ptjones

What about rolling down windows? :) Paul

Especially in City Driving being very aware what is going on in front of you(driving style) can save you time by catching green lights instead of stopping for red ones. Drafting on the FWY doesn't necessarily mean you are losing time, but you are gaining MPG's. It comes down to how much effort (Driving Style) you want to put into it, most people don't want to bother with it. IMO For me it's FUN. :) Paul P

Back to the OP, you don't go 920mi on 13.5gal averaging 68mpg by accident, driving style is everything! :) Paul

I'm guessing $200-250K could be wrong, it would be fun! :spend: Paul

Do you have to have some Android device to make this happen? :) Paul

I wonder if you could run a 120v heater in the back of your car to keep your HVB a little harm to see if you get a different result? :) Were you able to get ICE heater installed? Getting to middle of temp gauge means 180+*F. Paul

I was just thinking that if you are thinking of using Packing Tape to close off the grills make sure that it is the thick clear plastic tape. The thin tape tares to easy which makes for a difficult time trying to remove it as I just found out again. LOL You can use Goo Off, paint thinner or Car Wax to rub off the adhesive. It is a good idea to Wax the areas you are going to apply tape too to make it easier to get off. :) Paul

Frank would you consider coasting when the HVB is full and your feet off the pedals? :) I have seen no arrows with about 3/4 full HVB on the FWY with some ICE power for quite a distance on fairly level ground. :shift: Paul

I used coasting to improve MPG's in 07 Focus 5-speed manual trans. with good results, but don't see a good reason to do it in CMAX. I will say that filling up the HVB going down hill is like driving in Neutral, scary, Hill Assist sure comes in handy. :) Paul

Did you ever put Grill Covers on? :) Paul

Thanks jus for updating 600 Mile Club! Hopefully in couple months when temps go up we will see some new members. :happy feet: I still see 1000 mile tank possible, but everything has to work in your favor for a thousand miles. Very hard to do. Also with the Smart Gauge being off by 2% you would have to go at least 1020 actual miles, that's really pushing it. IMHO :) Paul

It only needs to get to 128*F WT to do that, it is not very efficient at that temp. Remember 202-212*F is the Operating temperature for the ICE according to FORD which would give the best MPG's. Interesting that not one person that has used Grill Covers doesn't say they work. ;) Why don't you make some and try for your self. :) BTW get a ScanGaugeII so you watch what is happening yourself. Paul

It is amazing that even lead foot drivers aren't slowed down much by a Prius. :lol2: Did it ever occur to you that tailgaters are NASCAR driver wannabees ! :lol: :lol2: :shift: Paul

I just made a trip to AZ and back and I experimented with controlling WT with heater and Lower Grill removal and reinstalling. To start with I had all three grills covered and then added clear packing tape to cover up all joints around head lights, hood and fog lamps. So the only air getting into engine compartment was from underneath and wheel wells. The thermostat starts to open around 180*F and is Fully open at 202*F. Normal operating temps are 202-212*F according to FORD Hotline Assistance Request and shutters open up at 215*F with update at FWY speeds confirmed by web cam. Things I learned on My latest trip to AZ and back are I got maybe 1mpg better keeping WT in the 200*F-215*F over 220*F-230*F range (Smart Gauge WT starts to move off middle at 228*F) . Second: Having the whole front end taped didn't change the 2mpg drop for every 10*F drop in temp. At 20*F I was getting 39.5mpg and 40*F/43.5mpg. Third: Tapping off top grill raised IT by +20*F-30*F vs open. Forth: P&G is worth at least 2mpg over running ICE all the time with help from EV assist and the WT ran cooler at FWY speeds. I was hoping by keeping ICE compartment warmer it would help the drop of mpg's with outside temp drop. It may help overall mpg's, but not the periodic 2mpg drop. :) Paul

Don't get in a rush, you have to push ,pull, twist and bend a little to do it. Use strong gloves, alot of sharp spots under there, I didn't and payed for it. LOL :gaah: Paul

Actually Air Filter System can make a big difference, look at Post #27,29,37 and 40 on this thread. As far as the CMAX goes I didn't notice much, less than a mile per gallon. I'm not disappointed I did it, every little bit helps. :) Paul

I would look at testing the difference in mine in and out, but I'm not looking forward to abusing my hands again. LOL :) Paul

Changing the exhaust system would be a major expense if it could be done. K&N was easy. Improving MPG's comes mostly in small steps. :) Paul

The improvement maybe small but I did it anyway. :) Paul

You need to work on your math skills about 8 cents now but use to be 15 cents a gallon. I'm waiting to hear how you do on a tank of Premium. I have tested gas from BJ's ,Pilot, Kroger and SAM's same results. Yes everyone knows that ethanol gets worse MPG's than gas. That is why I use ethanol free gas on my record runs, it's to expensive, more than a dollar more to use regularly, I get close to the MPG's with Premium. I got even wear at 50psi. for 65K miles and rotating every 10K miles. :) Paul

I have gotten Ethanol Free gas from two stations locally and I get better MPG's from one than the other, I'm not sure if it is the octane or "freshness" of the gas. I did get ethanol free gas from a gas station in OK that only had ethanol free gas in three grades. Also I travel all over the country and have noticed that some parts of the country I don't get as good of MPG's, apparently not all gas is created equal. ;) Paul

It's been two days since I've filled up with Premium, temps in mid 30's front of car all taped up and highest WT 193*F and IT 83*F still my average with 118mi is 50.3mpg, speeds 35-55mph. So if the temps were in the 70's I'd be getting about 56mpg. Unfortunately Smart Temp Gauge isn't real useful other than to see if you are over heating. It hits the middle at around 180*F and stays there to about 225*F when it starts to move up. Top line is 247*F and you will get the red triangle over heating message. :) Paul

With 146 full ups I know my car very well and I get at least 1-2mpg better with Premium. My last tank was cheap 7-11 regular and almost immediately I could tell I wasn't getting the MPG's I was getting with Premium. I fulled up with BJ's Premium two days ago and immediately my MPG's jumped up from 47mpg to 50.5mpg with 95mi. on this tank with temps in 40-30's as compared to 70's-50's which is worth another 4mpg more. For a total of 7.5mpg improvement over regular on this tank. FYI CMAX loses approx. 2mpg for each 10*F drop in temperature from 70*F. SPL Tech why don't you try a tank of Premium and see what you get. :) Paul

Now the shutters open fully between 210-215*F depending on speed, they are either open or closed, no in between. :) Paul

The Shutters operation changed when FORD changed the ICE program in July 2013. :) Paul