gas mileage is blah

[cosic]

I filled up 50L's today, on the coldest day of the fall so far. 518 KMs read on my info. Couldn't believe it. I always get 560-620. What is this all about?

50L = Full tank for you Americanos. lol just in case..

 

[DaleNixon]

I filled up 13.2 gallons today, on the coldest day of the fall so far. 322 miles read on my info. Couldn't believe it. I always get 348-385. What is this all about?

I translated for you! 322 miles on 13.2 gallons is 24.39MPG. That's pretty good mileage in my book.

 

[MrJon]

RPM has little to do with it. It would have more of a correlation if our cars weren't turbocharged, but that's not the case. Basically, you can shift at 4,000 in vacuum and still have it be more efficient than shifting at 2500 and 10 lbs of boost.

Coming from a Toyota Pickup, I know very little about how the turbo effects MPG. Can you go a bit in detail about this? I ask, because while commuting I try to pop it into 6th gear as often as possible and cruise at like 2200 rpm. I think I'm doing myself a favor saving gas, but am I wrong?

HALP.

 

[chief_wiggum]

Coming from a Toyota Pickup, I know very little about how the turbo effects MPG. Can you go a bit in detail about this? I ask, because while commuting I try to pop it into 6th gear as often as possible and cruise at like 2200 rpm. I think I'm doing myself a favor saving gas, but am I wrong?

HALP.

This is where your trip computer will come in handy (you have a GT according to your sig). While it's not as accurate at figuring MPG as a scanguage -- it will be good enough for you to fine-tune your shift points for maximizing fuel economy. Generally speaking, the sooner you can get to the tallest/final gear, the better fuel economy you'll get...as long as you're not lugging the engine. Oh, and everyone knows that MGM's get the best MPGs.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

Coming from a Toyota Pickup, I know very little about how the turbo effects MPG. Can you go a bit in detail about this? I ask, because while commuting I try to pop it into 6th gear as often as possible and cruise at like 2200 rpm. I think I'm doing myself a favor saving gas, but am I wrong?

HALP.

What AutoEuphoria's point is, if you're just trying to quickly cycle through the gears as fast as possible, thinking you're getting better gas mileage, you may be wrong. If your car needs more grunt in those lower RPMs to get the car moving, it's only going to command boost sooner and hold boost for longer. Since forcing cold air creates more power, it also mixes in more gas. Plus you'll typically use more throttle too.

That's why most people will shift in the 2500-3000 rpm range on the lower half of the gears (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and you can start to shift sooner once the car is rolling. But don't be in a hurry just to get to 6th and think you're home free.

I typically will use 5th gear until i'm going about 50mph on flat road. Otherwise i'll use 6th for gas savings. But around town, 1st and 2nd is so short that I'll rev them longer sometimes, just stretch it out longer then after i've been in 3rd i'll jump right into 5th or 6th depending on the speed.

Around town, you can use 6th as much as you want, just keep in mind with traffic and inclines, you may just be making yourself work harder to downshift constantly then upshift. Cruising in 5th gear at 2300 rpms won't be as bad as cruising in 6th at 1800 rpm with more throttle (aka boost) being applied. While at 2300 rpm at light throttle, you're not applying any boost, the engine is basically just turning on its own. If you still can't figure it out, atleast listen to the throttle, you'll hear your exhaust get deeper or quieter.

 

[DaleNixon]

I never use 6th as an acceleration gear. Unless I'm in an emergency situation.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

I never use 6th as an acceleration gear. Unless I'm in an emergency situation.

I do on the freeway, as a passing gear. Car feels so great, there isn't much reason to downshift unless i'm about to whoop a Mustang GT's ass. And it is possible in case you were wondering!

 

[chief_wiggum]

^^^^ 50 is typically my shift point for 6th too.

 

[C.A.T.A.P]

ok i just drove to ohio from ga and i got 300 miles out of my first tank and 330 out of the second without the light coming on

 

[CBlueMS3]

I usually fill around 275-285 miles. Stock. Fills about 12.4 gallons at the most. Usually 12. I'm getting between 22.5-22.9 mpg. It fairly even on highway and city driving for a tank.
When I had the Injen CAI on the car, I got about 295-305 miles per tank, and it almost always filled 11.3-11.6 gallons when I'd fill it. I was getting 25-26mpg on a regular basis. Occasionally a wee bit better. I, however am very conscious about gas mileage when driving. Unfortunately, it's a family car and my preachings of gas mileage are sometimes ignored by the other primary driver (father). I shift around 2600-2800rpm depending on slope. Extreme up hills require a little over 3000 though...for me. If I'm going down a fairly steep hill I always skip shift. Obviously I'm not an amazing MS3 driver or something. Just...bored at 1am and sharing my driving style...the Injen made it easy to know when you were giving it too much gas. If you started to hear the intake suck, back off a little. It worked out pretty well.

 

[CBlueMS3]

I wish everyone would use this site

www.fueleconomy.gov The track section is under calculate and share your millage.

I use it to track my mileage. I just write down my Tripometer each tank, and enter the info in their system after I get home.

There are only 7 MS3s that track on that site. I am the only one from WA that does it. I'm averaging about 26mpg in mine right now, that that's about 64/36 (city/highway) driving.

I'd recommend that more of us use the site, to build it up and keep better track for the community. It's really a great site, and would be better served if more people added to it.

Date		Miles	Gallons	Cost	City	Highway	MPG	
07/08/2008	284.30	12.100	54.92	70	30	23.495
07/14/2008	338.00	12.849	56.39	60	40	26.305
07/18/2008	356.60	13.155	57.87	40	60	27.107
07/23/2008	340.00	12.419	54.38	60	40	27.377
07/29/2008	307.50	12.002	51.60	70	30	25.620
08/01/2008	106.10	4.526	20.00	90	10	23.442
08/02/2008	380.00	12.771	56.44	0	100	29.754
08/10/2008	269.40	11.668	48.99	80	20	23.088
08/17/2008	345.10	13.058	53.52	50	50	26.428
08/24/2008	334.60	12.174	49.41	40	60	27.484
09/02/2008	314.50	13.003	53.56	80	20	24.186
09/10/2008	308.10	12.282	47.89	70	30	25.085
09/18/2008	309.00	12.335	48.09	80	20	25.050
09/26/2008	308.30	13.202	50.95	80	20	23.352
10/10/2008	273.10	11.220	40.38	90	10	24.340

I might join you in that endeavor.