Festiva 60Mpg Challenge!!

[ericsmith32]

40 miles isn't enough period. Do your loop til you're down at least a quarter tank.

Doing that many laps around St. Louis cuts your life expectancy.. and probably sanity.

[Pu241]

Doing that many laps around St. Louis cuts your life expectancy.. and probably sanity.

Tom's old and his grip on sanity is tenuous at best, so he's the perfect pilot for these tests.

[TominMO]

Doing that many laps around St. Louis cuts your life expectancy.. and probably sanity.

Ha! Too late!

Tom's old and his grip on sanity is tenuous at best, so he's the perfect pilot for these tests.

Yeah, so there. Wait.....

[eurotiva]

Tom, the next test should be how fast you can complete that 80 mile loop.

[TominMO]

Tom, the next test should be how fast you can complete that 80 mile loop.

I would estimate about 50 minutes, except for the variable: getting pulled over by the cops about three times. But I'm sure they'd let me go once I explained that it was for a scientific experiment.

[eurotiva]

I would estimate about 50 minutes, except for the variable: getting pulled over by the cops about three times. But I'm sure they'd let me go once I explained that it was for a scientific experiment.

They have to catch you to stop you. Spike strips only work if you hit them.

[Pu241]

They have to catch you to stop you. Spike strips only work if you hit them.

Or if you have pneumatic tires!

Need to go solid rubber tires, no flats, ever!
of course the ride is a bit harsh, but gives you more incentive to develop better struts.

[deathegg]

...But I'm sure they'd let me go once I explained that it was for a scientific experiment.

Engineer: "Is this a hold-up?"
Doc: "It's a science experiment!"


p.s. Woo Hoo!! 1000 posts!!

[jesteratc]

Greg: No!! lol. Id ask a few thousand dollars for it anyway. I have no intention of selling it anymore.

Ill take the Criticism vs spending hrs driving around the state.

I just want to beat my Girlfriends mpg, in a similar test. If i always drove under the same conditions, it would be my gas mileage.

I know that there will be some discrepencies with filling the tank, but honestly im just going to the first click, and im using the same filler pump station.

I calculated the total trip. 18.0 miles 1 way, 17.9 miles returning. That difference is from looping on and off the highway.

Total Trip 35.9 Miles

Goal = 60 mpg.

Max gas allowed to be used during challange = .5983 gallons of gas (Target)

So anything less than .598 gallons at fill up is a success.

Tonight is my first test. Ill pump the tires up to 45psi, fill her up, then head out.

Ill probably leave around 7:00 tonight. Just so traffic should have died down by then.

Thanks for the support everyone.

[TominMO]

Pumping to the first click is very inaccurate. And for such a short distance, you won't get any meaningful numbers. Do it right and fill it to the max.

Do your tires say on the sidewall that they can be pumped to 45 PSI?

[jesteratc]

Nope Tires dont say that. Just a number i wanted to use.

Fill it up to the max? Wont it splash out? This is when i wish i had an easily removable fuel cell that i could weigh prior, and after testing.

[Pu241]

Nope Tires dont say that. Just a number i wanted to use.

Be careful about over inflating the tires.
I'm not concerned about wear so much as if they have many miles or years on them they are not as strong as they once were.
Best to run them to maximum cold inflation and see what you get MPG wise.

Fill it up to the max? Wont it splash out? This is when i wish i had an easily removable fuel cell that i could weigh prior, and after testing.

It will splash out if you run it full rate.
Easiest way I've found to fill the tank accurately is to set the pump flow rate on its lowest handle lock setting and let it fill slowly. then manually squeezing in a little at a time till it literally is at the top of the filler neck.
You may have to shake and rock the car to vent the trapped air in the tank.
You can use a 2x6 placed infront of the driver side back tire to drive up on to help the tank vent easier and make it easier to completely fill.

[eurotiva]

I think my focus could get 50mpg @ 45 mph, with no a/c

[sketchman]

I notice no one mentioned advancing ignition timing, or maybe I missed it. Take it to the limit and be VERY careful.

[jesteratc]

Well, lots of advice guys. Tonight im just gonna do the test the way the car is. My girlfriend is riding shotgun shes interested to see what it will be. So i guess for a base line im not changing a thing. I know ive been changing things over the last to days, but at 7:00 tonight we will get gas, do the 40 ish miles, and fill up again. Then ill check tire pressure and everything else.

1 thing i do say about my festiva, its no slouch. I beat other cars constantly, even tho my projected 0-60 is like 10 seconds.

Should be my last update till i come back with the first set of results.