As we all know gas prices are low (around 1.55 for regular here), but my gas mileage seems to be horrible now. I usually get at least 150 miles before the needle gets to half tank, and recently ive been getting about 120-130 at half on highway driving! Is it that there is too much ethanol in the gas? I just dont get this.

 

Have you done any recent mod's? Has your driving style changed? If so, that could be your answer. I don't think it has anything to do with the gas

 

your method of measuring MPG is not the correct way.

you should fill up completely. reset trip meter, the next time you fill up to the top look much gallons are going in that the divide by whats you on ur odometer and thats how u get ur MPG.


but off the top of my head i get exactly the same thing as you.

1. winter formula gas will lower your MPG about 1-2. this is to prevent freezing or something...
2. how long are you warming up your car and sitting in traffic.
3. last time you have check, tire pressure, air filter, any maintence work.


i get 17-18 mpg mix city and highway... in my AWD sedan. which is a right at the what the sticker says i should get i think it was 17 city/ 22 highway... not 100% sure. in your math... i get 150-180 miles at half an about 300 before my gas light hits. my navi says i have 310miles to go every time i fill up.

 

Could the winter additives (Ethanol right?) make that much of a difference? I did notice the same thing today when I filled up. I just chalked it up to the new spacer

 

the new spacer shouldn't hurt it. the driver wanted to see what the car can do after the spacer will make the MPG drop a bunch but hey everyone goes thru that. and i'm sure when i get my spacer i would be too...

 

no mods, same driving style. It has just started now that it got cold though. Probably just a winter additives like stated about. thanks

 

winter additives, cold weather also may result in lower tire pressure, your air filter may need to be cleaned....etc.



Thank God my navi estimates the MPG for me, I'd be pulling my hair figuring out the MPG all the time lol

 

You're not the only one noticing poor mileage...always happens in the winter for me. Think it has to do w/ the colder/denser air I believe. In the summer I usually get 180-200 miles before the needle hits 1/2 tank, now I'm getting about 150-165 miles.

 

+1 on the refueling technique. Make sure you only fill till the pump clicks the first time. If you "top it off" it will not be accurate.

 

The biggest killer is cold starts. An engine runs extremely rich on a cold start and it guzzles gas until the engine is warmed up. If you do a lot of short 5 mile drives on a cold engine, expect significantly worse (15% lower) MPGs in the winter. DO NOT warm up the motor by letting it idle. That is the worst type of warm you can do.

 

Also, use the same pump. The nozzles can vary in sensitivty to the point when then click full. It can vary between nozzle to nozzle.



These cars don't seem to get very decent fuel economy anyway. I get 18-19 with a mix of city/highway, and i think i squeaked out a 23MPG on a 100% highway trip. KInda bad actually.

My previous car was more fuel efficient...and it was a v8.

 

I know-dividing miles driven by quantity of gasoline added would kill me too!!.....lol

 

my overall MPG is about 21-22. I've gotten as much as 30 MPG HWY (which includes some drafting and cruise control) on one trip.

also, don't pay attention to the "half-way" point, that is never a good way of telling how much gas you've got left. I usally judge it by the amount of miles I've gone. I always reset my odometer when I fillup, and each time, I can hit 400 miles before my next fillup. Thus, when I hit 200 miles, I know that I am at the half-way point.

 

But what if you "top if off" consistently all the time? That's what I do...

 

Are you serious? How is that "the worst type of warm"? I religiously do not drive my car until the engine is warm (with the thought of it being bad for the car to drive it cold). I know I've seen other threads on here that mentioned you can start driving after 30 seconds of startup, but how can letting the car idle be bad? Very curious!