MPG

[MNSLS]

@Ehibb034

Blackbelt is right - one can't trust the fuel gauge. When I fill my car I let the pump stop. Then I, typically, pause for 10 seconds and squeeze out a bit more gas. I do this about 5 times. In order to calculate the closest to true mileage the car's tank should be filled. Then take your miles and divide by the number of gallons you just used.

When I have a 'full' tank I can drive nearly 100 miles before the needle ticks below F. The Estimated Miles to Empty reading used to say 315 but it's now ticked up to 330 for me. In reality I go closer to 450 miles, not 330, for a whole tank.

[Ehibb034]

Once the needle on my fuel gauge went to three quarters, I then put in exactly 4.15 gallons. It pushes the needle well past the "f" indicator when the car is at 16.6 gallons.

[MNSLS]

I think what we're saying is if you stopped at 4.15 gallons because you wanted to, then don't. Instead fill it up as much as the Kizzy will take. This will, lower your the MPG rating. But, that's good as the rating will be closer to the true value. And the true MPG is what we're goaling for.

[Ehibb034]

Mnsls and blackbelt...
You may have stated this before so I apologize if its redundant. Are you using premium, mid grade or regular. If higher than regular, have you noticed any better returns with a particular octane? I know there will be some people saying that the octane doesnt make any difference on mpg, but some

people do repot

[Ehibb034]

Edit: some people do report better returns on premium.

[Blackbelt]

I almost always use regular. The car is designed to use it, and it runs fine on it. I have tried using both mid and premium, and so zero difference in overall fuel economy, trying to keep the driving conditions as close to consistent as possible.
If the temp is going to be in the 80's and 90's, and i am going to be using the AC a lot, i may put midgrade in, because the heat and high loading could lead to some detonation, but that's not something i do all that often.

[Ehibb034]

Blackbelt.,
I just saw a post you made on a website new to me called clean mpg. You talked about fuel economy with a cvt trans. What is your mpg on the kizashi averaging? Are you the person getting 40mpg? If so, how do you keep this car above 5-12 mpg while accelerating? Also around town it can be a real struggle to get the instamt display above 20 mpg. I accelerate modestly, and its super hard to do. Im getting about 30 mpg in the car and I would guess the only things seperating the two of our averages in your acceleration and city driving. Whats your secret?

[Blackbelt]

Blackbelt.,
I just saw a post you made on a website new to me called clean mpg. You talked about fuel economy with a cvt trans. What is your mpg on the kizashi averaging? Are you the person getting 40mpg? If so, how do you keep this car above 5-12 mpg while accelerating? Also around town it can be a real struggle to get the instamt display above 20 mpg. I accelerate modestly, and its super hard to do. Im getting about 30 mpg in the car and I would guess the only things seperating the two of our averages in your acceleration and city driving. Whats your secret?

Cleanmpg occasionally has friendly "competitions" for set periods of time, to see who can get the best MPG over that period of time. There are "classes" to try to keep things as even as possible. I was able to get over 40, but only by using some pretty extreme and obtrusive hypermiling techniques. One is called "pulse and glide", which i do not recommend, as it does not lend itself well to the CVT. Another is keying off at every stop that will be in excess of 5 seconds. Hard on the battery, starter, and your nerves. Preservation of momentum and predictive driving, only taken to the next level. Lots and lots of coasting. Climbing hills at a pretty slow pace, pumping the tires up to 50 PSI. I used ridge running, DWl and DWB. I did not drive faster than 50 MPH, and when it rained i used a different car. I did not use the A/C. I used manual mode most of the time.
Explanations of these techniques can be found here.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1510


Doing all of that did get me tanks averaging over 40. It was an interesting challenge, but no way can i drive like that all the time. Using some of the less obtrusive techniques nets me mileage between 29-34, same as MNSLS(and probably you also) are getting. Because the CVT revs so low at highway speeds(1800RPM@60), if you cruise on a straight flat highway at 50-55, you can easily get 40.

My biggest 'secret' when it comes to city driving is to do my best(legally) not to stop. Timing the lights can make a big difference.

[Ehibb034]

I definitely turn the car off but only if I anticipate being stopped for 30 or more seconds. I guess I could shorten that time but I often get looks from people in traffic when they hear the car starting up when the light goes green.

I am amazed at how hard it is to drive this car efficiently. In my last car I was easily getting 4-5 mpg better than the epa, and 7-8 over EPA when I was focused.
After just five days with the car I realize that over time I will get better at driving it, but I am really able to see why some people are getting in the low 20's. I think that 25MPG combined EPA rating is a joke. For those getting 22 MPg and for the fellow who is getting 17MPG, I am really starting to think that there is nothing wrong with your car...this car just sucks that bad with gas. If I were to just normally drive this car with the most basic conservation methods in place, I actually doubt if I could even get 25MPG.
I may push my tire pressure up just a bit and see where that takes me. I had my previous car for the last year inflated about 5-7 psi above the minimum and saw my best economy over the course of that year.

[jute2003]

In certain situations it might not do well but for every person who's getting poor milage there are multiple others who are getting at or above the EPA listings. like I said before..,..28-30 with normal mixed driving. On the highway it gets well above 30 and that isn't using the milage calculator on the dash. I figure every tank by hand.