Ksull72487
Member
Okay so I already did a post on Octane you guys can look up. (Go with 89 Minimum, 93 Recommended)
Now I wanted to talk about MPGs. After the ECU switched maps and trust me I ran 87 and 89 and 93 Twice full tank to be sure it did. I obviously found 93 did make an improvement in power as expected since it’s a turbo. Coming from a 400 HP BMW M235i. This was a fun little experiment and obviously holds true to the Turbo car.
Some of you say your getting bad gas mileage. I’m going to tell you why? This little car is 99HP with out that Turbo. 138HP in perfect conditions on higher octane. I doubt it makes that on 87.
Boost. As soon as you start Boosting this car your MPGs will drop like a rock. That means pushing the pedal and increasing RPMs. The Sonic is a underpowered Car with a little Turbo. The nice thing about it is it has the passing power some of its competitors don’t have.
If you have an automatic some people say it switches gears too early or doesn’t like to downshift that quick.
It’s an economy car the reason the trans is doing that on a stock tune is it’s trying to keep you off Boost to get the MPGs depending on how hard you put your foot down.
Honestly I find this car to be a better MPG car on highway than in city. Because most of us like to accelerate on a light. But that’s also the reason why the motors so torquey to give you that effect around town so you don’t hit boost.
This car was designed to be a MPG car with Boost when you need it. I’ll probably never get good gas Mileage in it. Because I was in boost in my Mini Cooper S and BMW M235i all the time for fun. In the Sonic I like to hit it cuz it’s slower than I’m used too.
You want 38 MPGs go for a nice long drive on a highway at 65 with Cruise Control on. 38-41 you should get depending on Terrain. Stay off the boost aka high rpm.
What about the City? Again depending on traffic and lights and how hard you accelerate to get up to speed 27 MPG is probably going to be difficult to achieve. At least it will be for me. I have a lead foot even in a Semi. I don’t speed in a truck but I get moving.
Stay off the boost and try. It’ll get the claimed MPGs or close. Also watch your instantaneous MPG.
Where the Sonic shines best is highway a long trip on Cruise Control. That’s where you’ll see the MPGs. City I doubt it and short trips and a hustle to work. Your probably hitting boost. These turbos don’t do very much for our cars since they are tiny and cheap. But they do give us that extra ummph we all look for at the cost of MPG.
One reason I like this car it’s cost. It does what you need it to do. Has better power than it’s rivals. And if you burn up the Turbo it’s extremely cheap to replace. Literally this whole car can be rebuilt at Auto Zone for nothing.
Anyways if you think your getting bad MPGs. Run some 93 and try. I’ll bet that fixes your problems. Plus longer trips at constant speed equal higher MPG.
Fuel injector Cleaner really isn’t needed. 93 usually has the additives you need anyways. Just use Top Tier gas.
Now I wanted to talk about MPGs. After the ECU switched maps and trust me I ran 87 and 89 and 93 Twice full tank to be sure it did. I obviously found 93 did make an improvement in power as expected since it’s a turbo. Coming from a 400 HP BMW M235i. This was a fun little experiment and obviously holds true to the Turbo car.
Some of you say your getting bad gas mileage. I’m going to tell you why? This little car is 99HP with out that Turbo. 138HP in perfect conditions on higher octane. I doubt it makes that on 87.
Boost. As soon as you start Boosting this car your MPGs will drop like a rock. That means pushing the pedal and increasing RPMs. The Sonic is a underpowered Car with a little Turbo. The nice thing about it is it has the passing power some of its competitors don’t have.
If you have an automatic some people say it switches gears too early or doesn’t like to downshift that quick.
It’s an economy car the reason the trans is doing that on a stock tune is it’s trying to keep you off Boost to get the MPGs depending on how hard you put your foot down.
Honestly I find this car to be a better MPG car on highway than in city. Because most of us like to accelerate on a light. But that’s also the reason why the motors so torquey to give you that effect around town so you don’t hit boost.
This car was designed to be a MPG car with Boost when you need it. I’ll probably never get good gas Mileage in it. Because I was in boost in my Mini Cooper S and BMW M235i all the time for fun. In the Sonic I like to hit it cuz it’s slower than I’m used too.
You want 38 MPGs go for a nice long drive on a highway at 65 with Cruise Control on. 38-41 you should get depending on Terrain. Stay off the boost aka high rpm.
What about the City? Again depending on traffic and lights and how hard you accelerate to get up to speed 27 MPG is probably going to be difficult to achieve. At least it will be for me. I have a lead foot even in a Semi. I don’t speed in a truck but I get moving.
Stay off the boost and try. It’ll get the claimed MPGs or close. Also watch your instantaneous MPG.
Where the Sonic shines best is highway a long trip on Cruise Control. That’s where you’ll see the MPGs. City I doubt it and short trips and a hustle to work. Your probably hitting boost. These turbos don’t do very much for our cars since they are tiny and cheap. But they do give us that extra ummph we all look for at the cost of MPG.
One reason I like this car it’s cost. It does what you need it to do. Has better power than it’s rivals. And if you burn up the Turbo it’s extremely cheap to replace. Literally this whole car can be rebuilt at Auto Zone for nothing.
Anyways if you think your getting bad MPGs. Run some 93 and try. I’ll bet that fixes your problems. Plus longer trips at constant speed equal higher MPG.
Fuel injector Cleaner really isn’t needed. 93 usually has the additives you need anyways. Just use Top Tier gas.
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