So i did a trip. Revelstoke BC, Spokane WA, Portland OR, Salem, Astoria, up the coast to Seattle, Victoria BC and home a bit over 1K miles. I decided to try to get great MPG. So never over 60mph. Rarely over 2200rpm. Drive without shoes, Downshift before pushing on the loud pedal..... It was tough to avoid the desire to stay in front of the BMWs but the goal of incredible MPG somehow got the better of me and I always lifted off to encourage passing.
I also drove 90% secondary highways. Only on the Interstate thru the Tacoma/Seattle corridor..... altho I would have needed to be incredibly aggressive to exceed the speed limit on I5. It was a great trip. Colfax WA was a beautiful little town. The gorge, I stopped, found a motel early because sunsets are incredible. Portland was "enlightening". Salem a great stop, cool to see Chris for coffee. And up the coast Cutler City,,,, wow. and wow all the way to Seaside. I thought I was going to tow my trailer but really, spring was late this year and then I'd not have done the MPG thing.
So how did I do.... well I've never beat 19mpg before but the hyper miler thing of driving without shoes and the keep it around 2K rpm really worked. Not the stuff to get pissed over but my worst over 1K miles was 20mpg. My best on the slow Portland, Salem, Cutler City, Astoria, Seaside, Seattle stretch,,, 23mpg. It was painful but hey 23mpg in a TJR, with 33s ands 4.10s.... I'm exstatic. I have trouble beating 15mpg around home... altho that includes towing a 2000# trailer. I bet a dedicated hyper miler could get over 25mpg.... but I doubt any of those guys would give up their TDI Jettas.
All in it was a great experiment. On the side, I needed a heater core and got that done in Spokane at Tune Tech. You know, you have to pull the dash and steering column to replace the heater core..... 5 hours, $847.00. My next vehicle will have a carburetor.
I also drove 90% secondary highways. Only on the Interstate thru the Tacoma/Seattle corridor..... altho I would have needed to be incredibly aggressive to exceed the speed limit on I5. It was a great trip. Colfax WA was a beautiful little town. The gorge, I stopped, found a motel early because sunsets are incredible. Portland was "enlightening". Salem a great stop, cool to see Chris for coffee. And up the coast Cutler City,,,, wow. and wow all the way to Seaside. I thought I was going to tow my trailer but really, spring was late this year and then I'd not have done the MPG thing.
So how did I do.... well I've never beat 19mpg before but the hyper miler thing of driving without shoes and the keep it around 2K rpm really worked. Not the stuff to get pissed over but my worst over 1K miles was 20mpg. My best on the slow Portland, Salem, Cutler City, Astoria, Seaside, Seattle stretch,,, 23mpg. It was painful but hey 23mpg in a TJR, with 33s ands 4.10s.... I'm exstatic. I have trouble beating 15mpg around home... altho that includes towing a 2000# trailer. I bet a dedicated hyper miler could get over 25mpg.... but I doubt any of those guys would give up their TDI Jettas.
All in it was a great experiment. On the side, I needed a heater core and got that done in Spokane at Tune Tech. You know, you have to pull the dash and steering column to replace the heater core..... 5 hours, $847.00. My next vehicle will have a carburetor.
