New Member; German fuel savings technique

OneDayMatt · November 1, 2006

Howdy,

I just picked up my '07 Silverado Classic on Saturday. As I traded in an '06 VW Jetta diesel, I was more than a bit worried about my increased fuel costs; the truck is my new daily driver. I've got a friend who spent quite a bit of time in Germany on a mission (church not CIA) and he mentioned that drivers in will turn off their engines at stop lights. I decided to run a mileage test.

First, I filled up the tank, then reset the trip odo. I stopped my engine at every stop light on the 4.5 mile heavily trafficked surface road I take out to the highway. On the highway, I never accelerated at more than 2000 RPM and cruised most of the time. It's a 16.5 mile trip on the highway then another 1 mile surface road home.

I hit the gas station closest to my home, topped off the tank, ran the calculations *don't worry, I'm an engineer and CAN handle division pretty well* and...

23.5 mpg!!!

Everyone I spoke to was telling me that I wouldn't be able to average or even achieve much better than 14. Now, I think I'll keep my engine running at lights as there was no way that would be enough to lower my efficiency by 45%.

Anyway, 4.8L + 3.73rear end is not bad at all.

My last truck was a '97 extended cab Z71 with 4.10s. I loved that truck. That's why I'm back in a Silverado. I've had about 12 cars in the last 14years (since I was 16) and there are only two I ever missed. The Chevy pick up was one. The BMW Z3 is another. There is one car that I don't think I'll ever be able to part with, and that's my NSX. For a guy who's averaging almost a car a year, to have the NSX for going on 4 years now is a miracle!

On another note, I'll never buy a VW again. What a piece of useless, boring, unreliable, too expensive to maintain crap that was.

Love my truck!

BTW: I live in TX; it's illegal to NOT own a pickup.

svensk · November 1, 2006

Right on Bro.

I've heard of nothing but problems with Veedubs.

My first couple cars I owned was a plymouth sundance and a '88 eldorado. When I bought my used truck it was like something primal inside me clicked. I could never drive anything other then a powerful rear wheel drive v8 now for the rest of my life. My wife likes to take a break from her '05 grand am gt once in a while and drive my truck and even she understands what its all about.

C & A s Dad · November 1, 2006

The fuel savings technique is interesting but I really wanted to chime in on the VW thing. I have a neighbor who came home one day a few years ago with a new Beetle and and a new Jetta. About 8 to 10 months later, they were both gone. He typically trades every 3 years so I asked him one day where the VWs were. His comments matched yours almost exactly. I had another friend in our Church with a Jetta and on the way to work one day when it was about a year old, he hit some water, lost the car and ended up in a ditch with the car almost completely submerged. He said it was the best day of his life. The car had been in the dealership for repairs 13 times in the year with most of the stays over 4 days each. Makes me want to run out right now and buy a V Dubya.

As far as the truck thing. I took my wife out of a Dodge Intrepid that she had 11 years and put her in the Yuk. I have told a lot of people, I will have no more cars with motor, trans and differential all crammed in the front. Give me a V8 Motor, a trans behind it and a differential at the back just like God intended it.

Word is the next generation Impala will be RWD.

jhm · November 1, 2006

Wow, that is awesome mileage. I got the same setup on my '01 and I never broke 16. I do mostly rural driving, but you are getting 7-8 mpg more!

OUMike · November 1, 2006

Very cool man! Welcome aboard.

ok...so...I think we all wanna see shots of the NSX

pwall · November 1, 2006

Welcome to

OneDayMatt · November 1, 2006

Very cool man! Welcome aboard.

ok...so...I think we all wanna see shots of the NSX

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Thanks OUMike. You live in Houston, you could just come see it yourself. I'm in Pearland. ;-)

Here are some shots my Dad took while I was driving the track at Motorsports Ranch Houston.

carneyman · November 1, 2006

Nice dude, and welcome!

OUMike · November 2, 2006

Very cool man! Welcome aboard.

ok...so...I think we all wanna see shots of the NSX

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Thanks OUMike. You live in Houston, you could just come see it yourself. I'm in Pearland. ;-)

Here are some shots my Dad took while I was driving the track at Motorsports Ranch Houston.

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hah, beautiful ride man. I actually live in League City, which is even closer.

Elwood 2000 · November 2, 2006

First, I hope your truck always starts for ya! I have a feeling that your starter will wear out prematurely.

Second, a friend of mine has a VW Beetle with the turbo diesel. No probems and 55 mpg!

cmoore74 · November 2, 2006

First, I hope your truck always starts for ya! I have a feeling that your starter will wear out prematurely.

Second, a friend of mine has a VW Beetle with the turbo diesel. No probems and 55 mpg!

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I agree 100%. What a pain in the a** to have to shut off and restart your truck not to mention the extra wear and tear on the starter. The cost of replacing a starter early may negate the fuel savings and even if it didn't I would rather burn a few extra penny's of fuel then have to constantly shut off and restart my truck at every red light.

Not looking for an arguement, but IMO if you're looking for fuel savings don't buy a truck, buy a small 4-cyl like a toyota or honda.

OneDayMatt · November 2, 2006

Now, I think I'll keep my engine running at lights as there was no way that would be enough to lower my efficiency by 45%.

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Reading the entire post helps.

Dabear95 · November 2, 2006

Howdy,

I just picked up my '07 Silverado Classic on Saturday. As I traded in an '06 VW Jetta diesel, I was more than a bit worried about my increased fuel costs; the truck is my new daily driver. I've got a friend who spent quite a bit of time in Germany on a mission (church not CIA) and he mentioned that drivers in will turn off their engines at stop lights. I decided to run a mileage test.

First, I filled up the tank, then reset the trip odo. I stopped my engine at every stop light on the 4.5 mile heavily trafficked surface road I take out to the highway. On the highway, I never accelerated at more than 2000 RPM and cruised most of the time. It's a 16.5 mile trip on the highway then another 1 mile surface road home.

I hit the gas station closest to my home, topped off the tank, ran the calculations *don't worry, I'm an engineer and CAN handle division pretty well* and...

23.5 mpg!!!

Everyone I spoke to was telling me that I wouldn't be able to average or even achieve much better than 14. Now, I think I'll keep my engine running at lights as there was no way that would be enough to lower my efficiency by 45%.

Anyway, 4.8L + 3.73rear end is not bad at all.

My last truck was a '97 extended cab Z71 with 4.10s. I loved that truck. That's why I'm back in a Silverado. I've had about 12 cars in the last 14years (since I was 16) and there are only two I ever missed. The Chevy pick up was one. The BMW Z3 is another. There is one car that I don't think I'll ever be able to part with, and that's my NSX. For a guy who's averaging almost a car a year, to have the NSX for going on 4 years now is a miracle!

On another note, I'll never buy a VW again. What a piece of useless, boring, unreliable, too expensive to maintain crap that was.

Love my truck!

BTW: I live in TX; it's illegal to NOT own a pickup.

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Good job on the mileage, I hope you love your new truck!

I am also sorry to hear about your VW. I have a 2002 Mark IV ALH with 90K miles. 45MPG lifetime, one wheel bearing and a glow plug replaced. Best car I have ever owned and much higher quality then my truck. No kidding when they say your mileage may vary

Jason

67ChevyRedneck · November 2, 2006

Glad you enjoy the truck!

I can add to the VW thing too. A guy I work with has am 03 Jetta that his wife drives.... the engine blew up last year (replaced under warranty) with less thank 30K on it. He said it's been to the dealer 6 times since they bought it new in '03. He said no more VW's when this one gets traded in.