On Thursday I received this week’s issue of AutoWeek, and inside was another brilliant MINI ad. This time a rip-out brochure titled, “Are You Or Is Someone You Know a Gasaholic?” It even includes a glued on credit card with the Gasaholic’s Mantra.
But the ironic thing was, I had just returned from filling my tank. And with the exception of previous tanks that I had raced with, this was my worst gas milage yet: 20.00 mpg!
I had usually averaged 24, but now that I have made 10 fillups in 2005, the average of those ten is only 22.5mpg. Ouch.
Have a look at my gas milage charts here.
I’m sure the winter, snow, and cold has something to do with it. But I noticed something else today after returning from a ski weekend. My front tires are almost bald! And I’m only at 11500mi.
I’m sure partly is me spinning my tires. Not a day goes by without my DSC light flashing. Even on dry pavement.
But I think a big reason for all of this is my alignment. Since my accident it had been knocked off just slightly. Steers straight with the steering wheel at 11 o’clock. Almost undetectable pull to the right. It was the only think not fixed when the car was returned to be due to lack of time, and I had been planning to get it done in a few more weeks with my oil change etc.
Think about it. Both wheels are pointed inwards just slightly. That means both tires must slip just slightly at a sideways angle…all the time. And you can imagine the tire wear and slight drop in gas milage due to that.
Just something interesting to note.
I don’t care in the least since the day I bought the car I had planned to wait until this spring and toss the Dunlop runflat all-seasons for real summer and winter tires. However I think it’s still a good month before the chance of snow is gone so I can’t do that just yet. I may just rotate my tires this week, as my rears still look almost new.