Scooter

With fuel costs going the way they are there are a lot of stories of how much gas you can save by the way you drive i.e. accelerate slowly, short shift by 2,500rmp, drive at 55 instead of 65 etc etc.

Well I though I would test it out on my daily commute (peak hour mixed travel) and here is what I found:

Actions:
- I drove like a granny - seriously frustrating stuff. Used manual change and always accelerated very smoothly, changing by 2,500 - 3,000rpm and not letting engine labor either.
- Reduce highway speed sections from normal 70 ish to 60 ish
- Rolled off earlier to maximise rolling time and have less reliance on brakes.

Result:
- Consumption which is normally 20.2mpg improved over same drive to 22.3mpg (10%).
- Using this method on my weekly commute would save almost exactly 1 gallon

Conclusion:
- My lead footed driving style provides me sooo much more pleasure and only costs me $4 extra per week - bargain

tex_phil

You only get 23MPG driving like a granny in the 525? Wow, I've only had mine a week and the MPG has been higher, around 30.

houbmw

i have a 2007 530i and I get 28 on the highway and 22 (heavy foot) in city and 25 in granny mode!

TXPearl

You only use about 10 gallons a week - must have a short commute.

I agree, $4/week is nothing. However, you're missing the bigger picture - if you and everyone else reduced their consumption by 10% it could have a dramatic impact on overall demand and gas prices (and maybe help curb pollution as well). At the same time, we could reduce our funding of adversarial countries from which we have to buy oil.

The problem is everyone (self-included for the most part) thinks like you. What we're basically saying is that, while we complain about the price of fuel, we're very willing to pay it. That's too bad and I hope it changes soon.

My new motto: STARVE A TERRORIST - DRIVE CONSERVATIVELY 80% OF THE TIME (and have fun the other 20%)

Anzafin

I have always been told that by accelerating fast to desired speed is more economical than slow accelerating.
I think that makes sense; RPM's are high only a short time instead of a long time... However, of course it's
not economical to accelerate hard from lights to lights in a city.

flyingpuck

Strange words for someone from Texas (Our land of Petroleum)

skylolow

Back in my senior year in high school I took an automotive class for a general credit. In that class one of are reading materials touched on that subject(based on some test conducted). Basically accelerating to your desire speed moderately (not hammering it) opposed to slowly accelerating was more fuel effient. Grant it this test was done around the late 80's so who knows how much that rings true to day. But the basis of test was what you were touching on with the RPM's so I'd assume it would still hold some merit today.

Rob X5

Hmm! Interesting that! Would have never thought this way. Need to try...

jmsod

The price of gas sucks, but compare it to other countries. We have been paying relatively low gas prices for a very long period of time. I don't think we have to "make up for that" now, but all in all the gas prices still are not that bad. Plus, anyone who spends $50K+ on a car and complains about the price of gas is just annoying to me. If you really want to "help the problem" then buy a small, hybrid car that gets 60+ mpg and you have no choice but to drive "like a grandma"
Ok, let me jump off my soapbox now. Sorry.

jmsod

No way!!! Have you ever glanced down at that stupid needle that BMW puts below the tach that I refer to as the "guilt meter. That stupid mpg guage?! Slow, steady acceleration is definately more fuel efficient than getting up to your traveling speed asap.