Cliff Notes for those who don't like reading moderately long posts: I finally achieved 600 plus miles off one tank of gas.





I always believed that when the warmer temperatures (mid 70 degree mornings) hit in my area that I would be in for a world of surprise as far as what this car could do gas wise, economically. I always thought the 4 cylinder Sonata was capable of achieving 35 miles per gallon on average given the right conditions and driver. One of the goals I set for myself with this car when the warmer weather hit was to get 600 miles on a tank a gas. When I set that goal, I wasn't even sure if that was a realistic goal as all the data I read stated that a 4 cylinder Sonata could only go a maximum of 531 miles on one full tank of gas (30 mpg highway rating x 17.7 gallons). As the harshness of winter faded (combined with my new Sonata breaking in mile by mile) I saw my miles per tank rise as I ended up refueling less and less each month (going from refueling the Sonata 3 times a month to 2 times a month). I started getting 530s, 540s, and then a huge bump to 570-plus miles on a tank of gas. I was even amazed when on my last tank of gas 2 weeks ago I had ended up getting 594 miles off one tank. I thought that I had hit my peak and that it would not get any better than that. Well my Sonata proved me wrong again as tonight I managed to accomplish one of the few goals I have with this car as I attained 620.4 miles off one tank of gas. I just want to say that mileage was achieved with me using my regular old route to work that I use everyday. It wasn't boosted with me taking long highway trips from one city to another...although 70% of work route in distance is on the interstate, about 60% of my commute time is spent driving through the city...usually at speeds less than 45 miles per hour in stop and go traffic. It took me 15 days (14 hours and 05 minutes according to trip computer to be more specific) of driving time to achieve this. My average speed was 44 mph (which actually was higher than it has been in the past when I kept my speed limit at 70 - 75 on the interstate) and I rarely went higher than 65 miles per hour (but no lower than 60) when I encountered interstate driving. According to the trip computer my average miles per gallon was 34.8, with a peak of 34.9 albeit briefly. As I pulled into the local Shell/Pitt Stop gas station to pay $3.79 a gallon to refuel my tank, I had the biggest smile on my face. I'm sure the high schoolers who were there with their dates, friends or what have you couldn't understand what I was smiling about while I was pumping about $68 worth of gas into my car to refuel it, but I knew why. This car had made my night. I was absolutely enthralled with getting well over 600 miles on one tank of gas. While I didn't reach my goal of getting 35 miles per gallon on average, I am more confident than ever that will occur in due time. To all my 2.4L brethren who wonder if 600 miles off a tank of gas is possible, I am here to tell you that it is very possible.

Now, only if I can get 500 miles out of a tank of a gas in my Mustang. :grin:

Wow...that is something!

We did 560 on a family trip...but it was all Interstate. The car was REALLY loaded down though (duh, my wife was with me with all her princess accoutrements).

I have noticed that our new fill up "Mile to Empty" is consistently at 490 now. We seemed to have locked in at 29 mpg as a very "average" average. So, after afew months of ownership, I am convinced we made the right choice in the I4.

When I get back from my next deployment..I have considered upgrading from my E GT to a 1 or 2 year old Sonata. For me...it will have the 6!

I noticed that after I filled up and started the car, the default miles to empty has shifted from 450 to 490 now as well. I'm really liking the fuel efficiency of the 4 cylinder and while I think the 6 cylinder is capable of being just fuel efficient (if not close) to the 4 cylinder, I am really hooked on this four cylinder. Last summer when I was looking for a small fuel efficient vehicle to drive so that I could keep the miles low on my Mustang, I ended up getting a pre-owned 2000 Mirage and no matter what I did, I couldn't get more than 31 miles per gallon. This car is so much better, plus I don't feel like I'm being mashed inside of a tin can. I don't believe the notion that someone has to drive a car the size of a shoe box to get great fuel economy. I've also noticed that I'm enjoying my driving experience a lot more when I drive economically. In the past I used to hate driving my path to work because it was nothing but stop and go traffic, trying to maintain a certain speed on the interstate (typically for me 75 mph in the past) and when that wasn't fast enough, getting the Fast & the Furious crew on my back bumper like they were going to run me over. I actually ended up getting a speeding ticket last November in the Mustang for that, but it's a long story. I also noticed that going 80 mph to get to work only got me there two minutes earlier once I weaved through the city jungle traffic to only make it to the interstate. Now I just leave a few minutes earlier and like I said I enjoy my drives to work a whole lot better now whether I'm driving the Sonata or the Mustang. I'll take the slow lane on the far right side and use my foot to feather the gas to keep it between 60 and 65 mph. I just enjoy my music a lot more or if I happen to have any channels available on my expired XM account, I'll listen to the news shows (like an ol' fogy, lol). I believe this has made me a better driver and I notice a lot of people have been slowing down as well. I mean there's the occasionally Mercedes that will speed past the pack of us (driving at 65-ish) going well over the speed limit, but it's that same Mercedes that is pulled over on the side of the road 2 miles later by SCHP for excessively going over the limit.

That makes me smile, too.

This post has been edited by Hysteria: Jun 21 2008, 12:02 PM

That's awesome! I wish I could to that!

I tried to be brave this weekend going up to Sacramento and not using A/C... FUHGEDDABOUTIT!! I hit Modesto yesterday and it was 107 and humid as ****!! There was even a slight rainshower! The times I didn't run the A/C and going 60, I was getting about 35-36 MPG's... on a V6.

Coming back from the shore last weekend I was on a stretch of road where the speed limit was 45. Well I reset my mpg calculator and drove for about 10 miles and was up right around 35 mpg with minor slowing down and accelerating. That being said my normal commute which is all stop and go, with lots of lights and stop signs I've been lucky to see 18mpg. Just changed the filter to a K&N and have been getting about 20+ (though it's only been 2 weeks) on my normal route. I'd be happy if I could get 400 miles on one tank :beer:

Welcome to the club!

I joined last year and have renewed my membership serveral times. Best to date: 626 miles / 16.7 gallons.

Regards,
GEWB

well, you wont get 400 with stop & go driving, thats for sure. my MTE calculation topped out at 431 (once) but is around 425-430 when its warm out, and I drive 95% highway..

I absolutely believe what you said and experienced.
My current average MPG is 34.3 mil/gal with 2009 Sonata I-4 .
I'm driving 50/50 on city and highway.
Just following some ECO driving techniques and conservative driving habit, I could enjoy higher average MPG than Hyundai claimed. :grin:

This post has been edited by montclare: Jun 23 2008, 11:11 AM

im in the 260 club lol
achieved by a million short trips

congrats on 600+

I get to 480 when I usually refill my tank. I could get over 500 till I got close to empty. Though I say this is proably with 90% highway. Makes me wonder how high in the 500's i would be if I did nothing but highway.

I highly recommend a gallon of gas in the trunk if you are going to experiment!

I concur! I tried experimenting on my 2nd tank of gas ever and I ran out (I thought the Miles To Empty indicator would be like that in my Mustang) about a mile or two from the nearest station. Not a real good feeling when your car dies on you, lol. However, I've got the system down so I don't run it completely empty.

i did that once, pushed it until i got the -- on the MTE.. luckily, i drove by 4 gas stations in the 10 mile trip i had home.. (i actually made it home and then back to the gas station without running out).. I pretty much never push it below the 50 miles where the Low Fuel light comes on...normally, i am well over 100 miles when i refill... (i refill every 5 days of commuting - works out pretty well)..


the best tank i ever got was my second to last tank, where i got 29.6 mpg... i might get over 29 on this tank too.. (normally high 27's to mid 28's) (431 MTE on fill-up is the best i have seen in mine)

well, but of an update for me...

i finally broke the 30 MPG barrier for an entire tank (365 miles worth of driving)...

on this last tank of gas, i decided to put the cruise control at about 71 as much as I could (traffic allowing).. well, filled up today with $47.50 to fill the tank... the MTE showed 139 miles left (best I had before was 121) and after the 365 miles of driving, only took me 12.037 gallons to fill the tank.. works out to a whopping 30.323 MPG for the past tank...

(with the V6 of course)

woo hoo :w00t: