Trying to get better mileage

lorag

I'm trying to figure out if I'd get better mileage between two different scenarios on my commute: the first is driving about 25 miles with no traffic lights and few stop signs along the way, and the second is 20 miles with several long stop lights. Would I get better diesel mileage just traveling along at a constant speed or would the shorter distance be a better option? Many thanks in advance for anyone's help.

jlbl

25% more miles may be too big a ∂ to get better mileage. If you have a gas station near your home/office, fill up the tank. Drive to and fro along, e.g., the long way and fill up the tank again. Next day do the same after driving the short way. Compare. An on-board trip computer might give you (rougher) estimates as well.

Regards,
Jose

lorag

Thank you, Jose! I'm really just guessing at the mileage. My car's a 1983 model, and the odometer doesn't work anymore. I'm just doing the longer trip in the afternoons due to traffic, so it's just (I think) 5 more miles a day longer than the old route. I'll probably try the fill-up for two days in a row after trying the two different routes, but I wondered if there was some diesel logic that I wasn't aware of as far as idling vs actually moving.

Thanks again, though!
Lora