Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General MSN makes me laugh

Weather Effects
Note that road and weather conditions have a role, too, in the fuel economy of your vehicle. Driving into a 20-mph headwind can reduce fuel economy by as much as 6 percent. Driving up a mountain road with a 7 percent grade can cut fuel economy by as much as 25 percent. Driving on gravel and in slush and snow requires a bit more fuel, too.

I took that off MSN's Ways to save at the pump article. Its kind of funny. It says a 7% grade can cut fuel 25%

Well I get 16.5mpg at best, guess what sits outside my house that I drive passed everyday! A sign that says 7% grade slope. lol so if i'm suppose to get about 22mpg with a duratec, 0.75*22 = 16.5! A little bit ironic lol. The hill still isn't the only thing I drive, but I guess that could have a bit to do with it!

PA is like that...I live on a hill, and there's a huge hill on my way home (St. Mike's hill if any of you know of it) and too many other hills to even count, or mention, but I still get around 25 MPG, probably 'cause I baby my car and shift around 2,500 RPMs usually, but I think my owners manual tells me to do that anyway.

If you're getting 16.5 something isn't right, unless you drive ALL city stop and go... Is that recent??

Sounds like a good tune-up is in order...

Oh yea, what they're trying to suggest is that when you get drafting points you also get better gas mileage...

i assume you also go down those hills and not just up them, perhaps they cancel eachother out somewhat?

Yeah, I guess it does, but I'm not sure if the MPG is an equal gain going down as it is a loss going up.

yeah it cancels out the rotors! They are starting to warp just slightly. Nothing major, but will probably need new ones within a year.

but anyway hehe I have a slightly heavy foot when I want to! lol Going to do some maintance this weekend, oil, and fuel filter. Hoping that helps. I'll see what that does and I'll try to drive like a sane person

Hey I know what you mean I skimmed the article today. I get the same MPG as you do. And it sucks.

Another stupid MSN article is the on about the racing line.

Principle is sound, but considering the width of the roads following the line isn't practical ... or do they mean you should cross over lanes on blind bends and risk head on collision's ??

Whether or not you "choose" to cross the painted lines:

The principal and execution of apex-timing is the most efficient means of exiting a corner at the highest rate of speed, and least amount of gravitational pull (when combined together)

You can use the ENTIRE paved area as one lane, crossing the painted lines, head on collisions, etc) or you can modify that approach to only include your half.. or further to only include one lane.. the maneuvers are still the same, just to a lesser degree.

(I AM NOT ADVOCATING CROSSING THE PAINTED LINE AT ANY TIME.. )

Ray