MPG Crappy
11-05-14, 03:54 PM
#31
11-06-14, 04:29 AM
#32
Pole Position
Thread Starter
The more I thought about my original past that started this thread, the more I realized the 13-14mpg I am experiencing is to be expected. The reality is that most of my driving is in-town, and the GX is only rated for 14 City if I recall. The new GX460 is rated for 15.
When I started this, I had just sold my wife's Prius that I had been driving about 6 months. Guess the reality of the V-8 was setting in.
At least gas prices have consistently dropped since then. Now I need to follow the "How long do you plan to keep the GX" thread. For now I got rid of the Prius payment and insurance on it. I also upped my deductibles. Saving roughly $550 a month that I'm putting into a sinking fund for the next ride.
When I started this, I had just sold my wife's Prius that I had been driving about 6 months. Guess the reality of the V-8 was setting in.
At least gas prices have consistently dropped since then. Now I need to follow the "How long do you plan to keep the GX" thread. For now I got rid of the Prius payment and insurance on it. I also upped my deductibles. Saving roughly $550 a month that I'm putting into a sinking fund for the next ride.
11-07-14, 12:04 AM
#33
Driver
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11-10-14, 10:18 AM
#36
Driver School Candidate
What you are ignoring is that an engine with a compression ratio of 10:1 has absolutely no need for fuel with an octane rating above 87, and, with that 10:1 compression ratio, there should be no knocking whatever with 87 octane fuel.
As I said in an earlier post, I've had my GX since it was new in 2005. I have never used anything but regular 87 octane fuel. I have never heard a single engine knock, and I have consistently gotten 20 mpg (actually calculated) fuel economy in my driving, very little of which is in stop-and-go conditions, but, even if I was doing a lot of stop-and-go driving, I'm confident that my fuel economy would still be as good or better than what people using premium fuel are getting.
As I said in an earlier post, I've had my GX since it was new in 2005. I have never used anything but regular 87 octane fuel. I have never heard a single engine knock, and I have consistently gotten 20 mpg (actually calculated) fuel economy in my driving, very little of which is in stop-and-go conditions, but, even if I was doing a lot of stop-and-go driving, I'm confident that my fuel economy would still be as good or better than what people using premium fuel are getting.
11-10-14, 10:22 AM
#37
Driver School Candidate
This is where how you drive comes into play. How do you accelerate away from stop lights? Do you have more traffic lights? Do you usually carry passengers? What's the weather light where you are? Any hills?
11-22-14, 02:56 PM
#39
Just got 11.2 mpg this past week, 95% city. About 10 min warm up in the morning, each morning, for the comfort of the kiddos. I do tend to carry light load (~100 pound) and I do treat the pedal like my old 3 series . Will adjust driving habits in terms of hitting the accelerator too rough. Does warming up the vehicle cost that much fuel?
11-22-14, 07:12 PM
#40
Just got 11.2 mpg this past week, 95% city. About 10 min warm up in the morning, each morning, for the comfort of the kiddos. I do tend to carry light load (~100 pound) and I do treat the pedal like my old 3 series . Will adjust driving habits in terms of hitting the accelerator too rough. Does warming up the vehicle cost that much fuel?
11-24-14, 06:39 AM
#41
Pole Position
Yes. You're running the engine but not going anywhere. So your miles are zero in the MPG equation.
Best thing to do is drive gently until the needle on the temperature gauge starts to move, then drive normally.
If you use the Auto setting on the climate control, it won't blow cold air -- the fan stays on low speed until the engine gets warm enough to provide some heat, then it'll blow faster. So the cabin will be a little chilly, but you won't have cold air blowing on you, so better than otherwise.
Chip H.
Best thing to do is drive gently until the needle on the temperature gauge starts to move, then drive normally.
If you use the Auto setting on the climate control, it won't blow cold air -- the fan stays on low speed until the engine gets warm enough to provide some heat, then it'll blow faster. So the cabin will be a little chilly, but you won't have cold air blowing on you, so better than otherwise.
Chip H.
11-24-14, 07:14 PM
#42
Just got 11.2 mpg this past week, 95% city. About 10 min warm up in the morning, each morning, for the comfort of the kiddos. I do tend to carry light load (~100 pound) and I do treat the pedal like my old 3 series . Will adjust driving habits in terms of hitting the accelerator too rough. Does warming up the vehicle cost that much fuel?
11-27-14, 06:29 AM
#44
Idling ANY car in open loop operation uses A LOT of fuel. Fuel evaporation in a sealed system is next to nominal, not even enough for discussion. Open loop operation doesn't use any input from air fuel sensors or oxygen sensors. It's just a pre programmed set of parameters to help an engine run smoothly when cold.
11-27-14, 07:24 AM
#45
Major update! 14.23 mpg up from 11.2. 30/70% Highway/City. On regular with the second of two Lucas Fuel back to back treatments as per another post on this forum
I reduced idling overall as well as reduced idling to less than 3 minutes. Also, I took it easy on the pedal and did not touch >70 mph staying within 1500 to 1800 rpm as much as possible. Cruised to stop lights, signs, traffic etc. and generally drove slower. Cargo weight was not much of a factor.
Next tank: Regular with 10% EtOH, and filled all tires to 38 psi as verified by Wawa air regulator. My tires were at FR:32 FL:28 RL:22 RR:23 during test so I hope I should improve slightly moving forward. Guess my pen tire gauge isn't worth a damn and will monitor for leaks throughout the next datas set.
Cost savings: For every half tank (~10 gallons) I get ~2 free gallons driving "conservatively". At 2.65/gallon, thats just over $10 savings per tank!!!
I reduced idling overall as well as reduced idling to less than 3 minutes. Also, I took it easy on the pedal and did not touch >70 mph staying within 1500 to 1800 rpm as much as possible. Cruised to stop lights, signs, traffic etc. and generally drove slower. Cargo weight was not much of a factor.
Next tank: Regular with 10% EtOH, and filled all tires to 38 psi as verified by Wawa air regulator. My tires were at FR:32 FL:28 RL:22 RR:23 during test so I hope I should improve slightly moving forward. Guess my pen tire gauge isn't worth a damn and will monitor for leaks throughout the next datas set.
Cost savings: For every half tank (~10 gallons) I get ~2 free gallons driving "conservatively". At 2.65/gallon, thats just over $10 savings per tank!!!
