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Horrible gas mileage...

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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 05:53 AM
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Default Horrible gas mileage...

I've got '08 350 AWD. I live in Lexington...don't normally get much snow/ice here, but it does get cold. After purchasing the car in September I've kept the ECT on "Power". I assume this is part of my problem. I don't floor the car that often, but like to know that if I need to, the "power" will be there. Another question is, does the cold weather negatively affect gas mileage? In the mornings my car idles at 1000RPM until the engine warms up to about 40-50%. Obviously the car is burning more gas while I'm stopped at lights than it would be idling at 600. Also, I do mostly city driving. My gas mileage on my last tank was a little over 14. I put 93 octane in every time and I rarely have more than just me in the car with no extra weight anywhere else. Just curious if my results are common with the power setting in cold weather. Thanks in advance.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 06:03 AM
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14 MPG seems low, try to take it off power mode.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 07:26 AM
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Also have the 08 350 AWD and I leave the power off and I get on average 17-18...mostly local driving also. It is also very cold up here.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 08:02 AM
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i noticed right before i filled up yesterday that i got about 19.2 mpg which is odd, i usually get around 22. i figured it was from the city driving and alot of stop and go.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 10:14 AM
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check to see if they put 10% ethanol in the winter gas for your state, that'll reduce your mileage as well.

i get 24mpg for mine, i think yours shouldn't be that far off, granted I am in AZ.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 11:11 AM
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You know in colder climates,they use a winter blends which gets worse gas mileage.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 11:15 AM
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^^ thank you for repeating what i just said
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 11:35 AM
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LOL,I missed your Ethanol comment.....and you are quite welcome.

They use that here and in past years,I noticed a dramatic difference in fuel mileage. I have not noticed it this year ,if at all.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 12:06 PM
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Originally Posted by whlkev
check to see if they put 10% ethanol in the winter gas for your state, that'll reduce your mileage as well.

i get 24mpg for mine, i think yours shouldn't be that far off, granted I am in AZ.

interesting, i didnt know that.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 12:32 PM
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Geez thats bad, I have an '06 300 and I get 21 in the city w/power on and Im not conservative on the gas pedal. But at the same time im not stomping it at every red light. From my understanding the fuel economy between the 300 and 350 shouldnt be that much different.....
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 01:04 PM
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I get around 15-18mpg...

I live in a place where its traffic light after traffic light with nothing but traffic
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by whlkev
check to see if they put 10% ethanol in the winter gas for your state, that'll reduce your mileage as well.
Wow didn't know that... anyways, I get about 24-26 / gallon. 14 seems way too low.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 05:46 PM
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there's not anything that I need to reset each time I fill up is there? i am under the assumption that it resets itself each time I fill up. I also was unaware of a "winter blend". If that's the case, I'm extremely upset....why pay extra for 93 octane for them to put corn in my gas. I religiously go to Shell, is there a better gas to use? Thanks for the help guys!
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 06:54 PM
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you can't compare the rwd and awd.

half of us have the rwd, which gets 2 extra mpg

power mode allows the engine to rev higher, even if you think you're being gentle on the gas
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 08:07 PM
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Jtrue,ther is nothing you need to reset everytime you fill up.I have figured mileage both,with the computer and without it.Its pretty accurate...at least mine is. Anyway,below is an interesting article on ethanol and its affects on cars.

As someone else stated,you cant compare AWD to RWD. I know when I go on long trips via the highway,I easily get 30 + mpg. Next tuesday,we are going to Toronto,I will snap a pic of the screen showing the trip info.On our last trip to SC,we got 33 or 34 mpg over the entire trip which was 700 miles or so.


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/26/bu...26ethanol.html
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