Official: What are your real world MPG Numbers

[davecerv]

Oh boy. You're doing it wrong. You're less accurate than the DIC lol.

Hand calculated is dividing miles driven by gallons of fuel used.
To clarify next time you fill up reset your "tripometer" drive until your low on gas (you can fill at anytime but more miles=more accurate). Then fill your tank and divide your trip miles by gallons of gas pumped.

And yes the 1st bit of gas APPEARS, APPEARS !! To last longer than the last because of tank shape, fuel sender design, etc. The fuel sender is a variable resistor on a float, because of the way things are the float doesn't move as much at a full tank as a low tank. Float movement is tied to resistance which is tied to your fuel gauge so your display isn't linear because the float isn't.

Oh my… So what I was doing isn'y even a little right? I feel like a dummy :sadbanana:. Alright, I've actually never even touched the tripometer reset thing haha. Thanks for letting me know of this

 

[SSTODD]

13' RS 6AT, frist trip from Detroit to Atlanta. about 750 miles
DIC mpg of 36 for the trip, only reset when I left Detroit. a/c was used quite a bit. Very happy with the numbers so far and only 1600 total miles. With the AT and RS gearing I am not paying too much of a penalty for looking sporty.

 

[steadite]

I'll take it...

I reset the MPG o'meter and trip ODO every fill-up, so this represents a day of driving around central WI in mid-September using premium gas in my 1.4L 6M hatchback.

Calculated at the next fillup was 43.7MPG. MPG o'meter always reads optimistic.

Oh, by the way, this was with a mountain bike on the hitch rack!

 

[PlayCrackTheSky]

Well after driving 40 miles a bar dissapeared..I know it was forty because I subtracted the mileage i had after driving the forty miles from where I was when I pumped. I've always thought that each bar on the gas meter meant a gallon..am I wrong? Because that's how Ive been calculating my mpg's all this time...

You have to wonder how some people made it this far in life...

 

[chivalryder]

I should also add something I've noticed through careful observation over the last few months:

THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ HOW MUCH FUEL IS LEFT IN THE TANK. IT SHOWS HOW MUCH FURTHER YOU CAN DRIVE BASED ON THE DISTANCE LEFT TO EMPTY READOUT!

Arguments for this statement:

The fuel gauge always, ALWAYS hits 1 bar left @ 81km left to empty, without fail. The low light always comes on @ 60 km left to empty, without fail. The amount left in the tank every time (I always fill right after the light comes on) varies from 6-10L. It is never the same amount.

Also, the other day I was commuting home. The first 5 km, I drove with a VERY heavy foot. Within 1 km, a bar disappeared. After another 2 km of very sedate driving, due to traffic, the bar suddenly reappeared. I was driving on flat ground with no sudden acceleration or braking. The distance to empty was also increasing.

Coincidence? I think not.

So, whenever your fuel gauge says that your tank is half empty, it's not half empty. It's simply stating that you have enough fuel left to drive an arbitrary number of miles.

 

[davecerv]

You have to wonder how some people made it this far in life...

Hey woooa calm down over there...sorry im not a mpg expert...isn't this the reason why this forum exists so people can learn and so some people can keep making it in life? I'm only nineteen and im trying to make it in life. At least I'm concerned about mpgs unlike most of my friends. opcorn:

 

[PlayCrackTheSky]

Haha. Sorry for judging you. Yes, it is. That's a good thing...learn all you can here. There is plenty of knowledge to go around.

 

[gdideric]

well, I got a new job and my MPG jumped from 26 (calculated) to 34 calculated...and now that I realized my tire pressure was 10 psi too low it's gone up another couple points, but I haven't been through a tank yet, so I don't know how many. What a difference a new job makes!

 

[deadsexyii]

I should also add something I've noticed through careful observation over the last few months:

THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ HOW MUCH FUEL IS LEFT IN THE TANK. IT SHOWS HOW MUCH FURTHER YOU CAN DRIVE BASED ON THE DISTANCE LEFT TO EMPTY READOUT!

Arguments for this statement:

The fuel gauge always, ALWAYS hits 1 bar left @ 81km left to empty, without fail. The low light always comes on @ 60 km left to empty, without fail. The amount left in the tank every time (I always fill right after the light comes on) varies from 6-10L. It is never the same amount.

Also, the other day I was commuting home. The first 5 km, I drove with a VERY heavy foot. Within 1 km, a bar disappeared. After another 2 km of very sedate driving, due to traffic, the bar suddenly reappeared. I was driving on flat ground with no sudden acceleration or braking. The distance to empty was also increasing.

Coincidence? I think not.

So, whenever your fuel gauge says that your tank is half empty, it's not half empty. It's simply stating that you have enough fuel left to drive an arbitrary number of miles.

^^^ This. I routinely pull into the gas station and with the fuel gauge on E (no bars left) the fuel light on and the DTE reading LO, and put 10.2 gallons in? Thought it was a 12.2 gallon tank. W.T.F.

 

[sx sonic]

^^^ This. I routinely pull into the gas station and with the fuel gauge on E (no bars left) the fuel light on and the DTE reading LO, and put 10.2 gallons in? Thought it was a 12.2 gallon tank. W.T.F.

Manufacturers don't want the lowest common denominator running out of gas. Or worse blaming them for the misfortune.

 

[Macehammer]

well, I got a new job and my MPG jumped from 26 (calculated) to 34 calculated...and now that I realized my tire pressure was 10 psi too low it's gone up another couple points, but I haven't been through a tank yet, so I don't know how many. What a difference a new job makes!

Jumped that far just with a new job?

Sheesh, I need to get a new job...

 

[Aringer2000]

confused again. temp at 75 and 72 on the first two legs and gauge reads 55.7. total miles still at 685(140 driven-545 left) which translate to 53.5 or 54mpg. this may kill the heat idea. did make one change. climbing out Ann Arbor hill reduced speed to 55. last 3 fill ups 49.7(2 days rain)52.9(2 pump clicks at end)54.8 should aveage this and the last for 53.85. still averaging 670 or better for total future miles at fill up.

I'm also seeing crazy high MPG on the freeway. I got about 53.5 yesterday tooling around town.

 

[joe truck driver]

whinning

mileage tanking. mornings at 47 or 50 degrees, rain, late to work- over 70 to arrive on time....etc. total tank down to 640 last 3 fill ups and about 50mpg. 48.9, 49.2, 51.3. always something. :sadbanana:

 

[PolkSDA]

2013 LT 1.4T auto
25.6 mpg according to display, 25.1 mpg calculated
10.193 gallons
That tank was 87 octane.

While that's very low compared to most of the stratosphere numbers being posted here, I'm quite pleased. Why?

1. That was my first full tank in the car, and I'm assuming (hoping) the mileage will get better as the car breaks in (just crossed 360 miles on the odometer).

2. My driving is 100% city. Stop signs every or every other block. Never get above 40 mph. Heck, the engine never truly warms up as my daily commute is only about 11 minutes door to door.

3. AC was on for about 50% of that tank.

4. In my Grand Am I never got above 18 mpg in the city.


This fillup I put in 91 octane, so I'll see how it does in the city on 91 vs 87.

 

[davecerv]

finally correct calculations

So I finally calculated my mpg the right way for the first time. Turned out to be 29.5 practically 30 hahaha. I drove 291.8 miles on the tank then pumped 10 gallons. I couldve easily drove like 320 miles maybe to be more accurate but my lady kept telling me to put gas cause the gas light came on...im like but i can still...okay fine haha. She doesn't understand. Ohh and also that tank was with AC use mostly on the freeway, and idling time with the lady everyday. As far as gas goes, I always pump Chevron Plus (89 octane). Makes me feel better.

 

[Mikeygoolsbay]

1.4 turbo and 6 speed. Last tank I calculated I got 28.2 combined mpg. I also drive the dog piss out of my car

 

[Scooter3.14]

2LT 1.4 turbo 6man. The low end torque is amazing. The drivetrain loves 18K and has plenty of power to hold 60mph up a hill in 6th (not a mountain, not knoll, a hill). I'm not an aggressive driver, seldom press the throttle over 15-20%. Don't need to with the low end power. But I do like to open it up every few days, 0-70 then the fun's over in a few seconds. Mileage? I'm getting a solid 38 combined. All on 55 posted roads and in villages. Sure, I coast down a few grades, but I don't race it either (all the time). I love this little car. Strong enough to be fun, frugal enough to be affordable. Chevy got this one right! If you're not getting great mileage, it's probably not the car. Just sayin'. Now, straight highway? Here's my test: Cruise set at 60, then reset the average MPG. No stops, no traffic, flat highway, no coasting. 47 MPG.

 

[houser]

Fairbanks to Chena hot springs and stopped
For gas @ glenallen 370 mi through mountains
And flat lands. Snow and rain. 32-48 deg f
45-60 mph. 8.74 gals 90oct.
42.33 mpg

Mike
Palmer, Ak
1.4l 6m lt

 

[joe truck driver]

fall blues

average standing at 50 now with the cold mornings.. not holding my breath for the winter blend. still strong at 58,000. held a stead 55 for 10 miles on fresh tank and gauge read 64.1:blankface: still can't do it.

 

[Boomer]

2013 Sonic 1.4 Mileage

so far 10,388 miles driven, used 269.9 gallons, for avg. mpg of 38.0. this is an LT with the 1.4L Turbo. If i were to exclude the first 1,000 break in miles the numbers would be a little better. some tanks we get 40mpg. live pretty rural so not a lot of "city" driving.