BAD Mileage

[lilstac0523]

I took a trip that was 160 miles and got only 25 MPG on the HIGHWAY! I filled it up all the way then refilled after the trip and divided everything up. (I actually had my boyfriend do it for me, heh, and hes competent when it comes to that kind of thing.) I believe that is what I got because it took me an awful lot of gas to get there and I didn't think that was quite right. I like everything else about the car, except the mileage! The main reason I bought it was because it was so small and the sticker boasted great mileage! I feel so cheated and angry. It is a new car with only about 2500 miles on it but still it shouldnt be THAT bad! right?

Also, It is a stick shift. Now, DO NOT ask me if it was in 3rd instead of 5th. If it was in 3rd, I would have known because I was going 65 MPH and it was revving between 2.5 and 3. And 160 miles going 65 MPH in 3rd gear wouold have made my engine break apart, so I know I was in the right gear.

AND - I NEVER rev my engine. I am SUCH a crazy person when it comes to gasoline and I never let it rev above 2.5 when I am driving, I downshift when I am coming to stops and I don't do crazy stunts or anything. I try the best I can at ALL times to use the least amount of gas as possible.

BUT it is a new car... it only has about 2500 miles on it, but still someone told me I should have gotten at least 30 MPG, not 25.

Anyways I am so effing mad about it! I am nothing less than livid. If I knew the mileage would be like this I NEVER EVER would have bought this damn car. NEVER.

[TooMuchRock]

unfortunatly that is one of the downfalls of this great little vehicle. If it wasn't for that tiny defect, and well the absense of a standard arm rest, I'd have no complaints.
Since I've started tracking in july 06 this is what i've gotten on my 2006 LT, automatic hatchback
To have an average mileage of 22.8 on 50/50 hwy/city is pretty pathetic i think.

[lilstac0523]

WOW. Well thanks for posting that. Maybe I will document mine more carefully too. I am urging people to post their mileage on http://www.fueleconomy.gov/

To go directly to the Aveo one, go here http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byclass.htm
To post your mileage, you have to become a member, so go here http://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do

Thanks for your reply :-/ just confirms the horrid news that this car gets shitty mileage for its size... so much for four cylinders.

[Davescort97]

Was getting 25mpg in the hatchback with automatic right after I bought the car. Thought that was being pretty thirsty for such a small car. Two intake valves instead of one are great for power but not that good for fuel. As your engine breaks in and gets more loose it will get better mileage. I switched to 5/30 synethetic oil and put 40 psi. in the tires and am now getting 35 mpg. Makes a little more road noise this way, but I'll accept that for the extra mileage. I believe the horsepower on mine is 107. I have a Ford Escort rated at 110 HP and it gets 40 mpg. Still the Aveo will outrun the Escort any day of the week. After you get a few more miles on it you will see better mileage.
The Aveo will outrun the Escort any day of the week even though the Escort is a 2.0 L and the Aveo is a 1.6 L.

[TooMuchRock]

my car has 10k on it.... well past the 5k break in period.

I have never once gotten over 29mpg.

You say the only changes you did were synthetic oil and 40 psi in the tires and your getting 15 more mpg?

just wondering what psi are the tires supposed to be at, and is it dangerous to over inflate them.

[Davescort97]

I started out getting 25 mpg when the car was new. I switched to the oil and more tire pressure and am getting 10 more mpg. I think the sticker on the door says 32psi, but the maximum load rating on the sidewall of the tire says 40 psi. So I went with that. Hey! Its a fast little car. 16 valves make it go like a banshee.

[lilstac0523]

if what you are saying is true, Dave, you are my hero. I should send you some money via paypal for your automotive assistance. So can I request that special oil at the oil changer place??? And if I tell them how much to inflate my tires, will they do it??? Thanks!

[Golden Eagle 6573]

I am haviing the same gas mileage problems as you.Top mileage has been
about 29 highway.My car is a 2006 special value model 1.6,5 spd.On the highway the tach reads 3600 rpm @75.Brought car in this morning and asked service rep about it.He said i should be getting about 36,but its cold and that could be a factor.I doubt it, but who knows.

[lilstac0523]

yeah it revs so high. I was just about 3 RPM at 65 mph. I know this little car has power and is peppy but I would rather have the mileage and power in the amount of gas... a lower amount that is. BTW everytime i tell someone about this they ask me if i was maybe in 3rd gear by accident. HELL NO I am not an idiot of course not. what a dumb question.

[Golden Eagle 6573]

Just got the car out of the shop.Service tech could find nothing wrong with
the engine or the vehicle that would cause the lousy gas mileage.I suspect its
because the engine revs so high its using more fuel to maintain highway speeds.Bottom line is the transmission needs lower overdrive gears to lower
highway rpms to around 1800-2200 to improve gas economy.oh well.

[mikedudley17]

Originally Posted by Golden Eagle 6573

I am haviing the same gas mileage problems as you.Top mileage has been
about 29 highway.My car is a 2006 special value model 1.6,5 spd.On the highway the tach reads 3600 rpm @75.Brought car in this morning and asked service rep about it.He said i should be getting about 36,but its cold and that could be a factor.I doubt it, but who knows.

correct me if am wrong but isnt the cold air suppose to give better gas mileage because when it enters the motor it is much more dense and when the spark ignites the fuel/air mixture the cold air makes for a stronger explosion inside the cylynder. hence the reason for the development of cold air intakes. please someone tell me if im wrong. i do agree with you on the transmission factor tho. the gearing in these cars could be done up a lil better, but you have to understand when you are doing 75 mph on the hwy you are not gonna get the best gas mileage anyways. you get the best gas mileage on the hwy at 55 mph and that is how everycar is rated. so when you see the rating on a window sticker of the mpg you have to remember that it is usually only around 55 mph that you will see these results.

[jerryp58]

Originally Posted by mikedudley17

correct me if am wrong but isnt the cold air suppose to give better gas mileage because when it enters the motor it is much more dense and when the spark ignites the fuel/air mixture the cold air makes for a stronger explosion inside the cylynder. hence the reason for the development of cold air intakes. please someone tell me if im wrong. i do agree with you on the transmission factor tho. the gearing in these cars could be done up a lil better, but you have to understand when you are doing 75 mph on the hwy you are not gonna get the best gas mileage anyways. you get the best gas mileage on the hwy at 55 mph and that is how everycar is rated. so when you see the rating on a window sticker of the mpg you have to remember that it is usually only around 55 mph that you will see these results.

I'm no expert, but FWIW...

In general I believe the thought that the air needs to be cooler is "relative". That is, you don't want non-intercooled super or turbo charged high temperature air being pushed down into the chambers (it's just way too hot), but I don't think that you want really cool (like ambient in the winter, sub 50* or so) air being pulled in either. I think that'll just convince the computer to run the vehicle rich. I think that's why coolant is plumbed through the base of most throttle bodies too; sort of like the choke on carbureted vehicles. It's an attempt to keep too cool air from coming in. A CAI is supposed to be drawing in ambient temp, versus under the hood, hot, engine compartment air. Actually most of the intakes now-a-days pull air from the fender-well area so they're essentilly CAI from the factory. They're just typically more restrictive (sometimes to reduce noise heard from the passenger compartment) than aftermarket CAI in both piping and filter element.

Also, depending where you are geographically, you may be having cold weather additives being added to your fuel that may reduce MPG.

Just some thoughts.

[TooMuchRock]

i get consistantly crappy mileage, year round. With or withou hwy or city and with or wihout letting the car warm up. There is a problem with some of the vehicles that gm simply refused to acknowledge or fix. If this was the sort of thing you could do a class action law suite for i'd be the first 1 signing up for it. I feel lied to, and quit honestly they're come just short of telling me i don't know how my car works and that i'm imaging the bad mileage, both gm and my local dealer. I've been very dissapointed with their upfront denial of any problem. I belong to most of the message board about the aveo, and have seen the same complaint time and time again. There are some people who are getting 40+ mpg, while the rest of us suffer with 18-22mpg... its crappy thing they're doing to us.

[TooMuchRock]

i made an online petition about the mileage. Please sign if you are disapointed with your aveo's MPG

http://www.petitiononline.com/aveompg/petition.html

[Golden Eagle 6573]

I fully agree that most cars are desighned for 55 mph.But doing 55 on any major highway is just plain dangerous.Most newer cars are desighned for commuting duties at over 65-75 mph,and achieve excellant gas mileage.You
are right that the cold air is good,for performance.Gas mileage will suffer a little but not this drastic.i have owned this car since August and the mileage
has been bad since day 1.