Holding steady at 52-53mpg even in 30-40deg temps.

As some of you know I decided to swap my 17" rim/tire combo back to stock to test out the MPG difference. I had the 17s on the car for over a year and at first it didn't seem like there was much of a MPG difference but after awhile I could not seem to get better than 44mpg in the winter and 47mpg in the summer. I've never seen really great milage in this car so I assumed that was the best I could get.

Now with the stock tires I am on my 9th tank and I am seeing a 52-53mpg average with only one fluke 48mpg tank due to driving conditions and my stereo equipment.

The temps during my morning commute are in the mid to high 30s and the return commute is usually mid-high 40s with a couple low 50deg days mixed in.

My point in posting this is that I used to scoff at people getting this kind of milage (or higher) in such cold weather but a lot of it comes down to driving technique and tire choice. I do not do any real pulse and glide stuff but by coasting whenever possible and lifting off the gas LONG before a stop sign you can dramatically improve your milage.

 

Did it take you awhile to get the driving tenchique aspect down as well?

What was your rim/tire combo again? Not the stock setup but the ones you swapped to. I forgot.

 

I don't consider a one up my friend. In fact I see it as a challenge to work harder at attaining those kinds of numbers.

I don't have a block heater but I do have the top 2 grille holes covered.

I see a lot of threads from people with "new" cars that are getting "bad" gas milage and I mainly posted this to provide an example of how things can get better with a little work. I used to be one of those people.

 

I think my tires are at 56/54 or 58/56 I can't remember now.

One of the biggest things you can do is slow down if you are regularly driving above 65mph. I have some back roads on my commute so I slow down to 50mph (55mph speed limit) when there is no one around and if there is a stop sign ahead I lift off the gass and coast for up to 1 mile. Granted this makes the trip slower but it's fun and I save fuel.

When I ride with my friends I really notice how "hot" they come into an intersection. They stay on the gas for waaay too long then have to apply the brakes so hard that you are moved forward in your seat. An efficient stop would not do this. Simply lift well before the next stop and you're milage will shoot up. We were in my roomates 2006 Duramax diesel pickup last night and he was averaging 9.8mpg (the cold and short trips really kills his milage) and after the first 2 miles of driving hard he started driving it like a Prius and his milage started to come back up. Unfortunately he had too many miles on that tank for it to be noticible on the main display.