Poor Fuel Economy

[Don67]

QUOTE (lovemysantafe @ Dec 21 2010, 07:37 PM)

Don...what revs is your 3.3 turning in top gear at 65 mph? With the new 6-speed, I have to be going at least 70 to break 2,000 rpm. At 65, she's snoozing at right around 1,500 rpm.

Very low 2000s at 65. But regardless of gearing, you're pushing a lot of air aside at 70. I know a guy who once tailgated a big rig out of scientific curiosity, and by getting out of the wind at 70mph his Santa Fe's consumption immediately dropped by about 20% according to my trip computer. I mean his trip computer.

[Don67]

QUOTE (saugen48 @ Dec 21 2010, 08:24 PM)

I dont know about your neck of the woods, but the cops around here get a might miffed if you dont stop at stop signs and red light...not much else you can do...you do need to brake

Yikes! Nobody is saying not to brake for red lights... just reduce your speed sooner so you spend more time coasting and less time on the gas or brakes.

[Don67]

QUOTE (Ken B @ Dec 22 2010, 12:38 AM)

I shouldn't have to drive super conservative just to get average mpg.

Actually that's exactly what you have to do if you're trying to duplicate any of the EPA (or Transport Canada) ratings. Those numbers are notoriously unrealistic. The Canadian "highway" figure, for example, assumes a cruising speed of approximately 48 mph in fair weather on relatively flat terrain with no passengers. Increase that to a more realistic 60-70 mph, and all bets are off.

Welcome to the world of crossover SUVs :P

[PoMansAWD]

QUOTE (lovemysantafe @ Dec 21 2010, 08:37 PM)

... With the new 6-speed, I have to be going at least 70 to break 2,000 rpm. At 65, she's snoozing at right around 1,500 rpm.

Quite a difference from my 2.7L, 4spd auto. At least 3000 rpm at ~75mph . When I first got it, I kept looking at the gear selector and dash to make sure I didn't have it in 3rd! I don't even notice it anymore.

In regards to Ken B's issue. I know our 2008 Honda Odyssey w/ 5spd auto will do 28 mpg on the highway easily and that thing is a behemoth, but only high teens with around town driving. We live in a hilly, rural-ish area where the kids have to be driven everywhere (thus all the 5-10mile trips). On some of the routes I swear the transmission never stops shifting because of the terrain. That's pretty much synonymous with crappy mileage for us. I'll get annoyed enough to turn off OD. My Santy pretty much only sees my 75mi highway work commute.

Joel

[kbair]

QUOTE (Don67 @ Dec 22 2010, 12:31 AM)

Actually that's exactly what you have to do if you're trying to duplicate any of the EPA (or Transport Canada) ratings. Those numbers are notoriously unrealistic. The Canadian "highway" figure, for example, assumes a cruising speed of approximately 48 mph in fair weather on relatively flat terrain with no passengers. Increase that to a more realistic 60-70 mph, and all bets are off.

Welcome to the world of crossover SUVs :P

They've actually revised them to be a bit more realistic than in the past. The detailed test information tab is quite interesting. http://fueleconomy.gov/feg/fe_test_schedules.shtml

[canderson]

QUOTE (Ken B @ Dec 22 2010, 09:48 AM)

They've actually revised them to be a bit more realistic than in the past. The detailed test information tab is quite interesting. http://fueleconomy.gov/feg/fe_test_schedules.shtml

The highway test is as silly as ever. Average speed of 48.3mph over 10.26 miles. Note also the caveat -- "free flowing traffic". Assumes that the lower speeds in the cycle are achieved by coast-down, not brakes. Right.

I suspect that the new "High Speed" test may be far more reflective of real highway mileage, and looking at the cycle, might be typical for many suburban commutes on interstates. But who is publishing any of those numbers yet?

[77kafer]

QUOTE (77kafer @ Dec 20 2010, 11:00 PM)

I'm not happy to hear that at all, the wifes 2010 with just over 5,000 miles can't seem to get over 18.5 mpg. Let's see what happens on Wednesday on a 300 mile trip down to Maryland.

24.1 on the 320 mile trip down here today. I was really hoping for more. No roof cross rails involved. 2 adults , 2 yorkies and approximately 250 lbs of Christmas presents.

[canderson]

QUOTE (77kafer @ Dec 22 2010, 05:46 PM)

24.1 on the 320 mile trip down here today. I was really hoping for more. No roof cross rails involved. 2 adults , 2 yorkies and approximately 250 lbs of Christmas presents.

What kind of speeds were you running during the trip? And as for your sig line ... on a Windows keyboard, NumLock with ALT 132 will get you the necessary character for Käfer.

[77kafer]

Between 60 and 75, typical highway speeds. What I don't understand, is that the computer says average mph 32.
As far as the umlauts, I know that, that is how I got them in the sig line in the first place.
btw: we met in the TomTom forum, I was the guy who was unable to get the unit to turn off when power was removed.

[PoMansAWD]

QUOTE (77kafer @ Dec 22 2010, 09:49 PM)

What I don't understand, is that the computer says average mph 32.

I'm not sure how the MPG 'calculator' runs it's calculations, but it's similar with my 2008 2.7L. If I reset it on the highway, it will peg at ~27-30mpg and gradually decrease over time. If I don't reset it for days/weeks it finally settles out at almost exactly the MPG figure I calculate by hand based on an entire tank of fuel.

IMO, the only figure that matters is how many miles you get consistently out of a tank of fuel. The fill-up is what hits us.

Joel