Isambard
New member
This.
poor mpg?
- Thread starter ChevySonic
- Start date
This.
ChrisJ
Active member
IMO and, maybe I'm wrong but holding the clutch in at stop lights is only hard on the pilot bearing assuming the Sonic's clutch is the same as what older vehicles had. Never heard of it risking glazing the clutch, but I guess its plausible as the parts arn't necessary kept from touching.
Coasting with the clutch pushed in is hard on the throwout bearing. Now how hard I don't know because I've heard of those bearings failing after being engaged the entire time for 20+K miles due to a poorly adjusted clutch.
Spinning under pressure for 20,000 miles, that'd take a hell of a lot of coasting.
I think the most important part is to not ride the clutch when taking off. I give it a little throttle and then let up on the throttle as the car starts moving. My tach stays around 1K or so. If you launch your car constantly by riding the clutch its doing far more damage then coasting or sitting at lights with the clutch in.
I'm think agreeing with what others have said for the most part, but I wanted to chime in anyway.
As far as poor MPG, with my 1.4 I shift at 1500rpm 90% of the time unless I'm trying to get moving fast which is rare.
Coasting with the clutch pushed in is hard on the throwout bearing. Now how hard I don't know because I've heard of those bearings failing after being engaged the entire time for 20+K miles due to a poorly adjusted clutch.
Spinning under pressure for 20,000 miles, that'd take a hell of a lot of coasting.
I think the most important part is to not ride the clutch when taking off. I give it a little throttle and then let up on the throttle as the car starts moving. My tach stays around 1K or so. If you launch your car constantly by riding the clutch its doing far more damage then coasting or sitting at lights with the clutch in.
I'm think agreeing with what others have said for the most part, but I wanted to chime in anyway.
As far as poor MPG, with my 1.4 I shift at 1500rpm 90% of the time unless I'm trying to get moving fast which is rare.
Good advice. Same thing my dad told me a long time ago (of course, at that time I responded with "what is the point of driving"?). I think it helps to worry more about the amount of throttle given and less about the rpms the engine is at. If you need to climb a hill, shift down a gear. Yes, rpms will go up but the amount of throttle needed will go down which should result in better mpgs.
ahtoxa
New member
That also depends on the RPM that you do it at. I bet that doing a no-gas launch at idle RPM where you have to slip it for an extended length of time puts less wear on the clutch than doing a fairly abrupt launch at 1500 - 2000.
Stew
Sedans Rule!
If you're shooting for best MPG then always be in the highest gear that will take you up the hill, even if you put your foot to the floor. That will give you better MPG then being in a lower gear but not pressing down as much on the gas.
This is not my opinion, I watch this happening all day long on my ScanGauge. My Sonic is the turbo but before I got my Sonic the ScanGauge was in a naturally aspirated car and it was the exact same thing. For best MPG be in the highest gear you can be in.
I drive pretty aggressively and got 38.4 MPG on my last tank calculated at the pump, believe me it works. That and coast in neutral whenever you can, if you can safely do this. The 1.4 Sonic is getting about 350 MPG coasting at 60 MPH, if you take advantage of the grades on the freeway it doesn't take long to get your average up.
None of this is hard on the clutch, trans or anything, previous car was a Hyundai Accent with dang near 200k, had the original clutch and ran perfect.
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There has to be a reason some of these cars are getting ridiculously low mileage. Something is wrong. My 1.4 automatic is getting 28 on the highway. I have a Sienna van that gets better mileage. I drive like a normal person. Or, at least, I drive in the same manner as I drive the van. Pathetic mileage. With the last tank I barely made it over 20 mpg city. I'm just waiting to be in the teens...
I agree. A small number of Sonics seem not to have been put together right. Mine, on the other hand, works exactly as intended.
TheFallenAngel12
New member
I have a 2012 1.8L 6spd Auto Sedan and after filling up yesterday morning, driving around all day, and then driving around all day today, doing city driving only with gentle take offs, not painfully slow but gentle... coasted whenever possible, and braked lightly ahead of time and minimizing my idleing time by choosing routes that constituted the least amount of traffic lights i was able to achieve the following MPG in my Sonic for the past 2 days combined...
Only mods i have are a K&N Air filter in the stock box, and a custom 2.25" CAT-Back Exhaust system, no tune (Still Stock Tune).
If i drive it a little harder and not so light on the gas when taking off i acheive around 25-28mpg in the city. It really comes down to when you shift, how you drive and the routes you choose to drive down. It all plays a role in your MPG. But overall i am very happy with my sonic reguardless of either numbers.
Only mods i have are a K&N Air filter in the stock box, and a custom 2.25" CAT-Back Exhaust system, no tune (Still Stock Tune).
If i drive it a little harder and not so light on the gas when taking off i acheive around 25-28mpg in the city. It really comes down to when you shift, how you drive and the routes you choose to drive down. It all plays a role in your MPG. But overall i am very happy with my sonic reguardless of either numbers.
Swordsmith
242hp/252 ft-lbs BNR EFI
I wonder if there is some way to prove an actual difference in mpg, and then make GM fix or replace the car. You'd need to do something like drive the vehicle right alongside an identically equipped one with the same payload, maybe weigh both drivers and have the lighter driver take along some sandbags to equalize their weights. Identical course, same shift points, same braking, same acceleration; side by side.
EndlessSea
New member
I am in the same boat. my Sonic's mileage is a far cry from what the window sticker claims. Probably gonna trade mine in just based on the fact that I bought it as a cheap ecobox for the DD because it was supposed to get good fuel econ and it gets mid 20's. with a 1.4 liter engine.....lol
FireFighterHill
New member
im averaging 27mpg with mostly city driving. If I reset on the highway and keep it at 70 I can get 32-34mpg. I'm in Florida, I don't go anywhere without the A/C on.
