Official: What are your real world MPG Numbers

[SouthFLSonic]

Ah, I see now! I didn't realize you could zero out the MPG reading as well. I will definitely try it. Thank you!

I reset mine after every fill up and and intermittently to see what kind of mileage I get at certain speeds, tank levels, loads in the car, time of day, weather etc.

You should be able to reset; average speed, time of trip, and MPG. You should look into an Ultragauge for more accurate readouts, I'm getting one in next few weeks, they are reasonably priced and give way more info over the dummy lights we have on our gauge cluster.

Let me know how your MPG looks after you reset it and play with it to see what you're really getting.

 

[chjata87]

I reset the MPG count and I have been getting better numbers, thanks for the tip! It's still hovering only around 23-24, but for stop and go traffic I guess it's to be expected. I definitely want to try it out on the highway to see what kind of numbers I get there.

 

[SouthFLSonic]

Yeah even if you don't have a trip planned I would hop on the interstate and reset it after you get to speed and see what numbers you put up.

 

[joe truck driver]

53.7..hard to believe

broke my best.:banana: have 3 tanks to enter for july on fuel app but the latest is 53.7 hand cal. gauge read 57. 8 leg tank. about 550 on tank. don't have receipts in front of me. i was really happy to see the mileage but then i got another surprise....i hit 700 on total tank at about 26 mile mark on tank after. took picture. not gonna post unless asked for. tank i am on has 4 legs and gauge up to 56.1 and trip at 270 before half tank line. looking good for a 52 plus mpg set. really didn't think i was gonna beat 52.6 ... was waiting for top before i try different intake...i think the 53.7 a fluke. i think i had a tail wind on the last leg.

 

[mdwitte]

I just took another long highway trip from home to Bloomington/Normal, about 3 hours each way, 44.3 mpg on the way, 43.3 on the way back. it was 92-94 with air running, driving at 65 mph. 1.4/6spd manual, hatchback w/driver & 2 passengers, 3/4's of the tank

 

[joe truck driver]

heat

ok ....now i am confused. this is the next tank and my numbers are off the chart. I’m reading 58.9 mpg on the gauge minus 4 = 54.9 if it holds...I thought heat was the enemy. this whole tank the temp has been above 80 degrees. i know..... who does that but.... no air with windows up. if heat is the gold factor we could put an element in the air intake to heat it up for the winter and cut the fuel consumption. have not tried any high-speed runs as I’m hooked on get the max fuel numbers. I thought it would be 52.6. that alone would have made me happy. but 53.7 backed up with 53 and this tank... i will find out this week end if i beat 53.7. anybody got any ideas on why this heat would make this difference??????

 

[sx sonic]

ok ....now i am confused. this is the next tank and my numbers are off the chart. I’m reading 58.9 mpg on the gauge minus 4 = 54.9 if it holds...I thought heat was the enemy. this whole tank the temp has been above 80 degrees. i know..... who does that but.... no air with windows up. if heat is the gold factor we could put an element in the air intake to heat it up for the winter and cut the fuel consumption. have not tried any high-speed runs as I’m hooked on get the max fuel numbers. I thought it would be 52.6. that alone would have made me happy. but 53.7 backed up with 53 and this tank... i will find out this week end if i beat 53.7. anybody got any ideas on why this heat would make this difference??????

Not bad Joe!!!!

Yes heat is great for MPG, especially shorter commutes.
There are several reasons
-The engine get's up to temp quicker which takes the car out of cold start enrichment sooner. This is a big help.
-The fluids start off much warmer which is less drag on the internals
-Warmer air is less dense, this means that the throttle must be opened more for the same "mass" of air to enter the engine and make XX power. The throttle being opened more for the same cruise speed cuts down on pumping losses which is good for MPG.

Typically you hear that warm air results in a leaner mixture which is why the mpg goes up. This is untrue because 1. In closed loop mode the ECM targets a 14.7 fuel mixture, it automatically changes the fuel mixture to hit this target. 2. It requires XX power to maintain a certain speed/accelerate X fast, a leaner mixture would result in a slower speed which is not the case. Instead the throttle plate is opened more to achieve the same air mass as colder temps. (air ingested is proportional to power produced)

 

[Insanika]

I got 38.6 today in the mountains!!

 

[grayback]

im confused, i had my sonic 2 weeks ago and during the first week i got 7 km/liter (about 16mpg). now on the third week i am getting 10km/liter (about 23.5mpg)..this is combined city driving and highway.

any inputs?

 

[poncho167]

I gased up my car for the first time yesterday at 410 miles. Mileage calculated manually shows 38.88 mpg. Digital display shows 39.8 mpg.

 

[joe truck driver]

results in from weekend......hit 53.8 mpg calculated. 58.5 on gauge. 592 miles at 11 gallons. may have hit 54 if i had driven more highway. last 40 miles had more city in it. which means i could have hit 600 plus with the gallon i had left. temp is down to 70s for new tank. finished 4th leg and total tank is down to 650miles and gauge reads 55.6mpg. the only good news for match is the 278 and i haven't hit the half yet.


so would an element in tube before the sensors to heat the air work???

 

[chivalryder]

My last tank:

100% urban driving, 60% was 'granny-driving' with A/C on all the time. 20% was granny-driving without A/C, last 20% was WOT at every opportunity.

Achieved 30mpg.

Side note: HOLY CRAP DOES A/C EAT A CRAZY AMOUNT OF GAS IN A CITY ENVIRONMENT!!!

 

[joe truck driver]

can't complain

for the month of july, it looks like a 53.0 mpg average:banana: last tank is 50.3 mpg-temp and some wind but i only went 6 legs 419.7 miles at 8.336 gallons. any links to a heated intake would be great i haven't found any myself

 

[sx sonic]

for the month of july, it looks like a 53.0 mpg average:banana: last tank is 50.3 mpg-temp and some wind but i only went 6 legs 419.7 miles at 8.336 gallons. any links to a heated intake would be great i haven't found any myself

Nice numbers, as usual !

I'm not sure how a heated intake would work, I assume you're thinking of a system that has a heater core placed in the airbox that uses engine coolant?

I think if the system didn't hinder airflow much it would help during cruise and idling but would destroy hard acceleration because of the thinner air and added restriction.

The difficult part would be designing a setup that provides enough airflow.

If anyone has done this it would be a member here:Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com

 

[CutiePie^]

Great Gas Mileage

I've got the 1.8L Sedan (2013), and I'm getting 7L/100km (33mpg) city (no hwy miles on it yet). I like the feature that tells how many kilometers I have left before I hit Empty.

 

[BuckSonic]

Two fill-ups on my Sonic (1.4L turbo 6M sedan)



562 miles on a new-to-me 2012 demonstrator averaging 41.4 mpg. Keeping up with traffic.

The Up-Shift light is frequently asking for attention. What is considered 'lugging' on the 1.4L engine?

 

[sx sonic]

562 miles on a new-to-me 2012 demonstrator averaging 41.4 mpg. Keeping up with traffic.

The Up-Shift light is frequently asking for attention. What is considered 'lugging' on the 1.4L engine?

I've not had any issues at 1,000 RPM and a light throttle. I'm often running in 6th gear at 30 mph with a 1.4t LT.

 

[AndrewGS]

My mileage has gone to ****. I recorded under 30MPG for the first time last month. My last tank was 33.2MPG with 70% Highway. I don't get it?

 

[ChrisJ]

I've not had any issues at 1,000 RPM and a light throttle. I'm often running in 6th gear at 30 mph with a 1.4t LT.

Have you ever noticed the 1.4 acts up sometimes if you're slowing down in traffic with little or no throttle around 1000-1200rpm and starts to buck? Seems really odd being I can cruise at 1000rpm under slight load with no problem

The key word here is "sometimes".

 

[joe truck driver]

wow is all i can say

hit 54.8 mpg calculated:banana:. don't know what to say but wow. know next tank will not be as good I hit all that rain and wind on 2 legs. probably around 50.

yes I have noticed a lug on the way down but does fine on the way up. I also can't get over how it revs up like its sucks air (diesel reference).

I am not thinking about using coolant. that would be too slow. a friend of mine recommended a screen that is actuated electrically. I was thinking of wrapping the inside or the outside of the tube with a electric ceramic element. I know they make metal bands to heat tubes. I've seen them in Williamston at a place I deliver too. the questions I have leave me wanting for the expertise. how hot could I go? expense verses savings? your question on performance, how much would I loose or gain? if heated internally would I disturb the air flow? how to control the amount of heat and how to sense it.