----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Clement" <clement.focuser@verizon.net>
To: <atm@atmlist.net>
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 10:29
Subject: [ATM] OT: increasing mpg
> This may appear to be off topic for this list; I believe that most of us
> drive to darker skies in order to use the scopes we build. I would like
to
> share a few things that I did to increase the mpg of my small truck used
to
> transport my scopes to a darker site. The things I did to increase mpg
can
> be applied to any vehicle. Before I made these simple changes, my
98'Toyota
> Tacoma truck (5spd, EFI, ext. cab, tall Snugtop shell) averaged about
25mpg.
> I use only the cheapest grade of regular unleaded gasoline. On a recent
trip
> up to Yosemite I averaged 32 mpg. This includes running the air
conditioner
> most of the way from Bakersfield to Fresno and up and down mountain
driving.
> The leg from Redlands to Fresno my average mpg was even better 33.5mpg!
> The first and most important factor was to reduce speed and accelerate
> slowly, particularly accelerate slower going up hill. I used to drive
70mph+
> on the freeway. Nowadays and on this trip I drove a constant 62mph
> (~100kph). I used the highest gear that would not lug the engine for
minimum
> rpm.
> Another thing that I have done was to use lower rolling resistance
tires. I
> choose Goodyear Viva II and actually went with a narrower tire than
stock,
> 195 from the stock 205. Goodyear Viva II tires are available from
Wal-Mart.
> I also ran high tire pressure of 45 psi. There are no government
standards
> for rolling resistance but here is a link with information that can
help:
> http://www.greenseal.org/recommendations/CGR_tire_rollingresistance.pdf
> The last thing I did was to use low viscosity engine oil, I use 5-30W
> recommended in Toyota manual. BTW, my truck has ~160K miles on it.
> I hope this information might be of some help.YMMV
>
> Don Clement
> Running springs, California
>
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