You want better gas mileage? Then do things that really work. A long
warmup before driving is not only unnecessary, but also wasteful - I
never let it idle more than a minute.
Drive the speed limit because higher speed means lower fuel mileage.
Keep your tires properly inflated (run them toward the upper end of the
inflation range to decrease rolling resistance).
Keep the vehicle in proper tune so the engine is running at peak
efficiency.
Make sure the front end is properly aligned to limit rolling resistance
from misaligned tires.
Remove unneeded cargo from the vehicle to lighten the load.
Check/change the air filter regularly.
Forget about "gas saving" devices because 99.999% of them don't work.
Group: alt.autos.gm Date: Fri, Apr 21, 2006, 11:25pm From:
h90943@hotmail.commie (Charles)
How would I get better gas mileage. Should I let the engine idle for 3
-5 minutes, while waiting for a school bus, after driving 1/2 mile after
a cold start ? Or should I turn it off as I do now
I have an '06 Sienna. In the morning my commute begins by taking
my 3rd grade son to his bus top, 1/2 mile away. Then I take his 4 y.o.
brother to pre-school about 4 miles away. Then I drive about 10 miles to
work.
I know about the cold start process of emission controls.
Yeah yeah yeah, it's the topic du jour ...
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
"Sometimes, when you're up to your butt in alligators, it's hard to
remember that the intial objective was to drain the swamp."
~ Unknown ~
You want better gas mileage? Then do things that really work. A long
warmup before driving is not only unnecessary, but also wasteful - I
never let it idle more than a minute.
Drive the speed limit because higher speed means lower fuel mileage.
Keep your tires properly inflated (run them toward the upper end of the
inflation range to decrease rolling resistance).
Keep the vehicle in proper tune so the engine is running at peak
efficiency.
Make sure the front end is properly aligned to limit rolling resistance
from misaligned tires.
Remove unneeded cargo from the vehicle to lighten the load.
Check/change the air filter regularly.
Forget about "gas saving" devices because 99.999% of them don't work.
-----------------------------------------
Leave the four wheel drive vehicle at home. The typical four wheel drive
vehicle gets 4 mpg less than the same vehicle with two wheel drive. It's
summer, the roads to and from work are paved, put the four wheel drive
Godzilla up on blocks till it snows.
Better yet, use the Godzilla and car pool with 14 of your neighbors.
Jim
Rich B - 23 Apr 2006 13:55 GMT
Somehow, I don't see how this would apply to a 2WD van. But, I guess
if you say so, then it must be true. I get better gas mileage out of
my Godzilla than many people do out of their econo-boxes because I know
how to do it.
Group: alt.autos.gm Date: Sun, Apr 23, 2006, 6:38am (EDT-1) From:
ka0mgm@#remove#yahoo.com (George Jetson)
Leave the four wheel drive vehicle at home. The typical four wheel drive
vehicle gets 4 mpg less than the same vehicle with two wheel drive. It's
summer, the roads to and from work are paved, put the four wheel drive
Godzilla up on blocks till it snows.
Better yet, use the Godzilla and car pool with 14 of your neighbors.
Jim
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
"Sometimes, when you're up to your butt in alligators, it's hard to
remember that the intial objective was to drain the swamp."
~ Unknown ~
Steve W. - 24 Apr 2006 02:41 GMT
> You want better gas mileage? Then do things that really work. A long
> warmup before driving is not only unnecessary, but also wasteful - I
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> Jim
Not true. There are MANY 4X4s that get as good as the 2WDs.

Signature
Steve W.
Life is not like a box of chocolates
it's more like a jar of jalapenos-
what you do today could burn your a.s tomorrow!
Edwin Pawlowski - 24 Apr 2006 03:17 GMT
"Steve W." <Dugdug56@what.com> wrote in message
> Not true. There are MANY 4X4s that get as good as the 2WDs.
Such as?
Adam - 24 Apr 2006 11:54 GMT
> "Steve W." <Dugdug56@what.com> wrote in message
>>
>> Not true. There are MANY 4X4s that get as good as the 2WDs.
>
> Such as?
The 4x4 Jimmys and Blazers dont count, their not 'true' 4x4 anyways. Only
one rear and one front wheel drive, even in 4x4. i'd like to see a 4x4 that
gets better MPG than a 2wd anykind.
Eugene Nine - 24 Apr 2006 12:50 GMT
>> "Steve W." <Dugdug56@what.com> wrote in message
>>>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> one rear and one front wheel drive, even in 4x4. i'd like to see a 4x4
> that gets better MPG than a 2wd anykind.
Thats any 4x4 without lockers in the front and rear.
My 2004 silverado is listed at 1mpg less than the 2wd silverado. My 1988
S10 4x4 was able top hit 27mpg where my 2000 s10 2wd would only get 21.
Steve W. - 25 Apr 2006 01:19 GMT
> > "Steve W." <Dugdug56@what.com> wrote in message
> >>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> one rear and one front wheel drive, even in 4x4. i'd like to see a 4x4 that
> gets better MPG than a 2wd anykind.
If they are not "true" 4X4s then there are NO "true" 4X4s sold in the
US. Other than full time AWD the rest all have the same open diffs and
act the same as the Blazers and Jimmys.
However if that is your criteria then take a look at Subarus or Audi
Quatros or even VWs with AWD. Add in the Bravada and Astro s with AWD.
BUT using your non-4X4s as a starting point my 2002 Blazer with a 4.3 in
it gets 27-28 on the highway. The S P/Us get about 16 in 2WD.
Take a 2WD 1500 GMC that gets 14 with a 6.0 against a K1500 with the 6.0
that gets 16 normally. A LOT of the difference is in the driver not the
hardware.

Signature
Steve W.
Life is not like a box of chocolates
it's more like a jar of jalapenos-
what you do today could burn your a.s tomorrow!
Adam - 25 Apr 2006 14:35 GMT
>> > "Steve W." <Dugdug56@what.com> wrote in message
>
> If they are not "true" 4X4s then there are NO "true" 4X4s sold in the
> US. Other than full time AWD the rest all have the same open diffs and
> act the same as the Blazers and Jimmys.
Yes, there are true 4x4's I have a friend that has one, 77 Chevy CK20 p/u,
cant shift it out of 4x4 it has the NP203 transfer case.
Steve W. - 25 Apr 2006 15:40 GMT
So it is actually an AWD. AND came from the factory with open
differentials JUST LIKE THE BLAZERS that had the same transfer case. The
only vehicles that came out of the factory set up so they drive all 4
wheels at the same time are equipped with either limited slip or
selectable locker differentials in both axles. Your friends 77 didn't
come from the factory that way, it MAY have a limited slip in the rear
but the factory didn't offer one in the front in 77. SO it is NOT what
you seem to think is a 4X4.

Signature
Steve W.
Life is not like a box of chocolates
it's more like a jar of jalapenos-
what you do today could burn your a.s tomorrow!
> >> > "Steve W." <Dugdug56@what.com> wrote in message
> >
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Yes, there are true 4x4's I have a friend that has one, 77 Chevy CK20 p/u,
> cant shift it out of 4x4 it has the NP203 transfer case.
Adam - 25 Apr 2006 16:49 GMT
So your saying that it is posi in the front but not in back? Thats funny
cause when he used it to shove his exwives 98 Taurus up the tree out front
all four wheels spun and dug in the yard then. And it wasnt even in 4lo
Made the local news on tv too
> So it is actually an AWD. AND came from the factory with open
> differentials JUST LIKE THE BLAZERS that had the same transfer case. The
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption
> =----
>You want better gas mileage? Then do things that really work. A long
>warmup before driving is not only unnecessary, but also wasteful - I
>never let it idle more than a minute.
A little warmup is a good thing for an engine to have before it is put
under load. It may not help fuel economy but will treat the engine
better. Over doing the warmup time is no help and just wastes fuel.
>Drive the speed limit because higher speed means lower fuel mileage.
Drive the speed limit because it is your civic duty and you owe it to
your fellow citizens. As for mileage though, depending on the
vehicle, the sweet spot for fuel economy can be, and often is
different than the posted speed limit.
>Keep your tires properly inflated (run them toward the upper end of the
>inflation range to decrease rolling resistance).
It's good to stay on top of proper tire inflation, but optimizing for
fuel economy is not optimizing for traction (and thus safety). Keep
inflation levels up to date but the level should be what is stated for
the vehicle. not the tire's max inflation pressure.
>Keep the vehicle in proper tune so the engine is running at peak
>efficiency.
Absolutely. Many other benefits too.
>Make sure the front end is properly aligned to limit rolling resistance
>from misaligned tires.
Another good tip.
>Remove unneeded cargo from the vehicle to lighten the load.
But not that spare tire!
>Check/change the air filter regularly.
>
>Forget about "gas saving" devices because 99.999% of them don't work.
Also go "lite" on the accelerator. Braking is throwing away momentum
that you paid for with fuel.
Edwin Pawlowski - 25 Apr 2006 03:24 GMT
"SgtSilicon" <secretspam@ihatespam.net> wrote in message
> Also go "lite" on the accelerator. Braking is throwing away momentum
> that you paid for with fuel.
This also means no tailgating. I've been behind cars that are following the
lead car very close and the brake lights will com on every few seconds.
Wasted gas. Just hang back a bit and ease off the gas and coast if the gap
is narrowing and don't touch the brakes.
Same with coming up to an exit ramp. Coast up to it (within safe limits
for traffic) instead of doing 65 to the top of the ramp and hitting the
brakes hard for the turn.
Don't drive like many of us did as teenagers.