Why Gas milage sux...

[SABIO]

Fuel economy
Why you\'re not getting the mpg you expect

For years, automakers have been criticized for producing vehicles that get so-so gas mileage. But as gas prices climb and consumers seek more miles per gallon, it turns out that fuel economy is much worse than it appears--50 percent less on some models, a new Consumer Reports analysis reveals.
Drivers who track their own fuel economy have long known that their results seldom match the gas mileage claimed by the Environmental Protection Agency on new-car stickers. Our study, based on years of real-world road tests over thousands of miles, quantifies the problem across a wide swath of makes and models.

We compared the claimed EPA fuel economy with the mileage per gallon we measured for 303 cars and trucks for model-years 2000 to 2006. Our selection represents a good cross-section of mainstream, high-volume vehicles. We looked at city, highway, and overall mpg.

Highlights of our study:

• Shortfalls in mpg occurred in 90 percent of vehicles we tested and included most makes and models.

• The largest discrepancy between claimed and actual mpg involved city driving. Some models we tested fell short of claimed city mpg by 35 to 50 percent.

• Hybrids, whose selling point is fuel thriftiness, had some of the biggest disparities, with fuel economy averaging 19 mpg below the EPA city rating.

• The EPA ratings are the result of 1970s-era test assumptions that don\'t account for how people drive today. Automakers also test prototype vehicles that can yield better mileage than a consumer could get.

• Despite federal certification, it appears that U.S. vehicle fleets, all cars and light trucks produced in one model year, don\'t meet government fuel-economy standards. For example, fleet mpg for 2003-model-year vehicles we studied was overstated by 30 percent.

Gas mileage stickers show inflated fuel economy figures, sometimes by up to 300 percent.

The type of fuel used for engine certification in the tests is highly refined and not what the typical person puts in their cars.

The tests assume acceleration and braking rates that don\'t reflect reality

For consumers, the news means that their vehicles typically cost hundreds more per year to operate than they were led to believe.

Vehicle.... Year.... EPA City and EPA HWY.... AAA

PT Cruiser.... 2004.... 21 and 29...... 17.5
Dodge Neon.... 2004.... 27 and 33 ......24
Honda Insight .... 2004.... 61 and 68...... 58.1
Mazda Protege.... 2003.... 25 and 31 ......24
Toyota Corolla.... 2004 .... 32 and 40...... 28.9




Mazda Protege 2003 25 and 31 24

[Mica3SGT]

Fuel mileage is subjective. The fuel mileage ratings by manufacturers are a guide - your actual mileage will vary. I say mileage because I can\'t get used to metric.
Driving with air conditioning increases fuel consumption by about 8%. Driving with windows down also costs fuel economy as does jack rabbit starts, use of a vehicle electric systems, frequent engine on/off, stuff on roof racks, ect.

In a past episode of the popular BBC series \"Top Gear\" they drove an Audi A8 Diesel for an 800 mile road trip from London to Glasgow on a single tank of fuel - far exceeding manufactures specs for this vehicle. Look into your own driving habits before blaming the manufacturer on fuel economy.

[TheProfessor]

Originally posted by Mica3SGT


Fuel mileage is subjective. The fuel mileage ratings by manufacturers are a guide - your actual mileage will vary. I say mileage because I can\'t get used to metric.
Driving with air conditioning increases fuel consumption by about 8%. Driving with windows down also costs fuel economy as does jack rabbit starts, use of a vehicle electric systems, frequent engine on/off, stuff on roof racks, ect.

In a past episode of the popular BBC series \"Top Gear\" they drove an Audi A8 Diesel for an 800 mile road trip from London to Glasgow on a single tank of fuel - far exceeding manufactures specs for this vehicle. Look into your own driving habits before blaming the manufacturer on fuel economy.

Very well said.

[majic]

Originally posted by PSIVIC



Originally posted by Mica3SGT


Fuel mileage is subjective. The fuel mileage ratings by manufacturers are a guide - your actual mileage will vary. I say mileage because I can\'t get used to metric.
Driving with air conditioning increases fuel consumption by about 8%. Driving with windows down also costs fuel economy as does jack rabbit starts, use of a vehicle electric systems, frequent engine on/off, stuff on roof racks, ect.

In a past episode of the popular BBC series \"Top Gear\" they drove an Audi A8 Diesel for an 800 mile road trip from London to Glasgow on a single tank of fuel - far exceeding manufactures specs for this vehicle. Look into your own driving habits before blaming the manufacturer on fuel economy.

Very well said.

completely true.. i loved that TG episode.. the \"km to go\" was \"0\" heh..

2 other things to keep in mind. the EPA figures are most likely LABORATORY/ideal scenarios. highway doesn\'t mean you\'re driving 120kph.. instead it\'s more like 70-80kph.. secondly, there are revised EPA standards (AFAIK) and i hear the new civic is using those figures in their advertising. they are supposedly closer to the TRUE/REAL world figures.

do this test. 1) start the car 2) go on the highway and drive 10km @ 100kph 3) turn the car off 4) wait 12 hours or so (enough for the car to cool down for a \'cold start\') and repeat 1-4 till you run out of gas.. then do the same thing BUT drive 100km at a time.. which will get you better mileage? the answer is pretty obvious but stay tuned for an answer with explanation in the thread you got 14MPG (http://torontomazda3.com/forum/read.php?TID=3992)..

[Mazda3_06]

Hey all whats up

i just bought a mazda 3 in november
i have a 06 gx or gs or whatever 2 litre engine
i already put 10 000 kms on it and i only get between 400 - 480 kms on a full tank
last week was my first time breaking 500 when i got 550
but besides that its between 400 - 480
i dont push my car or anything i just take my time and cruise to where i need to go
i try putting gold gas a couple of times in my car but it didnt really make any diffrence

before i got my mazda i had a 89 honda accord exi.. 5 speed
no lie on a full tank of about 50 litres i would get almost 800 kms
and im doing the same driving that i do now
i drove my honda more harder then i drive my mazda 3

anybody have any ideas to help me out on my mileage
thanks
Big B

[FLIPDADY]

Just filled up this morning and I had 460 on the meter(car was on empty on last fill).

Mostly highway driving at speeds 120km/h+. Been getting better mileage ever since I installed the K&N drop in filter.

[TheProfessor]

Originally posted by FLIPSPEED
Been getting better mileage ever since I installed the K&N drop in filter.

That\'s so strange, I have a friend who said his mileage got worse with the K&N drop in.

[RedRaptor]

Originally posted by PSIVIC



Originally posted by FLIPSPEED
Been getting better mileage ever since I installed the K&N drop in filter.

That\'s so strange, I have a friend who said his mileage got worse with the K&N drop in.

I\'ve gotten beter mileage as well after the K&N drop in. Maybe your friend has lead foot now since he wants to \"feel\" the K&N. ;)

[TheProfessor]

Originally posted by RedRaptor



Originally posted by PSIVIC



Originally posted by FLIPSPEED
Been getting better mileage ever since I installed the K&N drop in filter.

That\'s so strange, I have a friend who said his mileage got worse with the K&N drop in.

I\'ve gotten beter mileage as well after the K&N drop in. Maybe your friend has lead foot now since he wants to \"feel\" the K&N. ;)

Well, he definately has a lead foot, but he has since sold the MZ3......first kid on the way makes you change your priorities ;)

[ds2chan]

Originally posted by Mazda3_06


Hey all whats up

i just bought a mazda 3 in november
i have a 06 gx or gs or whatever 2 litre engine
i already put 10 000 kms on it and i only get between 400 - 480 kms on a full tank
last week was my first time breaking 500 when i got 550
but besides that its between 400 - 480
i dont push my car or anything i just take my time and cruise to where i need to go
i try putting gold gas a couple of times in my car but it didnt really make any diffrence

before i got my mazda i had a 89 honda accord exi.. 5 speed
no lie on a full tank of about 50 litres i would get almost 800 kms
and im doing the same driving that i do now
i drove my honda more harder then i drive my mazda 3

anybody have any ideas to help me out on my mileage
thanks
Big B


maybe something\'s wrong with your fuel pump?? just a thought.. I have read in other fuel threads that people with the 2.0L engines have been getting at least 600kms (approximately) from a tank.. are you doing mostly city driving??

[Martian]

Don\'t forget that apparently the air compressor/air conditioning unit kicks in if your dialled into the floor vent setting or beyond (to the right).

[majic]

Originally posted by Martian


Don\'t forget that apparently the air compressor/air conditioning unit kicks in if your dialled into the floor vent setting or beyond (to the right).

interestingly enough, during these cold days i tend to fog up the windows (get your minds outta the gutters :D .. ) the airflow knob is pointed to the floor, windshield, or both.. no matter what temperature, the inside remains fogged up... as soon as i click the A/C button, the fog goes away.. so does the compressor really kick in? hmm..

[TheProfessor]

Originally posted by majic



Originally posted by Martian


Don\'t forget that apparently the air compressor/air conditioning unit kicks in if your dialled into the floor vent setting or beyond (to the right).

interestingly enough, during these cold days i tend to fog up the windows (get your minds outta the gutters :D .. ) the airflow knob is pointed to the floor, windshield, or both.. no matter what temperature, the inside remains fogged up... as soon as i click the A/C button, the fog goes away.. so does the compressor really kick in? hmm..

I know that in both of our cars it certainly does. If our windshields are foggy and we switch to either the floor or floor/defog setting the windshield clears up within 30 seconds, and of course the A/C is not selected.

Same deal in my old Mazda6.

[FLIPDADY]

If the knob is on the windshield logo the A/C will kick in.

[Mazda3_06]

Hi i do mostly Highway driving
i live in brampton and i work downtown
right now im on pace to do 500 kms on a tank
someone posted that if u have the vents set to floor you may burn more gas
and i usually have mine set to that
so im going to move the dial to something else
what is this KN thing tiy all are talking about and what does it do?
thanks

[MAZDA Kitten]

Re: K&N
What kinda improved numbers are you guys seeing? Noticeable?
Am I the only person in the world with kick ass gas mileage (~650 per tank)
Shell since day 1 (nothing else); 80% highway above 120km/h. I dont granny drive it but shift before 3k and no stupidness (peeling out, redlining):p

[TheProfessor]

Originally posted by MAZDA Kitten
Am I the only person in the world with kick ass gas mileage (~650 per tank)

Nope, both my wife and I are getting at least 600km to a tank and we both drive \'spirited\' ;)

[Kevin@nextmod]

Originally posted by PSIVIC



Originally posted by MAZDA Kitten
Am I the only person in the world with kick ass gas mileage (~650 per tank)

Nope, both my wife and I are getting at least 600km to a tank and we both drive \'spirited\' ;)
After you do a full tank fill up what does your trip computer tell you for how many km remaining? mine usually tells me 460 km.

[TheProfessor]

Originally posted by Pearl_Hatch



Originally posted by PSIVIC



Originally posted by MAZDA Kitten
Am I the only person in the world with kick ass gas mileage (~650 per tank)

Nope, both my wife and I are getting at least 600km to a tank and we both drive \'spirited\' ;)
After you do a full tank fill up what does your trip computer tell you for how many km remaining? mine usually tells me 460 km.

I haven\'t gotten that feature working yet.....I guess I should to schedule my next service appointment :)

[Martian]

Originally posted by Pearl_Hatch
After you do a full tank fill up what does your trip computer tell you for how many km remaining? mine usually tells me 460 km.

Trip computer? Does the \'04 GT have one of these??? (Other than the standard TripA/TripB/Total km display)

[TheProfessor]

Nope, the trip computer was introduced on the 2006 models, along with ambient air temp sensor and some other minor changes.

[Mazda3_06]

HOw do u get that to work?
mine does not work and tell me how many kms i have left on the tank!

[majic]

Originally posted by Mazda3_06


HOw do u get that to work?
mine does not work and tell me how many kms i have left on the tank!

from your nick i assume you have a 2006 mazda3.. i also assume it says \"----\" on the display correct? :) then refer to this link (http://torontomazda3.com/forum/read.php?TID=4185).. refer to it anyway :D