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Honda Fit Real World MPG

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  • eman6628eman6628 Member Posts: 41
    I don't over fill my tank, I always squeeze the pump throttle full on and waits for the pump to auto stop, then wait 10 seconds and then squeeze the pump throttle half way until it auto stop. But as my fillup in the mountain is not my usual filling station, so it could accounts for filling it with less than if I were to use my usual place in the city.
  • eman6628eman6628 Member Posts: 41
    I should clarify "slight downhill statement". As during the trip I have a GPS with me, and the total altitdue gain was negative from the point I started the trip to the point where my first fillup, but there was alot of up and down hills in between. Too bad my GPS don't have a function that keeps a seperate sum of altitude gain and lost (distance going up hills and distance going down hill).
  • ashmo717ashmo717 Member Posts: 1
    So I've had my fit for about a year now with no problems until this past week. My car was sputtering and stalling! It came back that the tank was full of water. From what I've read this is likely something that occurs over time and is not the fault of any one gas station. But then doesn't that mean that there is a problem with my original fuel filter? The dealership is saying it is not covered by my warrenty. I have no idea where to turn for answers. Obviously I don't want this to happen again!
  • larryfitlarryfit Member Posts: 4
    I have a base auto and 90% or more city driving. My first couple tanks I got in the mid to high 20's but for the last 4 to 5 months all of the tanks have been in the mid to upper 30's. I got a 39.9 MPG once and I really wanted to hit 40.

    More times than not I purchase gas at the same station and wait until the low fuel light is about to come on or just turns on and fill it up until the auto shut off then give it one more squeeze. I accelerate slowly and try to use the brakes as little as possible but make it a point not to irritate other drivers. My last car a Ford Probe 4 cylinder
    I drove about the same and got about 15 MPG less.

    The Fit in my opinion is probably very sensitive to driving habits and perhaps the type of gas you use. I am still very happy with my decision to buy this car.
  • ifitifit Member Posts: 18
    Part of it may be that 2007 is the last year they used the old inaccurate method. The old numbers were 33 city and 38 HWY, the new numbers are 28 city and 34 HWY. Don't blame Honda. They had nothing to do with the estimated MPG. They were even legally prevented from giving any estimated MPG other than the official government numbers.

    If you think that is bad, think about the buyers of the Toyota Prius. The old numbers that were pasted on the car window were 60 city and 51 HWY. The new numbers for the 2007 Prius are 48 city and 41 HWY.

    I am personally getting 31 to 33 in the city. I have the air conditioner going all the time. I have not driven on the highway much yet.
  • wulybugrwulybugr Member Posts: 19
    Just completed another 2200 mile trip in my fit sport, AT.
    Best milage was 41.4, average about 38. As I stated long ago, the car's computer sets itself to you recent past driving habits. First two tanks was 32-34. Then i got better. since I am back home, the milage will reduce to 32-34 over the next couple tanks. I fill my tank each time to the very top. I have put in 12.4 gallons once, and normally put in 10 to 11.5 gallons. My light will not come on unless I neeed 12 gallons to fill. The last TWO gallons you have to spoon feed it, getting only .1 to .15 gallons
    each time it shuts off. I did get 480 miles on one tank!
    I try to drive with rpm's 2400 to 2600, do not get over 3500
    at any time if I can help it. Part of this trip (900 miles)I was towing a small trailer also! Try to keep away from any ethanol in the fuel-it hurts milage
  • bobw3bobw3 Member Posts: 2,989
    I'm not sure what you mean about the car adjusting to your driving habits. It sounds like you just getting better highway miles and then when you come home you're driving less on the highway, thus getting less mpg?

    BTW...have you ever had any spill-overs while spoon feeding?
  • wulybugrwulybugr Member Posts: 19
    To bobw3:
    Most new cars have computers that continually adjust data based on recent previous driving style, speed etc. It take a while to get them fully adjusted when you have a major change in driving criteria. That is why it usualluy take me at least one tank when changing from "at home" driving to "road trips" to get best MPG. likewise, when I get home, I continue to get better milage for about 1 tank. I do not understand why the computer cannot allow us the better milage all the time! I have a 1997 diesel that does the same thing. On it, whenever the batteries re disconnected,
    my computer loses all the "learning " it has achieved, and it takes a while to again optimize performance.
    Next: I am careful and normally do not get spills when I spoonfeed. Even when I do, I overfill(to where it runs over) by probably less than one ounce. I like the ability to drive longer distances without a fill up. It is also easier to get a full tank if at the station where you fill
    the cement tilts to the passenger side. I have one station like that and it fills much easier. remember the tank is a long ways from the filler.
    Anyone have any experiance with after market tires? My fronts are wearing thin after 26,000 miles. I could have gotten better from them but did not rotate.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    I fill my tank each time to the very top. I have put in 12.4 gallons once, and normally put in 10 to 11.5 gallons. My light will not come on unless I neeed 12 gallons to fill. The last TWO gallons you have to spoon feed it, getting only .1 to .15 gallons each time it shuts off.

    You are on your way to flooding and ruining your emissions system at the top of your gas tank by filling so far past the first click. I let the pump click, then click one more time, to make sure it wasn't a fluke. Beyond that, you are just BEGGING for a check engine light with an emissions system problem (if the Fit is like most Hondas there is an emissions "canister" of sorts near the top of the filler neck; it shouldn't be flooded or it will malfunction. Do yourself a favor, don't put in the extra 1/3rd of a gallon, drive ten miles less on that tank and fill up with less "spoon" feeding. You'll save some heartache later.
  • eldainoeldaino Member Posts: 1,618
    Most new cars have computers that continually adjust data based on recent previous driving style, speed etc. It take a while to get them fully adjusted when you have a major change in driving criteria. That is why it usualluy take me at least one tank when changing from "at home" driving to "road trips" to get best MPG. likewise, when I get home, I continue to get better milage for about 1 tank. I do not understand why the computer cannot allow us the better milage all the time! I

    computers dont 'allow' anything. they report what happens. and these are called trip computers and NO not your or anyone else's honda fit in the U.S. has a standard factory trip computer, so basically all of this isn't true.

    even if you did have a trip computer, it wouldn't 'learn' your driving style, it would just tell you what you average.

    the only thing a car can 'learn' is a cvt transmission, in which it starts to remember your driving habits and makes adjustments accoringly. Do you have the cvt equipped fit? if you do, you live in another country and therefore cant make comment that says that your fit has a computer that adjusts data to calculate mpg.

    and if you keep filling up the way you do, the only thing your car is going to tell you is that its broken. :sick:
  • bobw3bobw3 Member Posts: 2,989
    That's what I was thinking too. I have a CVT that seems to "learn" but I think what the previous poster is experiencing is simply the different between his good on-the-road MPG because it's mostly highway versus the at-home MPG which isn't as good because it's more around the town driving versus highway. And the fact that the first tank at home seems better may be because 1/2 of that tank was on the road highway driving...just a thought.
  • vfrjimvfrjim Member Posts: 1
    I have not purchased the Fit yet but from the specs page it is suppose to have a 10.8 gallon tank, is this not accurate?
  • bobw3bobw3 Member Posts: 2,989
    It does, but then since the tank is under the front seats, the tube that runs from the filler to the tank is so long it can probably hold another 2 gallons.
  • eldainoeldaino Member Posts: 1,618
    very true. although, yesterday i ran my fit until it was running on fumes and i filled up right at the click with 8.8 gallons. Should be good for 280 miles. another 30mpg+ tank! ;)
  • rrtexrrtex Member Posts: 3
    I have had a Honda Fit since May 2007 and the best mileage I can get is 18.5 to 20.5 mpg. No, I am not heavy-footed. Yes, I took it back to my dealer here in Houston and all they could tell me is there is nothing to fix (after all diagnostics made; yes, I gave them documentation). Honda USA is going to catch H**L from me. I love my car, but am soooo disappointed!! :mad:
    PS: It is a Fit AT Sport.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    What is your typical commute like? How long is your typical commute in miles? How long does it take you to drive that far? What car did you have previously, and how did it fare in the same conditions/routes?
  • bobw3bobw3 Member Posts: 2,989
    Regardless of his answers, that MPG still stinks. There must be something mechanically wrong with it. I'd say to find another dealer and start writing letters.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    You can have any size engine, but if you are sitting stopped in traffic for an hour a day, and then moving for 5 minutes where you get 30 MPG, that's one hour you are getting 0 MPG. To get good miles per gallon, you need to be traveling some miles! :) I'm just curious of his or her driving habits.

    I agree, this is poor mileage, but if someone drives 1 mile to work or sits still for long periods of time, you won't see much better than this in anything but a hybrid that can run on pure electric.

    LET ME ADD ONE MORE QUESTION

    Have you taken a highway trip of considerable length (200 miles or more?) If so, what mileage did that trip yield?
  • ifitifit Member Posts: 18
    This probably is not the case with you, but a common error is calculating the MPG with the tank size (10.8 gallons in this case) rather than the number of gallons gas used.

    Unfortunately, if did not make that mistake there probably is something wrong with your Fit.
  • kagedudekagedude Member Posts: 407
    Drove to Chicago from NY and back last week. Got an oil change the day before. After 1700 miles r/t with 4 people, full trunk and the small back seat lifted with more luggage, my Honda Fit Sport 5spd still averaged 39.5mpg. My dad was very pessimistic but is now a believer that my non-hybrid car can consistently deliver close to 40 mpg. :blush: My Fit now has 45K miles.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    Automatic or manual? That's impressive either way!
  • kagedudekagedude Member Posts: 407
    Manual 5spd. We also drove for the most part a consistent 72 mph at cruise.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    If you'd kept it closer to 65, you'd have broken the 40MPG barrier I have to believe!

    The reason I asked about the transmission is that both automatic and manual are 5-speeds now. :)
  • rrtexrrtex Member Posts: 3
    Thank you for all your responses. :) My commute is 3mi one way each day. On the weekend, I am all over the place. Very, very rarely (if ever) in traffic. Did 400 mi RT to break in the engine. 2 passengers / no other load...got 32mpg. Other car was a 94 Ford T-Bird 6 cyl. Exactly same route (etc) I was getting 17-18mpg. So you can see why I am confused. Is it possible that the old Ford got better than my little Fit? BTW, I also have a 2005 CRV with 15,000mi. It is getting better mileage. Manager at dealer suggested that American cars get better mileage (??????). Manager also suggested a 3500-5000 mi. break-in period. This was not my understanding when I purchased and not what I am reading on this forum. :confuse:
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    3 miles is not sufficient time to properly warm up the engine, so your car is running rich (more fuel in the fuel/air mixture) in order to more rapidly bring your car to normal/optimum operating temperature. If you'll notice when you start your car after sitting awhile, the tach will run higher than if it is cranked, say, 15 minutes after a 10 mile trip. This is the car trying to hurry and warm up.

    Suffice it to say, I think 20 MPG is a little low, but such a low-mileage commute (how long does that 3 miles take you?) means your low-mileage actually makes sense to me.

    There is a reason that on smog-alert days the government reccomends combining all of your short trips into one; it's because shorter trips are less efficient than long ones.

    The fact that over a longer trip you were in the 30s tells me that your car isn't really the problem. And, if the dealer filled that tank (the one you took the trip on), it likely wasn't COMPLETELY full (my lowest MPG EVER came on my first tank of gas in my Accord).

    There is someone in the midsize sedans forum who owns a Ford Fusion. He gets around 14 MPG, despite mileage ratings which average in the 20s. He was concerned, until he told us about his short trips (he has less than 6,000 miles in one year, I think).

    I don't know if this makes you feel any better, but this is my moderately educated guess as to what the problem is: short trips.
  • laurenceblaurenceb Member Posts: 3
    Over 14,000 miles I have averaged about 37 mpg without special conservation measures. I am very pleased with the car.
  • rrtexrrtex Member Posts: 3
    Thanks to everyone for your replies. I will get back to you when I get more info. :D
  • kagedudekagedude Member Posts: 407
    Definitely, I already hit 43mpg with just me a few months ago. Average speed was 65-70mph. The reason for that is the dealer overinflated the tires to 36-37psi. Harsh ride, better mileage. I toned it back down to 32psi/39mpg. :blush:
  • nthomasnthomas Member Posts: 40
    Since July, most of my tanks have been between 35 and 38 mpg. My average since I bought the car in February is 35. Just a couple days ago I had my best tank so far - 39.9 mpg. If I tried harder I could probably have broken 40. But at any rate, I think I'm doing pretty well!

    ~16,000 miles
    40+ mile commute each way
    Mostly highway, some city
    Fit Sport Automatic
  • jacksan1jacksan1 Member Posts: 504
    22,000 miles now on a Sport (AT). A lifetime average of 32 MPG, driving almost exactly 50/50 city/highway. We live in a major metropolitan area, so our "city" is true city driving, meaning that there is a traffic light/stop sign every few blocks. In a pure highway setting, only a stuck parking brake gets us below 35 MPG.
  • nthomasnthomas Member Posts: 40
    Yeah, I haven't been below 35 since the warmer weather got here. My mileage still seems to be on an upward trend overall. Most of my highway driving is at about 75 mph. I know I could do better if I slowed down some. My city driving is true city driving, also: lots of stop signs, lights and slow speeds.

    I'm going to try slowing down a bit on my commute to work next week and see if I can break 40. That would make me really happy :shades:
  • sildra9onsildra9on Member Posts: 5
    I bought a Honda Fit Auto Sport on May 2007, the reason i bought this car is because it said 31/37 mpg on sticker, but somehow after i got the car. it only goes around 20mpg, i do half highway and half city. i start calling up the dealer ask them what's wrong. they told me it's a brand new car, it need few thousand miles before it breaks in. they tell me to wait. i waited until 1700 miles, it doesn't seem any better, i finally bought it to honda to check what's wrong. they checked the car they told it has nothing wrong with the car. it just because it's summer, air conditions and stereo can cause it getting less MPG. so i test it with everything off. NO AC, NO STEREO, NO VIPERS, NO LIGHTS, it doesn't see any difference. i called the manufactory. they told me i should have wait a little more, they told me after the first oil chance it would get better. Than yesterday i have it with 3500. i bought it to oil chance and service. i told the guy that my car getting bad milage. they told me there's nothing they can do. only thing they can do is they would put someone to test drive my car. but they need me to leave the car for at least 1 week, even after they test drive it. they cannot guaranted they will find the problem. I was soo pissed. so i left there with only oil chance and NOT even a check up on the problem. and today i found after the oil chance. it's getting worst. i only drove 75 miles but half tanks gas is gone. which meant the whole 10.7 gallon tank gas only goes around 150 miles. that's 15MPG. I need help with this. i been asking peoples and calling hondas. they wont do anything. what should i do?
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    i only drove 75 miles but half tanks gas is gone. which meant the whole 10.7 gallon tank gas only goes around 150 miles.

    what should i do?

    You should stop measuring your fuel with the gauge and actually do some calculations yourself.

    Let me tell ya what could be a HUGE part of your problem.

    In my Accord, when my gauge reads empty (needle lined up with the red line), I still have more than 2 gallons in my tank (close to 3). This means that if I drove 300 miles and considered it a "full tank of gas used" I'd come up with 18 MPG, when I actually used less than 15 gallons, which would raise my MPG to over 20 MPG.

    If you have only been calculating mileage by "tank" you aren't actually calculating anything unless you are running your car completely out of fuel every time.

    To calculate MPG, fill your tank full. Reset Trip Meter before pulling away from the pump. Drive until your fuel is looking low (where you'd normally fill up). Divide miles driven by gallons of gas pumped (you aren't pumping 10.7 gallons like you say unless you are running your tank dry).

    Do you understand what I am saying? For example, on a calculator, for example, 240 miles / 8 gallons = 30MPG.
  • robynnerobynne Member Posts: 12
    I have a Fit Sport AT with 1100 miles on it and my commute to work is 1.6 miles each way. I live on one of the steepest hills in Seattle and I'm get 26 mpg with 100% city. My guess is that you are not calculating your mileage correctly as the post above suggests. The other tip would be to inflate your tires near 38 psi. I just checked my tire pressure for the first time and all 4 were under 30. I'm hoping my mpg gets near 28 or so with this adjustment.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    26 MPG is DARN good to have such a short commute. :)
  • robynnerobynne Member Posts: 12
    Yeah, I think it's pretty good considering my commute. I accelerate gently - often using my paddle shifters - and brake gently but we have hills in Seattle that rival San Fran. Overall I think we have more. I hardly ever get on the highway so I'm a true "city" commuter. (Although in a few weeks I'll be taking my Fit on a 600 mile trip - and I'm looking forward to what my little car can do.)
  • eman6628eman6628 Member Posts: 41
    Not really sure this is the right topic to post, but I think it does affect mileage.

    I found that if you have the vent setting on defrost (either of the 2 right most setting) even if the air conditioner is turned off and temperature setting to max heat :confuse: Right now I have the vent setting to the lower vent to stop the air conditioner compressor from turning on to max my mileage!
  • bobw3bobw3 Member Posts: 2,989
    I think most cars today turn on the AC automatically when in defrost setting to prevent the windows from fogging up. When the temp gets below freezing this won't happen because the AC could freeze up.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    That's right. My Accord's A/C kicks on when set on "defrost." It does so to prevent fogging, which is very likely to happen if you blow moist warm air onto a cold window. Hondas since my grandparents' 1997 Civic LX have done this.
  • dudleyrdudleyr Member Posts: 3,469
    There is a hack for the Accord that lets you control the a/c when in defrost mode (the a/c button lights up and can be turned off). Really handy on cool rainy days. Maybe there is one for the civic as well.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    Speaking of, i can't find this post. Dudley, do you remember where it is located? If not, could I trouble you for the hack "code"? It's about to get cold here and I'll want to run heat on an icy windshield without A/C use!

    Any help would be most appreciated bud!

    Thegrad
  • dudleyrdudleyr Member Posts: 3,469
    Here it is for the Accord. The Fit may be similar

    1) With vehicle on, push the airflow button for "top vent".
    2) Shut car off.
    3) Turn temp knob to the coldest setting
    4) Turn fan off
    5) How down both "Air Recirculation" button and "AC" button. With both buttons depressed, turn key to "ON" position. (don't need to actually start the car) Keep holding the buttons down for at least 7 seconds.
    6) The AC and Air Recirculation lights will light up and flash at different points during the 7 second hold-down.
    7) When the air recirculation light stops flashing, release the two buttons.

    Now you have full control over the AC. When you hit the Defog button, the AC light will now illuminate. You can now shut it off if you so desire and get Defog air without AC!

    Not trying to hijack this thread - my mother is looking at a Fit right now for zipping around town in without using too much gas.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    Thanks so much dudley. I've bookmarked this for later use!
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    Hey buddy. I performed this today. Worked just like you said! I forgot to check it after I turned the car off and back on. I'm guessing this won't affect the new settings?
  • dudleyrdudleyr Member Posts: 3,469
    Glad it worked, it should still work after turning the car off. I needed it this morning - 41 degrees and the whole car was covered in dew. I wanted the defog vents to heat the windows and keep the dew from reforming. Since the A/C only helps inside the car it would be a waste.

    Anybody try it on a Fit?
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    I feel like we should carry this to a different forum. Any suggestions where it could belong?
  • dudleyrdudleyr Member Posts: 3,469
    I posted over in the Accord HVAC forum.

    dudleyr, "Honda Accord Climate Control Questions" #45, 8 Oct 2007 9:02 am!keywords=
  • eldainoeldaino Member Posts: 1,618
    My fit usually yields about 32 mpg in 50/50 mixed driving.

    My wife an i took a cruise to mexico this last weekend and we had to drive down to Miami, Fl (we live in NC) so Jaime got to stretch his legs.

    My worst tank was 30mpg, mostly because of the zips to 'almost'100mph against a 40 year old in his awd Volvo s60R. It was quite funny. But horrendoulsy irresponsible.

    The best tanks i got yielded 39mpg. (about 360 miles on about 9.1 gallons of gas.)

    Needless to say, i'm thrilled. This was with mostly cruise on and averaging about 70-75mpg, with some stretches of 65.

    Under these conditions, i'm betting i could have gone a little further than 360 miles with the rabbit, but it would have cost us significantly more to fill up, as it usually took around 12 or 13 gallons.

    We are both very happy! :)
  • tim.clymertim.clymer Member Posts: 3
    Just got a Fit and have about 1400 miles on it. My first tank got me around 37mpg (mostly highway). Second tank was about the same but mostly city (actually went up to about 37.5). Third tank, which was ~50/50 got me 39.5mpg. I have to say that I'm a very happy camper. I have been reading stories talking about averages in the high 20s, low 30s. I wonder if it's driving styles, or the transmission, or what?

    Do mpg figures tend to improve as you break the car in? I've heard that after a while there's a decline.
  • jacksan1jacksan1 Member Posts: 504
    Lots of variables kick in when talking about MPGs. They are driving styles, environment (hills, etc.), load (how many passengers/how much stuff you carry), maintenance (e.g., tire pressure), etc. And in some rare cases, the vehicles themselves have problems.

    Also, people often interpret "city" differently. When I say city, for instance, it is pure city, and it is impossible in my "city" to get above 40 MPH, unless I am trying to kill myself or others. Many people interpret suburban driving as city driving, but that would be apples and oranges, since some suburban driving is virtually highway, except for occasional slowdowns. In my definition, if you can drive a mile without stopping, that is not city. But many people define city as "Not Highway," which can make comparisons tough.
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