Most Efficient Auto Car

[red91sit]

1. UfoTofU - http://www.gassavers.org/gaslog/sig.php?id=139
2. repete86 - http://www.gassavers.org/gaslog/sig.php?id=237
3. lindermant - http://www.gassavers.org/gaslog/sig.php?id=123
4. OdieTurbo - http://www.gassavers.org/gaslog/sig.php?id=367
5. zpilito - http://www.gassavers.org/gaslog/sig.php?id=308


:EDIT: current scoreboard, I will try to keep an Eye on this, but I'm rather busy lately with graduation, So feel free to PM me, if your number 5, or for any other reasons.

I was wondering who has the most fuel efficient Automatic Transmission car on this forum? I thought we could have our own fun little competition.

Just taking the numbers from the Fuel Competition, Zpilito seems to have the most gas friendly A/T car! at 42.44.
:thumbup:


Anyone got anything higher than this?

::EDIT 2:: I shoudl have clarified this, the scoreboard is for Gasoline powered only vehicles, electric propulsion assistance is not included.

[zpiloto]

I was wondering who has the most fuel efficient Automatic Transmission car on this forum? I thought we could have our own fun little competition.

Just taking the numbers from the Fuel Competition, Zpilito seems to have the most gas friendly A/T car! at 42.44.
:thumbup:


Anyone got anything higher than this?
Percentage EPA wise Repete86 and his Accord put me to shame:) then there's omgwtfbyobbq in the Camry.

[lovemysan]

odieturbo is running an unmolested saturn around 40mpg. I'm not sure what his driving style is or if he's modded it yet.

[OdieTurbo]

odieturbo is running an unmolested saturn around 40mpg. I'm not sure what his driving style is or if he's modded it yet.

Thanks lovemysan, so far I've only pumped the air in the tires up to 45 PSI. As to driving style, keeping it at or under the speed limit (at 65 MPH on the highway, I'm the slowest guy there!) Easy on the throttle, no more than 2500 RPM max.

I've got some mods in mind, I was waiting to get in the FE competition (I'm now in it), and saving up some $$$.

See "The_Last_SL1" for a list of mods I plan on.

[lovemysan]

Thanks lovemysan, so far I've only pumped the air in the tires up to 45 PSI. As to driving style, keeping it at or under the speed limit (at 65 MPH on the highway, I'm the slowest guy there!) Easy on the throttle, no more than 2500 RPM max.

I've got some mods in mind, I was waiting to get in the FE competition (I'm now in it), and saving up some $$$.

See "The_Last_SL1" for a list of mods I plan on.

I just checked your gaslog. Nice and consistant. You must be pretty careful to lock the convertor up. Diamondlarry was saying there's a trick way to lock the convertor in 2nd gear. You might pm'him about it.

It takes about 10min and 300 clicks to fill an SL tank.

[omgwtfbyobbq]

My Camry doesn't count, the EPA highway is wayyyy off compared to cruising with the tcc locked, and I have pretty nice driving conditions. I'd love a Saturn, w/ being able to coast four down. Given engine-off coasting opportunities, I'd be able to go from ~35mpg to ~40mpg. Course, that's nowhere near the 50-60+mpg I'd expect from a manual transmission w/ the right OD gearing, but it's still nice. I wonder if bump starting Saturns is easier on the engine w/ autos compared to manuals, with the fluid coupling and all?

[Bill in Houston]

I don't think that AT cars can be bump started. They tend to go into neutral if the engine isn't spinning. Maybe I missed something.

Anyway, since it seems that most people buy AT cars, I hope that the manufacturers can make them a lot more efficient, and quickly.

[ELF]

We used to bump start auto's back in the old days. when we had sub zero temps a lot of cars would not start due to weaker batteries and starters that needed more power than current ones. we used a tow rope or chain and had to get going about 40mph before the engine would start spinning.
I would think that would be pretty hard on the tranny though.

[omgwtfbyobbq]

I was thinking it'd be easier on the engine than bump starting a manual, since the fluid coupling has more give than a direct mechanical connection, and the transmission would naturally drop into whatever gear, but i dunno crap about autos, so that's all speculation.

[bzipitidoo]

So far, according to the Scangauge, the best I've gotten in my recently acquired '99 Metro with an auto tranny is 45.6 MPG. That was average over a 25 mile trip, at night (but the thing has daytime running lights so I can't see headlights making much difference), and in the rain. Maybe the humidity helped?

Been managing 40 MPG nearly every trip.

[zpiloto]

Curious how many of the auto are EOC'ing?

[repete86]

I do. You can start the motor back up while moving in neutral, but you need to hold it in start for a second longer than normal or else the engine will stall and refuse to start for about a minute.

[red91sit]

We used to bump start auto's back in the old days. when we had sub zero temps a lot of cars would not start due to weaker batteries and starters that needed more power than current ones. we used a tow rope or chain and had to get going about 40mph before the engine would start spinning.
I would think that would be pretty hard on the tranny though.


On old automatic transmissions they had a pump working both ways, so that you COULD bump start them like you said. Since the 80's though, I dont' think any automatic transmissions have this feature

[OdieTurbo]

Curious how many of the auto are EOC'ing?

Just started doing it! Finding more and more opportunities as well. I would like an engine kill and engine start button though. Diamondlarry just pm'd me how to put in an injector kill, I'll get that hooked up ASAP!

[UfoTofU]

My CRX is auto and you can see my average below in my signature.

I have recently moved to a more congested area so that is undoubtedly going to change my MPG. I haven't gone through a full tank yet at our new address though.

[red91sit]

Wow! there are some really exceptionally good gas mileage auto's on here! I'm hoping my gas mileage will go up soon, I'ts hard to get around to working on it with so much else going on (graduation next friday woot woot)

[SVOboy]

When is the stick going in?

[bobski]

Another auto CRX here. I've hit 42 mpg on long highway trips, cruising at around 75 mph. I generally get 34-37 in day to day driving. This is with a D16Z6 swap (done for power rather than FE) and the lockup solenoid wired to ignition switched power.

[striegel]

The Scion xB has an automatic and I'm using engine-off coasting daily during my commutes. I just got a ScanGauge II about a week ago and have begun to watch the instantaneous MPG and tank average. Today I managed to attain 40.3 mpg overall for my 26 mile roundtrip. That feels like progress.

[red91sit]

:thumbup: Gotta start posting your fill ups in the gas logs :thumbup:

[OdieTurbo]

1. zpilito - http://www.gassavers.org/gaslog/sig.php?id=308
2. UfoTofU - http://www.gassavers.org/gaslog/sig.php?id=139
3. repete86 - http://www.gassavers.org/gaslog/sig.php?id=237
4. OdieTurbo - http://www.gassavers.org/gaslog/sig.php?id=367


Must... get... better... mileage...!!!

[red91sit]

Must... get... better... mileage...!!!

lol, your telling me, my last fill up was under 30 :'(. But for the next one, Im gonna use a FULL grill block, and just use an old a/c fan to suck in fresh air. Should work :D

[lindermant]

best tank on my '05 civic auto was 50mpg (last summer)... I've been slacking a bit and not posting too much here lately, but I did just update my gaslog

[red91sit]

And we have all top 5 spots filled now! Time to see some competition up there. Hopefully I'll get there someday, but I haven't driven my car since last Saturday.

[red91sit]

Ooh We've had some changes to the leader board!

[Hockey4mnhs]

i love how we compete! i really want to make that list but it will be a while

[OdieTurbo]

Woohoo! I just hit 47.58 MPG on my last trip! Yay me! I rock! Wort wort! :)

[StanleyD]

i love how we compete! i really want to make that list but it will be a while

I recently has 36+ mpg tank (Best ever) which I feel is excellent considering I was doing 27+ a couple months ago and 29 when I joined this site. I know I'l never make that list with "98 Camry" as the car is just to big compared to others gas-miser cars on this site. But it still feels good getting these mileage numbers. My goal is a 700 mile tank and 40 mpg.

Curious how many of the auto are EOC'ing?

I heard (from users HERE) that its NOT good to EOC in an automatic unless your car is capable of being towed at regular speeds. I never knew that autos has issues with being toed on four wheel. Anyway, its not good for an automatic to be pushed/pulled and roll (Hence EOC) without the engine being on because your fluids responsible for lubing the tranny are not flowing. Please be care ODIE and make sure that EOC is not damaging your tranny. You should idle coast instead of EOC.
What is everyone else's take on this? There is a thread on this. Wish I knew where it was

[Hockey4mnhs]

i do a little eoc maybe 20 miles a tank if that. im to take a little risk to get a record tank but i wouldent do it all the time.

[Rick Rae]

...its not good for an automatic to be pushed/pulled and roll (Hence EOC) without the engine being on because your fluids responsible for lubing the tranny are not flowing... What is everyone else's take on this?
I can toss in some info from far left field. :D Due to odd (and I hope temporary) circumstances, my SG is currently reporting transmission temperature instead of engine temperature. :eek:

Monday I drove about 150 miles with a clear sky and afternoon temperatures in the high 90s. The AT would normally run about 215F to 225F. However, during NICE-ON glides it would quickly climb to 230F or 235F. IIRC the highest temperature logged for the day was 240F.

I figure this is because the pump is circulating the transmission fluid more slowly at engine idle so heat has more of a chance to build up. No idea where the AT temperature sensor is located though, so that theory could be bogus. Regardless, it's another factor making me uneasy about neutral coasting in my car.

At any rate, on a VW Cabrio (Golf III platform) at least, even gliding in neutral with the engine on likely adds extra stress. I can only imagine what would happen with the engine off when there's no flow at all. (I can only imagine 'cuz I ain't tryin' it. :p Except for 20 foot gravity starts from a parking space or the last five feet rolling into position after keying off.)

Rick

[OdieTurbo]

Please be care ODIE and make sure that EOC is not damaging your tranny. You should idle coast instead of EOC.

No problem on the Saturn SL1's. The tranny is not your normal automatic. It is basically an electronically contolled solenoid shifted manual with a torque converter. In layman's terms, the SL1's can be towed on all 4 with the engine off. So us Saturn guys are AOK :)

Heck, if anyone's interested, I found a thread on the Saturn Fans website where I guy converted his auto to a manual by manually controlling the servos and the torque converter lockup! I'll have to dig it up.

[StanleyD]

No problem on the Saturn SL1's. The tranny is not your normal automatic. It is basically an electronically contolled solenoid shifted manual with a torque converter. In layman's terms, the SL1's can be towed on all 4 with the engine off. So us Saturn guys are AOK :)....

Damn it !!! Lucky you. I hate you !! (Jealousy talking)
Well then I guess that means EOC is OK for Saturn automatics
and EOC = NOt Ok on all other automatics.
My next car will definitelty be a manual. 98 Camry was from family member which is why I bought it. If it was up to me I would have bought manual because I like contol of stick shift and are WAY cheaper to fix than trannys, but now I have another reason to buy manual cars (aside from fact that they're at least a grand cheaper when new)

[GeekGuyAndy]

I still EOC, but I try not to do it at high speeds as much. I'd say read your manual and see what it has to say. Mine recommends <20mph / <30 miles. Since I'm never coasting that far, I don't see a problem with 40mph for a few miles. I think my longer coasts will be in N now though.

I'll get on that top 5 soon enough! My last tank was ~35, and I didn't have a scangauge or any mods to help.

EDIT: Got an SGII and front air dam. 40mpg runs, watch out!

[itjstagame]

Sometimes I coast in neutral with the engine on but I worry about shifting back into gear, I mean by truck is old and I don't want to overstress anything. But it makes a HUGE difference in how far I coast, my transmission must really transmit the engine braking effect well (unlike some which will almost fully disengage when not on throttle).

I've only EOC in my GFs car, because her auto shifter is on the floor and much easier to select neutral in (unlike the shifter on the column in my truck where I sometimes go flying past neutral and into R :D ). And then I only do it when I'm rolling up to a red light that I know will take at least 1-2 mins to cycle. This way I figure I'll save the little bit heading to the light and sitting at the light (I hate seeing the 0 MPG while at a light and idling). I wish I didn't have to restart though, the car revs so high and it stressed my starter and electrical system. I think the car just needs to idle at 300-400rpm somehow....

[vt420]

hmm.. the way I see it, soe of the hyrids and diesels are going to have autos too, so did you mean best non-hybrid gasoline automatic mpg? that seems like an awful lot of restrictions, and sounds a little like someone trying to make him/her self feel better about choising a less efficent drive train

I'm not trying to be rude, or start a flame-war. I just think if all you say is automatic, then the diesels and hybrids that don't have 3 pedals should count also. If you mean non-hybrid and gasoline, then it should have been stated.

Jeff

[GeekGuyAndy]

It's not like I bought this auto... If I had a choice I certainly wouldn't have an auto

[bobski]

[...] that don't have 3 pedals [...]
My dad drives an '05 Toyota MR2 spyder with a sequential manual transmission. It's not the "sport shift" you see in many automatics these days, but a hydraulicly operated, computer controlled manual transmission. There's no 'drive' shifter position, you have to hit shift + or -, or it doesn't shift. If you let off the brakes while stopped on a slight incline, the car drifts downhill, even if that means rolling backwards... You have to hit the gas before the computer will start feathering in the clutch.
So... For the purpose of this thread, is an SMT an automatic, or a manual? It's only got two pedals.

Oh, and to update my earlier post, I recently hit 45.76 MPG on a return trip from NC.

[Bill in Houston]

Ya, there was a whole thread on what constitutes an automatic. To me a torque converter is the defining characteristic. To others, the inability to EOC made a car an automatic.

[cfg83]

OdieTurbo -

No problem on the Saturn SL1's. The tranny is not your normal automatic. It is basically an electronically contolled solenoid shifted manual with a torque converter. In layman's terms, the SL1's can be towed on all 4 with the engine off. So us Saturn guys are AOK :)

Heck, if anyone's interested, I found a thread on the Saturn Fans website where I guy converted his auto to a manual by manually controlling the servos and the torque converter lockup! I'll have to dig it up.

Man I never knew that!

I really think it would be GREAT if you found that thread. Half the agony of an auto is having no control as to when it shifts.

The more I think of it, this makes sense. The Saturn auto *does* look like the manual, except for a big metal bulge on top. That must be where all the auto control stuff is housed.

Also, the Saturn manual transmission uses automatic transmission fluid. NOW I KNOW WHY! Its a dual-purpose transmission.

CarloSW2

[vt420]

a lot of manuals use ATF, BMW used to specify it also.

[red91sit]

Wow! UfoTofU has recored some amazingly good gas mileages with his automatic! It's amazing how 20 years after these little cars introductions, they're still amazing little vehicles.

[red91sit]

hmm.. the way I see it, soe of the hyrids and diesels are going to have autos too, so did you mean best non-hybrid gasoline automatic mpg? that seems like an awful lot of restrictions, and sounds a little like someone trying to make him/her self feel better about choising a less efficent drive train

I'm not trying to be rude, or start a flame-war. I just think if all you say is automatic, then the diesels and hybrids that don't have 3 pedals should count also. If you mean non-hybrid and gasoline, then it should have been stated.

Jeff

Very good point. Yesh i did mean to have it for just gasoline powered, non-hybrid slushbox owners. I didn't do it so much to make me feel better, but more to for all the other owners of slushbox, gassers's out there. I kept finding these vehicles to be largely ignored due to the fact they get much lower gas mileage than their manual transmission counterparts, and there wasn't a lot of competition for them, as there would be if they were manual.

That's the main reason i made this, to promote them for what they are, and hopefully encourage them to work a little harder at getting up there. I know I've got a little more motivated from seeing such high gas mileages!

[cfg83]

OdieTurbo -

OdieTurbo -

...

Man I never knew that!

I really think it would be GREAT if you found that thread. Half the agony of an auto is having no control as to when it shifts.

The more I think of it, this makes sense. The Saturn auto *does* look like the manual, except for a big metal bulge on top. That must be where all the auto control stuff is housed.

Also, the Saturn manual transmission uses automatic transmission fluid. NOW I KNOW WHY! Its a dual-purpose transmission.
(NOTE : vt420 corrected me that this is not uncommon on manual transmissions)

CarloSW2

I think this is the thread you are talking about :

Don't hate - automatic tranny experiment
http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99128
Hey, now before you all call me a ricer and what I'm working on is wrong, consider the fact that it doesn't cost A WHOLE LOT and lotsa people with automatics would find this interesting! ;) Plus this is my second car now, so I want to experiment and make something different.

Well, here's the deal:

I'm making my automatic "manually controlled".
That's right. I will select 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or reverse gears ELECTRONICALLY and INDEPENDENTLY from the computer. Not only that, but I will use the TCC as my CLUTCH :cool:

Since I have some mediocre background in electronics, I've learned that the tranny is fully electronically controlled by turning shift solenoids in the valve body on or off. I feel that sometimes, I want more control (though other times I want it to be auto). I would like to be able to select gears and hold them for as long as I feel necessary. I want to be able to select 1st gear and stay in it, etc.

I've noticed only one solenoid is open during various gears, and by identifying those solenoids I can control the shifting. I also noticed the torque converter lockup clutch is controlled by a single wire, so I can "apply" the clutch (and disengage it) any time I want, just like a real clutch!

Well, so far I went past the "proof of concept" part and installed the "clutch pedal". I can now control when the torque converter locks up. I have a switch that lets me decide whether I want the computer to apply the clutch, or whether I want to do it manually. It's been pretty fun squeaking wheels by "dropping the clutch" :D The computer never locks up the TCC in 1st gear.

I'll let you know how this project goes. I'm looking into steering-mounted controls like in those high-end cars that let me go up or down a gear with a push of a button.

Rain is a major problem in this state, so it's taking me a while. Let me know if you guys think it's something worth documenting so more people can do this mod. Somebody else once did a similar thing in another Saturn, but nobody has heard from that person anymore.


CarloSW2