MPG Blues...
 

It's interesting what driving around with 2 passengers in the Fit can do to gas mileage.

I've been averaging 36 MPG combined until last weekend. I took a road trip with the Fit and 2 friends of mine (dinner, symphony, drinks/desserts & then home). The following day I filled my tank and calculated mileage to be 31 MPG! :hyper: My lowest calculation ever!!:hyper::hyper:

That's it...Fit passengers pay a gas surcharge before entering...:rotfl:

On a good note though, I noticed virtually no difference in power or handling capabilities. Tender....:D

bad weather has dropped my mpg

First off, is your Fit a manual? The reason I ask is because the manual Fits have a shorter final gearing than the autos. I believe manuals are around 4k @ 80 MPH in 5th and autos are around 3k at the same speed in 5th gear. Also whenever the RPMs exceed 3400 the engine engages VTEC and that would cause your MPG to go down some.

If your in an auto, was the car down shifting frequently? On a road trip I made in the past I noticed that my millage dropped by 2 whenever I would frequently downshift into 4th to get back up to speed rather than staying in 5th like during the 1st half of the trip.

Wow that's bad for a trip. Usually when I do highway I get 36mpg with 2 people or 38mpg without.

I hate snow, but right now, it's kinda nice because roads are so bad everyone is doing 35 mph. This is going to be a GOOD tank! I'm betting I'll get 34 this time which isn't all that bad for 4 mile trips.

I have a '08 MT Sport. What exactly is VTEC anyway? :confused:

Although I didn't pay attention - I imagine the RPMs were higher due to the extra weight in the car and that I was maintaining speed like I normally drive. You make an excellent point.

The 31 MPG was a combined average - not highway exclusively. I guess I could also mention they were "not exactly small people".:rolleyes:

I got 36 and 37mpg on a recent trip. Three people (400lbs or so) plus another 400+ pounds of camping gear. o_O '07 MT

Hills, temperature, average speed. There are a lot of factors. I wouldn't be complaining about 31mpg, though. It's better than what most cars get.

I got 30mpg entirely on i-95 going 65-90 the whole time. I dunno wtf you guys are on, but whatever. I refuse to drive 55.

what's vtec...you own a honda n don't know :( It's hondas variable valve timing...oil pressure is built up which in turn opens the 2nd intake valve on the l15(your engine) which brings in more air =ing more power/more gas...in the fits case it's mostly just gas :) :P
That's friggin *** that the AT's have lower gearing. I wish I could go 70 at under 3400rpm :( I guess it keeps me going at or under the speed limit though :/

I think it's a misnomer in this case. Due to the vtec-e design where the second lifter lobe is locked to the first, overall valve timing, lift, and duration are unchanged, just an extra valve opens up in each cylinder. (Technically, that extra valve always opens, most of the time just cracked open enough to keep fuel from pooling up on it.)

It only keeps the engine from starving for air like its 8v i-DSi cousin would be doing above that speed.

Oil pressure is ALWAYS built up otherwise your motor would be dead. A solenoid/valve combo just makes some of it go into the lifter lockers when the ECU says NOW ;)

Guess what, if you're over 3400 rpm (less if you're stepping on the gas) the engine no longer has "swirl" in the cylinders, the valve opening changes it to "tumble" (like a somersault) and is part of the cause for the lower fuel efficiency above that speed. When below that speed and half the intake valves closed, the higher port velocity coupled with better-retained gas velocity through the compression stroke (both of which maintain fuel vaporization), coupled with the more uniform fuel mix at time of ignition, allows lower timing under higher compression with complete combustion, and that increases power transferred thus allowing less throttle.

I bet the OP was speeding, or in stop-go traffic, or drives as if he has no idea when his engine is changing modes of operation :)

More passengers increase my MPG. I got my highest MPG on a road trip with 3 other people in the car. 36.4 mpg @ 80mph average.

I have been averaging about 35 MPG, mostly 40 mph 15 mile commutes.
On a recent trip, to my surprise, I got better gas mileage after my wife asked me to pick up the pace, from 55 to 70 - mileage went from 31.8 to 37.8 to 40.9. I have no explanation.

Data listed below, not corrected for ethanol content.

34.6
39.6
34.6
36.0
34.4
38.1
37.2
31.4
33.8
39.4
33.0
35.9
36.3
35.0
35.4
31.5
31.8
37.8
40.9
33.6

I must have gotten a bad Fit ;/ highest I ever got was 36, that was one time. Every other time has been 34 and under.

Well, you have already stated (no insult intended) that you drive like a maniac, you're not going to get good gas mileage that way. <steps off soap box>

I don't drive like a maniac. Super Mario said he drove 80mph and got 36mpg. That's about what I drive and I got 30 exactly.

What about when your int he city? Are you mashing it off the line all the time, or going slowly.

M last tank I got 40.3 and that was going 80 on the highways. But when I was in the city I try and shift under 2500k rpm.

I kept reading about this with MT owners and had to check it out. @ 4000 RPM in 5th with my AT, I'm traveling 104 mph, according to the GPS. I've forgotten, since I rarely go over the speed limit, but 80 mph comes in somewhere between 3000 and 3500 RPM in 5th. That particular trip was with the wife and kids in the car, and we averaged 36 mpg over the 300 miles to Grandma's house.

Check your tire pressure first and buy good gas
 

Tire pressure has a large impact on your mileage. Under-inflated tires will do exactly what you experienced. The OE tires I have leak down. In three months mine will lose 5-6 psi. After that get the alignment checked. Maybe momma hit the curb at a bad angle. Also try to keep away from alcohol diluted gasoline. It hurts my gas mileage around 5-10%

All the Best! Dick W :p

shifting under 2500k results in extreme bogging and sounds that do not sound good whatsoever. I don't recommend shifting under 3k....in the city I do mash it off the line, because it's a Fit, it's SLOW, and cars behind me are impatient and honestly I don't like to be a DICK by taking 5 years to hit the speed limit. I'm courteous when I'm in front at a red light. I ****ing FLOOR it.