[elgreek84]

Fishnrib thanks for the tip. I have a 2013 and have my first maintenance appointment in a couple of weeks. I'm going to mention the sluggish acceleration when it's cold and ask if there's any updates.

 

[blazeman]

Fishnrib thanks for the tip. I have a 2013 and have my first maintenance appointment in a couple of weeks. I'm going to mention the sluggish acceleration when it's cold and ask if there's any updates.

I'm pretty sure the ECU update doesn't cover the 2013s... but you should check

 

[elgreek84]

Yeah mostly to check. It actually isn't a big deal and only really comes up when I accelerate too fast when cold (and late to work) but can't hurt to check and ask.

 

[Massguy]

That is a very impressive picture but it is overly optimistic because it looks like you should be averaging about 45 mpg but will display about 40 mpg which is normal.

You may not want to get the update if you like to throw it in Neutral and have the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) shutdown and then just glide. After the update when you throw it in N the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) continues to run and charge the HV Battery. I recommend getting the ECU update as it will give you a much smoother transition between EV and Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). Remember that you have to complain about sluggish takeoff or it jerks during transition between the two motors when it's cold to get the update.

I think I'm going to bring up that screen after I fill up and reset the average MPG monitor sometime. Then I can see how they compare. I expect both of them to be a little optimistic. I'll get a better idea what the real world mileage is when I fill up next week. I think I'll do that right after the ECU update. The display has been hovering in the 37.5-38.5 MPG range today.

I've found that I'm changed my driving style a little while driving the Hybrids. Not that I drove fast and hard before but I drive even more conservatively to take advantage of what the car is capable of doing. Especially when it can run on the battery and save me gas. Years ago I had a personalized license plate that made reference to my 10 second quarter mile times. Today I thought of a good one for this car - PASSME How times change!

Any benefit to using the manual shift mode? The car is quiet and no tach so there isn't much to reference for shifting. I don't think I'll be doing any neutral gliding so it sounds like the update will be beneficial.

 

[Fishnrib]

Today I thought of a good one for this car - PASSME How times change!

I thought I should get one of these when I drive

Any benefit to using the manual shift mode? The car is quiet and no tach so there isn't much to reference for shifting. I don't think I'll be doing any neutral gliding so it sounds like the update will be beneficial.

Manual shift mode is good for holding your speed down saving your brakes going down steep hills. I really miss a tach so I can tell what gear I'm in while in D. I did find one time that as I dropped speed down to 30 mph I was still in 6th gear.

 

[Massguy]

I've been reading a few sites that have the story of Wayne Gerdes driving an '11 HSH from coast to coast on two tanks of gas. I haven't finished it yet but a few things that I noted -

Gerdes recently finished the drive, which totaled 2,269.3 miles and squeezed out 59.58 mpg. Along the way, Gerdes learned that the car can hold at least 20.6 gallons, because that's how much he managed to put in at the first fill up. The Hybrid's official stated capacity is 17.2 gallons (the standard Soanta holds 18.5 gallons), but official numbers are not something that concerns Gerdes too much. The EPA rates the Sonata Hybrid at 40 mpg on the highway, and he would need much more than that to make the drive without filling up three times.

I'll test this on my next fill up from empty. I was down to one bar and wasn't flashing when I filled up last night. Took 14.2 gallons. Didn't fill it to the rim but did let it click a few times before I stopped (was pressed for time). Has anyone else noticed how much fuel we can squeeze in?

Wayne averaged 59.59 MPG on during the cross country trip. I know he's good at it and there are others that can pull off things like this too. How can they do it while the rest of us can't. There are times when I'm really feathering the throttle on the highway. Just barely keeping momentum to maintain speed and I can't get close to this. There are techniques that we can learn here.

Links to those stories -

Wayne Gerdes: After 2,269 miles and 59 mpg, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid "kicks ass"

Hypermiling Hyundai Sonata Hybrid crosses America in under two tanks [w/video] *UPDATE

 

[Fishnrib]

Wayne also set a World Record 14 day drive touching all 48 states in a 2012 Optima Hybrid getting 64 mpg. These cars are almost twins and can hold 22 gallons of gas in those 17 gal tanks. You have to fill them extremely slow after the first click while holding the nozzle away from the car until you see the gas at the top. Wayne filled my car and it took 4 gal and about 20 minutes to get it full after the first click. He dosen't recommend doing this unless you are immediately going to drive some distance.

Wayne is an extreme hypermiler who also coined that word. He has many little tips that all add up to extreme MPG's. Join his site and make friends on Facebook and some day he might be in your neighborhood and get a driving clinic with him. Watch him give instructions on Youtube.

http://www.hyundai-forums.com/229-sonata-yf-hybrid/144119-one-one-wayne-gerdes.html

That 40 MPH was actually 45 mph for a very short time climbing a hill

 

[Massguy]

I'm absorbing all of this info like a sponge! It's fun to see progress from something that doesn't cost you money and it also saves you money! Win/win situation!

 

[vinnyg]

This is the best way to get great gas mileage out of your Sonata. Hope you have strong legs!

 

[MS Fowler]

I've been reading a few sites that have the story of Wayne Gerdes driving an '11 HSH from coast to coast on two tanks of gas. I haven't finished it yet but a few things that I noted -

Gerdes recently finished the drive, which totaled 2,269.3 miles and squeezed out 59.58 mpg. Along the way, Gerdes learned that the car can hold at least 20.6 gallons, because that's how much he managed to put in at the first fill up. The Hybrid's official stated capacity is 17.2 gallons (the standard Soanta holds 18.5 gallons), but official numbers are not something that concerns Gerdes too much. The EPA rates the Sonata Hybrid at 40 mpg on the highway, and he would need much more than that to make the drive without filling up three times.

I'll test this on my next fill up from empty. I was down to one bar and wasn't flashing when I filled up last night. Took 14.2 gallons. Didn't fill it to the rim but did let it click a few times before I stopped (was pressed for time). Has anyone else noticed how much fuel we can squeeze in?

Wayne averaged 59.59 MPG on during the cross country trip. I know he's good at it and there are others that can pull off things like this too. How can they do it while the rest of us can't. There are times when I'm really feathering the throttle on the highway. Just barely keeping momentum to maintain speed and I can't get close to this. There are techniques that we can learn here.

Links to those stories -

Wayne Gerdes: After 2,269 miles and 59 mpg, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid "kicks ass"

Hypermiling Hyundai Sonata Hybrid crosses America in under two tanks [w/video] *UPDATE

I would urge caution about over-filling the tank. That practice can lead to liquid gasoline getting into the Evap system, and ruining it. At least that is what I've been led to believe.

 

[litesong]

Along the way, Gerdes learned that the car can hold at least 20.6 gallons, because that's how much he managed to put in at the first fill up. The Hybrid's official stated capacity is 17.2 gallons (the standard Soanta holds 18.5 gallons), but official numbers are not something that concerns Gerdes too much.

Same with the Chevy ECO Cruze. Chevy put a sensor in the gas tank to cut fuel off at 12.6 gallon level & told the EPA to test it with 12.6 gallons. The sensor is standard in all ECO Cruze vehicles, now. However, the ECO Cruze has the standard 15.6 gallon tank as all the other Cruze models have. So slow filling after the first click, gives you another 3 gallons & the full tank's capacity.

Eco Cruze, full up, taken on a featherfooting trip will go 700+ miles before need of fuel. Of course, that's not Wayne-driven.

 

[Massguy]

I'm going to have to read up on this. Never really thought about what causes the pump to click off. I know if I pull the nozzle out and don't let it seal, then tanks can be filled to the rim.

 

[litesong]

Never really thought about what causes the pump to click off. I know if I pull the nozzle out and don't let it seal, then tanks can be filled to the rim.

Yes, manufacturers do this so the EPA tests their vehicles with the least amount of weight....... maybe they'll get an extra tenth of a mpg & the EPA may round their mpg numbers up to the next whole number.

 

[Massguy]

Tom, Something that you mentioned in a thread last year -

Also something to watch out for is some backseat passenger accidentally leaving the heated seats turned on.

So having things like the heated seats on can reduce MPG?

 

[elgreek84]

^Yup - everything affects mpg if it uses battery. It also mentions in the user manual to only use Fog lights when you need them since they use a lot of energy. Keep AC on econ or off if you don't need it. I usually keep my thermostat around 76 and lower it if it's really cold outside to around 72-74

 

[Kayan]

Where do the seat warmers get their power from? Anything that costs energy, will cost your MPG in the long run. Even running your radio, in theory, decreases your MPG.

 

[elgreek84]

But hey, if you gotta keep your butt comfty, you gotta do what you gotta do. I personally never understood the concept of a seat warmer - if anything, in SOCAL we need a seat cooler for the summer.

 

[Fishnrib]

But hey, if you gotta keep your butt comfty, you gotta do what you gotta do. I personally never understood the concept of a seat warmer - if anything, in SOCAL we need a seat cooler for the summer.

The Kia Optima Hybrid has a seat cooler and many other options than the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (HSH).

 

[Massguy]

I know I'm searching for and learning ways to improve MPGs but I also like to be able to use the features that the car has too. So I guess it will be a balance. The tools are there to provide me with really great mileage if I want to use them. And if I want to use the heated seats, fog lights (I like the look of them on), radio ect... then I'll still get good mileage but not the best.

 

[Fishnrib]

I know I'm searching for and learning ways to improve MPGs but I also like to be able to use the features that the car has too. So I guess it will be a balance. The tools are there to provide me with really great mileage if I want to use them. And if I want to use the heated seats, fog lights (I like the look of them on), radio ect... then I'll still get good mileage but not the best.

Wayne turns everything off when he drives for best mpg and will gain about 2-3 mpg this way. Since we bought such a nice car with lots of options why not use them and still be satisfied with good mileage.