General Fit Talk General Discussion on the Honda Fit/Jazz.

Why is my MPG so crappy?

Old Jan 25, 2009 | 11:39 AM
  #1  
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Unhappy Why is my MPG so crappy?

I What up stalkers
 

Last edited by supaumar; Nov 19, 2012 at 11:28 PM.
Old Jan 25, 2009 | 11:42 AM
  #2  
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How fast do you usually drive? The speed limit, or a little over [flow of traffic]?

Are your tires properly inflated most of the time?

At what rpm does your tranny shift at for 1-2 and 2-3?
 
Old Jan 25, 2009 | 12:01 PM
  #3  
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i get about the same mpg, sometimes a little worse. all city driving mostly in brooklyn,ny, automatic tranny, 8000 miles and sounds like our driving techniques are similar (not too easy but not too hard). too much stop and go traffic. my tranny shifts between 2-3k rpms.


ehh, thinking of trading car in when fit hybrid comes out, or maybe even the new insight, idk
 
Old Jan 25, 2009 | 01:55 PM
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my mpg is a little weird in all city driving too. i noticed that most AT's get crappy gas mileage when they dont drive on the highway. nothing wrong with your car bro
 
Old Jan 25, 2009 | 02:03 PM
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yeah nothing wrong with yours.. i push my car hard in the city.
but on the highway i just set cruise control.
so my numbers are around 21 city and 37 highway
 

Last edited by keepitpg; Jan 25, 2009 at 02:14 PM.
Old Jan 25, 2009 | 02:06 PM
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I have my tires to 40psi.

No more than the sidewall lists max at!

NO TPMS sensor problems!

We still get mediocre MPGs in the city, though.

Originally Posted by supaumar
I average 23-24 mpg constantly. Let me give you an idea of my driving:
  • Nearly all city
  • Automatic GD (USDM)
  • No abnormal weight (Usually just two people and some stuff)
  • I don't exactly drive the Fit nicely, but don't run the hell out of it
  • ~5,900 miles on it
  • I fill my tank up every Wednesday from the same station (Valero)
  • I live in Texas (totally flat)
What could be wrong? I'm sure I've seen people who drive all city average more than 24 mpg. What am I doing wrong, if I am doing anything wrong?
 
Old Jan 25, 2009 | 02:13 PM
  #7  
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Originally Posted by supaumar
Alrighty, good to hear that someone's in a similar situation. The MPG was a factor in purchasing the fit, but not one of the major ones. I'm fine with what I have now, but I'd love to get it better.
The problem is not the car but its your driving style. Do not accelerate hard and fast, you will need to drive the speed limit or slower than the speed limit, do not use too much braking as in pretty much driving without brakes. I mean drive the car without brakes mean learn how to observe what's ahead of you and then let go of the gas if the lights are turning red and let the car slow down to a full stop.
 
Old Jan 25, 2009 | 02:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Black01
The problem is not the car but its your driving style. Do not accelerate hard and fast, you will need to drive the speed limit or slower than the speed limit, do not use too much braking as in pretty much driving without brakes. I mean drive the car without brakes mean learn how to observe what's ahead of you and then let go of the gas if the lights are turning red and let the car slow down to a full stop.
also i have a scangauge II and i noticed that when you downshift while coating to a stop, the gph (gallons per hour) goes to 0.0, and the mpg goes to 9999. and just coasting to a stop or putting it in neutral, the mpg hovers around 110. so it might not make a big difference, but itll help.
 
Old Jan 25, 2009 | 04:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Black01
The problem is not the car but its your driving style. Do not accelerate hard and fast, you will need to drive the speed limit or slower than the speed limit, do not use too much braking as in pretty much driving without brakes. I mean drive the car without brakes mean learn how to observe what's ahead of you and then let go of the gas if the lights are turning red and let the car slow down to a full stop.
Prezactly!

Start by airing your tires up to the sidewall max (in the case of the Base, it's 44psi with stock Dunlops). This will reduce rolling resistance and increase mpg even if you don't alter you driving habits. You may even experience better handling and ride.

Driving technique is the biggest factor when you are shooting for the mpgs.

My thought is this: Try to never let the engine exceed 2500 RPM. If you pay attention to the tachometer you may be surprised at just how hard you are running. I, personally, shoot for 55 mph as a top speed but have been known to break the triple digit mark on occasion. (sustained 104 mph with 5 in the car, but I am a professional driver.) At 16,000 miles, my worst tank was 31mpg and the best was 49 1/2mpg.

Currently, my Fit has a bad A/F ratio sensor which causes the computer to use more gas than normal. This is referred to, in some circles, as 'limp home' mode. The idea is that, in the absence of good data, excess fuel (against the normal fuel map) will prevent a lean condition which could damage the engine, allowing one to drive the car until it can be fixed. Even with this problem, I'm still getting roughly 33 mpg.
 

Last edited by E = Mc2; Jan 25, 2009 at 04:46 PM.
Old Jan 25, 2009 | 07:04 PM
  #10  
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I have same problem

u can check on my blog, Fit by GWork , I have a log posted since 7/26/2208 up to date. I drive the same way as you. I guess the problem is this is still a fuel car, not hybrid. So stop and go may be the reason why u can only drive 23-25 mpg. One time I drove from Los Angeles to San Francisco, 320 total miles with 2 or 3 stops. I kept my speed at 70-75. So the further you go, the more mpg you get.
 
Old Jan 25, 2009 | 10:33 PM
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check my blog, i have log there since 7/26/2008, through the log, u can easily see i pumped gas on one day and another day after. My aevrage is abot 26.18 mpg, but per that trip, 31 mpg......I have never hit above 35 ever. ....... I really wonder how ppl get up to 35 or even more.
 
Old Jan 25, 2009 | 11:26 PM
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Originally Posted by fx1367
check my blog, i have log there since 7/26/2008, through the log, u can easily see i pumped gas on one day and another day after. My aevrage is abot 26.18 mpg, but per that trip, 31 mpg......I have never hit above 35 ever. ....... I really wonder how ppl get up to 35 or even more.
cruise control
at 45mph ~ 40-45mpg
at 65mph ~ 35-40mpg
at 85mph ~ 30-35mpg

..at least thats what i get
 
Old Jan 25, 2009 | 11:29 PM
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its an automatic.
 
Old Jan 25, 2009 | 11:34 PM
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..so he should have the same #'s as me..
 
Old Jan 25, 2009 | 11:38 PM
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we all drive the same car, if one guy gets 40mpg, and the other gets 25mpg, its teh driver
 
Old Jan 25, 2009 | 11:41 PM
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true. if i drive hard its about 23mpg.. so i recommend cruise control if he has a chronic lead foot.
 
Old Jan 26, 2009 | 12:45 AM
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Since you can't avoid the stop and go traffic make up for it at other times. Accelerate slower, when there isn't traffic drive the speed limit or a little below. If MPG is a huge deal, you'll have to sacrifice speed. You might get dirty looks from other drivers, but you can always tint you windows so dark they can't see you.

Side note: when I opened the Fit up for a tank the MPG went down to 17. Usually I get 34-39. But I'm almost never in traffic. I drive 62mph on the freeway and I never let the RPMs go above 3500.
 
Old Jan 26, 2009 | 02:14 AM
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Accelerate slowly and make sure the tranny shifts before 3K rpms. When you see a red light or stop sign in the distance take your foot off of the gas and coast all the way until you have to brake.

I've driven 90% City before and I've never gotten less than 27mpg. Not all cars are identical, so results will always be different. I'd think that since you're in Texas (the flat state) that you'd be pulling at least 34mpg on average.
 
Old Jan 26, 2009 | 02:15 AM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by solbrothers
we all drive the same car, if one guy gets 40mpg, and the other gets 25mpg, its teh driver
Not really...not cars built on Mondays...

It's because all the mechanics get drunk on Sunday and come back on Monday with hangovers. Therefore, cars built on Mondays have a higher probability of breaking down.

 
Old Jan 26, 2009 | 03:02 AM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by supaumar
I average 23-24 mpg constantly. Let me give you an idea of my driving:
  • Nearly all city
  • Automatic GD (USDM)
  • No abnormal weight (Usually just two people and some stuff)
  • I don't exactly drive the Fit nicely, but don't run the hell out of it
  • ~5,900 miles on it
  • I fill my tank up every Wednesday from the same station (Valero)
  • I live in Texas (totally flat)
What could be wrong? I'm sure I've seen people who drive all city average more than 24 mpg. What am I doing wrong, if I am doing anything wrong?
You're driving wrong.

Tips to improve your Gas Mileage

Just watch the video on that page, to start with, and the video just now didn't auto start, so if it doesn't work for you either, read the text. Which driver are you closer to, in ways of driving, and be honest?

According to George Carlin, are you a maniac driving too fast or an idiot driving too slow?

According to other driver insta-finger-feedback, do you get the finger more often from other drivers as they are passing you, or as you are passing them?

Also look at the graph on this page:
Tips to improve your Gas Mileage

There are different optimal speeds. And if you notice, our EPA estimates are for LIGHT traffic. Not bumper to bumper, 10 minutes to get through an intersection or it taking more than one light to get through an intersection. That's all heavy traffic.

Even simple stuff can knock your mileage way down. When you get in the car, do you immediately start it, and THEN put on your seat belt and fiddle with the radio and fix your hair? You're wasting gas. And lowering your mpg.

When you go to the store, do you wait five minutes for the perfect spot up front, or do you take an available spot in the back 40 and backpack in to the store? If you're waiting for the ideal spot with the car running, you're wasting gas and lowering your mpg.

If there are other people in your area, find out what their mpg is, and see if you can all meet up sometime. And take each other on a drive. Same route. You will probably notice a big difference in driving style, and the people getting the best mileage will be the most reserved.

People getting the worst mileage will notice their passengers screaming in horror, gripping the handles white-knuckled, praying to various gods to save them, or be curled up in a fetal position. Some may even bail out at stop lights, providing the driver actually stops for stop lights.

I've personally been trying to learn to save gas myself, and learn how to drive this new car. They have schools for PERFORMANCE driving, but none for ECONOMY driving. It IS a learned skill.

You wouldn't even have to get in each other's cars, now that I think about it, just have the person who gets the best fuel economy lead everyone on a drive. Follow the leader, economy style!
 

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