Recipe for a long drive

The recipe is fairly straight forward and because I have an 03, NHW11 for my commuting, I can do this:

• Use wife's 2010 - she goes for weeks without driving. In the meanwhile, I can continue to use my NHW11 for commuting.
• Fill-up with best fuel - I have the option of straight or E10, currently under test.
• 12 gallon tank - posted at 11.9, the tank measures a little more.
• 25 mph cruise control safe route - including warm-up, I have a route that allows me to achieve better than 87 MPG.
• 10 separate, 4-5 hour segments - this is all it takes.

I'm curious if there is any value from getting a 1,000 mile tank in the USA? I am not 'hard on' any of these choices and can be persuaded. There is one approach that could make sense:

• 50 states - 50,000 miles, having at least one owner driver committed to using three day holiday weekend, Monday off, for the effort:
  • Friday evening - 4 hours
  • Saturday - 8-12 hours
  • Sunday - 8-12 hours
  • Monday - 8-12 hours
  • Tuesday - alternate transportation to work
  • Tuesday evening - 4 hours
  • Wednesday - alternate transportation to work
  • Wednesday evening - 4 hours
  • Thursday - alternate transportation to work
  • Thursday evening - 4 hours

Now this would make a statement, a powerful statement, because it would not be one or two 'super stars.' Rather it would be team effort and if announced before hand and then followed up, it would have merit. But it may make more sense to do it over a designated, holiday weekend:

• Friday evening - 4 hours
• Saturday - 16 hours
• Sunday - 16 hours
• Monday - 16 hours

This test on straight gas revealed the ZVW30 is fully capable of achieving a 1,000 mile tank at 25 mph using cruise control including warm-up:


Bob Wilson