The 500 Mile Club. Can you join? Hypermilling

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by Wayne's World

Driving style is the biggest factor in MPG. Next is tire pressure (& type to an extent). Next is weight. Everything else is just minor friction losses that are used to get the vehicle moving.

I don't fully agree. Overcoming a vehicle's inertia (due to its mass) and its aerodynamic drag are the two biggest factors in fuel consumption. The inertia factor comes into play in stop-start driving while the aero issue is more important at higher speeds. Now you drive (ie. lead foot verses feather foot) is also a major factor, as is your driving environment, ie. city or country, flat or hilly etc. Then there's the other issues like rolling resistance (tyres and tyre pressures), efficiency losses in the drivetrain, etc.

[sprocket1200]

I agree, how you drive is more important than anything else. in fact, they now have developed software that 'softens' your acceleration and other driving habits so mpg is better. they claim 5% for this alone.

[Vonbimmer]

Our last round trip drive from Reno to San Jose netted us a calculated average of 20.7 mpg so I guess I could get close , but only with freeway driving.

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by sprocket1200

I agree, how you drive is more important than anything else.

For any given identically specced vehicle, I believe your driving environment and driving regime is more important than driving style. However, your driving style is still critical especially in a stop/start urban situation and in a relatively heavy and powerful (at least in V8 guise) vehicle like an X5.

[g60renshaw]

Just out of curiousity are these mpg figures because you are on low octane fuel in the US or because you are talking US gallons?

I can get 25MPG on a long run comfortably, but I run LPG now so I actually get the cost equivalent of 38MPG

[blktoptrvl]

500 is easy to achieve on the highway; as long as you are not in a hurry. Although my best is about 530, I can seldon drive slow enough to achieve this if I am traveling that far.

After all, you are talking about a difference of about an hour and a half. I'd rather have that 1.5 hours than the extra $12 - $15 dollars in the pocket.

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by g60renshaw

Just out of curiousity are these mpg figures because you are on low octane fuel in the US or because you are talking US gallons?

I can get 25MPG on a long run comfortably, but I run LPG now so I actually get the cost equivalent of 38MPG

I get far better mileage when using Premium Gas... and I can get about 23.5 MPG in my 4.4 @ about 65 (no higher) mph.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

I can seldon drive slow enough to achieve this if I am traveling that far.

Agreed. I have no patience for this.

[motordavid]

Fwiw, that '568' I got was on regular gas, lil' to no A/C until we got close to our NJ destination, (where that pic was taken), and we were
not gramps driving: eg 630 miles in 10.5 hrs, including Balto Tunnel and NJ traffic. The nearly worn out B Stone Turanzas helped too, imo...
I've never come close again with the replacement Mich Diamaris, which suck, imo.
GL, mD

[Wayne's World]

Originally Posted by Fraser

I don't fully agree. Overcoming a vehicle's inertia (due to its mass) and its aerodynamic drag are the two biggest factors in fuel consumption. The inertia factor comes into play in stop-start driving while the aero issue is more important at higher speeds. Now you drive (ie. lead foot verses feather foot) is also a major factor, as is your driving environment, ie. city or country, flat or hilly etc. Then there's the other issues like rolling resistance (tyres and tyre pressures), efficiency losses in the drivetrain, etc.

While I'm inclined to agree, i believe my statement was assuming that you've already chosen your vehicle. Such as an X5. It's no Jaguar E-Type but for any of us comparing our numbers, the aerodynamics of an E53 is a wash as that is a constant. The variables are more what I was alluding to.