How to Drive a FORD Fusion Hybrid to get Great Gas Mileage

[billford]

I gain 2 mpg with Premium which is $2.49 and Regular is $2.19. I'm currently averaging 58.5 mpg with speeds of 45-55 mph and also your ECM is constantly advancing the timing to get the best gas mileage as possible no matter whether it's hot or cold, Regular or Premium. Without grill covers your ICE rarely gets up to best MPG temp of 215-225*F which you can see from using the ScanGaugeII. :) Premium does cost a little more, but I feel I make it up by not having to stop for gas as often. :) Using the Grill Covers improve gas mileage by 2-4 mpg by allowing the ICE to get hot enough to run efficiently. If you got an OBDII gauge you would see how cold your ICE is running. ;(

Have Fun Saving Gas

Paul

 

Your ignoring my cost per mile question on post #298. Read the question again and lets see some real numbers.

 

Your ignoring the fact that blocking air flow causes engine temperatures to increase and promotes detonation/preignition. That proves the timing difference you get on your previous post #292 was due to detonation/preignition since you claim you have more spark advance with premium.

 

Yes, I know spark advance changes. But your the one who stated that you get more spark advance with premium. That happened for a reason. The car doesn't know what grade gasoline you filled it with. All it knows is that when it detonates, it needs to retard timing to prevent engine damage. And I think your smart enough to know that higher engine temperatures will cause this. You can't deny it.

 

Blocking air flow has its drawbacks. Its something you should state before sealing off the grille. Tell the rest of the story.

Edited September 13, 2019 by billford

[ethermion]

And ignoring that our FFHs (which pt doesn't own) have active grille shutter thingies. If the car wants the engine warmer, it will close the shutters. No reason to believe that Ford is stupid.

[Waldo]

Ford (and likely many other OEMs) have progressed beyond the simple "retard if detonation" strategies. The computer will actively "search" for premium fuel in an open-loop kind of system by advancing, monitoring, then retarding. So no matter what your engine temps or other operating conditions, it will always run more advanced on premium fuel. Whether that makes enough difference to offset the extra cost of premium is a different question.

 

Ford's active grill shutters are at best 75% effective. There are always leaks.

[ptjones]

FFH/CMAX shutters are closed all the time below 210*F and 55 mph. Here is Testing I did 3 years ago:

 

Yesterday We took MADMAX up I-85 with lower Grill Cover off to test shutter operations. I was afraid with the lower Grill Cover off we wouldn't able to get hot enough for shutters to open. Sure enough the WT(CHT) only got to 215*F going up hills and speeds up to 80mph on our 20 mile trip so we stopped and had lunch to figure what to do. I decided to use masking tape to block off 1/3 of lower grill to raise temps higher. It turned out to make little difference on our trip home with speeds up to 90 mph so at half way I turned on A/C to see shutters work and they did. So traveling at 90 mph and still only 215*F, but when I turned to get off at our exit it hit 216*F and shutters still closed, but I'm not giving up. With one foot on gas and other on brakes I keep ICE running and WT hits 218*F and shutters open finally. I slowed down to 30 mph to go the 1/4 mile to our shop and upon arriving WT was still 215*F, not much cooling at 30 mph and in EV ICE isn't circulating the coolant to cool it off. Instead of stopping I continued on to see what temp the shutters closed at, 210*F shutters started to close but at half way they stopped, i thought they were going go back to open, but they reversed direction and closed with temp at 207*F.

The things we have learned from four separate tests:

1. I can see of no logical reason not to have the center grill covered all the time. The ICE runs to cold, below 202*F with the lower Grill Cover open, no need to add more cooling.

2. If you are doing mainly city driving and less than half an hour trips on the FWY you can leave lower Grill Cover on all time, exception being using A/C. Although I use A/C with Grill Covers on and not much difference in cooling.

3. Shutters open at 208*F @ 30 mph and 217*F@ 65-70 mph and are either closed or open, no in between on my CMAX.

4. Given all the info I have accumulated 3 1/2yrs my CMAX Grill Covers are a much better solution than FORD's active shutters for improving MPG's IMO. My results speaks for themselves.

P.S. Testing shutter operations is a good way to ruin your MPG's. I lost 6 mpg's in two lunch hour tests sessions.

So even with the Center Grill Cover on and shutters closed at 215*F the shutters were closed, just shows how ineffective FORD's shutters are, they leak like crazy. ;(

Paul

[ptjones]

 

Your ignoring my cost per mile question on post #298. Read the question again and lets see some real numbers. To start with this thread is about getting "The Best Gas Mileage" . I will do the math for you, $2.499 / 58.6mpg(current tank with 600 miles on it)=.0426 cents per mile. To put this into perspective the avg. FFH avg. 40 mpg from Fuelly.com so $2.199 Reg/40 mpg=.055 cents per mile. For the last 2.5 yrs I'm averaging 54 mpg so $2.499/54 mpg= .045 cents per mile so It costs me 17% less to operate my car. From the past I calculated the break even point was for Premium vs Regular at about $4/gal with $.30 differential per gallon which it is here.

 

Your ignoring the fact that blocking air flow causes engine temperatures to increase and promotes detonation/preignition. That proves the timing difference you get on your previous post #292 was due to detonation/preignition since you claim you have more spark advance with premium. Talking about "ignoring" Post #300 already answered your question. " With Grill Covers on your ICE rarely gets up to best MPG temp of 215-225*F which you can see from using the ScanGaugeII. The ICE never gets HOT enough to worry about Preignition! BTW Grill Covers don't block all the air going into the radiator.

 

Yes, I know spark advance changes. But your the one who stated that you get more spark advance with premium. That happened for a reason. The car doesn't know what grade gasoline you filled it with. All it knows is that when it detonates, it needs to retard timing to prevent engine damage. And I think your smart enough to know that higher engine temperatures will cause this. And Again the ICE never gets HOT enough for preignition. :) You can't deny it.

 

Blocking air flow has its drawbacks. Its something you should state before sealing off the grille. Again I don't seal off the Grill completely and I don't see any draw backs. :) Tell the rest of the story. You also ignore the FACT that I have 233K miles on my car with Grill Covers on and my oil change analysis is better than NEW! They obviously haven't hurt the ICE and anymore miles I get out of the car is a big bonus. :) BTW how long do you think these Hybrids should last?

 

All these questions are answered in my videos in POST#1 apparently you haven't watched them or you wouldn't be asking all these questions. Get a OBDII tester and see for yourself.

 

Paul

Edited September 14, 2019 by ptjones

[billford]

All these questions are answered in my videos in POST#1 apparently you haven't watched them or you wouldn't be asking all these questions. Get a OBDII tester and see for yourself.

 

Paul

Watched part of it but stopped when your tailgating ( or whatever you call it) trucks

 

Maybe it's OK for you and others here, but it's not for me.

Edited September 15, 2019 by billford

[ptjones]

Watched part of it but stopped when your tailgating ( or whatever you call it) trucks

 

Maybe it's OK for you and others here, but it's not for me.

You obviously didn't watch the videos because we have been talking about Grill Covers, shutters and ICE WT on this thread which are covered in the first two videos.

 

We haven't been talking about Hypermiling, the third video is about Hypermiling and it starts out talking about Extended Drafting at hundred feet back, I don't think anyone else considers 100 feet back tailgating, The GHP doesn't and I think that is all that matters anyway. :) You obviously need to watch all the way through all three videos so you know all the correct info so you don't continually put out "Miss Information", members want the facts so they can make informed decisions on their own. :) That is the whole point of this Thread, "Just the Facts".

 

Paul

Edited September 15, 2019 by ptjones

[billford]

You obviously didn't watch the videos because we been talking about Grill Covers, shutters and ICE WT which are covered in the first two videos. The third video is about Hypermiling and it starts out talking about Extended Drafting a hundred feet back, I don't think anyone else considers 100 feet back tailgating, The Cops don't. :)

 

Paul

 

I thought the topic of this thread was how to drive to get gas mileage, which you showed tailgating increase gas mileage.

I couldn't remember which one it was but I remember the video shows you were pretty close to the truck ahead of you.

 

Does anyone else here tailgate trucks like in the video?

Edited September 15, 2019 by billford

[ptjones]

 

I thought the topic of this thread was how to drive to get gas mileage, which you showed tailgating increase gas mileage.

I couldn't remember which one it was but I remember the video shows you were pretty close to the truck ahead of you.

 

Does anyone else here tailgate trucks like in the video?

Strange that None of my videos talk about tailgating, you made that up. Show me where I talk about tailgating.

 

Paul

[billford]

Strange that None of my videos talk about tailgating, you made that up. Show me where I talk about tailgating.

 

Paul

Your video shows you following trucks closely. You can call that whatever term you want.

 

It's a moot point, nobody else has replied here that they do it, which is a good thing. I was expecting at least a few who are doing it...

[mwr]

I don't think anyone else considers 100 feet back tailgating,

100 feet is too close using accepted norms. The "three second rule" would mean you would need to be 264 feet behind at 60 mph (of course more distance for faster speeds). Even using a two second rule you should be 176 feet behind at 60 mph..

[ptjones]

I don't recommend Hypermiling for most people because it requires constant attention of what is going on around you. In 40 yrs of Drafting I have never been in an accident on the HWY, about 1.5 million miles. :) The GHP say you need to have enough room in front of you so that a vehicle can pass and pull in front Safely on the HWY which should be around 60 ft. with no problems. One hundred ft. is almost twice as much. :)

 

100 feet is too close using accepted norms. The "three second rule" would mean you would need to be 264 feet behind at 60 mph (of course more distance for faster speeds). Even using a two second rule you should be 176 feet behind at 60 mph..

I don't see anyone following these "RULES" on the HWY let alone 60 ft, If there is enough space in front of you people will pass and pull in front of you, that is why you need to pay attention at all times and be ready to react quickly. Most accidents are caused by lack of attention to what is going on around you on the HWY.

 

Have Fun Improving Your Gas Mileage :)

 

Paul

[billford]

100 feet is too close using accepted norms. The "three second rule" would mean you would need to be 264 feet behind at 60 mph (of course more distance for faster speeds). Even using a two second rule you should be 176 feet behind at 60 mph..

+1

 

3 seconds is my minimum in poor weather, night.

 

Being safe is more important and trying to save a few dollars on gas...

[ptjones]

+1

 

3 seconds is my minimum in poor weather, night.

 

Being safe is more important and trying to save a few dollars on gas...

It would be a lot safer if you didn't drive at all don't you think? For me I like the Challenge/FUN driving my car to save gas as compared to the boring driving with cruise control on, that is why people fall asleep in their cars, not safe. ;( Forty years and no accidents so it's been safe and FUN for me. :) Obviously it's not for most, but many have gotten Grill Covers and no one has complained about them not working. Glad I was able to help. :)

 

Go out and have some FUN saving gas, :)

Paul

[billford]

It would be a lot safer if you didn't drive at all don't you think? For me I like the Challenge/FUN driving my car to save gas as compared to the boring driving with cruise control on, that is why people fall asleep in their cars, not safe. ;( Forty years and no accidents so it's been safe and FUN for me. :) Obviously it's not for most, but many have gotten Grill Covers and no one has complained about them not working. Glad I was able to help. :)

 

Go out and have some FUN saving gas, :)

Paul

It would be safer if you didn't drive. But you can also drive safely by not tailgating (or whatever you call it)

I'm glad you have 40 safe years, but that's no guarantee what's going to happen from today, tomorrow or the future.

 

Nobody has responded back about following your tailgating technique. I guess your the only one who does it on this forum. Thought there wouild be at least a few...

Edited September 16, 2019 by billford

[Cobra348]

It would be safer if you didn't drive. But you can also drive safely by not tailgating (or whatever you call it)

I'm glad you have 40 safe years, but that's no guarantee what's going to happen from today, tomorrow or the future.

 

Nobody has responded back about following your tailgating technique. I guess your the only one who does it on this forum. Thought there wouild be at least a few...

Mebbe we wanna see him splat all over the place? Tailgating (drafting) is illegal as hell all over. Should you be in an accident - and survive - you will be responsible for damages (property and medical), ticketed at least for following too closely and failing to have vehicle under control.

 

NEW READERS: Check your defensive driving techniques. Mr Jones follows or advocates practices that can be deemed unsafe. You follow any of them at your own peril.

 

I now depart this stupid thread ... <shakes head> G'day

Edited September 17, 2019 by Cobra348

[ptjones]

And they keep on with miss information after they have tried to find laws on extended drafting and there aren't any. It's fine to have your own view point but don't pass them off as laws.

It's interesting that I'm also on the three other FORD Hybrid forums with no one putting out miss information like these guys. All the info I put on this thread I back up with facts and testing and they have nothing but their opinions. I just wanted to put out there the things I have learned over the 7 years/233k miles to safely improve MPG's.

I'm currently averaging for the last 10 fill ups on Fuelly.com 55.3 mpg to give you an Idea what can be done using all the info in My Thread. Adding another 100 miles to your tank is a big deal in my opinion. :)

Members can do what ever they want with the info, some members just don't get it that it is FUN to watch your average MPG going up, the feeling of accomplishment. :yahoo:

 

Fulled up today and got 56.8 mpg and the price went up 10 cents a gallon, Gas Prices are going up again. ;( Another reason to work on your fuel saving techniques.

 

Have Fun Safely Saving Gas :)

Paul

[Timewellspent]

Fulled up today and got 56.8 mpg and the price went up 10 cents a gallon, Gas Prices are going up again. ;( Another reason to work on your fuel saving techniques.

 

The last time you fueled up it was $2.703 and today you paid $2.599. That would be a savings of 10 cents.

 

Last time I fulled up I got 93.54 mpg not using any of your fuel saving techniques. :)

[ptjones]

 

The last time you fueled up it was $2.703 and today you paid $2.599. That would be a savings of 10 cents.

 

Last time I fulled up I got 93.54 mpg not using any of your fuel saving techniques. :)

You're right, but if I would have fill up two days ago it was $2.49/ gallon. ;( And how much did you spend on electricity. LOL :) Just think you could have gotten over a 100 mpg. :)

 

Paul

[billford]

And they keep on with miss information after they have tried to find laws on extended drafting and there aren't any. It's fine to have your own view point but don't pass them off as laws.

It's interesting that I'm also on the

Paul

Use some common sense. Tailgating (you can call it whatever term you want) is wrong, law or no law, you don't need a law to know that.

 

In this forum, other members, you still have a perfect batting average on your tailgating technique, as of this date, .000, no hits yet.

 

If your idea of fun is mpg's then you must have a pretty boring life. But if that's your source of fun, that's great.

 

This threads gone to crap.

Tailgate to your hearts desire.

Done with this thread.

Edited September 17, 2019 by billford

[ptjones]

Views on my videos are up to 17k now with 471 in the last month, so more and more Hybrid drivers are interested in saving gas/money and having FUN doing it. :)

 

Saving Gas can be FUN! :yahoo:

 

Paul

[ptjones]

Drove up to Knoxville, TN on I-85/I-285/I-75 Friday afternoon to see Grandson and Daughter spent the night and gassed up in the morning at Sam's for $2.649/ gallon for Premium, got 56.4 mpg. Had some tailwinds. I drove up I-75 to Cincinnati,OH to deliver some optics to a customer and then back to Newnan,GA a total of 742.3 miles/54.58 mpg. All HWY driving with some head winds coming back, I had some difficulties finding drafting partners, less Semis going 60-70 mph is what I like to drive. So part of the time I was doing it pretty much alone or catching Truckers doing 70-75 mph which meant I was going 65-80 mph to try to keep up. That's probably a 4 mpg hit, I started out coming back with +30 miles to Empty but by the time I got to Atlanta I was 0E with 24 miles to go. I know I can go at least 25 miles past 0, but going farther becomes more challenging, I have gone 70 miles without running out. Then again I gone 26 miles and ran out. Getting close to Atlanta my average MPG's had started to go up and with two traffic slow downs my average had gone up .5 mpg's I knew if I made it to my off ramp with about 5 miles to go mostly down hill I would be fine. And sure enough it worked as planed, but my SOC was 32% when I got home. This could be a problem if I ran out of gas I wouldn't be able to EV very far. This morning when I turned on the car the SOC had gone up to 50% so now I have a safety margin and I have 3 stations along the way to BJ's 5.3 miles so I can EV to any of those. BTW I know that it is next to impossible to run out of gas going uphill, pick up is at the back of the tank, so I only used the ICE going uphill and EV on the level and coast down hill. Well my plan worked Great. I put in 13.6 gallons after a few clicks so I had .3-.4 gallons left or 15-20 miles. I went 30 miles past empty and could have gone 50 miles.

The Main Thing here is you don't have to stress out if you screw up and run low on gas.

Paul

[ptjones]

I forgot to add pics of my fill ups for Knoxville/Cincinnati trip from above Post

To determine actual MPG for a fill up I multiply miles on trip gauge times 1.018(the % of difference between trip and GPS) then divide by actual gal. used at the pump. Then I post in on Fuelly.com

Paul

[ptjones]

Just filled up today and got 741.9 miles/13 gal/ 57.1 mpg. My Fuelly.com Life Time average just went up to 49.6 mpg and 236k miles total.

 

Paul

[devon]

Really great stuff there, I know in California where the speed limit is 70 on the freeway I do 55 and its much let stressful as everyone else has to go around me.The only thing that is stressful is that the Truckers who don't like having to pass a car doing 55mph. But 55 is Legal on the freeway and is the maximum that Truckers are allowed here anyways, they just choose to go faster....

Edited October 13, 2019 by devon