Has anyone test the real mileage
- Thread starter sdpapet
- Start date
Llia
New member
Sorry, haven't tried. I never go below half a tank when driving long distance. If I tried it would have to be with the 1.8 liter. I dunno what would happen if you ran out of gas with the 1.4 Turbo. Thought about a small Jerry Can mounted to the right of my trailer hitch opposite the exhaust for emergencies or helping stranded motorists.
JesusTheAgnostic
New member
I believe the tank size is 12.5 gallons. Whatever your display reads is your average mpg subtract 3 from that and multiply by 10.5 that should be your range. That's a safe estimate on the low end of your actual range. I usually fill up when the gas light turns on and it fills up with 10.5 gallons. I drive a 1.4 though. The range is pretty good on these things id say.
The Champ
New member
According to my 2014 owner's manual, capacity is 12.2 gallons.
I have found my display to be extremely accurate when filling up at the same station/same pump/same direction.
With a small gas tank, variable (different station/different pump/different direction) the variables can make it appear the display is inaccurate.
I agree on using 10.5 times your MPG to estimate a safe range. Running your car low on fuel can lead to fuel pump failure. The gas in your tank is actually used to cool your fuel pump.
I have found my display to be extremely accurate when filling up at the same station/same pump/same direction.
With a small gas tank, variable (different station/different pump/different direction) the variables can make it appear the display is inaccurate.
I agree on using 10.5 times your MPG to estimate a safe range. Running your car low on fuel can lead to fuel pump failure. The gas in your tank is actually used to cool your fuel pump.
I've monitored my gas mileage using excel and find I get 38-42 mpg depending on conditions. I think the furthest I have gone on a tank is 420 miles. Usually though I look for a gas station when I've gone around 350 miles.
2014 Sonic hatchback LT
1.4T, 6 speed manual
non-ethanol gasoline only
2014 Sonic hatchback LT
1.4T, 6 speed manual
non-ethanol gasoline only
JesusTheAgnostic
New member
I think before I had summer tires on I could go like 440 miles, where do you find non-ethanol gasoline though?
JesusTheAgnostic
New member
My bad, the tank is 12.2 gallons, I've just never run it low enough on fuel to even have to fill it up with 11 gallons.
If you want to make sure you don't get stranded, subtract 3 from the display and multiply it by 10.5.
If you want to make sure you don't get stranded, subtract 3 from the display and multiply it by 10.5.
The Champ
New member
This is for Texas. Easy to go to other states by clicking on your state.
Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada
I don't worry about pure gas for my daily drivers that were designed to run on E10.
But I do run E0 in my toy cars with carbs that weren't designed for ethanol use.
I could do 400 miles on a tank if I was certain there was a gas station at mile 401
Why won't you tell us which transmission you have? It makes a difference.
Thanks for you guys feedback. My car is automatic driving. I normally drive in the town. I know drive on freeway will save gas a lot. However, my screen always shows the average MPG is 23.3. It's never changed. I am wondering if this MPG is normal for a car driving mostly in the town.
Also, I see a lot of people discuss the ethanol gas vs ethanol free gas. Which gas is better for longer mileage? I don't think the gas station near me has ethanol gas, but I always fill with 92 gasoline not the normal one. I have heard this will be better for your engine, but I am not sure if 92# will make me drive longer distance than #89 or not?
Thanks,
Around here it's often called marine gas.
Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada
they also have an app.
JesusTheAgnostic
New member
23.3? For city driving as in a lot of stop and go and short trips? I'd say its probably about right, but I dont drive a 1.8 and dont know how the automatic transmission would affect it. I know my first week of ownership i averaged like 29 all city driving and that's with mostly clear roads with my 1.4.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, the ethanol in gasoline is supposed to reduce emissions, but it decreases mpg, but like the champ said, its the standard and our cars are meant to run on it.
I want to know how non ethanol gas would affect the performance though so ill see if there's one near me, I'm planning on going the E85 route soon, the only problem is that the nearest station is half an hour from my house, good news is though that its 5 minutes from the university I attend.
Also our cars dont need premium fuel unless you're tuned. They're designed to give a specific amount of power despite the octane rating of the fuel so I'd save your 60 cents or whatever the difference is. The only thing I would say is fill up at top tier stations or use a bottle of techron every oil change. Again someone step in if I'm wrong.
Sorry if I keep getting distracted but anyone else feel like the car runs better on chevron gas or is it just me?
Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, the ethanol in gasoline is supposed to reduce emissions, but it decreases mpg, but like the champ said, its the standard and our cars are meant to run on it.
I want to know how non ethanol gas would affect the performance though so ill see if there's one near me, I'm planning on going the E85 route soon, the only problem is that the nearest station is half an hour from my house, good news is though that its 5 minutes from the university I attend.
Also our cars dont need premium fuel unless you're tuned. They're designed to give a specific amount of power despite the octane rating of the fuel so I'd save your 60 cents or whatever the difference is. The only thing I would say is fill up at top tier stations or use a bottle of techron every oil change. Again someone step in if I'm wrong.
Sorry if I keep getting distracted but anyone else feel like the car runs better on chevron gas or is it just me?
Thanks. "unless you're tuned" -- I am not sure what does "tuned" mean?
JesusTheAgnostic
New member
If you're not sure then you're not tuned :b Yeah so if you've bought a tune from BNR or Trifecta, or VT, or Diablosport; then you'd need premium fuel.
The Champ
New member
The "normal" difference in MPG between E10 87 octane fuel and E0 87 octane is only about 3%.
Around here, the price difference is anywhere from $.20 - .40 per gallon. For cars designed to run on E10 - it doesn't make sense to pay 10 - 20% more for fuel to gain 3% in fuel mileage.
FWIW - E85 will reduce your fuel mileage by about 30%. So even though the fuel is less expensive, the cost per mile is higher.
I run E10 87 in my Sonic.
My Cadillac ATS4 with the 2.0L turbo requires premium - and I recently discovered Ihave stations near me that sell E0 91 - 93 octane for virtually the same price as as E10 91 octane.
I have noticed a slight improvement in my fuel mileage since I started running E0 - about 1 MPG.
I calculated the cost per mile from ethanol to non-ethanol in my previous car to be about the same. I actually got 10% better gas mileage using nonethanol in that car (1999 Chevy Metro, 1.0 liter and 5 spd manual). However, I ended up needed to get gaskets replaced (expensive!) which I attribute, perhaps erroneously, to ethanol.
I suspect my 2014 Sonic (1.4T, 6 spd manual) wouldn't have a problem with ethanol as most new cars are designed for it, but I'm spoiled. Also, averaging 39-40 mpg I guess I feel like I can afford to be a little spoiled.
I also drive for gas mileage, trying to stay under 2000 rpm even when shifting. I'll rev it if I need to merge in a hurry, but in general I prefer gradual starts and stops. My feeling is that the less the engine spins the less gas it uses.
The Champ
New member
Without knowing where you live and the cost difference between E10 and E0, I can't dispute your claim of similar costs.
I can say that your 10% improvement would be unusual. Because the energy content of E10 is 96.7% of pure gas which is where my 3% improvement number for E0 comes from.
That figure is supported by factory engineers:
I agree with you methods of 2,000 rpm shift points and gradual starts and stops. This will help fuel mileage, for sure.
