another way to increase your mpg

[Shutterbug]

Being the summer travel season is upon us and with high gas prices I know people are trying to figure out how to make it stretch.

Well I have been using synthetic oil for awhile now and my gas mileage has increased from 30 city/34 hwy to 34 city/36hwy.

This past weekend with a fresh oil change of Mobil 1 synthetic oil I got 40 mpg! If I had been using the cruise control I'm sure it would have been even better. I drive a Civic EX with a 127 hp VTEC engine. Synthetic oil is more expensive but to me its worth it.
Also in the winter my car starts up more easy while using it.

Just a bit of info I thought I might pass on.

 

[FroggyinArk]

looks out window at the full sized 350 v 8 powered suburban i own really doesnt think that synthetic oil would help that much

 

[shelbyjosh]

But you failed to mention how much Mobil 1 oil is. I believe it is around $4.50 a quart. We use this in my truck and it takes 7 quarts!! If you can afford the oil, what does an extra 203 mpg matter????

 

[mmausse]

I bought a Honda CRV mini-SUV 2 years ago. It gets 24-26mpg. ICK

\I contacted my local Ford dealer and got put on the list for the Ford Hybrid Escape SUV - 40 mpg. I told them I don't care what it costs - I want one. I'd really like one NOW, but I can wait a few months.

If everyone bought a hybrid, I bet gas prices would come down because demand would be down.

 

[Shutterbug]

True it does cost more but that extra cost maybe 2 or 3 dollar a quart. 7 x 2 = 14.00 once every 3 months.
I guess if you are just driving around town I guess an extra 2 to 3 miles a gallon isnt much but with me, my gf lives 200 miles away and I visit her as often as possible. So if I can get 40 mpg as opposed to 34-36 that helps.
I have an 11 gallon tank..so I get about an extra 50 miles. And that extra 50 gets me to and from work for the rest of the week.
And yep I run it right down almost to the E

 

[Shutterbug]

Originally posted by mmausse

If everyone bought a hybrid, I bet gas prices would come down because demand would be down.

Honda also makes a Civic hybrid which I have been looking at. It is quite roomy for a hybrid.

 

[KristaTX]

2 or 3 miles per gallon may not sound like a lot when you think of one individual gallon, but most of us go through LOTS of gallons very quickly. Unless synthetic oil is a huge pollutant (I don't know much about it), no one can deny that getting 2 or 3 miles further per gallon would be better for the environment. Especially if a lot of people were getting an extra 2 or 3 miles per gallon.

Our towncar driver in Orlando told us that you don't have to get synthetic oil changed as often. Anyone know if that's true?

 

[MICKEY88]

Originally posted by Shutterbug
True it does cost more but that extra cost maybe 2 or 3 dollar a quart. 7 x 2 = 14.00 once every 3 months.
I guess if you are just driving around town I guess an extra 2 to 3 miles a gallon isnt much but with me, my gf lives 200 miles away and I visit her as often as possible. So if I can get 40 mpg as opposed to 34-36 that helps.
I have an 11 gallon tank..so I get about an extra 50 miles. And that extra 50 gets me to and from work for the rest of the week.
And yep I run it right down almost to the E

it's not good to run your tank down to E..it's best to keep it above 1/4 tank at all times

 

[Shutterbug]

Originally posted by MICKEY88
it's not good to run your tank down to E..it's best to keep it above 1/4 tank at all times

True... you shouldnt do that but I guess I'm such a miser about seeing how much gas I squeek out of a tank I cant help it.
I'm always checking my mileage with each fill up...got that from my dad who keeps a notebook in the car where he keeps track of how much gas he put in the car, cost per gallon, and mileage. He then goes home and puts it into his computer to graph it

 

[my3kids]

I would love an extra 2 or 3 mpg. My car drinks gas like kids with Kool-Aid on a hot summer day.

 

[shelbyjosh]

Mobil 1 oil only needs to be changed every 10,000 miles. I cannot tell a difference in my truck, except that I don't have to waste time every 3 months to go get an oil change.

 

[ToyStory Fan]

Originally posted by shelbyjosh
Mobil 1 oil only needs to be changed every 10,000 miles. I cannot tell a difference in my truck, except that I don't have to waste time every 3 months to go get an oil change.

That may be true, but very few filters will last that long, unless of course you have been using Mobil 1 since the car was brand new - to my knowledge only BMW and Mercedes use Mobil1 right out of the factory and at all their service centers.

 

[shelbyjosh]

We either use the Mobil 1 or Motorcraft filters. DH is very anal about keeping the oil good in my truck. I think if there was any doubt in his mind that the filter wouldn't last the life of the oil, he wouldn't use M1.

 

[Az Pirates]

Originally posted by Shutterbug


Honda also makes a Civic hybrid which I have been looking at. It is quite roomy for a hybrid.

Be sure you check the hybrids carefully before you decide. We looked at them pretty seriously. If you are doing it to help the environment. Great and go you! If you are doing it to save bucks - might not be the best option.

They had a news report here just a week or two ago. They profiled a civic. They figured you would have to own it for at least 7 years to just break even compared to the cost of buying a non-hybrid civic. (that's with the tax credit included) Of course if you drive a lot of miles - may be shorter. Seems they are not getting the gas mileage expected.

We test drove one and they ARE fun to drive - really smooth.