New Orleans Trip
 

I drove to New Orleans today (85 miles one way). Before I left I pumped up the tires to the max sidewall which is 44. I reset the SG2 as soon as I got on I-10 to see how my highway MPG would be. Going over there I averaged 32.4mpg and on the way back 32.3. For the day it was 30.1mpg. Now for the question. Are these numbers realistic? I did do the 19.4% correction on the last fill up. I also only have one other descent trip to gauge this one to. On my last trip to Louisiana I averaged 26mpg for the tank. But I didn't have a SG2 to tell me what I was getting on the highway.

Last Trip:
Pre SG2
Roof Rack on
Tires at 36 PSI
Cruise control at 60mph

This Trip:
SG2 installed
Roof Rack off
Tires at 44 PSI
Top Grill Block
Cruise control at 55mph

I know only the pump will tell, but what do you guys think?

Hmmm...could be that you are on the right track . Good job ! We'll all know if it's 'realistic' when you fillup .

Wow, 55 on I-10 is brave. Were you using a/c? I've worked in Bay St. Louis and driving from N.O. my boss's Dodge 3500 van gets like 16mpg w/o a/c. What brought the giant strawberry to the city?

I was using AC on low and turned it off going up the bridges. We went to the French Quarter. Never been to New Orleans and I'm close enough, so I wanted to check it out.

I did feel I was going to get run off the road a few times, but hey the minimum is 40mph, so I'm not breaking the law.

I was thinking of changing the name of the Giant Strawberry to Fat Piece of Lard. Any suggestions/comments

Wow!!your doing pretty good with your mini-van. I just got a Scangage for my Ford Freestyle. It's easy to hypermile my TDI and get 60mpg, but getting those kind mpg on a mini takes serious driving skill.

At 55 mph, 32 or 33 mph could be correct.

That whole calibration thing on the SGII seems sorta hinkey to me. I understand why it needs to be done, but it seems painful...

I'm just hoping these numbers stand up. A 19.4% correction is a lot. So we'll have to see. Driving skill I don't know about that, I had the cruise control on the whole time at 55mph.

I also have a lot of people backing me up on and encouriging me, and I ask a lot of questions.

I think min speed on LA interstates is 45.

In MS it's 40. 40-45 is too slow. But people probably say the same thing about 55.

I-10 speed from New Orleans to Jefferson Parish is 60 and drops to 50 due to construction. Everyone still drives 70 but me.

88HF we should work on some aero mods for the crx and my van. I think it's always easier when working with someone on projects. I was an Aircraft electrician on C-130's so I can wire the **** out of things.

Awesome, I'm an apprentice electrician!

I should have known by all the wire ties on your grill-block.

That's good! How long? I'm training to be a radio tech now.

2 years. Radio tech as in at radio stations? My dad had a license for that butter never used it. He went to RETS electronics school in New Orleans. I'm my boss's only employee he was an electrician in the navy and hes also a cabinet maker, trim carpenter, all around awesome, detail oriented guy.

Everyone thinks I'm crazy with this website (and I have a lot of cats). I wish I was a master electrician so I'd have more money to implement projects, but then again I'd like to go do honda training in Seattle.

Radio tech like fixing antennas, FM, AM, LMR, etc...

Nice numbers for the van there. They sound very good I'll be watching for your next fill. Good luck on the skirts.

So I filled up today. 211.7 miles with 8.224G for a grand total of 25.75mpg for the tank. The SG2 had me at 27 and some change for the tank. The prior correction was -19.4% and it moved to -14.3% with this fill up and yes I saved it. So this was a -5.1 change. So my 32.3 and 32.4 would actually be 30.6 give or take for the highway if my calculations are correct. The City mileage is killing me though.

At least I'm .9% above new epa now. Before I was 3.4% under.

popimp,

So maybe the lesson learned is that in order to raise your fuel efficiency you may need to "get out more" on the highways and do more road trips?

Do you EOC?

I don't EOC it's an auto and I don't want to ruin the tranny. Then again I have a 3 year 36,000 mile warranty. The van has less than 3k. I also bought an extended warranty from warranty direct 7 year 100K. I shouldn't though.

rGS going out with two kids is a pain. We only stayed in New Orleans for 2 hours, after a 1 1/2 drive. Have you done any mods to your Voyager?

How do I change the thread title? It says New Oreans trip. I edited the thread but it still says the same thing.

I wouldn't say that taking more trips is the answer to greater fuel efficiency. You are just using more fuel. I guess your numbers would look better mpg wise. I didn't think about the whole auto tranny thing.

popimp,

I understand. Currently, the only mods I've done is the "change driving habits" one. My current actual mods budget doesn't exist, thus my inability to progress in that direction. Sounds like the first thing to budget for would be a ScanGuage since I don't have one yet. From what I've understood, is a ScanGuage functionally an after-market "trip computer option" for a minivan?

Yes it does that plus its a real time readout of most of the engine sensors as well as calculate instant mpg(its most important feature). It will also retrieve any error codes in the ECM.

The SG2 is easy to install and gives an instant feedback of what's going on with your vehicle.

its for most 1996+ vehicles that have an obdII connector. Usually located under the dash on the driver's side. Most people's aero-mods use inexpensive parts.

There is a group buy for Scangauge II for $149.95 they extended it till June 30, 2007. That's where I got mine.

https://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=179254

I wish someone would have told me about the group pricing. Ohh well!

I sent the link to my dad, thats sweet, I'd get one if I needed it.

There should be section on the get best mpg for large cars.

TANGOJETTA, I agree that there should be a section for large cars but that's probably to broad. It should probably be a little more specific, like van, minivan, suv, sedan, coupe, compact, etc...

Maybe so, but there should still be an overall top 10, even if there is a top 10 in other categories. I think it would bring more use of the site.

Maybe best mpg for vehicles under 25mpg EPA, or something like that.