54.6 MPG?! Wth?!!

Was any of your drives particularly windy?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jul 5 2006, 08:55 PM) [snapback]281799[/snapback]</div>

It could be a few things:
1) Gas - they are now in full swing with the special summer formulated gas (in some areas). Did you get both tanks of gas from the same station? Maybe try a different brand.
2) Oil - when was the last time you had the oil changed? With the summer heat, the oil has to work harder...and maybe your filter is getting a little clogged.
3) Weight - that has a huge factor - even when I just carry my kids (less then 40 pounds each) I see a few MPG drop...especially in the uphill areas
4) Tires - you said you checked them in the evening...was that after a drive? Better to check them in the morning when they are at their coolest temperature (even if you had not driven for a while, the heat of the day could still have the inflation readings showing way too high).

Hey, 59, 57, 54 are all still beating the EPA...but I understand...it kills me when I get a tank or two that are lower and just can't figure out why!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jul 5 2006, 08:55 PM) [snapback]281799[/snapback]</div>

After many hours of computer modeling and studying old lecture notes, I'm pretty sure I've found your problem: You're driving a car that uses gasoline! As long as you keep doing that, you'll forever be saddled with gas mileage. It turns out that there is no such thing as "good" gas mileage!

Sorry. As you know, I have no self control.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Jul 5 2006, 10:38 PM) [snapback]281845[/snapback]</div>

lol darelldd, you always make me laugh!

 

Hi TonyP...,

Same thing here. I was at 58 + for three tanks in a row. This last tank , which I am almost through now I am at 54.3 mpg. I think its gas formulation issues. Probably getting the E5 or E10 now.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(donee @ Jul 6 2006, 05:45 AM) [snapback]281895[/snapback]</div>

Tony, I think it's the gas too. I wish we could all get Li-Ion battery pack upgrades from Toyota and get our HOA's to approve wind turbines on our roofs. I think there may be some value to a few discussions on what is the ultimate as far as FE when it comes to tires regardless of performance. Because if you are driving for FE, your not driving like a race car driver. Also, a discussion on fluids for FE would be nice too. Until then just by trying to get the best MPG you can your on your way. I wonder what people who have old cars that can't run any Ethanol use?

 

Here my mpg is lower clearly because of the new gas mix with more ethanol.

But don't forget temperature. If you are averaging just 5 deg colder that can make a huge difference in mpg.

 

I don't count myself as a hyper miler... but did find an interesting oddity most recently...

For the last 10,000 miles (March - June) I typically get 52-55mpg at the pump, 53-56 on the MFD. I drive the Chicagoland tollway system 800 miles a week at a typical 60-65mph pace... It's consistant.. I'm used to it.

Over the 4 day weekend, we went to Michigan, up into Canada a bit, 1100 miles round trip driving closer to 75 to 80 most of the way, got closer to 51mpg all counted (one tank down around 47) at the pump calculations.. Mileage is down, but I'm running longer and faster so I expect it to be down.

Now I'm 1.5 days back into my commute, have 200 miles on this new tank and the mfd is at 59.4 which is my highest ever.

Did it do something to my car to 'run the horse' so much harder on our trip?

I'll see if it holds up, but it's my highest ever aside from just gassing up and getting home with 4 miles and 65mpg on the mfd.

 

I had a low tank in the spring that I could only attribute to head winds at about 15 MPH. It dropped my tank to 54. Also, when it's raining... forget it. I'm lucky to see 48.

 

TPS,

Any mods, service to priapus ?
Changes in weather ?
Different petrol station ?

You are taking about a 5% hit. A couple small things together could add up to that easy. It is the bane of the FE obsessed.

 

Tony, I vote with tomdeimos. We've had some cooler weather recently, just 60 degrees this morning. Also your 90 mile trip with 2 people probably was not your typical commuter route, extra weight/higher speed?

Daronspicher, are you running on a tank of gas you obtained outside the Chicago area. The ethanol/additive content of gas outside our area is usually different and will give you a boost in MPG. I last filled up in Indiana June 15 and I'm at 67 MPG with half a tank to go, at least 5 MPG above where I should be.

Wayne

 

The thing that affects my MPG the most is short trips. My daily commute is about 40 miles round trip between 35 and 55 MPH, and I was having my best tank ever with the display at 66 MPG for 180 miles. Then comes the 4 day weekend and multiple trips to the store, to the beach, taking people for a ride, etc. and I fell to 58 in no time. I finally got above 60 on this mornings commute, but the short trips will kill your MPG.

 

Hahaha, I wish I could even TOUCH your mileage! The best MPG I have been able to get on any tank of mine was 49.5MPG. And even that was hard to achieve.

The hilly suburbs of Pittsburgh might have something to do with my terrible MPG but unfortunately there is nothing I can do about that.

My heart sinks everytime I have to go uphill and my "Current MPG" drops to below 25mpg just so I can maintain the speed limit and not get honked at.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jul 5 2006, 10:55 PM) [snapback]281799[/snapback]</div>

As a Prius driver, I understand your concerns over the noted FE change and those lost mpgs. However, listen to yourself. You're complaining about getting 54 mpg!

 

That *is* a relatively minor delta, really. So many little things
can have an effect when you're riding the hairy edge in the first
place. Birds poop on the roof recently?
.
_H*

 

Tony: I'm definitely not a hyper-miler, but my latest mileage ideas relate to battery temperature. The battery really seems to like being right around 80 to 90 degrees. Too cold or too hot and it's less efficient, will get used less, and therefore makes you car, in effect "less hybrid." What's your battery temp been lately?

As for me, my current mpg is down a bit also. But that's because I've had fewer long drives. The long surface-road drive downtown boosts my mileage. The short drive to the grocery store kills my mileage. And frankly, I don't give a d**n! I bought the car for transportation, not as a video game to try to get the best mpg numbers. The less I drive the lower my numbers; but at the same time, the less I drive the less actual total gas I burn and the less pollution I produce.

 

I've never seen 50. I don't know how anybody gets those big numbers. I'm stuck on 49.5 for the last two months. 90% freeway, 500 miles a week. No whining, I'm still a happy guy!