Jeff Ronning is a senior consultant at the Rocky Mountain Institute.
With near-historic prices at the pump, a lot of us probably wish our vehicles could get better gas mileage. What few people realize, however, is that just changing our driving technique can help us squeeze a few extra miles out of every tank.
One hurdle to learning how to drive more efficiently has been that our cars don’t give us feedback on how our specific driving methods affect fuel economy.
But times are changing. Many newer models are equipped with fuel-economy personal that give critical information that can help us do a better job. Chevrolet, Toyota, Nissan, and others are planning to add fuel-economy features to all new models in the next few years. If your automobile doesn’t have one, there’s at least one add-on device that offers the same information and more, LinearLogic’s ScanGauge II. (Similar devices that cater to drag racers give many other data but leave fuel economy off the list.)
Here’s the lowdown on what these devices will tell you.
Built-in devices
The built-in personal on many new vehicles normally include a button that lets you scroll through trip miles, average speed, average mpg, and instant mpg.
Instant mpg
You’ll notice the instant mpg is mercurial, zipping up to 99 mpg at some times and down below 10 mpg at others. This figure gives you direct feedback to inform your driving. The value can be quite high when you’re coasting and low during both low-speed driving and acceleration.
Unfortunately, we can’t coast everywhere, and driving uphill is especially troublesome. However, by observing the magnitude of the benefit of coasting, you can begin to appreciate it more and find ways to integrate more coasting into your driving. For instance, you might find more opportunities to coast into traffic signals rather than traveling full speed and slamming on the brake at the last minute.
Average mpg
The average mpg is much more stable than the instant number. It tracks the average fuel economy since the last time the device was set.
Typically, you can reset these devices as often as you like. You can observe your car’s average mpg over a period of time to spot rising or falling trends. Doing so can help you figure out if your most recent driving activity is improving fuel economy.
Once you’re confident with fuel-saving techniques-like more coasting, not using excessive braking, and avoiding high-revving the engine-you might want to switch from instant to average mpg display. It’s easier to read and can feel nearly like a video game, where your goal is to keep pushing the number higher.
Aftermarket devices
Like other feedback units, the ScanGauge II can also display a lot of other data, including fuel-burn rate in gallons per hour.
This stat can be useful in observing engine efficiency. For example, a cold engine generally idles faster and draws more fuel. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to combat this condition except to drive your car and let it warm up.
Another nice feature of these devices is that they can scan a car’s databank for trouble codes-the numbers mechanics use to diagnose problems with your vehicle. This information can alert you to mechanical issues. It can also potentially save you some money, if you’re inclined to do a little home auto repair.
Real-world results
Improving your fuel economy can be as simple as paying attention to how you drive and closing the “feedback loop.”
I’ve been able to get about a 15 percent improvement, averaging 45 mpg in the summertime in a vehicle that normally averages 39 mpg. I also use a driving technique called “Pulse-and-Glide” that works ideal in combination with feedback.
So check out these devices, or maybe you’ve got one on your new automobile. But don’t forget to watch the road!
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