Spring finally came back again!

After averaging 40-42 since fall, this weekend we hit over 50 in both cars. This morning I got 62 on the way to work.

Finally!

So jealous of you socal guys...

 

Same here. After a season of mid to high 40mpgs, now were getting high 50's to low 60mpgs. Gotta love it. Just keep that AC off.

Take Care

Jess

 

I'm using "AUTO" set at 75 and I think the dealership even put my tire pressure back to factory spec.

 

I have seen the same thing too, and the difference is bigger than expected. Even smaller steps in temperature makes big difference in FE. I am more and more convinced that it has to do with the strategy of the engine management. At 10 deg C the car is less prone to shut off the engine when coasting. Going downhill at around 70 km/h the instant FE display will show a few bars (around 2 L/100 km), sometimes together with one or two bars of regen, unless you let go off the pedal completely. At 20 deg C the engine shuts down long before you release the pedal completely. Also in the warmup phase there is difference. At 20 deg C auto-stop is enabled more or less directly from start (cold engine), but at 10 deg C the engine has to reach almost full temperature first. I guess this strategy is primarily to get heat for the climate control (and not so much to reduce wear on the engine).

My own estimate is that FE is 10% better at 20 C than at 10 C, also for longer trips. I haven't done any serious testing or measurement, though.

 

Your engine shuts down when coasting down a hill at 70 km/h?, actually AS. How about at 90 km/h? I have never expearanced this, something to look forwad to.

 

I think when rgx says "shut down" he means the valves are closed, so that the engine is not firing=using gas.

Jess

 

Shoot, I thought we may be going back to the free wheel days!! Thanks Jess.