Gas Miles per Gallon tracking - Page 10

gamernotwatcher · 03-27-2008, 09:45 AM

I am aiming for 40 mpg, my first bar dropped at 58 mi, the following bars are falling like flys

As far as performance, as I nothing to compare it too, like a sister car in the same garage, the engine sounds a bit throaty for my liking (very mild diesel) is this normal?

Dave777 · 03-27-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gamernotwatcher

I am aiming for 40 mpg, my first bar dropped at 58 mi, the following bars are falling like flys

As far as performance, as I nothing to compare it too, like a sister car in the same garage, the engine sounds a bit throaty for my liking (very mild diesel) is this normal?

Pay absolutely no attention to miles/bar on the gauge. All auto gas gauges are unreliable. Only pay attention when the last bar is showing, or when the trip odometer switches from miles to tenths of a gallon remaining in the tank. (You've read the manual, right?)

The throaty sound is normal. Partly intake sound, partly exhaust. You can lessen the low speed engine noise with $40 worth of Dynamat Extreme on the engine compartment. Easy to do.

Fredvon4 · 03-27-2008, 12:44 PM

Soon I will start compiling the data and do a series of spread sheet type charts....

Please help with this project...

from first page (sticky)

Gas Miles per Gallon tracking
When you start posting MPGs on these things please add:

Location:
Typical terrain: (hilly, steep mountain, sea level, altitude etc..)
Driving style: (hyper-miller, lead foot, sporty, conservative etc..)
Load: (single drive mostly, driver and passenger mostly etc..)
Fuel brand and octane: ( Shell, Chevron, 89, 91, 93)
Clean air blend: if any (10%, 15% ethanol or MTBE)
Total tank fulls in the average
Tire pressure: (please check this cold as it makes a significant difference in performance and seriously effects MPGs)

vanslam · 03-27-2008, 04:12 PM

Hi everyone, just filled up number 7. Took on 8.1789 gallons and completed 326.5 miles for an average of 39.924 mpg ... oh so close. I find I can get 40 mpg if I stay at or below 75 mph, shift at 2500 to 3000 rpms. Yeah I didn't follow my rules this time but still got good mileage. So I have had the car for less than a month and I have almost 2000 fun miles on it.

Is it me or does anyone else think this statement makes no sense.

"Pay absolutely no attention to miles/bar on the gauge. All auto gas gauges are unreliable. Only pay attention when the last bar is showing, or when the trip odometer switches from miles to tenths of a gallon remaining in the tank."

Dave777 · 03-27-2008, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanslam

Is it me or does anyone else think this statement makes no sense.

"Pay absolutely no attention to miles/bar on the gauge. All auto gas gauges are unreliable. Only pay attention when the last bar is showing, or when the trip odometer switches from miles to tenths of a gallon remaining in the tank."

Wow, I'm getting quoted all over the place.

The intent of my comment is this:
Both on this forum and a couple other car forums I'm on one sees comments referring to how far the gas gauge has moved and inferring that the mileage must be XXX, before actually doing a fill of the tank. The implication that the gauge in this car or any car is so accurate that the movement of it can accurately gauge the true mileage is way off base, IMHO.

It's also a common perception, and I have no idea how accurate it is, that the gauges in many cars seem to move much slower the first half, and faster (less miles) the second half. I would generally agree with that.

Personally, I pay no attention to the miles/segment on the smart's gauge. I do pay attention to the total trip miles on a current tank, and to the one gallon remaining indication, as well as to my ScanGauge's estimate of mileage for the tank, which is likely far more accurate than the gauge in the car.

In light aircraft I pay close attention to the hours on a tank, not the gauge, if running at a constant power. On a jet, where there are multiple probes and fuel flow computations being made, I'll trust the gauges and flight management computers.

Lgaruti · 03-28-2008, 08:13 AM

4th tank = 308 mi, 7.6 gals =40.5mpg
90% city/10% highway
AC on 100% of time.
Flat terrain
90% in auto mode

gamernotwatcher · 03-29-2008, 02:13 PM

8.154 gallons 229.8 mi =28.182487 mpg
Typical terrain: (hilly, sea level, 10 ft to 300 ft elevation daily. Suburan city environment )
Driving style: (I know am sporty, but am trying to be conservative etc..)
Load: (single drive mostly or + one kid, driver )
Fuel brand and octane: ( Dealer)
Clean air blend: if any (Calif Need to read the pump next time)
Total tank fulls in the average (1st tank)
Tire pressure: (35 rear, 29 up front)

eqwalker · 03-29-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave777

Wow, I'm getting quoted all over the place.

The intent of my comment is this:
Both on this forum and a couple other car forums I'm on one sees comments referring to how far the gas gauge has moved and inferring that the mileage must be XXX, before actually doing a fill of the tank. The implication that the gauge in this car or any car is so accurate that the movement of it can accurately gauge the true mileage is way off base, IMHO.

It's also a common perception, and I have no idea how accurate it is, that the gauges in many cars seem to move much slower the first half, and faster (less miles) the second half. I would generally agree with that.

Personally, I pay no attention to the miles/segment on the smart's gauge. I do pay attention to the total trip miles on a current tank, and to the one gallon remaining indication, as well as to my ScanGauge's estimate of mileage for the tank, which is likely far more accurate than the gauge in the car.

In light aircraft I pay close attention to the hours on a tank, not the gauge, if running at a constant power. On a jet, where there are multiple probes and fuel flow computations being made, I'll trust the gauges and flight management computers.

Fully agree.