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I get around 27mpg in city driving without trying too hard, but there are a couple of tips for manual shift 5's.
1) Avoid going over 3k rpm. At 3k, the variable valve timing shifts into the power mode, making much more power but also eating gas.
2) Use engine braking to slow for stops. When the motors over around 2k rpm and you're off the throttle, the fuel injectors shut off completely.
3) Short shift at around 2k rpm using fairly light throttle. The car makes good torque and can pretty easily keep up with traffic.
4) always use the highest gear you can without the motor straining, incuding speeding back up after slowing down. The 5 will accerate from 35 mph in top gear just fine, and this helps economy considerably.
I do all 4 of these techniques without even thinking about them now, and passengers normally don't even notice I'm doing anything out of the ordinary.
So far it doesn't *look* good, judging from the needle on the fuel tank gauge, but I'll have a better idea in a few days. I think I could work on the engine braking a bit, as that takes a bit of practice in the city...
Dave
The verdict is in, and my city mpg for this last tank was a whopping 16.6 mpg, and using premium gasoline at that!
It's a far cry from your 27 mpg in the city!
Oh well, I'll keep at it. Maybe it'll improve with practice, or there's something else I'm missing... (?!)
Dave
Dave
I'll give that a try this next time...
Dave
The worst I ever saw BTW was a hair under 20mpg during a two week cold snap with all short little commutes.
I play another little game that might help. I try to see how far I can get before the temp needle starts to move. The theory is that if your burning fuel slowly it takes more miles for the motor to warm up. This time of year cold starting at around 20 degrees, I can make it over 3 miles before the needle budges.
Dean
Hwy driving got 29 and I was doing average 75 (zero stops) so I know it'll go 30+ with legal-speeds.
Looking for better numbers! :confuse:
I can tell you, however, that using neutral is a detriment to mileage. When you are in gear and lift off the gas, the injectors actually shut off, thereby giving you "infinity" fuel mileage. When you shift to neutral, you've disengaged the drivetrain, so now the car HAS to feed fuel to the engine to keep it idling, so you can't hit "infinity" doing it that way.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
+1 on the "just lift" versus "shift to neutral" as well, for what's happening with the fuel system, very noticable on my ScanGauge II. Lift-off results in infinity readings (fuel shut off), neutral idling returned varied results, but never infinity.
HTH. As you note, however, Prius-like, it isn't but decent for what it is. I see 26-28 mpg on 70% highway commuting; lowest ever was 23mpg following an Audi/Corvette "parade" in the fast lane for the good part of a tankful; "Oh, we're here already, made good time!". Yes, we did! I've had a tank at 32-33 a couple of times, all interstate and 60'ish, just to see how I could stretch it. 2010 Sport 5MT.
In the meanwhile I was researching modifications to an ICE that could be had to squeeze more. Seems like intake/exhaust is the answer but would hate the apparent ensuing noise from the exhaust (even with resonators). Gas reaching the $4 range soon enough, payback will be faster and faster with any initial investment...
Thanks again - will report back in a week or so after a fresh tank.
Dave
Got to the yellow warning light before I filled up and ended up with 322 miles (13.19 gallons)
This is 1/2 of our Prius so of course I'm not all that jazzed (though I'm sure if I compared to an Explorer or Highlander, I'd feel different). Again, I practiced much of the hyper-miling techniques and this was all-city very short trip driving. This current tank my wife drove (she doesn't know the word hyper-miling) and am driving with traffic (faster acceleration to speed limit) to see "real world" numbers to compare to. I will guess that I'll be in the low 20s this time.
Other than mileage, so far this car/minivan/whatever is awesome!
Guessing you're doing all city driving. Some hints:
A biggie to watch is acceleration. The more you ease the car to the wanted speed the better.
When you see a red light (or break lights) WAY up ahead, foot off pedal & coast. Treat your break as your enemy because you're wasting momentum that could be used for "free" distance without gas.
See if at least these 2 easy things makes a difference for you.
As far as telling fuel mpg from the gas gauge, I've found that starting from a completely topped up tank that 1/2 tank is almost exactly 10 gallons used and the low fuel light comes on at nearly exactly 15 gals used.
This info is useful as you can see how your doing while still driving by doing some basic mental math. I for instance am pleased to see 300 miles at 1/2 tank as I know I'm getting at least 30 mpg.
I finally tanked up yesterday, and put in 15.02 gallons in with 474 on the odo for 31.56mpg.
I am suprised it was quite that high considering the horrible traffic jam I got caught in on the way there on the dan ryan exp. My trip out took 45 minutes longer than on the way back and it was all added in stop and go traffic on the ryan.
Which max level should I go with to maximize fuel economy? Owner's manual or specific tire levels?
The auto mfr. will list their recommended pressure, based on their testing for a good combination of handling response, ride quality, and other factors. And of course, staying within the tire's upper safe limit.
Many "improve your fuel economy" articles will recommend stock setting +10%, and that's not a bad place to start.
My 2010 5MT was delivered with 39psi, and I ran it that way until my first oil change/tire rotation. I dropped it to the recommended 34, wanting to see if the ride quality would improve (not that I found fault with it, was very acceptable at that level). I didn't notice any change, so I put them back to 39 all around, have run them that way ever since (now at 35,000 miles).
I don't have any wear "issues" (like wearing out the center before the edges, etc.) so I'm happy with this.
Experiment away, if you like. Some cars (not these 5s) will call for a different pressure front/rear to preserve the handling / response behavior that the factory engineered. If you're playing with tire pressure settings, just be sure to keep this differential intact. E.g., running 25/30 f/r, could go to 28/33 or 31/36 and so on, keeping that 5psi differential as you experiment.
68514 total miles, 2987.0 total gallons, average 23.2 miles per US gallon
Its one longest (by far) trip was Seattle-Saskatoon-Detroit-Maine-Tennessee-Santa Fe-Seattle, with 3 bicycles on hitch rack, cargo box on roof rack, and lots of other junk, highway speeds in 70s: 8804 miles / 345.0 gal = 25.5 mi / USG
Anyone got us beat on long-trip length??
In the city we get about 21-23--and so just about what the epa said we'd get at 22.
Like the sporty handling a lot. Like the sliding doors. And I like that I'm driving something somewhat unusual--although actually the Mazda5 seems to be pretty popular in Louisville KY.
I think 23-24 MPG is outstanding!
I'd also suggest being a bit cautious on assumptions based on Scanguage information, prediciated on shifting to neutral versus just letting up. There are some electronics involved there that may not be giving you the information you think you are getting.