that gets me around 25 MPG.

My Durango only gets 14mpg around town, 18 on the hwy.

[ToplessRideFL]

but you can believe what you want to believe....

I am totally open to all advice!! With gas $3 a gallon.... everyone must become an expert on fuel efficiency! Of course my choices seem to be playing a huge role in it!

[RIPH]

There is nothing wrong with running either one in ragtop mode.....

It gets really hot waiting at a red light in 90 degree weather. Very nice to crank up the AC to cool down and wait for the light to change.....

What we really can't stand is to see a rag down and all the windows up.....

[ToplessRideFL]

What we really can't stand is to see a rag down and all the windows up.....

I am guilty in the winter...... but not very often.....

[krusin1]

Hi Topless

Mrs RIPH has a 2001 Sebring ragtop with 50,000 miles on it. We always put regular in and the mileage varies from about 20 in city to 30 on the highway. You will need to check the tires regularly as the air goes down. We keep them at 33 to 34. Running the air or not really does not effect the mileage at all, nor does having a ragtop day.....We will cruise on I 75 doing 70 or so, top down and that is when we seem to get the best mileage....however when we are creeping in traffic by the water, the mileage goes down to 20....If you have the little computer thingie on the dash, all you need to do to reset is push the left and right buttons together on each function for about 2 seconds. You'll hear a beep and the display will read zero....

Awesome advice.... TY TY! And btw.... arent we neighbors??? You'll have to make it to our next phlocking!

Here'a site with some great common sense ideas for efficiency.
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top ... ticle.html
`snip`

Here's a site that's interesting. Not really about fuel efficiency, I suppose, but it's pretty cool.

http://www.mediabum.com/templates/links.php?linkid=599

Supposedly, this guy's built a reaction tube that creates hydrogen, which is then fed into his car's air cleaner. The more hydrogen, the more his car's computer cuts back the gasoline flow.

Wonder if it's actually true?

[CaptainP]

I drive an SUV that gets me around 25 MPG.

My Durango only gets 14mpg around town, 18 on the hwy.

Saturn VUE.

[RIPH]

Hi Topless

Mrs RIPH has a 2001 Sebring ragtop with 50,000 miles on it. We always put regular in and the mileage varies from about 20 in city to 30 on the highway. You will need to check the tires regularly as the air goes down. We keep them at 33 to 34. Running the air or not really does not effect the mileage at all, nor does having a ragtop day.....We will cruise on I 75 doing 70 or so, top down and that is when we seem to get the best mileage....however when we are creeping in traffic by the water, the mileage goes down to 20....If you have the little computer thingie on the dash, all you need to do to reset is push the left and right buttons together on each function for about 2 seconds. You'll hear a beep and the display will read zero....

Awesome advice.... TY TY! And btw.... arent we neighbors??? You'll have to make it to our next phlocking!

Here'a site with some great common sense ideas for efficiency.
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top ... ticle.html

As far as A/C and "top-down" goes, unfortunately, it's just not as simple as RIPH makes it sound, but you can believe what you want to believe....

"Use your air conditioner as sparingly as possible, because your engine uses extra energy to power the air conditioner compressor.
Fuel consumption can be increased by up to 10 percent on the highway and up to 15 percent in the city when you don't use your air conditioner."

"Running your air conditioner does cause your vehicle to consume more fuel, but driving with your windows rolled down can be even worse
due to the increase of drag on the vehicle. If you are driving slowly, such as around town or in city traffic, then you are better off leaving your windows open, if at all possible.
For highway driving, roll up the windows and turn the air conditioning on."

May not be as simple as it sounds.....however, our vehicle does in fact get these miles per gallon as stated.....Must be the Floridah weather......

[RIPH]

What we really can't stand is to see a rag down and all the windows up.....

I am guilty in the winter...... but not very often.....

Oops sorry about that.....

[ToplessRideFL]

Oops sorry about that.....

So RIPH.... where exactly are you located?

[RIPH]

Lakewood Ranch

[RIPH]

Moved down from Rhode Island 3 years ago.....Best thing we ever did.....

[CaptainP]

So RIPH.... where exactly are you located?

I've often wondered if RIPH is Larry's (LIPH) evil twin....or if Larry is the evil one (he is a lawyer, after all!)

[RIPH]

Are you kidding???? There is no way I am as cheap....eeerrr.....Frugal, yea that's it....as Larry.......