Jeepers! $257 gas bill driving my Prius.

A friend of mine drives a 3/4 ton pickup servicing dairy equipment. Naturally that takes him from farm-to-farm, some at considerable distance from his home. His wife commutes 30 miles RT to work. Their combined fuel bill is now averaging $400.00/week, so he tells me.

Shall we put that on your tab as well?

mark_

For best MPG results, stay off the interstate if possible and don't use the A/C. I'm getting 62.5 MPG this summer because I've changed my driving habits. Besides, the secondary roads are more scenic and relaxing.

I invite you to spend the summer in Florida. ;-) But seriously, I know I could get significantly better mileage without the A/C, but then it's

92 degrees with high humidity...

No A/C is not an option here either. At 7 AM, it's 85° here. It will be 90 by 9 AM, and top out about 115 ± 3°.

Ah, but it's _DRY_ heat! ;-) (And you must get sick of hearing people from other parts of the world say that.)

But then, you have a balmy afternoon every summer morning in the Valley... at least for half an hour around dawn. Break out the watermelon and have water balloon fights instead of showering!

Mike

Actually, that's what I tell people from other parts of the world.

There really is a reason we call it Aridzona.

And that represents, what, 4000 miles?

I wonder what's wrong. If you're driving in "B", stop it. When I go 75 MPH in 100 degree heat with the A/C at full blast mine stays above 45 MPG.

As the guy stated it was 100 degrees. When I owned a convertible the top was down and I rarely used the A/C. But on days that it was over 100, even I broke down and used the A/C.

Isn't that pretty much what Arizona literally translates to?

BTW, I'm somewhat surprised that you haven't joined in the Erniemac fun over in the csm groups.

Historians disagree about the origin of the name "Arizona" and its attachment to the region. Three possible derivations are:

? O'odham words "ali son" ("small spring"), actually the name of a town which is called "Arizonac" in English. Arizonac is a small town about eight miles (12 km) south of the United States­Mexican border. Historically, it may have been "ali son" or even "ali sona". The O'odham "l" is a voiced alveolar lateral fricative, which might sound to a Spanish or English speaker like an "r" sound. Later in the mid 18th century Spanish missionaries changed Father Eusebio Francisco Kino's maps of the area; they renamed the town Arizonac as Arizona. As the maps were republished and circulated in Europe, the name Arizona became attached to the whole northern part of New Spain.

? Spanish words "árida zona" ("arid zone").

? A Nahuatl or Aztec word "arizuma" meaning "silver-bearing".

I did; I suggested that he, John, and Mark form their own newsgroup. But the Erniemac stuff seems to have died down in the systems and comm groups, which are the only two I read.

Ah, yes! I forgot that I remembered that.

Oh yeah, it's largely confined to the apps group, where it's still burning like a wildfire.

I'm thinking you must have a long commute at an average speed of about 35 mph. My best tank so far has been 54.8 mpg. Trips consist of a few 60 mile trips at 55 mph mixed with a bunch of those uneconomical 3 mile commutes at

55 mph. Very little city driving.

Is the oil level above or equal to the F mark? Are the tires a 42/40? How long since the tires were aligned? Are there trucks you can follow, not draft, but get down to 65 mph? Total miles on vehicle? Miles since last transaxle oil change? Model?

The AC is OK but works much better if you can avoid accellerating with it on. If you can hold off until cruise speed, you'll do much better.

GOOD LUCK!

Bob Wilson

No. Under 3000 miles. Seems gas was then high, maybe $3.49 or so where I live.

Couple with the fact that while on I-5 I often see the mpg gage reading

35-40 mpg. It's average is 38 mpg on the screen tonight. I've seen as high as 43 on occasion, but it is more likely under 40 for me overall. Part due to the oppressive heat, constant A/C hum, and most importantly maybe Interstate 5 where traffic flows up to 85-90 mph as a rule (like anyone goes 75!) in the long Central Valley stretch. It doesn't like high speedometer numbers for economy, but it could be worse if it were a Dodge Ram Hemi I guess!

Those 600 mile one-day outings really do suck up the gas - and I got two more to do this coming week . Thank God for comfy thick sheepskin seatcovers and earplugs to drown out the road noise.

B~

That's astonishingly wonderful!

For sure. But sometimes it's a one lane with a diesel pickup ahead. Happened to me yesterday and I had to fall back quite a bit or suffer watery eyes. Then instead of enjoying the scenery I get consumed with wondering when I'll have the chance to pass.

Hint: set the A/C on recirculate.