Cobb AP2 Economy Mode Test - *UPDATED* w/ Return Trip Well guys, I just drove from Atlanta to Savannah today for business and decided to test out the economy mode from the OTS Cobb map. I've heard everyone talk about how worthless this map, but most people I've seen don't use it for prolonged trips such as this one... Background: I make this drive ~2 times per month (business), and I usually average ~23 mpg, based off odometer readings and fill ups. My car is currently stock (except AP) and has 23520 miles on it. Today's conditions: Topped off just outside of Atlanta and filled up just before Savannah, so it's was pretty much 100% highway driving. I use a Garmin Nuvi 680, along w/ the AP2 plugged in for the entire trip. I used to fuel economy mode on the AP to get an electronic reading from that. Outside Air Temp (according to dash display): 103 degrees +/- 2 degrees Time Traveled: 2 hours, 54 minutes Miles on Garmin unit (reset at beginning of trip): 217.73 Average MPH: 75.3 Top Speed MPH: 84.3 Miles on Car Odometer: 220.6 MPG Average per AP2: 26.8 Amount of fuel input in Savannah: 8.484 gallons Actual MPG (per Garmin Unit): 25.66 Actual MPG (per Odometer): 26.00 Not too shabby, but I'll run my stage 1 back to Atl and update everybody on how it does. *A Few Notes of Interest* - Cruise control vs. Foot control saw no difference in fuel economy - The car's speedometer reads ~3-5mph faster than the Garmin's speedometer, but the odometer readings were fairly similar - surprising - Staying under 3000 RPMs saves a ton of gas...I was averaging over 28 MPG on I-75 (according to the AP), but when speed limits rose on I-16, my MPGs dropped pretty quickly...so, if you stay below 70 mph, you save pennies and get passed by everybody and their grandmother Since I'm super bored sitting in my hotel room right now, I'd like to take the time to give some thanks... - Thanks to the white trailblazer from Arkansas whose last 3 digits on the tag were 'MCO'...I followed you from McDonough to I-95 and even though we got passed by 95% of passenger vehicles, we stuck in there together. :wavey: (btw, I was actually trying to drive economically, and nobody does that...even averaging 78mph, I was still getting passed by everyone. I also tried to 'draft' the trailblazer w/ out tailgating him, so that may have helped a little, too) - Thanks to my ipod and :bowdown: Dave Matthews :bowdown:, because there is not one damn good radio station between Macon and Savannah - Thanks to Family Guy, b/c I'm watching the Petoria episode right now and it's freaking hilarious:bowdown: If you're still reading this, you must be bored like me :wiggle:
ha..thanks for the input...I'm bored..sitting at home watching braves...west coast games ftw...gives me something to do from 10pm till 1am..lol
Try jumping behind a semi for a bit...not too close, give him about 2 carlengths and watch your mpg shoot up! Mythbusters did this...I have since tested it myself. Pretty amazing what drafting a semi will do for fuel economy. Now if I could just find one going 80 mph on a trip!!
Wow at the peeps bored stuck in hotel rooms. I'm in Indy at the moment. Sheet I'm ready to be home. I dont know the big differences, but I was able to get 26 MPG out of my car running 3" cat back and 93 octane Stage 1 map on the freeway. Mind you that I kept it around 70 max.
I found your semi...and before everyone starts flaming, i was only going that fast TO KEEP UP w/ that semi, and took the picture w/ my cell phone...this crazy ass guy came blowing by me at 100+ mph...so if you're in a hurry and need to draft, there ya go
I've found going about 72mph in the WRX is one of the better mixes of speed and mpg. Going 80mph I can watch the gas needle go down over a 15 mile stretch of highway, so I avoid it. And yes the speedometer will read around 3mph high. Most speedometers are optimistic like that, better than the other way to be honest. I tested it with those roadside police radar trailers and it does the same thing across a couple different cars.
Ok guys, Sorry it took me so long to update this, but I've been a little swamped as of lately seeing how I just bought a house :naughty: Anyway, here are the updated figures for my return trip from Savannah, run on a Cobb OTS Stg 1 Outside Air Temp (according to dash display): 108 degrees + 1/- 7 degrees Time Traveled: 2 hours, 11 minutes Miles on Garmin unit (reset at beginning of trip): 163.11 Average MPH: 74.4 Top Speed MPH: 84.5 Miles on Car Odometer: 164.5 MPG Average per AP2: 23.3 on I-16 w/ no cars 24.3 by end of trip on I-75 w/ cars Amount of fuel used: 7.113 gallons Actual MPG (per Garmin Unit): 22.93 Actual MPG (per Odometer): 23.13 One MAJOR MAJOR thing to note...there were hardly any cars on I-16, and the ones there were either going 65 or 95 mph, so me pudging along ~78 meant I was a loner. When I got on I-75, my average speed probably increased, but because I was driving w/ traffic, my MPGs instantly shot up by about 3-4, averaging my entire trip out to about 24.3 per the AP unit. That being said, I noticed that speed was not nearly as large of an influence as drafting other vehicles...good thing to know. Also, the mileage marks on this are slightly lower b/c I left Savannah during rush hour and wanted to make sure I was out of traffic before beginning the experiment. I've just now flashed to stg 2 :ddirty:, so next time I take the trip I'll let you know how that does, as well.
I've actually got kind of a hybrid map going right now, lol. Below 50% I am running almost like the cobb economy map so that in cruising it is pretty minimal. Above 50% throttle and it is actually a little more aggressive than the cobb stage 2 map. Trying to get the best of both worlds.
How accurate is the MPG on the AP V2? I've been watching it a bit, I get about 18-19 average in-town driving w/ Stage II-ish SS tune. When I have that program running though, I tend to be light with my right (foot).
from what I noticed, it was a little high, but only by about 1-2 mpg over what I got from my Garmin unit and my odometer reading. However, I did notice a HUGE jump when I was behind other cars, that's seriously the biggest point I learned...You gain 3-4 mpg just for driving behind somebody else
until they swerve out of the way of tire tread and you have no where to go...i've learned that the hard way more than once. :eek3:
I used to drive behind semis in my van. Best way to drive... I did not care about road debris... I tried it in my STi... what a shame... Not the same. The last truck I followed was hauling frozen chicken and chicken juice was leaking out the back. I swear, my STi smelled like rotting chicken when I got back home.