Low mpg

[slicktop]

Originally Posted by Gen

Averaging right around 20 MPG I'd say. I like it that way. A few extra bucks a week doesn't matter.

Same. In fact, I was exactly 20.0 MPG today.

I bought this car to have fun with it. I don't have fun when I drive conservatively.

[mit_peid]

Originally Posted by Gen

Averaging right around 20 MPG I'd say. I like it that way. A few extra bucks a week doesn't matter.

haha... makes me feel better about getting less than 23mpg on average. I can't say I necessarily have a heavy foot, but I do like being the fastest car from redlight and I like to hear the engine wind up every opportunity I get (I don't get too many living in LA due to traffic). Come to think about it, maybe i do have a heavy foot... haha... totally agree... I bought this car to have fun for those small windows in my mundane day. A couple bucks won't break me.

[MVJ1975]

Agreed - I bought this car to liven up my boring commutes. It does so admirably. However, it only returns 24mpg while doing so... and that's still better than the 20-ish I was getting out of my much less fun tC.

[Gen]

Originally Posted by mit_peid

haha... makes me feel better about getting less than 23mpg on average. I can't say I necessarily have a heavy foot, but I do like being the fastest car from redlight and I like to hear the engine wind up every opportunity I get (I don't get too many living in LA due to traffic). Come to think about it, maybe i do have a heavy foot... haha... totally agree... I bought this car to have fun for those small windows in my mundane day. A couple bucks won't break me.

I was averaging about 23 mpg until the turbo went in. It dropped like a rock after that.

[ntr0py]

Originally Posted by Chimpo

If you want to see improvement you have to completely change how you drive. Here are some beginner tips:
(1) Don't be in a rush.
(2) Ease away from stop lights. Who cares if you're not the first car across the intersection?
(3) Shifting at 3-4K and you think that's good for F/E?? Try shifting at 2K.
(4) Fuel economy goes down w/ speed *over simplified* so try doing the speed limit or "just" above it if you have to. (PROTIP: police will go after the chumps going by you in the passing lane)
(5) Learn to coast to your advantage. Try and minimize the loss of speed. If you see a slow down ahead, don't fly up to it and slam on the brakes, instead COAST (or use the brakes minimally). Instead of hitting the bottle-neck and coming to a complete stop you may only lose half your speed, etc.
(6) Find a friend who is a F/E whore and ride with them. I'm sure you think you know how to "drive for F/E", but the fact you're doing so poorly tells me that you don't (not to say that you "drive" poorly).

Best of luck! F/E driving can be addicting in its own way.
C'MON BABY GIMME ANOTHER TENTH A GALLON!

I've been doing this for the past couple weeks and went from a 27mpg average up to 32mpg. Agreed that it has a fun factor of it's own. But I also really enjoy driving this car like it's meant to be driven. So I'm going to do the F/E driving for my commutes and drive the hell out of it on the weekends!

[polarstorm]

Originally Posted by slicktop

Same. In fact, I was exactly 20.0 MPG today.

I bought this car to have fun with it. I don't have fun when I drive conservatively.

Precisely, I was considering some hyundai shhhbox, and then said, flock it, I'm driving.. tired of going shopping with the wife too (last time I did I bought a minivan), went by myself and got what felt good at my hands.. end of story morning glory.

And like another driver said, whats a few extra bucks, I'm already not a 6 cyl platform so that in and of itself makes a big ($) difference.. I am astonished at the difference between hwy vs cty driving tho.. on the other hand, whats the point of getting a vette if youre just going to drive around the block.. there is a fine balance point in there somewhere. Also imperial MPGs vs metric MPGs here in Canada..

[tennisfreak]

Originally Posted by Marchy

Fuelly tells me I've averaged 29.7 over 3300 miles with a best tank of 33.1mpg. Not a light footed driver in anyway, just very smart about keeping speed, and staying in gear when coasting (you use 0 gas vs some gas keeping the car at idle in neutral)

? Why do you believe you use zero gas keeping car in gear when coasting?
You can still hear the exhaust note which indicates that the pistons are firing and they cant fire without fuel. Maybe I am wrong, IDK.

[polarstorm]

Originally Posted by Marchy

When you're coasting in gear, off the gas, the ECU will cut fuel going into the engine 100%, because momentum of the car combined with the engaged transmission will keep the engine spinning. If you go into neutral, then the ecu has to keep the engine idling to keep it from dying.

It still burns gas at the rate that the rpm needle indicates.. you're just not making the engine work so it falls below 1k..

Careful driving in neutral, you effectively lose control of the car if you're distracted and depending on conditions.. my uncle died that way going down a 30 degree incline, couldn't put it back in gear because the tractor was loaded (a few tons) and it had picked up too much speed..

[Chimpo]

Originally Posted by polarstorm

It still burns gas at the rate that the rpm needle indicates.. you're just not making the engine work so it falls below 1k..

I'm pretty sure that you are incorrect. Most modern F/I engines cut the injectors when left in gear and coasting. I however do not specifically know if THIS engine does or not.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by polarstorm

It still burns gas at the rate that the rpm needle indicates.. you're just not making the engine work so it falls below 1k..

Careful driving in neutral, you effectively lose control of the car if you're distracted and depending on conditions.. my uncle died that way going down a 30 degree incline, couldn't put it back in gear because the tractor was loaded (a few tons) and it had picked up too much speed..

Originally Posted by Chimpo

I'm pretty sure that you are incorrect. Most modern F/I engines cut the injectors when left in gear and coasting. I however do not specifically know if THIS engine does or not.

It's standard for ECU's to cut fuel to the engine, it's basically free fuel savings. This has been standard practice for nearly a decade. If you are in neutral you NEED gas to keep the engine spinning and power going to the alternator, A/C, brake booster, and other accessories. If you're in gear you can use momentum to keep all these systems spinning.

You are still hearing noises because the engine is still pumping air through the system, every time a valve opens and closes there's actually a sonic boom occurring. You can feel the car go into "compressor mode" as the engine shuts off the fuel (a little lurch forward) and if you have the instantaneous mpg on you'll see it jump to 127mpg. When you hit about 1,000 rpm the fuel kicks back on to power the accessories and maintain idle, it'll lurch forward a little bit which took me awhile to figure out.

With regards to the OP the biggest factor in fuel efficiency for internal combustion engines is how it's operated. They work best at constant load and constant speed, you'll get the best mileage using cruise control, it's thermodynamics. Stop and go is death to fuel economy, accelerating costs a ton of gas and braking turns all the gas you just used into useless heat, coasting or maintaining speed is what nets you decent gas mileage.

You'll get better mileage cruising at 100 mph than you would stop and go from 0-25 and repeat.

Edit: Basic source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy-...ing_or_gliding

I'm getting about 22MPG City with lots of stop and goes, and about 30-36MPG Highway. I also put grip-pier tires though lol.

[tm86]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

You can feel the car go into "compressor mode" as the engine shuts off the fuel (a little lurch forward) and if you have the instantaneous mpg on you'll see it jump to 127mpg. When you hit about 1,000 rpm the fuel kicks back on to power the accessories and maintain idle, it'll lurch forward a little bit which took me awhile to figure out.

Thanks for this explanation. I notice the lurching very often in slow bumper-to-bumper traffic. But sometimes when changing from 3-to-2, it lurches, almost feels like it accelerates slightly.

Do you have any tips on avoiding the lurches because I'm tired of bumping head against the headrest?

[Chimpo]

Originally Posted by tm86

Thanks for this explanation. I notice the lurching very often in slow bumper-to-bumper traffic. But sometimes when changing from 3-to-2, it lurches, almost feels like it accelerates slightly.

Do you have any tips on avoiding the lurches because I'm tired of bumping head against the headrest?

Push in the clutch at 1001 rpm

[tm86]

I will pay closer attention but I doubt the lurch occurs at 1K rpm.