We need to have more Urgency, says Boss.
I wonder if it's because he saw me msn-ing at work, or because Big Boss wants it done. hahaha~ But he's pretty right, I really should need more urgency... I've been crawling like a tortoise these days. Got stuck. Sometimes I wish some expert would just show up and show me the ropes... instead of me climbing myself... Oh well... Like the Big Big Big Boss (CEO of Sony) says, We must GET MAD! I should see myself completing my part of the project with confidence. Where did my past confidence and efficiency go? I will SHINE!

Driving Experiment.
Just completed an experiment on driving styles and gas mileage.
3 experiments were done. Car: 2003 Honda Civic, 1.6 L, coupe.
Expt 1-3 has about 6-7 gallons used.

Expt 0: Highway cruising for 5 hrs.
Gas Mileage: 35.5 mpg

Expt 1: Minor Drafting whenever possible. (Gas used is 6-7 gallons from full tank)
Gas Mileage: 28.7 mpg

Expt 2: Normal Driving with Neutral Gear on stopping
Gas Mileage: 27.8 mpg

Expt 3: Normal Driving with Drive Gear on stopping
Gas Mileage: 28.7 mpg

The results of the experiments gives some pretty interesting conclusions.

Conclusion 1: Drafting doesn't really increase gas efficiency, unless of course, you follow really close to the car in the front, which, for one, can be really dangerous, and two, is really hard on brakes. So No Go on Drafting.

Conclusion 2: The myth about saving gas on neutral gear doesn't seem very obvious here. Perhaps the experiment is too short to see significant results, or other bigger and more volatile factors come into play. Whatever it is, since it can be easily obscured, gas savings doesn't justify the wear and tear on the gear box on each gear change to neutral and back. So No Go on Neutral Gear on traffic lights.

Conclusion 3: Topping up the gas to half tank each time has significant gas savings. If cruising for 5 hrs gives an average mileage of 35.5, it certainly makes perfect sense that the gas mileage on half tank and below is greater than 35.5, say 38 mpg, in order to average out the low gas mileage at full tank, which is a conservative 30-32 mpg. So there is certainly a saving of around 3-5 mpg if you just pump half tank each time. This is significant if the gas station is "on the way". So definitely thumbs up for half tank theory.

Driving tip 1: Avoid braking as far as possible. Also try to brake below 40 mph when exit from highway.

Driving tip 2: A car with a weak engine like Civic, can't climb hills. Avoid stressing your engine out by slowly reducing the speed when climbing up steep hills. Of course, leave the fastest lane when you do that.

Driving tip 3: Always try to avoid complete stops whenever possible, even if the car were to slowly move. Frictional forces are greatest on a stopped object, compared to a moving object. That means be illegal at stop signs. LOL!

Looks like 3 is the lucky number for today. 3 expts, 3 conclusions and 3 driving tips. Well, that's my lucky number.

Time to shower. Returned home late today cos had to go recce the Bay for Sat's BBQ. Pretty area! Will return with pictures. :) But I dont' have a good camera no more. :( Back to old Fuji FinePix. hahaha~