Hybrid News

Most of us have or are aware of those red plastic gasoline cans. These are sold in many different retail locations. Do E85 gas "cans/containers" exist? :confused: Would they be green? Can one store E85 in the commonly found red gasoline containers?:confused:

I’m considering buying a manual 2003 HCH with 140,000 miles on it. I was hoping that someone who owns a HCH with this many miles on it could tell me if this is a good buy or not (the dealership is offering it for $8,000 but might be willing to negotiate). I’m a graduate student who really wants to go hybrid but doesn’t have a lot of money, and I’m concerned about the cost of repairs in the next few years. I’d appreciate any advice!

GM deserves some credit.I just returned from a 3000 mile trip-NOLA-Flagstaff-NOLA in a 202,300 mile 1998 Suburban 2wd.It delivered 21.3 mpg at 70 mpg CC on the whole time-45 psi well worn tires,Mobil I 5w30. It has the older, less efficient 5.7 liter motor.The 5.3 is more efficient.I had no idea that an ancient Suburban could get 21.3 mpg at 70 miles per hour.It is rated 12/17-current ones are rated 14/20.
In pure city driving it gets 14 mpg with hypermiling lite techniques.It could get 17 mpg if I shut off at redlights.
The Volt will save GM, but their 1/2 ton vehicles are very good.They will sell in much lower volumes, but they will still be needed-work/fleet/farmers/contractors/cops/gov etc.Folks ought to "car share" them like they do with some cars.

Charlie
PS I have a Prius also.It would have gotten about 45 mpg same speed, but with a much smaller load-no mattress of pillows,or 2 ice chests,MTB,tools etc.

This is a HUGE ASIDE- but Chevy anyway.
We just returned from a 3000 mile roundtrip-NOLA-Flagstaff-NOLA -New Orleansla=NOLA.I have a Prius, but for many reasons-wife has medical problem that requires she not "kink’ her arteries-PAN- we took our 202,300 98 Suburban.Bought it last year to replace the Pilot-evac vehicle-2 dogs,4 cats.
It got 21.3 mpg at 70 mpg over the 3000 mile trip.CC on the entire time.Mobil I 5w30, 45 psi tires, nothing in roof rack did use a hitch carrier.The only hypermiling stuff was the tire pressure,Syn oil and the reduced speed-most folks drive about 3-4 miles faster on the interstates we were on.

I had no idea an ancient 5.7 liter 2wd Suburban could deliver 21 mpg at 70 miles per hour.I’m certain of the distance-done the trip 15 times or more,and certain of the gallons used.

My point is that GMs 5.7 and 5.3 are very efficient-much better than I expected.They must have really fine tuned them for efficiency over the years.

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post.Thought GM deserved some credit.
Charlie

Some people have no respect for other people’s property. Last week at work someone laid a lit cigarette on my rear bumper just under the license plate. Of course, it now has a burn all the way thru the paint to the plastic. I had noticed since we bought the new car a group of people congregate behind it at break time, but I didn’t think much of it. Since that area of the parking lot gets the best cell phone reception. Then Thursday I was just spraying the pollen and dust off the car and happened to notice it. I was floored, It just seems like common sense to me that you would NEVER put a lit cigarette on someone’s car.

Needless to say I am going to be parking on the other side of the building from now own. I have scheduled a service appointment with the Honda dealer, I just hope that they will be able to fix it. And since I have 4100 miles on the car I went ahead and scheduled the tire rotation at the same time.

It just kills me that someone would be so disrespectful as that!

Anyone tried one of those ac recharge kits? are they all basically the same or is a brand better than others?

TIA

infael

Here’s a link to the article.

http://finance.comcast.net/www/news….6830686033157/

I note that I am on the low end of the MPG database at 34.5 MPG over the first 1450 miles on my 2008 HCH. I am disappointed but I didn’t expect that I would have to change much in my driving habits in order to see atleast 40 MPG! I drive 17 miles to work with 3 miles of 45 miles per hour w/ stoplights, 75 miles per hour on Fla Turnpike for 14 miles, and 2 miles at 45 miles per hour w/ stoplights. I thought I should at the very minumum get 40 mpg. I have been thinking that there is something wrong with the car and should take it to the dealership; however, I am not sure that there is anything wrong with the performance only the mpg. I am using COSTCO gas exclusively and thought I might change to AMOCO or someother major brand that has a cleaner in it as recommended in the manual. What do you guy’s think? I would appreciate some help. I certainly would love to be your all’s club of very happy HCH owners getting unbeliveable gas mileage! Thanks!
Fran

It’s been a few months since the FAQ was last refreshed.
I’d like to ask any of the forum regulars to glance at the FAQ with an eye towards:

• Correcting any inaccuracies
• Improving the wording on certain topics to achieve better clarity
• Reducing the wordiness on explanations that are too long or complex
• Adding in topics that are either relevant or have been frequently addressed in the forums. Some topics that I think could be included would be:
  • HVAC system including the ECO button, why it turns on and off, when the car toggles to recirculate, effect of using the Air Conditioner or heat with respect to user mileage, etc.
  • Noises and smells (all of which are normal, according to the manual) with an emphasis on the sounds that users hear, and when
  • Tire choice and air pressure with an eye towards user experiences
  • etc.

I realize some of these topics have been covered, briefly, in the current FAQ, but maybe a slightly more detailed discussion could benefit new users. For example the FAQ deals with the AC as follows

Quote:

Your mileage will increase... … …when the air conditioner or heater is set to off

If anyone has any suggestions or improvements not mentioned here, please feel free to chime in. I am certainly not looking forward to editing ‘the beast’, but luckily for me, I am the only one who can, so it’s my responsibility. The editing will be mine…the content is yours, so please help out and provide input.
As a guideline, I think the FAQ should be as informative as possible, using as few words as possible, since it should be a quick reference guide that will address many of the concerns of the new users. With that in mind, please reply to this post with your ideas.
Thanks (I think)!

Does anyone know why it was necessary to revert to rear drum brakes for the 2009 FEH / MMH?

I know that they did it so that RSC could be added, but my question is why RSC could not work with ecvt / hybrid / rear disc brakes.

Any ideas?

Someone whacked me on the passenger side (hit and run).

Ugh. They are going to change the front door and fix the back one, change the back rim and check the alignment.

I’m sad. It could have been worse but it still bums me out. That and I have to pay my deductible since they ran away.