Sudden and Unusual increased MPG!

[stevenvillatoro]

Originally Posted by bottlerocket

I've heard others on here say you can't really get true, great mileage until the car has 5-10k miles on it...FWIW

Correct. By 5-10K miles, most owners have learned to exaggerate! J/K.

YMMV.

[SmartCard]

Originally Posted by CS-Tobi-Kun

Maybe it took longer for your engine to break-in? Did you drive any differently/different routes ?

or maybe with the warmer weather you're not going "topless" as much?
(I know that's opposite of what people usually do!)

(still low 30's with my cab.....with top down quite a bit)

[SharonRB]

Unless it's raining, I have my top down all the time. I've been ranging from 35-42, mostly in the 36-38 range. I filled up for the first time in two weeks this morning and got 39.72. These past two weeks have been more like my usual driving pattern than the previous month or so. I think I'd be getting better mileage if I had the top up, but then I'd need the A/C, which would probably be worse. I've got about 2300 miles or so on it.

Hopefully, based on some of the earlier posts, my mileage should be improving more over the next few thousand miles.

[Springlering]

Is anyone else having this happen? This might explain the bouncing numbers.

When I fill up, the gas pump auto-stops, and I'm very careful not to add any more, so I don't have the overfill problems addressed elsewhere.

But when I get in the car, I'm on 7 gallons. After I drive about 20 miles or so, it reads "full" again, but then the next two notches disappear fairly quick.

I'm having to figure my mileage backwards. I know as long as I've gotten 270 miles with a notch left at the end, and figuring half a notch gone on the upside, I'm getting about 40. It's making me a little nuts.

Have noticed a drop in mileage with the AC, but seldom use it unless a "bad hair day" daughter is in the car, because either the top is down, or I've noticed that even in the upper 80's the cabrio is quite comfortable even with the windows up and the AC off. Wierd.

[Netcowboy]

[quote=Smartdavis;104744]I read on another post it has something to do with the flux capacitor. quote]


Speaking of the Flux Capacitor, you can actually purchase one for your car...it even lights up.

Back To The Future Flux Capacitor Replica at TFAW.com

[CruisingAZ]

That's way to much $ for a silly toy, and yet they are out of stock!

[BobDiaz]

One factor that can increase MPG and I've seen it on my motorcycle, engine break-in.

When the engine is new, things are a bit tight, so MPG is slightly lower due to extra friction. After a few thousand miles, the normal wear on things loosens up everything and the friction is a bit less, thus MPG goes up.

In the beginning I was getting an average of 58 MPG from my motorcycle, but now I'm seeing an average of 63 MPG from my motorcycle.

Another factor that comes into play is riding (driving) experience, after a few thousand miles, one improves their riding/driving skills and this will result in better MPG.


Bob Diaz

[NY Smartie]

my MPG has been steadlily climbing as well....

[timhood]

Originally Posted by Amethyste

Holla everyone...

Well I usually get anywhere around 40-42 mpg on my smartie...
But in the last 3 ( 1/2 fill ups ) I have gotten 50.2 - 52.8 and today 55.3 mpg!
At first, I thought it was just that i over filled my tank (I usually stop after the first click) so I didn't really pay too much attention, but after 2 other repetitions, I am like wondering what is going on or what am I on?!

Anyone noticed something similar to me? My car is a cabrio with abouy 4,000 miles on it...
I AM LIKING IT!!! lol

My last tank of gas in my bike got me about 49MPG, when I've been averaging 42-44 for the past several years. The only time I usually get 49 is if I'm doing an all-freeway run. I've been scratching my head but not complaining. We could start a conspiracy theory over this.

[Woody14619]

I saw the similar bump at around 1500, and am starting to see another at 3K. I'm sure it will bump up a bit more here and there till about 5K, and probably again at 10K when the oil is changed.