carltj

Pacecar

In coastal CT I have gone from averaging 47 mpg in the six warmer months of the year to 37 in November and December. This morning got 18 mpg on a 1.3 mile trip ( half of which is downhill) on a cold start. I really like my MMH, but would have looked at the Volt in light of the Father Obama'sincredibly generous tax credit for his automobile company and my number of short trips. I knew I would take a hit in the cold weather, but not like this..

I am vaguely aware that carbon can build up in the cylinders, if the driver does not occasionally floor the accelerator and rev up the rpms. I am also aware that I never do that, being a conscientious hypermiler. Are others seeing this as an issue, and if so, how are you managing these crosswise purposes? Carl

I'm doing a little over 700 / tank. I now have 2700 miles on my MMH. With 170 miles of lead-foot test drives in the mix, I'm at 46 mpg on the long term read out. Virtually always hypermileing. About 20% of my miles on Interstates (55-60mph) Seldom turn on the AC. I work at it. If you want great mpg, you can do it. But, most drivers want other things more; making compromises (comfort, speed, acceleration, not aggravating the wife) that add up to 39mpg. Carl

"Also, you'll get better milage if you don't routinely take your battery down to a 1/4 full. When the meter get towards the bottom of the little battery symbol (about 40% full), kick yourself out of battery mode (by "pulsing" the throttle) and then maintain a steady speed while the battery recharges. " Your observation is of interest to me. I have fallen into a habit after a "pulse" of coasting a very short distance, then powering the car on battery until it runs down very low (and I can't manage sufficient velocity for conditions or traffic). When the engine kicks back in I, power back up to speed, and it also recharges the battery some. I'm hearing you say that one ought not drive on battery until the last dregs of its power, but return to pulse mode much sooner. Are you aware of any other information or rationales on this recommendation?

Just passed my first 1000 miles in my MMH 502A. Getting a little over 44mpg cumulative average with 20% Interstate driving and the rest about town and secondary roads. I bought it at 174 miles and cum. average of around 30 mpg. I've been very light on the AC and working at hypermileing. With some judicious drafting and speeds of 55-62 mph, I was able to get 46 mpg on I 95, taking my wife to the airport in Providence yesterday. Without careful attention to technique I suspect I would be averaging in the high 30's. With many of my trips under 5 miles, I expect drastic fall off in mpg next winter. Just loving my soon to be orphaned Mercury. Carl Mystic/Ledyard, CT

I've had my MMH for a month now and been using Empower on the dash to some advantage, I believe. With less than a hundred miles to "empty" indicator light , I should just clear 700 miles on my first tank.. But, the power gauge shows subtleties of shading and movement that I cannot explain (for example, the green horizontal bar moves slowly upward, just after I transition from power to glide before it starts to come down, as the battery is drained of charge ). Is there a Ford source that goes into detail beyond what the Manual gives us for those wanting a more complete understanding of this gauge and its indications?

[Hello beerchug, Thanks so much for taking the time to give a succinct highly informative response to my question, fully sufficent to clarify my confusion.. The metal cleaner goes back to Ford. I will continue to use my Meguiar's Tech Wax every six months or so. I will use the Motorcraft Bug and Tar for bug and tar with a quick after rinse and dry. Best regards, Carl

My manual for the Milan Mercury Hybrid suggests using Motorcraft "Custom Bright Metal Cleaner" as part of the detailing array to keep the vehicle looking its best. OK. I get this. As I wait delivery (no dealers actually have any of this stuff in stock), I read in this forum and others that much of the "chrome" may be actually clearcoat painted. The cleaner arrives, and I read on the directions that the cleaner cannot be allowed to contact clear coated and painted surfaces. So, is the only surface I can use this on the exhaust pipes? What are folks using to clean/polish the wheels, grill, and trunk trim?

Hello, Still in the first 400 miles of my Milan Hybrid driving and getting significantly better mpg than I had expected, with gauge-attentive driving habits. Reading this forum and the manual, a couple questions have arisen. First, proceeding down a quarter mile hill which would get me to 45-48mph coasting in Drive with a flat run out at the bottom, am I better off in Neutral, Low, or in Drive with light touches of the brake for best economy? Keep in mind my speed at the bottom cannot be over 40 for safety reasons as well as the radar equipped cruiser at the bottom. Does it make any difference, if the ICE is warmed up at the time (white vs green symbol)? Is the difference between putting in Neutral vs Low/Drive that in the former you're coasting is less impeded (higher speed), but you get no recharging? If you can achieve high speed at the bottom of a hill in Neutral, where high speed is not a safety issue, is Neutral the way to go? Is engine braking recharging more efficient in Low or Drive? No doubt, the questions themselves indicate some confusion on my part in conceptualizing the issues. Anyway, please have at it. Thanks for any enlightenment, Carl