Scan Gauge: Choice of Hypermilers Everywhere

Last week Inside Line published a great story about hypermiling (getting the highest MPG possible) called "Breaking the 100-Mile MPG Barrier." In the story it mentions that hypermilers use the ScanGauge to check their fuel economy as they try different mileage-stretching techniques.  

We used the ScanGauge for "We Test the Tips II" and found that it was accurate enough to give a picture of what was happening without having to fill the tank to check fuel economy. I loaned our ScanGauge to Joe Spina Edmunds senior manager of remarketing, and here are some of the results he recorded:

"I used the Scangauge last weekend during a camping trip with my boys. I drive my 2003 2wd, 4cyl Toyota Highlander and it was equipped with a Yakima cargo box on the factory roof rack with as much junk as I could squeeze in and a Thule bicycle hitch rack with 3 bikes...

The drive to the campground outside of just Temecula was a bit windy and there is a slight elevation gain. I drove on the highway at about 65 mph on the way there and averaged 24.7 mpg. Driving home I averaged exactly 26.0. There was some wind, but I drove faster, mostly 70-75, which seemed to keep it at about 2,900-3,200 or so rpm.

"Driving to work today in light traffic I averaged 29.4. I was at 30.3 until I hit stop-and-go traffic. The EPA specs on Edmunds.com for my vehicle are 22/27 mpg. I have checked the mileage in the past with my own calculations and have averaged from 22-25 mpg, driving in mostly heavy stop-and-go traffic."

Joe seemed pretty amazed to be getting decent fuel economy despite his roof rack and bike carrier. The extra weight and aerodynamic drag was offset by driving at a steady, reduced speed. But once these factors were removed, and it was just him driving in light traffic, the mileage shot up to nearly 30 mpg.

The ScanGauge helped Joe focus on getting better fuel economy and gave him a clearer picture of factors involved. If we all had fuel economy gauges, we would be in the fix we're in right now.

Posted by

Philip Reed June 9, 2008, 10:24 AM

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