Official: What are your real world MPG Numbers

[taketwoaspirin]

I also have been noticing the winter drop-off, and I've got two interesting bits of anecdotes to toss in; the first is that like joethetruckdriver, I'm pretty convinced that it's the warmup that kills the winter mileage. I recently had occasion to run an errand before heading in to work, so the car was mostly warmed up when I left; I haven't seen nice big numbers like that since early fall (a one-time 57 mpg for the full trip, vs. a reasonably repeatable 49-50 mpg for the same trip once the temperature dipped below freezing, all numbers from Torque).

The second bit is that at the end of the last tank, I switched over to a set of Michelin X-Ice Xi3 snow tires, and I've noticed a small improvement in my mileage; it's too soon to say how much and given my commuting habits it'll be about a month before I can say anything with actual data, but I have been seeing +3 mpg over what I was getting with the stock Hankooks on for similar trips and weather a few weeks ago (53-ish for the downhill trip and 43-ish for the uphill, vs. 50/40 on the all-season tires).

 

[joe truck driver]

I also have been noticing the winter drop-off, and I've got two interesting bits of anecdotes to toss in; the first is that like joethetruckdriver, I'm pretty convinced that it's the warmup that kills the winter mileage. I recently had occasion to run an errand before heading in to work, so the car was mostly warmed up when I left; I haven't seen nice big numbers like that since early fall (a one-time 57 mpg for the full trip, vs. a reasonably repeatable 49-50 mpg for the same trip once the temperature dipped below freezing, all numbers from Torque).

The second bit is that at the end of the last tank, I switched over to a set of Michelin X-Ice Xi3 snow tires, and I've noticed a small improvement in my mileage; it's too soon to say how much and given my commuting habits it'll be about a month before I can say anything with actual data, but I have been seeing +3 mpg over what I was getting with the stock Hankooks on for similar trips and weather a few weeks ago (53-ish for the downhill trip and 43-ish for the uphill, vs. 50/40 on the all-season tires).

are your winter tires the same size as the summer 195/65/15 or the 16's? I noticed that the Michelins start at 10.5/32 as to other snow tires at 12/32 but have the same revolutions, but how worn were the tires you replaced . If there was a big difference that could change your mpg. i checked your fuelly stats. good job.

 

[joe truck driver]

add on

I did notice it was only 8 to 9 thousand miles but I didn't notice the total miles

 

[taketwoaspirin]

are your winter tires the same size as the summer 195/65/15 or the 16's? I noticed that the Michelins start at 10.5/32 as to other snow tires at 12/32 but have the same revolutions, but how worn were the tires you replaced . If there was a big difference that could change your mpg. i checked your fuelly stats. good job.

Thanks, you're an inspiration; I'm generally about 2 mpg behind you, I think, despite what the fuelly "average" numbers would indicate. I've only owned my Sonic for 10 months and just over 9000 miles, so I don't yet have a full winter with it. Most of my success is just because most of my commute is on rural roads, averaging about 35mph with very few stops. My office is about 500 feet lower in elevation than my home, so great for mileage going in to work and not so great going home.

The winter tires are the same 195/65/15 size as the factory 15s; the stock tires have about 8400 miles on them (the miles on my fuelly log are pretty much all of them, I got the car with less than 10 miles on it and have kept track on fuelly since day 1). That's an excellent point, I should compare the amount of tread on the two sets of tires; if I can get the shed door loose from the ice I'll check on that. I might also be able to use Torque on my phone to get the difference between the odometer miles and GPS miles for whatever that's worth.

FWIW, it's been colder the last couple of weeks and my mileage has dropped again, down to high 40's on the downhill and very low 40's on the uphill. It was -15 the other day and the engine coolant temperature never got above 200F the entire 20+ mile trip; it was also the worst one-way mileage that I can recall, 44 for the downhill run. I really wanted a block heater that morning!

 

[joe truck driver]

its not friday so i get to whine

I didn't start fuelly till this year but I kept track of my fuel slips so I could enter them when I found it(fuelly).

I was at Tire rack comparing revolutions and sizes and the tires size you put on should have no effect so no need to check your shed, but you may get fewer miles on the Michelins before you have to replace them than some of the others, but the Michelins are supposed to have 50 psi max, which could certainly improve your numbers if they are overinflated. someone had a good experience ,can't remember who now, but they said their numbers didn't change after putting on the general snow tire(artic something) which are 44psi max same as the stock tires. my guess is to check pressure in the tires to make sure they are not over inflated. I think factory recommends 38 but most of us run 40.

Ok now to whine. my numbers would be better if I could find last years summer numbers. you should be getting some fantastic numbers around 40mph in 6th gear on your down hill section. I have about 7 of my 70 miles, of one leg of my trip, on flat city roads that sometimes I can time at 40 to 45. when I played with the gauge I hit almost 70 mpg for a 4 mile stretch where I timed the lights just after a fill up....course never in winter.

 

[taketwoaspirin]

I didn't start fuelly till this year but I kept track of my fuel slips so I could enter them when I found it(fuelly).

I was at Tire rack comparing revolutions and sizes and the tires size you put on should have no effect so no need to check your shed, but you may get fewer miles on the Michelins before you have to replace them than some of the others, but the Michelins are supposed to have 50 psi max, which could certainly improve your numbers if they are overinflated. someone had a good experience ,can't remember who now, but they said their numbers didn't change after putting on the general snow tire(artic something) which are 44psi max same as the stock tires. my guess is to check pressure in the tires to make sure they are not over inflated. I think factory recommends 38 but most of us run 40.

Ok now to whine. my numbers would be better if I could find last years summer numbers. you should be getting some fantastic numbers around 40mph in 6th gear on your down hill section. I have about 7 of my 70 miles, of one leg of my trip, on flat city roads that sometimes I can time at 40 to 45. when I played with the gauge I hit almost 70 mpg for a 4 mile stretch where I timed the lights just after a fill up....course never in winter.

Okay, so I did get the shed open and checked; the summer rubber is at 8/32", the winter at 10/32", so that should favor the summer rubber. I've also inflated both sets to 40 psi (since the winter tires can take up to 50, I was thinking about bumping that up a bit, but haven't gotten around to it yet). I was expecting a lot more of a hit for the winter tires, so this is a pleasant surprise.

You're absolutely right about 40 mph in 6th gear running downhill Just don't look at the uphill part, because thermodynamics is a harsh mistress and never gives anything away for free I have changed my regular commute to completely avoid the highway just to take greater advantage of the fantastic mileage at 35-40 mph.

Go ahead & whine; I'm sure I'll be whining once the winter catches up with my average!

 

[SuperFudd]

My LT is ~3 weeks mine so far. Driving carefully around Union City and Fremont at 35 - 40 MPH I typically get 32 mpg.
I love getting up to 60 mph on the freeway and resetting the mpg, and seeing 50+ mpg for a bit. I then struggle to keep it but it eventually sags to ~40 mpg, traffic permitting.

 

[MartyH]

2013 1.4 turbo, 6-speed manual hatchback LTZ trim showing 36.1mpg with an average speed of 36.3mph since new. I've never reset the display and odometer now at 27,100 miles. When I was calculating mileage vs. the display, they were close so I quit calculating. Motor oil is Mag 1 Dexos1. Tires are the stock low profile Kumhos or Hankooks (I forget and not with the car at the moment) inflated to 44psi. I suspect the higher profile, narrower tires of the lower trim levels probably offer better fuel economy. I am super easy on the car and coast out of gear down hills. I'm not hyper miling but certainly driving with MPG in mind! I coast way ahead for red lights, 66mph on the highway using cruise control, etc.

 

[SuperFudd]

Latest results:
Today I drove one mile to the freeway. When up to speed (60mph) I reset the mpg and stayed at 60mph for the 8 miles to the off ramp. 43mpg.
On the return trip one hour later, at 55mph I got 45mpg. Air temperature 65 degrees F. Level road.
:banana:

Maybe I should take a closer look at the engine to confirm it is not the turbo.

 

[Gsrdude]

Just dropped under 30mpg this morning on the dash display.

I haven't reset it in months.

Oh well. No ****s given

 

[ShadowRS]

RS MT in the winter... Stop and go traffic.. Never go faster than 35 or so... Maybe drive 2 miles a day... Getting low 20's. :/ Kinda sucks.. but hey, spring is right around the corner!!!

 

[5.0]

On my commute to work I get 36.5mpg (hand calculated) shifting at 2000 rpm. That's on snow tires in 0*C weather. Same commute shifting at 3000 rpm I only get 25.5mpg.

With the deep freeze we've got recently and -18*C weather gas mileage has tanked.

 

[Blackhartredcar]

2013 RS auto, 27.0 on the dash gauge consistently..mostly stop and go with a 20 minute freeway commute daily. Took a longer trip and averaged out about 35 mpg on the freeway. My car hates the stop and go around town. Of course I am driving in a "spirited" fashion

 

[Trevinator]

with my second tank of gas through my 1.4l sonic 6 speed, I averaged 21.6 mpg calculated by hand. still breaking it in so my driving is just a little aggressive to make sure that the rings are fully seated.

 

[Benjaminbowens]

my wife's 2012 Auto LT Sedan is getting 19 (ugh, mostly city) and my RS Manual is about 29 on average (more highway driving). Took the LT to the Chevy dealer and they basically said its normal to be low due to winter and did a fuel system service.

 

[Lazza]

In the first two months of ownership of my 1.4L 6MT Sonic the dash readout says 29.3 mpg (...I've never reset it); I think this calculated value is generally accurate. I make short trips where I go no more than 45 mph. Considering EPA estimate is 29 mpg city I really can't complain.

Right now I use 87 octane. I will try a higher octane blend once the weather heats up, which won't be too long (I live in south Florida).


_Lazza

 

[Al Marino]

Always using premium, I average 29.1 in my 2013 sonic rs on my commute to NYC. 15 bux a day to drive 130 miles (the first 20 miles of my afternoon commute home is bumper to bumper traffic on the belt) really isn't bad considering. It gets about the same mpg as my 04 dyna wideglide.

 

[madmac555]

Ive got better before (when it wasnt so cold out)

Third pedal for life!

 

[sx sonic]

I've been rocking mid to low 30mpgs this winter. It's disappointing but a fact of cold temps and winter gas, I'm not helping either letting the car warm up 10 mins at a time

I just want summer back so I can try to break 60 mpg on a tank.

 

[ahtoxa]

I think that big "D" starring you in the face might be part of the problem

Big "D" is never part of the problem.