How European cars acheive uber high mileage

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Third- The EU drive-cycle used to calculate MPG is different than the EPA's and gives higher MPG figures even when Imperial vs US Gallons are factored in
 
Originally Posted By: Drew2000
Third- The EU drive-cycle used to calculate MPG is different than the EPA's and gives higher MPG figures even when Imperial vs US Gallons are factored in


They use liters per 100 kilometers so there is no need to factor in anything.

What do you mean by 'different drive-cycles'?
 
Originally Posted By: CivicFan
What do you mean by 'different drive-cycles'?

See the wiki link I posted previously. It's a completely different type of test.
 
Diesel for sure and then the vehicle size. The euro soccer moms aren't driving Ford Expeditions around.
 
Originally Posted By: javacontour
They also don't have the NOx emissions requirements we do, so they can tune the cars to run leaner than we allow here in the US.

I wonder if the computers from a EU version of a car are available. One might get better fuel economy if the computer for their Mazda was available from the UK and plugged into a US car.

Probably not feasible, but someone could get the code and then start burning chips or whatever is done these days to run that leaner burning code in US spec cars.


Leaner than what? Most cars in the US are programed to shoot for 14.7 in closed loop correct? I think if you were wanting to improve on that you can't go much leaner than say 15.3 or 15.5 without having to change or modify some of the engine components. At least that is what I remember reading. There were some lean burn civics and they did get better mileage but I don't think it was that dramatic vs their regular burn counterparts.
 
Amen to that! This inch system is the most difficult wierd thing i ever used.
I did sway bar bushing and was trying to figure out what 1.34 inches was.Good lord i had to google and jump through hoops to find out its 34mm.
34mm on the calipers is easy but 1.34?
 
Originally Posted By: CivicFan
Originally Posted By: Y_K
And the mass of an average driver


lol.gif


But seriously, the most common engine size in Europe is 1,300 cc. A 1.5 liter engine is considered to be quite large and inefficient by the mainstream drivers.

Couple the 1.3 liter engine with 5-6 speed manual transmission and without extra weight of power window, A/C, power seat ... you will get good gas mileage.
 
They go by Motor octane numbers. Designed for engines running flat out, which they likely nearly are.
 
Originally Posted By: moklock
Isn't european gasoline non-E10 and slightly higher octane ratings as well?

It's not higher octane. It's just that their octane rating is measured differently.
 
Simple -

Lower weight cars that are often smaller than US market cars
Smaller engines with diesels
Manual transmissions (90%) with gear ratios for mileage
Drivers who know how, why, and when to shift gears or not and keep momentum
Licensing is tougher - resulting in better average drivers
Fuel is very expensive (tax) and has been for years - an incentive to figure it out rather than read daily here about "pain at the pump".
 
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