For some reason, I cannot seem to do better than 25, 26mpg with nearly all highway driving, and a light foot around town. my last fill up was 90% highway and I only managed 25.1mpg. It's ridiculous, I had the cruise set between 70 and 75, it's been warm... I should be getting better than this. It is rated for 29hwy with this transmission, and I've heard of people getting even better, 32+. Tires are 38psi hot, 36 cold. Air filter is practically brand new, spark plugs are pretty new... Couple tankfulls with techron a couple weeks ago. Am I doing something wrong, or is my car just one of those poor mileage specimens?
MPGs
- Thread starter Nick R
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EPA mileage is at an average of about 50 MPH. You'll never get it at 75. Last cross country trip I did with a Subaru non turbo and a roof carrier I got 26 with the cruise at 75 and 32 with the cruise at 60.
Are you using the same gas station, etc? I used to use a "racetrac" station and would get 300-305 miles on a tank full. I started using a Chevron station about a month ago, now I go for 350 miles. Many variables. EPA tests are on a dyno under Ideal conditions, IIRC hwy is 50mph.
Dave
Dave
I,ve had the same effect from racetrac gas too,plus stumbling and hesitation.I use Chevron when possible ,It's the only top tier in my immediate area.
racetrac= you get what you pay for
Hermann
Site Donor 2023
If you are sure winter blend is over with, that is only so-so mileage. I filled up my truck Friday and the previous fill of Shell 87 oct netted 25.2. I run 60 to 65 on the interstates, and have lots of four mile trips also. This is a 3600 lb non aero vehicle. My vote would also be to use a better brand of fuel. At 65 I am turning 2300 RPM.
Originally Posted By: beast3300
I think highway fuel economy is at it's best around 55 or 60. With your 3 speed transmission, the rpms you have from 70-75 are fairly high.
Try 60mph with cruise for a week and see what gas mileage you get.
Yup. Your MPG is suffering due to the 70-75 MPG you travel at. Maximum fuel efficiency runs approx 55-60 MPH( varies slightly from vehicle to vehicle depending on gearing and such ). Slow down and your MPG will climb.
I mean absolutely NO offense by the following comment but I actually chuckle when I read posts like yours( OP's )about poor MPG while going so fast. The faster you go the worse your MPG will be. All the MPG tricks in the book won't help your MPG at those speeds. What will help is dropping back to 60 MPH and using CC( if equipped ).
I think highway fuel economy is at it's best around 55 or 60. With your 3 speed transmission, the rpms you have from 70-75 are fairly high.
Try 60mph with cruise for a week and see what gas mileage you get.
Yup. Your MPG is suffering due to the 70-75 MPG you travel at. Maximum fuel efficiency runs approx 55-60 MPH( varies slightly from vehicle to vehicle depending on gearing and such ). Slow down and your MPG will climb.
I mean absolutely NO offense by the following comment but I actually chuckle when I read posts like yours( OP's )about poor MPG while going so fast. The faster you go the worse your MPG will be. All the MPG tricks in the book won't help your MPG at those speeds. What will help is dropping back to 60 MPH and using CC( if equipped ).
But the thing is, I've seen plenty of other cavalier owners with the same engine, and transmission, that get 30+ at 75 or faster. When does winter gas end, anyway?
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But the thing is, I've seen plenty of other cavalier owners with the same engine, and transmission, that get 30+ at 75 or faster. When does winter gas end, anyway?
Seen... as in, been with them when they filled up, driven through a whole tank, filled up again, then calculated? Or seen... as in, someone said so on a Cavalier internet forum?
There's a big difference.
Much like wang size, cost of a new car, and fuel economy... everyone exaggerates when it can't be verified.
But the thing is, I've seen plenty of other cavalier owners with the same engine, and transmission, that get 30+ at 75 or faster. When does winter gas end, anyway?
Seen... as in, been with them when they filled up, driven through a whole tank, filled up again, then calculated? Or seen... as in, someone said so on a Cavalier internet forum?
There's a big difference.
Much like wang size, cost of a new car, and fuel economy... everyone exaggerates when it can't be verified.
Originally Posted By: MrHorspwer
But the thing is, I've seen plenty of other cavalier owners with the same engine, and transmission, that get 30+ at 75 or faster. When does winter gas end, anyway?Seen... as in, been with them when they filled up, driven through a whole tank, filled up again, then calculated? Or seen... as in, someone said so on a Cavalier internet forum?
There's a big difference.
+1, take MPG claims with a big grain of NaCl
"I got 33 mpg at 75 mph" usually means the person hit 75 MPH at least once on a long trip.
I've always gotten the rated mileage from my last fout vehicles but, I drive the speed limits and not 75 except when having fun or passing. Try 65 or 68 mph and watch your mileage jump up.
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My overall average for a 2001 Ford Escort with 137,000 miles currantly is 38 mpg. During the winter with winter blend it dropped to 36 mpg. I usually drive in the 50 to 55 mph neighborhood.
These are overall averages not special fillups. I always stop filling at the first click, thinking this gives me a better avg. tank fill, whether it does or not, who knows.
These are overall averages not special fillups. I always stop filling at the first click, thinking this gives me a better avg. tank fill, whether it does or not, who knows.
The best mpg is achieved at the lowest speed that your final speed is engaged. I have a couples of vehicle and no exception on above observation.
My Xterra rated at 15, 20 mpg. It goes to 5th speed at 38 mph under light demand.
My on board monitor says 26 mpg if I keep the speed at 40mph. Interstate drives at 65 mph gets me around 22~24 if not against the wind (due to its hight). The monitoring of xterra is fairly accurate BTW. If I go 75 mpg that drops to 20~21 mph. So go figure.
Siena with 30k miles gets me 29mpg driven at 65 mph and 27 at 75mph. At 40 mph on backroads in fifth gear it gets 32mpg.
My Xterra rated at 15, 20 mpg. It goes to 5th speed at 38 mph under light demand.
My on board monitor says 26 mpg if I keep the speed at 40mph. Interstate drives at 65 mph gets me around 22~24 if not against the wind (due to its hight). The monitoring of xterra is fairly accurate BTW. If I go 75 mpg that drops to 20~21 mph. So go figure.
Siena with 30k miles gets me 29mpg driven at 65 mph and 27 at 75mph. At 40 mph on backroads in fifth gear it gets 32mpg.
Maybe you need a Mazda. They get better mileage. I get 38 mpg with my Mazda3 at 70mph.
Well, I did once. I probably had a good tailwind, and only half the trip was at 70 mph. The other half was at 55 mph.
Well, I did once. I probably had a good tailwind, and only half the trip was at 70 mph. The other half was at 55 mph.
Sorry but the 3-speed auto is a factor. But there maybe some hope. One thing that gets over looked often and I mean often is the lock up torque converter working properly. That is a common failure on this trans. The lock up solenoid fails and converter lock up never engages, it kill gas mileage. On the 3T40 lock feels like a "4th" gear. The seat of the pants feel and a 200-300 rpm drop is very obvious. If you are unable or not sure you can feel this, and you want to be sure, stop at a trusted transmission shop and mention poor fuel mileage and the lock up torque converter feature maybe not working. They should know right away what you are driving at. Like I said common problem. A short test drive to 40 mph plus on a straight away for him/her is all it will take. This repair is not major surgery but does take a $30 part and a hour or two of labor, depending on that chassis design. Let us know what you find. Good luck!
The other guys are correct, keep it under 60 mph for best mileage no matter what car is the subject matter. There is a science called coefficiency of friction involved in the math that cannot be beaten.
The other guys are correct, keep it under 60 mph for best mileage no matter what car is the subject matter. There is a science called coefficiency of friction involved in the math that cannot be beaten.
Highest I recorded in the '98 was 28mpg. I usually got 25-26 as well. Though I drove it hard. In town got 18-19.
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