(no subject)

[jianantonic]

When I bought my car in 2004, the dealer assured me it would get similar mileage to my old car, a beat up old Chevrolet Corsica that I managed to milk for better than 40mpg by never running the AC. I think that was the secret, because other than that, I treated that car like the piece of crap that it was. But shortly after getting my brand new Pontiac Grand Am, I started to miss the old clunker. Over the past three years, I've been lucky to get 400 miles out of a 14 gallon tank.
That's not even 30mpg. I feel so dirty in that car. I try not to drive it at all anymore, and it goes about 40 miles per week. I take Ahren's much more efficient car or carpool whenever possible.

Two weeks ago, I went to the gas station to fill 'er up, and they were out of the damn regular gas. Feeling particularly lazy, I thought, fuck it, I'll put the midgrade in. Two weeks later, I've driven slightly more than usual and have yet to pass the 3/4 mark on my gas gauge. It seems that this plus gas stuff is a lot more efficient than the old regular shit. Why don't people tell you this? I mean I'd always kind of heard that it was better for your car, but without a solid reason, I wasn't willing to pay the extra dollar every time I filled up. It looks like it's going to save me a lot more than that, though, and it's better for the environment to run your car more efficiently, so with that I make this PSA to the world: buy midgrade fuel. Or don't drive, which would actually be better....

I had another epiphany of sorts last night but I think I'll save it for a later entry.

Peace.

Comments

[kixeldorado.livejournal.com]

You know, i tried that with both the mustang and the vic, and didn't really get any noticable difference, maybe just 1 or 2 mpg more.

Strangely enough, the more I drive the mustang, the better mileage it gets. Around town (even taking the interstate here and there), 20mpg. Take it to mom & Dad's? 25.

[flamingophoenix.livejournal.com]

Around town (even taking the interstate here and there), 20mpg. Take it to mom & Dad's? 25.

I don't know where your parents live, but I'm betting it's on a highway (because you mentioned the "more" you drive it). All cars (even hybrids, contrary to popular opinion. Or at least my hybrid) get better mileage the more time you spend at a constant speed (up to around 55 or 60, at which point the mileage starts to suck ass again). But the most important thing is staying at a constant speed. Interstates and limited-access highways are best at this; they also allow you to drive your car without starting and stopping it all the time--ignition eats up a (relatively) large portion of gasoline, so keeping your car running instead of start/stopping it is better mileage-wise.

And I just pulled all that out of my ass and 23 years of remembered folk wisdom about cars, so if I'm wrong, somebody tell me! :-D

[kixeldorado.livejournal.com]

No, that theory is actually reality. Highway driving gets better mileage than city.

The only stickiness is in the details. The past two times I've gone home, it's been 65mph (at least, come on, it's a mustang!!!) the entire way. A pretty constant 65, but a 65 nonetheless.

So I don't know if that's a good highway or whether it could be better if I'd just slow my butt down. :)

[flamingophoenix.livejournal.com]

Well, I would say (again--my ass would say!) that a constant 65 is better than a wavery 35-55 zone, but a constant 55 is probably better. But if 65 is the speed limit, do it! :-) (Around here, if you're not going 15 over you get zoomed past...I try to not do more than 5 over, but sometimes I forget myself.)

[sillygoosegirl.livejournal.com]

That's very interesting. Perhaps I will need to do that experiment...

[flamingophoenix.livejournal.com]

My parents use midgrade for their Impala, too, because their mechanic told them to do it (you know my family and money), and sure enough, it runs better. Beats me why. It's not the case for all cars, but I'm guessing (from my mighty TWO data points) that for getting-older GM cars it's the way to go. (Or is that GMC? I forget. The one that has Oldsmobile, Chevrolet, and Pontiac.)

[flamingophoenix.livejournal.com]

My mom gave me environmental PSA's when I was in high school: Don't speed, and don't drive a car to high school. ;-) (Yeah, I know, I had no job. It's cool. It's just something to remember.)

I might be training up to FRFF. Mad hippie cred for the win! (And internet/modern idiom for the win too!)