Here's what I'm doing to increase MPGs in my vans. These will also work with the Jeeps.
Warm up Sure I let the engine idle, but it's in gear pulling out of the drive. Once I turn onto the street I accelerate to 10 mph, then neutral coast down the block around the corner, downhill one block, stop at a stop sign, put it back in gear then go.
Accelerating Once a tank I'll really get on the gas to clear out carbon, usually first interstate on ramp after a fill up. Don't feel like it's wasting too much gas that way. All other times the I try to keep RPMs under 2K and the throttle position sensor reading less than 25%. I try not to accelerate going uphill, if it's necessary it's only up to the speed limit then the cruise is set. I'll add my normal 5 mph over once the road levels or turns downhill.
Cruise Control Interstate or local roads I use it. Just so long as there isn't a stop sign ever block or two.
Lower speed I used to go faster than most traffic. Now 5 mph over speed limit up to 70 mph, then speed limit only. The interstates in Chicago's burbs are 55 mph zones. I do 60 mph, which compared to the rest of traffic is slow, but not obnoxiously so. I just sit in the right lane with my cruise on.
HVAC Only time the AC gets turned on is when Jayme is in the van and requests it. All other cooling is done with the vents blowing 3/4 speed and the front windows cracked 1.5" (to the bottom of the window wing things) above 40 mph or windows down all the way below 40 mph.
Draft semis with box trailers 2.5 to 3 seconds back appears to be the mpg sweet spot. I use a CB and communicate with the truck's driver when I feel it's needed. I'll increase my speed to 65 mph for a good draft. Trucks with tandem trailers are even better to draft.
Neutral coasting I put my vans in neutral a lot. Interstate exit ramps, I almost never use the brakes, I know how far I need to coast the van before the ramp to get the speed down. City traffic, I give myself space to use neutral instead of the brakes. Lights and stop signs, I coast to these almost never touching the brakes till I'm below 20 mph. Hills, near Chicago engine braking doesn't matter too much. If I'm going down a hill and see the TPS hit zero into neutral I go. If the van increases speed down the hill I'll keep it in neutral past the bottom until it's 1 mph above my normal 5 mph over, at which point I put it back and gear and activate the cruise.
Engine off stop lights I learned the cycles of the stop lights I frequent. If a light has a long cycle, I turn the engine off until just before my light turns green.
Parking If I can find a spot that allows me to pull straight through so I don't have to use reverse when I leave I'm using it, otherwise I back into the spot with a warm engine.
Waiting When I leave work at the same time as everyone else I'll sit in my spot with the engine off until the driveway clears. I only start the engine when I can roll out the drive without waiting for others to get out of my way.
The future I'm mulling about the idea of a truncated boat tail to decrease the wake behind the van. The math shows that a 2' long tail would decrease the wake by about 54%.
Partial grill block to increase aerodynamics, removable for towing, hotter weather, and hillier than normal terrain.
Huge lower air dam, made out of used conveyor belt material. This will sit within 2" of the ground, but be flexible should it hit the ground.
Getting a beaded seat cover to assist with driver cooling.
_________________ Aaron
A vehicle isn't yours till you learn to wrench on it yourself.
2002 Jeep Liberty Sport (Eugene, I am the Passenger, And I ride and I ride.) 1999 Chev Astro 2WD (Green, Daily Driver) 1997 Chev Astro AWD (Grumpy "The Heep", $250 Rally Van, 335k miles, 2" lift, 31" tires)
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