Official: What are your real world MPG Numbers

[Eric Smit]

Fuelly just reported that I reached 41.5 MPG on my last tank of BP 93 w/10% ethanol, about 15% 'city' (for me 'suburban') driving, the rest at 65 mph. I couldn't deliver these numbers without my UltraGauge telling me my instantaneous fuel consumption rate (gallons/hour) to guide my right foot. I also use most of the basic hypermiler techniques, but I've stopped drafting like I used to.

I may start experimenting with a technique that some Saab Turbo drivers once claimed worked well on turbocharged cars; that is, get into the throttle in second, and maybe third gear, to get the car to the top-gear speed quite quickly, then get into steady, light load cruise mode in top gear.

Does anyone have any comments on the theory behind that technique? Has anyone tried it?

I use that technique.


-Eric Smit

 

[SooperSonic]

I've been trying to do more pulse and glide. Does the Saab technique work well? I have a ton of hills on my commute so I'm wondering how to break the 40average on my tank.

 

[boydnhere]

MPG Bliss

I have a 1.4L Turbo, Manual. I commute 115 miles per day to work, mostly Highway. I am averaging right at 40 MPG each week. If I do more City traffic it drops just a little to 37. It took some breaking in, but about 5k miles, to really start seeing the mpg's to get where they are now.

 

[Eric Smit]

Pulse and glide is by far the best MPG technique I've used, besides not driving.


-Eric Smit

 

[SteveSonic]

Pulse and Glide is SOP for full hybrid cars because they go into FAS when the throttle is released. My habit is to immediately coast whenever possible but after reading earlier posters push the injector shutoff concept (in gear coasting), I began to watch my UG for it. Truthfully, I only see injector shutoff happen when the ambient air temp is above 75*F or so, my speed is over 50 mph, I'm in sixth gear, and I've coasted long enough down a reasonable grade for the system to get around to deciding it. So, not very often at all. My Instantaneous Consumption Rate (Gal/Hr) is around 0.18 with a warm engine (idling / coasting) so just going right into coasting is, well, a hard habit to break.

 

[rdss]

I'm seeing 30.5-31.5 mostly city and just passed 600 miles.

 

[SooperSonic]

Pulse and Glide is SOP for full hybrid cars because they go into FAS when the throttle is released. My habit is to immediately coast whenever possible but after reading earlier posters push the injector shutoff concept (in gear coasting), I began to watch my UG for it. Truthfully, I only see injector shutoff happen when the ambient air temp is above 75*F or so, my speed is over 50 mph, I'm in sixth gear, and I've coasted long enough down a reasonable grade for the system to get around to deciding it. So, not very often at all. My Instantaneous Consumption Rate (Gal/Hr) is around 0.18 with a warm engine (idling / coasting) so just going right into coasting is, well, a hard habit to break.

I'm borrowing my buddies Scanguage 2 and I've noticed that the injectors will only turn off when the engine is warmed up as well.

How do you like your Ultraguage? I'm considering buying one since it's on mega sale right now.

 

[SteveSonic]

I'm borrowing my buddies Scanguage 2 and I've noticed that the injectors will only turn off when the engine is warmed up as well.

How do you like your Ultraguage? I'm considering buying one since it's on mega sale right now.

I like my UG just fine and it's serving its purpose very well. I'm really only using about four or so of the possible 25+ gauges and trip monitoring functions.

Sticking to the purpose of this thread vs. an "Ultra Gauge" thread, I'll point out that the Instantaneous Fuel Consumption Rate (IFCR) value is not transmission / wheel rotation related like Intantaneous Miles per Gallon, Average Miles per Gallon, etc. It's just the engine's fuel consumption based on the injector pulse rate. Drive/do whatever you can to minimize the IFCR value and you've maximized your fuel economy.
Steve

 

[SooperSonic]

I'm trying some new driving habits with all of the hills around my area and for about 230 miles since my last fill up, the DIC is saying 41.1MPG.

My buddy just got a Cruz Eco and we're going to try to have a little MPG competition. He's probably got the edge since his commute is mostly on the highway whereas mine is 40 minutes of backroads and hills. I'll do my best to beat him but he's pretty close to 50MPG on his last tank.

 

[mitdr774]

44.8 mpg on the run out of state. Still have to come home. Went 60 on the way out, thinking of trying 65 on the way home.

 

[mitdr774]

Averaged 43.15 MPG for the 700 trip. Not bad seeing as how I have no driver aids. Just drive in a reasonable manner and use cruise control.

Now I wish I had the 1.4T 6mt instead of the 1.8 5mt.

 

[SteveSonic]

Averaged 43.15 MPG for the 700 trip. Not bad seeing as how I have no driver aids. Just drive in a reasonable manner and use cruise control.

Now I wish I had the 1.4T 6mt instead of the 1.8 5mt.

That sounds like killer fuel mileage for a 1.8 5MT. :banana: Hatchback or sedan??

 

[mitdr774]

Hatchback.

 

[HollywoodTurbo]

1.4 t sedan manual:

410 mile trip @ 60mph
49.9 MPG


410 mile trip @ 70-75mph
39.9 MPG

 

[LS1notFOUND]

was up into the 40s on a little 2 hour trip the other day, keep your foot out of it best you can and she'll return good gas mileage.

 

[SooperSonic]

my last tank was about 36mpg on 87 octane but it was E10. I was pretty disappointed. I just filled it with 89 E0 and through about 75 miles on the trip, the DIC is saying 41.4, but I understand that's on-board computer optimism.

I know this isn't a gas octane thread, but I figured it was worth throwing out since it affected my MPG's.

This weekend, I'm going on a trip down to Cape May NJ and that's mostly a highway trip, and I'm hoping for some really good MPG's down that stretch of road.

 

[mitdr774]

I find a 3-4 MPG increase by using 93 vs 87.

 

[lg90221]

i love my sonic

i have 2012 chevy sonic sedan ltz 1.4turbo inferno orange sunroof it beats the hell out of my honda shes long gone now best mixed driving maybe 80% highway 20% horrible stop and go was 42.49 my worst was all street in the los angeles area and it was 28.58 with a/c at times

 

[simple2me]

Looking forward to the savings

I drive 230-260 miles roundtrip everyday (M-F) so I'm really looking forward to picking up the 2012 LTZ 1.4L 6spd M/T Hatchback tomorrow. My old ride (02 Mitsu) is still running strong but I parked her back in December because she's pushing 340000 miles (all original and still gets 28MPG) and I started driving my Cadillac CTS which gets about 22-28MPG's depending on how I drive. I'm liking these numbers everyone is talking about with the 1.4L.

 

[Wolfhound]

We get around 22 mpg in town. Overall lifetime average (1/3 hwy) on dash is 24. This is just easy city miles, not a hotrodder but my 52 yr old Wife.