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last night I returned from my annual sojourn to Idaho. Last year, with the original transmission, clutch and radiator, my MPG was about 23ish.
This year, from Portland to Tri-Cities (Washington), which is around 210 miles and you drive through the Columbia Gorge (where it's windy and somewhat hilly), I averaged a hair under 30 MPG.
From the Tri-Cities to Priest Lake (in Northern Idaho), where I had to go through the city of Spokane and once I was up at the Lake, I went up a rocky mountain road to go to a creek about a 600+ feet above the lake, I averaged just under 27.
On my way home, I decided to try a different route. Instead of normally driving through the Columbia Gorge, I drove on I-90, which goes towards Seattle. I haven't driven that way in a long time, so I forgot just how hilly it is. I had to drive in 4th gear for all of the climbing and it was incredibly windy too.
Then I drive south towards the Columbia and hit highway 97 through the Yakima Indian Reservation. It too is through a couple passes, and I have to use 4th a little more. Sometimes it felt like I was barely maintaining speed, but whenever I'd look at my speedometer, I'd be doing right at the speed limit. Only once did a semi-truck get mad at me for not speeding through the passes.
Anyways, from Priest Lake to Spokane, I averaged 31 mpg (the best I've EVER averaged with it) and from Spokane to the Columbia I averaged a hair under 27 mpg, which surprised the daylights out of me!
And best of all, the car ran strong and true the whole way home, and never once gave me any issues. The trip home (and really, the trip up there) reignited the love I have for my car.
Thanks to all for the help on getting my car working right in this last year.
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