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06-28-2011, 12:41 PM | #1 | ||
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Getting Good Mileage? Think Again.
A recent study completed by Edmunds has discovered that fuel efficiency readings on vehicles via gauges or listed on sale sheets may actually be misleading or downright incorrect.
According to the report, two tests completed in seven vehicles yielded results that suggest an overestimation of fuel efficiency as high as 19 percent, which in a car that might get 30 miles per gallon (mpg), would mean a difference of nearly 6 mpg (or, 24 mpg instead of the 30). The report from Edmunds.com: Quote:
---------------------------------------------------------- While this may surprise some, I can't say I'm all that surprised at all. With mandates coming down from the government on many manufacturers to make sure vehicles meet specific efficiency marks, it's hard to imagine some manufacturers NOT fudging the numbers by way of their equipment. After all, if it SAYS it gets so much per gallon, how could a few test drives disprove what engineers built to be correct? Then there's the "not an exact science" argument that one could apply to determining mpg. "Of course there will be some differences." What do you think? Have you ever felt like your vehicle gets worse fuel efficiency than it actually says it does? What do you think about that feeling NOW?
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06-28-2011, 02:03 PM | #2 | |
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Re: Getting Good Mileage? Think Again.
I'm not surprised or shocked at a little fudging in the fuel economy #s. But then again, I check my gas mileage almost every tank. (Not to mention that I've never actually bought a new car to compare predictive figures to actual mileage)
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06-28-2011, 07:36 PM | #3 | |
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Re: Getting Good Mileage? Think Again.
1) Log mileage on the odometer trip clock, after fill up.
2) Keep the receipt after fill up, it will help keeping records of gas being used in between fill ups. 3) Reset the odometer trip clock. 4) Try to keep RPM's around 2000 while driving. The EPA rates my 2005 Mazda tribute 4 cylinder at 23mpg, I am getting around 30mpg. Last edited by danielsatur; 07-02-2011 at 06:24 PM. |
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06-29-2011, 10:04 AM | #4 | |
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Re: Getting Good Mileage? Think Again.
I manage to get more the the EPA listing on my stock cars. When I had my 99 Buick, it had an instant mpg guage on it and I learned how to drive using that as an indicator of "good" driving technique. I keep records of my mpg for all my cars.
My current car, an '06 HHR, has a rating of 25/30, but my average has been 30.6 mpg for the 82,000 miles I have now. My 87 Fiero GT with 135,000 miles i manafed to average 29.3 mpg this past month while on the Hot Rod Power Tour some 3300 miles. The car was only EPA rated at 28 mpg when new, for highway. |
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06-29-2011, 10:35 AM | #5 | |
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Re: Getting Good Mileage? Think Again.
This has always been pretty well known throughout people in the industry, you have to do your own calculations.
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07-01-2011, 03:07 PM | #6 | |
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Re: Getting Good Mileage? Think Again.
http://kikerperformance.com/index.htm
I apologize ahead for posting this here but seemed a good place. I put these on a truck about four years ago. Honestly I don't check mileage but they made my old S10 run great. I have a 93 S10 that has over 279K on it. It is a 2.8 V6 with a 5 speed. Original engine and tranny. |
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07-02-2011, 06:06 PM | #7 | |||
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Re: Getting Good Mileage? Think Again.
Quote:
Yip, the only way to accurately measure fuel consumption is with steps 1-3. As the article states, there are just to many variables to calculate while driving and any gauge should be used as an indication only. That said, if you need a gauge to tell you how efficiently your driving you need a lesson in throttle control. Quote:
And you should apologise. There are all sorts of devices that claim to do all sorts of things to improve gas mileage. I have yet to see one that stood up to proper scientific investigation. These magic wires are no different to all the other magic devices that are in reality just the modern version of snake oil cures.
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07-04-2011, 09:27 AM | #8 | |
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Re: Getting Good Mileage? Think Again.
I can only say that testimonial letters are kind of hard to overlook.
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07-04-2011, 04:56 PM | #9 | ||
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Re: Getting Good Mileage? Think Again.
Quote:
I've gotten over 34mpg in my 1997 Civic with 190+k miles on it just by aiming to keep RPMs under 3k on my around town trips. Mind you, that 34mpg didn't include ANY actual highway driving - and have I mentioned it didn't cost me a penny in products?
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02-09-2012, 09:34 PM | #10 | |
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Re: Getting Good Mileage? Think Again.
This kind of thread always gets me.
For one thing nobody is even considering the fact that all odometers are not exactly calibrated. Even if they were, the diameter of the tire changes as it's tread wears off. So how can anybody have an intelligent discussion about accurate MPG when the "miles" is an unknown quantity in any car that doesn't have a special meter in tow? As I recall, most odometers are off by up to 5%. Secondly, this is a sensationalistic article by Edmonds. If some of the tested cars were 19% off but the average was 5%, then it would have to be true that a certain number of cars were much closer to 0% off. Dividing your "miles" driven by "gallons" purchased would only be accurate if your odo was spot on, the pump meter was 100% accurate,and unless you used many tanks to get the figure then the results would be skewed by ambient temperature differences, pump differences, angle of car on pavement at the pump, temperature of the gasoline (did they just get a shipment and the gas is 20 degrees warmer than the last time you filled?) etc. So just put in the gas and drive in a manner as to keep the "mileage" gauge in it'a highest reading if it's important to you otherwise just drive and forget about it. Also my heart bleeds about the articles mention of an SUV driver that thinks he is getting 12.5 MPG but actually gets less. Screw him. -BA Last edited by BrianAlex; 02-11-2012 at 04:28 PM. |
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02-11-2012, 04:08 PM | #11 | |
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Re: Getting Good Mileage? Think Again.
That's amazing that some people can get significantly better fuel mileage than the EPA listing. If everyone could do that we would have no need for hybrids or electric cars. I think a lot of it is how people drive and traffic conditions, and yes I can see how the Kiker wires can help in certain instances. In the end it's all about how you maintain a vehicle and how you drive, I have a neighbor with a Prious and he complains about his fuel mileage and after riding with him once I can now see why.
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02-12-2012, 12:14 AM | #12 | |
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Re: Getting Good Mileage? Think Again.
Even the difference of one or two MPGs can make a huge difference when thinking about what kind of car payments you can afford, especially for a heavy commuter. If we're talking a 19% difference on a $100/month fuel bill, that's a huge margin. That's like the difference between leather/audio upgrade or not--or, the car you want versus the car you can afford.
That's why it's important to look at independent reviews by organizations, like Edmunds, who have actually done the work to see what the true average fuel economy is. And, that's why proper maintenance and driving habits can save you a bundle.
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