I've noticed that if I rev up my Honda Fit 09 to 5000/6000 RPM once or twice at the beginning of a trip, I get significantly better MPG.

When I first got the car, I used to take it easy and avoid revving it to much and got only 29~31 MPG on my daily commute, each way. I commute 40 miles daily on the NJ Turnpike + Rt.18 (both highways) + suburb driving. Average speed 70mph on Turnpike and stop-and-go traffic on Rt.18 and suburbs. Even when the break in period was over, I took it easy. However, I noticed that the once or twice I had to rev up in order not to get run over, I got better MPG. So today, coming home, before getting on the highway, I floored it once or twice to 5000/6000 RPM. I got 35~36 MPG for the trip, compared to 30 MPG that I usually get.

Anybody else noticed this

 

By your description, it sounds like you're going off the Avg mpg gauge, not calculating it yourself. If that's the case, the gauge is notoriously inaccurate (especially in the first half of the tank). I wouldn't be surprised if the computer is thrown off by your ankle twitching. I can think of no scientific explanation for a real mpg improvement doing this.

 

Unless...

The fit is a learning machine. It realizes you are driving it hard and reprograms itself to be more fuel efficient.

One day, all the Fit will band together and take over the world, Terminator style.

On the other hand, it could just be a bug in the algorithm the gauge is based on.

 

I agree 100% with you. I guess only a few Fits are weird like ours. When I try to drive conservative I get less than 30mpg. I drove an average of 80mph on a highway trip with 3 other people in the car and I got my highest mpg (34.6). Additionally, 2nd highest was also with 3 other people in the car under 90 degree weather with A/C on (32mpg).

I rarely high rev, but when I do I feel like I'm gonna get a crappy mpg, when in the end I get higher. Weird, but I feel you.

 

I too have been surprised by enhanced fuel economy when driving it hard. Just another reason not to trust the mpg readings I suppose! Mine holds pretty steady at 36.8...............

 

i avg. around 30mpg, plus/minus 2mpg........after 40,000+ miles of ownership.

 

32 for me...what part of nj u from?

 

Just to clarify...the 38.6 is the reading on the MPG meter in the dash.

 

washing and keeping it dirt free helps areodynamics and saves 0.7 mpg..heard that somewhere

 

ehhhhhhhhhh i call bs. btw, how do you measure .7mpg? in a wind tunnel? who would spend time testing that?

btw, the best way to improve fuel economy is driving right and using a scangauge.