Why isn't the fuel economy better?

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by FX86

people complain about everything in regards to the twins

So annoying. I really hate it.

[D_Thissen]

You guys think the fuel economy is that terrible? Keep your right foot in check, and you'll have no problems getting good gas mileage. Or, buy a Prius.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by notout86

These cars get up to operating temperature fairly slowly. I doubt that the fuel figures published take this into account. I'm looking for a way to get it to warm up more rapidly and thus reduce fuel consumption, without any downside. Any ideas?

Having it heat up 2 minutes faster is not going to give you any perceivable mileage increase.

[Ashikabi]

When I drove my FRS hone from the dealer(all interstate) I made 42 miles to the gallon. One I got it home, I tried hard, but I couldn't get Toyotas mileage rating of 26mpg. I couldn't get it below 30mpg no matter how hard I beat on it(most of our roads are straight lines so it limited my being somewhat). Took e85 to hit Toyotas numbers

[Boomerang]

Originally Posted by Ashikabi

When I drove my FRS hone from the dealer(all interstate) I made 42 miles to the gallon. One I got it home, I tried hard, but I couldn't get Toyotas mileage rating of 26mpg. I couldn't get it below 30mpg no matter how hard I beat on it(most of our roads are straight lines so it limited my being somewhat). Took e85 to hit Toyotas numbers

Totalled

[Ashikabi]

Originally Posted by Boomerang

Totalled

I didn't proofread that for shit. Like 4 wrong words in there...

[Boomerang]

Originally Posted by Ashikabi

I didn't proofread that for shit. Like 4 wrong words in there...

Don't worry, I got the jist..
E85 makes me cry on fuel economy too..

Until I put my foot down and it all seems worth it

[mazeroni]

Originally Posted by notout86

These cars get up to operating temperature fairly slowly. I doubt that the fuel figures published take this into account. I'm looking for a way to get it to warm up more rapidly and thus reduce fuel consumption, without any downside. Any ideas?

Heated garage? An engine block heater? Except both require energy to run plus the initial investment. Downside being a heated garage is wasted once you open the door. An engine block heater has to be plugged in somewhere.

Do you have solar panels? That is you only real option if you want no downsides, except the cost, but many people would consider that not to be a downside given it is the green option. Assuming the panels are made locally and are also made using green energy.

There are way too many variables in regular day-to-day driving that can contribute or detract to overall fuel economy. Any method we come up with would be negated the second you pull out into traffic, accelerate, then hit a red* light the second you reach speed. The effort for such minute improvements is simply not worth the time or cost, sadly. At least not until the world goes full Mad Max.

I think you are better of just trying to focus on coasting to stops and modulating your acceleration and shifts, plus use cruise control everywhere! That is the best most of us can do given our present circumstances.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by mazeroni

Heated garage? An engine block heater? Except both require energy to run plus the initial investment. Downside being a heated garage is wasted once you open the door. An engine block heater has to be plugged in somewhere.

Do you have solar panels? That is you only real option if you want no downsides, except the cost, but many people would consider that not to be a downside given it is the green option. Assuming the panels are made locally and are also made using green energy.

There are way too many variables in regular day-to-day driving that can contribute or detract to overall fuel economy. Any method we come up with would be negated the second you pull out into traffic, accelerate, then hit a right light the second you reach speed. The effort for such minute improvements is simply not worth the time or cost, sadly. At least not until the world goes full Mad Max.

I think you are better of just trying to focus on coasting to stops and modulating your acceleration and shifts, plus use cruise control everywhere! That is the best most of us can do given our present circumstances.

The dude is in Australia so I don't think his warm up time is all that substantial anyway. My driving pattern is 98% highway at steady speed with cruise on and my average mileage does not waiver even a decimal point through most of the year. When it is really cold (like minus 10 cold) my average may drop from 32 mpg to 30 mpg for a week or so. I attribute most of that to letting the car idle long enough so I can scrape the windows easier not to low oil temperatures. When I don't have to let it idle to melt ice it goes right back to my normal 32 no matter what the temp is outside.

[venturaII]

I've found this car to be one of the quickest warming vehicles I've ever owned.

[new2subaru]

Originally Posted by venturaII

I've found this car to be one of the quickest warming vehicles I've ever owned.

It also cools (AC) very quickly too.

[mazeroni]

Originally Posted by new2subaru

It also cools (AC) very quickly too.

I am also super impressed with the AC so long as you are moving. I find that when at a stop the air blowing out the vents gets a good deal warmer (talking 100 F ambient temps). I am sure there is a good explanation. Also the super small interior makes it easy to modulate. My GTI was a bit of a pain. Go around a corner and the air in the hatch would move to the front.

Though my fuel economy tanks when running the AC. I don't know whether i trust the instant MPG gauge, but the different between AC on and off is at least 6 mpg. I have no statistical evidence, but I feel like I started to use at least 25% less fuel when the temps dropped to 70 around here and I keep the windows down.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

My driving pattern is 98% highway at steady speed with cruise on and my average mileage does not waiver even a decimal point through most of the year. When it is really cold (like minus 10 cold) my average may drop from 32 mpg to 30 mpg for a week or so. ...

Our driving patterns/etc are similar except my average speed is probably lower since I take backroads rather than interstates.

My by month average since May 2012 is shown below. Low month is December with 32.42, highest is April with 33.47

I think December is lower primarily because of more time spent in urban areas (shopping/visting relatives).

April and October are the two highest months because I don't typically use AC or heat during those months.

Also, April/October/July are more likely to have straight interstate road trips.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Our driving patterns/etc are similar except my average speed is probably lower since I take backroads rather than interstates.

My by month average since May 2012 is shown below. Low month is December with 32.42, highest is April with 33.47

I think December is lower primarily because of more time spent in urban areas (shopping/visting relatives).

April and October are the two highest months because I don't typically use AC or heat during those months.

Also, April/October/July are more likely to have straight interstate road trips.

That is probably exactly what mine would look like if I were not far too lazy to track it that closely. If you broadened that Y axis a bit it would be a flat line.