04 Alero Gas Mileage

[sevenslotgrill]

My Girlfriend has an 04 Alero with the 3.4liter and we took 3 trips recently and I kept track of the gas mileage out of curiosity as I don't normally drive it. Anyway, all 3 trips were almost all highway (cruise at 70 and about 2,000-2,100rpm if I remember right) and 250-300 miles and I was surprised. I think it was getting pretty good gas mileage for it's size/weight/v6 etc.

1st trip - 31.4mpg

2nd trip - 33.57mpg (totally surprised - must have had a tail wind)

3rd trip - 31.28mpg

Just curious what everyone elce is getting.

[aleroguy]

i have a 2001 alero 5 speed 2.4L and i can get about 35 mpg

[nqc2k]

99` 3.4 auto 110k miles

always 21mpg average, mix of city/country miles.

(new plugs/wires/air filters/all diff types of engine,injector cleaners, nitroten in tires, always 21)

[BNaylor]

We get a consistent 21-22 in city. On a 400 mile round trip I calculated 32 mpg at speeds of 70-75 mph. '02 Alero GL2 (3.4L), 40K miles.

[skrizan]

2000 3.4, country highways, 60 mph average, 19mpg. I don't know how some can get 32-33 and I get 19? I have been getting the service engine code that you get when your gas cap is not closed. My daughter was leaving it off at times. Can anything else throw this code?

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by skrizan

2000 3.4, country highways, 60 mph average, 19mpg. I don't know how some can get 32-33 and I get 19? I have been getting the service engine code that you get when your gas cap is not closed. My daughter was leaving it off at times. Can anything else throw this code?

What odb-ii code are you getting? Post the code.

It sounds like a small evaporative emissions leak which can be caused by many things in the evaporative emissions system. Since you are getting rotten mileage have you checked or inspected the fuel pressure regulator on the front fuel injector rail?

Getting around 30 mph highway on an Alero is quite common and the norm. The EPA ratings were that high even though we may not all achieve those figures. But 19 mpg at 60 mph is unacceptable.

[JTrujillo86]

I have an 02 V6 with 65K miles. I consistently get 24 to 27 MPG with mixed driving. The variation is due to how aggressive I am at a particular time.

If I drive pure highway doing 75 I get 33 to 34 MPG. I love it.

- Jeremy

[vamc]

Originally Posted by aleroguy

i have a 2001 alero 5 speed 2.4L and i can get about 35 mpg

MMMM...I thought only the german alero has the 5 speed. The chevy alero! mmm, anycase.. 99 alero,auto, 3.4l about 18mi per gal. give or take.

[aleroguy]

MMMM...I thought only the german alero has the 5 speed.

no mines a 2001 oldsmobile alero made by gm and its a stick shift i know its the only one i have ever seen either

[JTrujillo86]

Oldsmobile manufactured very little 5-speeds and that specific tranny was only available on the four-bangers. Unfortunately, at least with 2002 on, you could not get a 5-speed WITH power windows unless you special ordered the car. When I was looking for Aleros, I wanted a stick REALLY REALLY bad, but had to have power windows. Honestly, I can't understand why any automaker offers a car without power windows. C'mon...it's almost 2007 for heaven's sake.

- Jeremy

[oldmike]

I'm really glad to see the numbers posted for the v6. I have just purchased an 02 Alero v6 and was worried about the fuel economy. I am used to owning other 4 cyl cars getting 30-35 on trips. Early this year I bought a 01 Grand Am with the 2.4 4cyl and have been miserably disappointed with its mph. Only about 26 on the open road and 18-20 in town. I will probably sell it if the Alero gets as good as you guys.
Mike

[sevenslotgrill]

Interesting to see that the 3.4 liter in the Alero is capable of decent highway mileage. I know there are a lot of variables. The aerodynamics must be good I guess. The V6 is almost as good as the 4 cyl.

[Madcat455]

Originally Posted by sevenslotgrill

Interesting to see that the 3.4 liter in the Alero is capable of decent highway mileage. I know there are a lot of variables. The aerodynamics must be good I guess. The V6 is almost as good as the 4 cyl.

It's mostly in the numbers. A 4sp trans geard right with lockup, a V6 with high torque numbers make it so the engine doesn't have to work hard to maintain speeds.

Example:

Wifes 2003 Ford Taurus. 4spd, 3.0 V6 160hp 140tq 25K miles, similar weight & areo dyn. got 28hwy

My 2000 Alero 4spd 3.4 V6 170hp 200tq 60K miles and gets 31-33hwy.

Had a 72 455cui 420hp 590tq in a 4K lb BRICK of a car get 17mpg in the city(2mpg less than my alero..lol)... 5mpg hwy...

It's all about how the numbers come together.

[scoopy03]

last road trip with my 01 i got around 30mph all highway. but usually it just wants to pretend to be a v8 and guzzle and gets like 13/19 around there doing like 70-75

[Yellow Eyes]

I have an 02 3.4 v6, and I usually get around 22-26mpg. A mix of city driving, and rush hour traffic driving.

I'm also 17, so whenever I get the chance, I accellerate hard, which prolly brings the gas mileage down a few.