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I have finished the data on 6 tests and will reveal my findings on how to drive the Auto R/T MDS.
I made 2 400 mile tests and 4 200 mile tests using the ecometer and good old fashion math calculated at the pump (same one, same place, same time of day). I did all this because I didn't believe those who posted the way to drive an auto in the city was with the autostick. Logic told me to creep up to speed and let the MDS take over at all possible times -4 cylinders better than 8, right?..WRONG. My sincere apologizes.
Without going into detail about all my tests with all auto stick, without, all mds on highway, without mds on highway, etc.., let me just put it out here for all to see. Some to believe, some chose not to agree. All fine with me but I really spent a lot of road time and gas money to figure this out and I hope some find it useful. Here it is:
IN TOWN: Use autostick,start in 1. Roll the throttle medium up to 3000rpm, shift to 2, throttle medium up to 3000 rpm and slap into 4-5 asap and coast or go easy on the throttle depending on traffic. If traffic is moving about 40mph, you should be able to stay in 5th. If traffic slows, let transmission go to 4 as you coast, give a little gas and get into 5th as soon as possible.
HIGHWAY AND INTERSTATE; Use auto stick to appropriately get to 5th. Naturally when merging, you might have to shift into a solid gear or if you are in drive *D*, just merge quickly up to speed. ....
Now you have reached the 'drivers' input. I live in upstate SC but went to Charleston SC (flat) and tried 2 ways of highway driving.
Let's get cruise control out of the way. I think everyone agrees if you use your accelerator and a good coast with minimal 'boost', you get better gas mileage than just leaving it on cruise control. However, one would probably get less speeding tickets if they used speed control.
Now, do I use 5th gear or D (MDS) engaged on the highway??
If you live in the flat lands, with little change in elevation or no hills, MDS does get slightly better highway mileage.
But, when you start climbing elevation or hills with MDS, you can almost hear the gas sucking through the system til it finally shifts into 8 cylinders (5th gear).
So, if you have hills to climb, leave it in 5th and do your throtle with a light foot and you're a good 3-5 mpg better.
So where are my numbers? (on a stack of papers and graphs in front of me). My advice is to spend the 60 bucks for the ecometer which after I calibrated it was very accurate (plugs into the R/T's computer diagnostic connection under the steering wheel). This will help you learn where your shift points should be and how and when to use MDS.
Oh yes, numbers, in town 22-26mpg Highway flat with MDS 24-27mpg, highway flat with 5th (no MDS) 23-28mpg. Highway hills with MDS 21-23mpg, Highway hills with 5th (no MDS) 23-27 mpg.
Now I know some of you are getting better gas mileage but on 4 of my trips I was caught in traffic (2 in city, 2 on interstate) stop and go for at least 15 minutes. So maybe I could get better mileage on a test track with no traffic.
The main point to take from this was the use of the auto stick in town and do NOT depend on MDS to get you the best mileage any where except long stretches of flat road.
Thanks for reading and really hope this can help folks.
Now, I'm gonna go have some real fun and not worry about gas mileage and get some smileage!!!:bigthumb::bigthumb::bigthumb:
I made 2 400 mile tests and 4 200 mile tests using the ecometer and good old fashion math calculated at the pump (same one, same place, same time of day). I did all this because I didn't believe those who posted the way to drive an auto in the city was with the autostick. Logic told me to creep up to speed and let the MDS take over at all possible times -4 cylinders better than 8, right?..WRONG. My sincere apologizes.
Without going into detail about all my tests with all auto stick, without, all mds on highway, without mds on highway, etc.., let me just put it out here for all to see. Some to believe, some chose not to agree. All fine with me but I really spent a lot of road time and gas money to figure this out and I hope some find it useful. Here it is:
IN TOWN: Use autostick,start in 1. Roll the throttle medium up to 3000rpm, shift to 2, throttle medium up to 3000 rpm and slap into 4-5 asap and coast or go easy on the throttle depending on traffic. If traffic is moving about 40mph, you should be able to stay in 5th. If traffic slows, let transmission go to 4 as you coast, give a little gas and get into 5th as soon as possible.
HIGHWAY AND INTERSTATE; Use auto stick to appropriately get to 5th. Naturally when merging, you might have to shift into a solid gear or if you are in drive *D*, just merge quickly up to speed. ....
Now you have reached the 'drivers' input. I live in upstate SC but went to Charleston SC (flat) and tried 2 ways of highway driving.
Let's get cruise control out of the way. I think everyone agrees if you use your accelerator and a good coast with minimal 'boost', you get better gas mileage than just leaving it on cruise control. However, one would probably get less speeding tickets if they used speed control.
Now, do I use 5th gear or D (MDS) engaged on the highway??
If you live in the flat lands, with little change in elevation or no hills, MDS does get slightly better highway mileage.
But, when you start climbing elevation or hills with MDS, you can almost hear the gas sucking through the system til it finally shifts into 8 cylinders (5th gear).
So, if you have hills to climb, leave it in 5th and do your throtle with a light foot and you're a good 3-5 mpg better.
So where are my numbers? (on a stack of papers and graphs in front of me). My advice is to spend the 60 bucks for the ecometer which after I calibrated it was very accurate (plugs into the R/T's computer diagnostic connection under the steering wheel). This will help you learn where your shift points should be and how and when to use MDS.
Oh yes, numbers, in town 22-26mpg Highway flat with MDS 24-27mpg, highway flat with 5th (no MDS) 23-28mpg. Highway hills with MDS 21-23mpg, Highway hills with 5th (no MDS) 23-27 mpg.
Now I know some of you are getting better gas mileage but on 4 of my trips I was caught in traffic (2 in city, 2 on interstate) stop and go for at least 15 minutes. So maybe I could get better mileage on a test track with no traffic.
The main point to take from this was the use of the auto stick in town and do NOT depend on MDS to get you the best mileage any where except long stretches of flat road.
Thanks for reading and really hope this can help folks.
Now, I'm gonna go have some real fun and not worry about gas mileage and get some smileage!!!:bigthumb::bigthumb::bigthumb: