New Member

[cworet]

Hi from Hagerstown,Md. This is my second Smart car. I had a 08 Blue/Silver and now a 09 Sliver/Black Cabriolet.I'm 76 years old and i do love the Smart cars.
I have a problem of low gas mileage on the 09.I have about 3500 miles on it.I can't get better than
32 to 34 around town.On my 08 i was getting 39 to 40 mpg.I even changed the exhaust,still the same mileage.I'm using hi test gas and changed to different gas stations.
Can i get some suggestions on this problem. Thanks

[John_H]

Was your previous car a Cabriolet? The Cabrios are a little heavier; while not 6 mpg, it's a contributor.

Still have stock tires maintaining proper pressure?

Have your driving habits changed such that your trips are now much shorter? Then engine works most efficiently when it's warm.

Do you drive highway with the top down now where you didn't before?

Are you running A/C all the time now (or is the vent pointed 100% to the windshield which runs A/C) automatically reducing your mileage by around 4mpg?

Did you only drive the old car downhill and this one you only drive uphill?

It's really tough to figure out what might be causing your troubles since it's difficult to provide us insight into any changes in your driving conditions or driving habits.

[fpage77]

Welcome to the forum! I've only averaged about what you're getting over the four tanks since I started tracking. I have a '09 passion coupe but I don't see any model mentioned in your post.

[jetfuel]

...welcome to the asylum...
..your lower mpg's could be that you're dragging those 76 years behind you?...





...J/K...waiting for you reply to John's questions...
jetfuel...

[rfernatt]

Howdy, neighbor!

To John H's questions, I would add:

1. Do you drive manual or auto mode?

2. I know it's new, but is the air filter/air box clean? I had a mouse build a nest in a new Honda Civic air box and plugged up the filter with not-so-good MPG results!

3. No chance the e-brake is slightly on or other restriction to movement? Can you roll the car easily on flat ground when it's in Neutral and the brakes are off?

4. Can you find a gas station that doesn't use ethanol in their premium fuel?

5. Did you drive your '08 when AC was necessary all the time? Is the time period of the year you are comparing the '08/'09 models the same?

5. Last thought... How are you calculating MPGs? With a high MPG car, I can see large variation from tank to tank depending on the fuel shutoff on the pump. You'll need to average a few tanks to smooth out errors and get a good feel. I had a 5 MPG difference over my last two tanks with the same driving conditions - just pump shutoff differences. (Try Fuelly | Share and Compare Your MPG!)

I know it's well known, but to reiterate John H, AC usage, short trips, and stop-n-go driving kill MPGs. Our hilly terrain doesn't help either!

[cworet]

Originally Posted by John_H

Was your previous car a Cabriolet? The Cabrios are a little heavier; while not 6 mpg, it's a contributor.

Still have stock tires maintaining proper pressure?

Have your driving habits changed such that your trips are now much shorter? Then engine works most efficiently when it's warm.

Do you drive highway with the top down now where you didn't before?

Are you running A/C all the time now (or is the vent pointed 100% to the windshield which runs A/C) automatically reducing your mileage by around 4mpg?

Did you only drive the old car downhill and this one you only drive uphill?

It's really tough to figure out what might be causing your troubles since it's difficult to provide us insight into any changes in your driving conditions or driving habits.

John,you hit on a couple points i was not aware of.I do run with the top down on the highway which would put a drag on the car.I do run the vent often.I didn't know it ran the AC.My 08 was a coupe.My driving habits are the same.I did run a full tank in auto and then manual with the same results. I'll correct these items and see if it helps

Thanks all

[John_H]

If you're on the highway and it's hot out, A/C on and top/windows up is probably better mileage, cruising around town is nice with the A/C off and top down (windows too, depending on speed) if the temp and humidity are agreeable.

But the A/C turning on automatically with the vent dial in the 12 o'clock position is one thing I hate about the engineering choices in the Smart (luckily it's a very short list of dislikes). I'd be fine with it if I had the opportunity to turn off the default A/C but the only way to do that is to keep the vent dial off the 12 o'clock position. I usually leave mine at 11.

Joy!