I like it and I hope to see it grow more detailed over time.
Conversely, I think a "Top Ten" list of the biggies should be pulled out of it, to provide an easy-to-digest quickie guide to the 10 most important things the average motorist can do. Because, as much as WE like to obsess over this stuff, I can imagine the average motorist's eyes glazing over by the time they get to #15. And it wouldn't hurt to use some sort of memory jogging tricks, so that the layman doesn't forget it right away. A silly rhyme, or a ten-letter acronym, or a song perhaps?
That's a good idea and sound like a thread for all it own. Of course that would be subjective but My numbero uno would be instantaneous FE feedback
I think you touched on it with number 58 (Push it 1), but an addendum could be never get yourself into a space you'll have to reverse out of when parking in public spaces.
It sounds like a contradiction, but there are rare times when braking hard can save fuel compared to coasting or light braking: it's a "damage control" technique when faced with an unpredictable/unanticipated stop or slow down ahead.
I call this 'pre-braking', or braking early to save momentum. It's not really about braking hard, it's about braking early. Don't want people to slam on their brakes for seemingly no reason. I would also say this is for stop/slow looking far ahead
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50) Use the 'racing line'
Knowing how to pick the "racing line" through a corner, when safe, can help to preserve momentum. Generally, the racing line is the path through a turn with the largest possible radius. It may permits a higher speed with more comfort (less body roll and g-forces), and less tire scrub.
'It may permits'?
Minor nit: What we're looking for is the balance between shortest path and highest exit speed. For many curves we want to cut the inside corner, not go the long way around, in order to decrease distance traveled.
A true racing line is one where the entry speed is high and where you can get back on the loud pedal earliest.
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My bike runs on dihydrogen monoxide.
I like to use these acronyms
It's not really about braking hard, it's about braking early. Don't want people to slam on their brakes
I guess I didn't explain it well. I meant to convey it's the type of braking I do when you've mis-timed a stop/slowdown or you're presented with one that was impossible to predict and you want to salvage what you can in the remaining (short) space. It's reactionary rather than anticipatory. (And I do mention the safety consideration of braking sharply.)
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'It may permits'?
Thanks. I'm sure that's not the only typo/brain fart in the list.
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Minor nit:
Good points. I did qualify it with "generally" Anyone who knows a bit about actual racing may take issue with the oversimplification in that tip. (Strictly speaking, the racing line isn't always the largest radius.)
I think you touched on it with number 58 (Push it 1), but an addendum could be never get yourself into a space you'll have to reverse out of when parking in public spaces.
Good point - that's actually covered in "Parking tactics: reverse in"
Conversely, I think a "Top Ten" list of the biggies should be pulled out of it, to provide an easy-to-digest quickie guide to the 10 most important things the average motorist can do.
What would be on your top-10 for the average motorist (who will probably never really go into the "advanced" stuff).
I agree with Laz's first one: instrumentation.
I'd add: reduce highway cruising speed as a no-brainer with a big payback. For the "average" motorist I might condense the momentum conservation tips into "why are you still accelerating towards that red light?"
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Because, as much as WE like to obsess over this stuff, I can imagine the average motorist's eyes glazing over by the time they get to #15.
True, though the list isn't really meant for the general public. The general public can continue to get their tips from the occasional newspaper or TV item. If you're on this site, you've already demonstrated you're not average (to put it carefully).
What would be on your top-10 for the average motorist (who will probably never really go into the "advanced" stuff).
I agree with Laz's first one: instrumentation.
I'd add: reduce highway cruising speed as a no-brainer with a big payback. For the "average" motorist I might condense the momentum conservation tips into "why are you still accelerating towards that red light?"
True, though the list isn't really meant for the general public. The general public can continue to get their tips from the occasional newspaper or TV item. If you're on this site, you've already demonstrated you're not average (to put it carefully).
The "Average" motorist is not going to invest in extra instrumentation for economy. He may be persuaded to use the on-board stuff.(I've talked two of my co-workers into this, the price of SG turns them off, ie "Do you know how much gas I can get for $170"?)
I would like you to make a printer friendly page for it.
I will print it and put it up in the employee lounge.
If that's not an option for us I will see if I can cut and paste to MS Word and go from there.
I hadn't considered half drive half bike before, good suggestion.
I will have to see where I can park and ride, then I must go buy a bicycle. Everything in time, one step at a time.
Darin and Ben,
Thank You for all you do, I am sure this is your second or third full time job.
Schultz.
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I drive a piece 'o' Krap, so remember, "If you can't be handsome at least be handy"(Red Green).Schultz.
!!WooHoo I did it!! (now for the 55 MPG mark)
If you find you have too much momentum after reaching your preferred parking spot, continue coasting further down the row or "orbiting" a spot until you can roll to a stop in position without touching the brakes. (Depending on traffic in the lot, obviously.)
Seems like a no brainer, but if this list is intended to be distributed amongst unlike minded individuals...
"Never idle!"
This is quite possibly the most annoying habit I see, I'll be walking to class and walk by 10s of cars that are just sitting there running so the owner can use the radio or a/c. Worse yet it's generally always a girl just putting on make up while the car is left running. Saw this yesterday with a lifted Hummer H2, almost lost it. haha.
Nice, detailed list. It's nice to see it all in one place.
I have a comment regarding #86 and #89, referring to the A/C.
In my experience, the average person thinks the A/C has to be on max blower and max cold. Under those conditions, it's adding maximum load.
I typically turn on the A/C once I'm cruising, not while starting out or in tight traffic. Once it cools down enough to be effective, I adjust down the temp to a more moderate level, something less than max cold.
At highway speeds, my A/C can create frost bite. So, I back it down and while it will still run, it will run less often but still provide cooling - much like your manual cycling, but more "hands free."
brad: that idling thing has got to be one of my biggest pet peeves.
Idiots around here abuse autostarts big time, and even those without autostarts still let 'em run run run.
A local church had a save at the pump day where gas was a $1.00 off the posted price. As expected a large crowd showed up. It was reported that there were people that waited in line for over an hour and a half. Now on a 85 degree day how many people do you suppose were sitting there with the car and AC off for the time they waited.
It's essentially damage control. If you've still got some momentum when you get to where you were going to park, don't brake & waste the momentum to park in that exact spot. If you have the option of rolling into a different space, keep coasting until you can pull through just as you stop.
It's orbiting because you may end up circling around your intended spot a little.
Functionally it adds nothing to your trip, but it will help the MPG numbers slightly.
If you find you have too much momentum after reaching your preferred parking spot, continue coasting further down the row or "orbiting" a spot until you can roll to a stop in position without touching the brakes. (Depending on traffic in the lot, obviously.)
I'm with him ... if you reach a parking space with to much momentum keep circling? Screw it just park ... I would think, the time wasted idling while you coast is more than the time it takes to brake and shut your car right?
Or if you coast with engine off, then why dos it matter, brake and park ...
Or did I miss some point here ?
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Thx NoCO2; "The biggest FE mod you can make is to adjust the nut behind the wheel"
I am a precisional instrument of speed and aeromatics
If your knees bent in the opposite direction......what would a chair look like???
If you're coasting engine off, doing anything other than rolling to a stop will lower your potential fuel economy. Yes, we're talking about tiny differences.
If you're idling and moving at a low speed, then yes, you should just go ahead and park.
The take-home message is: avoid the brake pedal. Parking is one time you may have the option of rolling to a complete stop because there's no set 'stop line' if you have flexibility on which spot you can choose.
Anyone who knows a bit about actual racing may take issue with the oversimplification in that tip. (Strictly speaking, the racing line isn't always the largest radius.)
