2002 Chevy Prizm rated 40mpg. Why am I only getting 32 mpg on highway?
I bought a new 2002 Chevy Prizm. it has 700 miles on it. on the sticker, it say 40mpg on highway.
i've filled 3 tanks, and i'm only getting 32 mpg. this is 95% highway, no A/C, windows up, tire air pressure at factory recommendations, etc.
So how come i'm getting 20% less than what factory says i should be getting? And how to fix it???
THX
i've filled 3 tanks, and i'm only getting 32 mpg. this is 95% highway, no A/C, windows up, tire air pressure at factory recommendations, etc.
So how come i'm getting 20% less than what factory says i should be getting? And how to fix it???
THX
0
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Comments
I have always noticed my best mileage is on 87 octane gas, use the lowest octane gas that does not knock, you throw money away otherwise.
"The test simulates a 10-mile trip and averages 48 mph. The maximum speed is 60 mph. The test is run with the engine warmed up and has little idling time and no stops (except at the end of the test)."
If your driving isn't like this, you can expect different numbers even after your car is broken in. If your highway speed is like mine (75-80 mph), then getting 80% of the EPA may be reasonable.
It's also been my experience that as highway speed increases smaller/ higher RPM engine mpg drops more than bigger/ low RPM engine mpg does.
Finally, previous posts are correct, mpg will probably improve over the next 10k miles at least.
As an example, my recently-sold 1989 Firebird Formula 5.0 improved its mpg incrementally over the years, and was getting best-ever mileage this year.
It still isn't broken in, though, and won't get its best mileage for a while - I can't tell you the number of times I've had that argument with service customers.
Remember also that some cars with man trans are not in top gear at some of the speeds they drive at for the highway test - all cars with auto trans are in high gear. This is why the tests are biased towards automatics, and manuals can usually do better than EPA numbers while automatics have a harder time.
My Integra is EPA rated at 24/28. My highway mileage is always over 30 (if I drive 80-85) and is as high as 40 if I stay at 60 mph.
You might want to add more tire pressure that will help. Car makers usually reccommend too litte - just ask Ford Explorer owners. Call any tire shop and they will tell you to use at least 32 psi all around (sometimes 35) tires will last longer, be safer, and handle better as well as get better mileage. This is at the expense of some ride quality, and vibration isolation. Also always check tire pressure when the tires are cold.
Oxegenated fuel is also bad for mileage.
As for the Prizm in question, I'd guess it's a manual shift? That's the only model I could find EPA-rated at 40 (41, actually) on the highway. The automatic models are only rated around 33 mpg. One thing about a car with a small engine that has to rev to get its power though, is that it's going to have to rely more on the lower gears for acceleration. For instance, my Intrepid will loaf along at about 2000 rpm at 60 mph, 2500 rpm at 75, and 3000 rpm at 90. However, when you need passing power, it downshifts, and those numbers will jump to about 3000, 3750, and 4500 rpm, respectively (overdrive is about 0.67:1, direct drive is 1.00:1) With a bigger engine, you can often accelerate without downshifting, so mileage won't suffer as much in "spirited" driving.
the EPA estimate is not expected to be within 85% or so of a typical driver's mileage.
if you WERE doing better, and the mileage either suddenly or gradually goes beyond 80% of estimate, time to evaluate whether you are driving or loaded differently... or if it's maintenance time. if you usually got 37 mpg and one Tuesday, you calculated after a recent fill-up and were down to 28 mpg, time to see the shop.
So there is hope !
I am getting 24 - 27 on my wifes new Mazda MPV. Its rated at 18/24.
it's now at 1000 miles (basically another tank of gas), and I'm still at 32mpg at 95% highway.
How does an engine "break in?"