New HCH Owner - Question about low MPG
#11
Re: New HCH Owner - Question about low MPG
Your fuel economy is actually not too bad (about average). Using the air conditioner reduces your fuel economy 10mpg or more.
There are many simple techniques you can use to increase your fuel economy listed in this forum. Using just a few of them will increase your MPG by 3-5. Use as many of them as you are comfortable with. At this point, I suggest you use your cruise control whenever possible.
Enjoy your new car!
There are many simple techniques you can use to increase your fuel economy listed in this forum. Using just a few of them will increase your MPG by 3-5. Use as many of them as you are comfortable with. At this point, I suggest you use your cruise control whenever possible.
Enjoy your new car!
#12
Re: New HCH Owner - Question about low MPG
In part because I'm only just finishing breaking mine in, in part because I'm still learning how to drive it, in part because it was winter when I bought it, I've never seen more than 48-49 mpg average over a 30+ mile drive. (Obviously, in the right conditions it's easy to average 70-80 mpg with these cars for a few miles, but I can't make that stick over a longer drive where I have to do anything other than cruise at 35-40 mph.) The average for our car is still going up -- I'm about to have my first 47-48 mpg tank ever -- again, thanks to break-in, warm weather, and learning curve (including my wife's learning curve).
But that mileage has been *increasing* while we've started using the A/C. Now, you could argue that if I wasn't using the A/C my mileage would magically be 50+. I don't buy it -- I just don't see a 10 mpg difference either in the instant MPG or in the avg MPG when the air is off versus when it's on. *At most* I can detect a 1-2 mpg difference. Usually I can detect no difference at all or a difference of only a few tenths. Obviously there *is* a difference anytime you make a small motor spin a heavy compressor -- I'm just saying that it's barely big enough for me to drive the difference, and it's certainly no 10 mpg or even 5 mpg. So I don't see how to claim that a 10 mpg drop is normal for this car, apart from specific circumstances.
Anyone want to enlighten us on what specifically the circumstances are when you see a 10 mpg drop when you hit the A/C? What's your mileage dropping from and too, and how are you running your climate controls, and what's your climate and hills?
thanks --
doug
#13
Re: New HCH Owner - Question about low MPG
Based on my experiences I would not agree with the 10 mpg however. I do use the AC regularly and I do not report such losses - not even close. I have my own approach to mitigating the FE effects of using the AC and I have posted extensively to that effect.
What I am trying to say is that we don't all have to feel helpless when using the AC. There are ways of managing the impact on FE so that it is as minimal as possible and that surely explains why some of us report a much lower hit.
Cheers;
MSantos
#14
Re: New HCH Owner - Question about low MPG
Clearbox,
Many have posted great ideas for you. Someone gave you a link to Tarabell's Tips - it's a good one. I will mention 2 things. Patience and DWL. I do accelerate like an old grandmother. I coast and I use the Driving With the Load techinques. I got a block heater and use it still as I live in WNY state. Just keep trying and try the different ideas. These are great cars - Congrats & Good Luck!!
Many have posted great ideas for you. Someone gave you a link to Tarabell's Tips - it's a good one. I will mention 2 things. Patience and DWL. I do accelerate like an old grandmother. I coast and I use the Driving With the Load techinques. I got a block heater and use it still as I live in WNY state. Just keep trying and try the different ideas. These are great cars - Congrats & Good Luck!!
#15
Re: New HCH Owner - Question about low MPG
It's not a miracle machine: people getting over 50 mpg with them simply find ways to never press the gas pedal very hard or for very long, and they drive slow. They're not doing 70 on the interstate. (Well, at least, I think most aren't.) But with simply some thoughtful driving, you should be comfortably in the 40s if everything on the car is functioning right.
Cheers --
Doug
Cheers --
Doug
Obviously this won't help on crowded commutes but I thought I would share. I feel bad for those that have no choice but to face those messes everyday.
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