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When your car doesn't get the mileage you expect

Reuters -- If you're a motorist expecting to get 35 miles per gallon on your new car and you end up only getting 20, the cost difference can add up. At the current national average of $3.94 per gallon of regular unleaded gas, it would cost those with a lower-performing car an extra $1,266 after driving it 15,000 miles, the average distance that Americans travel over the course of a year.

With gas prices so high and many consumers keen on more environmentally friendly motoring choices, it's particularly important to understand what you're buying and how to get the best fuel economy from your car.

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Submitted Apr 14, 2012 By: ziyulu

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apiergallini Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:389 Points:244,255 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 12:12:03 AM Ignore apiergallini Report Abuse The problem is that most people don't, and can't, drive like they do in the tests. But everyone drives differently, and we need a standard way to compare one car against another.
DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,340 Points:1,240,400 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 11:02:38 AM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse If you get 20 mpg and you're expecting 35, you are the problem.
dave27johnson Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,784 Points:405,665 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 10:57:03 AM Ignore dave27johnson Report Abuse We need MPG ratings based on typical driving habits.
beetle9711 Veteran Author Pittsburgh Posts:321 Points:87,750 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 10:27:55 AM Ignore beetle9711 Report Abuse They are giving the best possible case
ifallsguy Champion Author Minnesota Posts:5,180 Points:1,551,670 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 12:50:41 AM Ignore ifallsguy Report Abuse you can send your letter of thanks to the EPA.
lesndave Champion Author Texas Posts:3,022 Points:698,130 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 12:14:32 AM Ignore lesndave Report Abuse I've always gotten the mpg listed on the sticker of a new car.... or better
PathfinderSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:9,501 Points:1,827,715 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 9:22:58 PM Ignore PathfinderSC Report Abuse Use Ethanol free and get better mpgs.
apiergallini Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:389 Points:244,255 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 8:13:04 PM Ignore apiergallini Report Abuse @36_ACRES_4_SALE Is that your answer to everything? Something's wrong it must be the President's fault?
36_ACRES_4_SALE All-Star Author Appleton Posts:999 Points:338,815 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 7:24:14 PM Ignore 36_ACRES_4_SALE Report Abuse blame it on obama
wamster Champion Author Houston Posts:4,233 Points:692,050 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 6:52:07 PM Ignore wamster Report Abuse I've generally gotten better fuel mileage than what the sticker says.
dh0770 Champion Author Colorado Posts:6,987 Points:672,460 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 6:49:27 PM Ignore dh0770 Report Abuse Government ratings, auto company marketing, and individual driving habits, all make it hard to achieve the lie on the sticker!
SycamoreISU Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,040 Points:258,185 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 5:40:10 PM Ignore SycamoreISU Report Abuse I don't think I've ever driven a car that got the gas mileage listed on the window sticker.
SUNOIL Champion Author Toledo Posts:5,225 Points:1,922,005 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 5:28:09 PM Ignore SUNOIL Report Abuse They should be able to put the car on any road and get the milage that they are claiming. Not just under controlled conditions. If they can't then their milage claim is too high.
SammyAdams Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:3,041 Points:789,860 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 4:56:03 PM Ignore SammyAdams Report Abuse There was another point that I forgot to make which was that in Tennessee we can purchase non-ethanol gas for about the same price as E-10; something which cannot be done here in Florida, because of the prohibition against non ethanol blended fuel. In our Honda Odyssey minivan we get approximately 18 MPGs with the ethanol blended fuel and 25 MPGs with pure unleaded gasoline. We haven't been as diligent monitoring this, but are in the process of doing that now. I will post results when they are determined.
SammyAdams Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:3,041 Points:789,860 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 4:44:01 PM Ignore SammyAdams Report Abuse To: pgerassi Re: Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 2:11:56 PM (Printed below) " . . If you are getting less, its because you drive different running it (uphill, against the wind, over curvy roads with lots of stops, at high speeds, jack rabbit starts, and tons of cargo in the trunk) as opposed to when your not (downhill, with the wind, straight interstate, tailgating semis with little in the trunk). . . " -------------------------------------------------------------------- When a person measures their gas consumption it is typically over a period of time and under varied conditions. And folks living in different regions of the country will experience different results for some of the reasons that you mentioned. But the same driver who is driving the same vehicle should get close to the same MPGs, shouldn't he? We have a home in the mountains (Eastern Tennessee) and we get different mileage than when we are driving here in Florida. But when driving in TN where it is mountainous, we don't evaluate the mileage going DOWN the mountain and then check it again when we go back UP. The same is true when driving into a headwind. And allowances are made for driving in stop & go traffic in town as opposed to driving on Interstate or limited access highways. Even the EPA tests allow for these differences and then might even stipulate that these are AVERAGES; understanding that different people have different driving habits (jack rabbit starts, etc.)
pgerassi Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:10,882 Points:2,128,750 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 2:11:56 PM Ignore pgerassi Report Abuse Blupupher you are so wrong. E10 gets 98-100% of the MPG of E0 in fuel injected cars. If you are getting less, its because you drive different running it (uphill, against the wind, over curvy roads with lots of stops, at high speeds, jack rabbit starts, and tons of cargo in the trunk) as opposed to when your not (downhill, with the wind, straight interstate, tailgating semis with little in the trunk). EPA on my 2001 Focus Sedan automatic is 22/30/25 (city/hwy/comb) while I average 32.5MPG overall and get 44MPG at constant 55MPH on the interstate. That is 30% better overall and 47% better on the highway. I definitely drive slow and steady with at least a 3-5 second interval behind the car ahead with glances well ahead for possible trouble spots. I do use cruise where possible. BTW EPA does not really test using E85, but uses the 72% volumetric energy density ratio in MPG ratings. Ditto for CNG, LNG and propane. If they did, most vehicles easily beat those ratings. Those that actually test show that true MPG ratings should be between 80-90% of E0 (turbo or supercharged engines tend to the upper part of that range). Here is an article from Popular Mechanics where they used two 40MPG EPA highway cars and tested them with E10: http://www.hyundai-forums.com/231-md-2011-elantra/139907-popular-mechanics-tests-elantra-mileage-claims.html Notice how they easily beat the ratings on E10.
johntxx Champion Author Texas Posts:2,766 Points:613,395 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 1:31:41 PM Ignore johntxx Report Abuse "What Lachnit, Trainor, Cook and others say is that everyone may have a different experience. The WEATHER, vehicle maintenance, and where and how it's driven all factor into the performance of a car." I've noticed that wind has a big affect on gas mileage in my new Elantra at highway speeds. Even with it's very streamlined body, traveling into the wind verses traveling down wind can very the mileage about 5 mpg. I also noticed that I get better mileage in thick flowing traffic due to drafting.
PurplepassionNC All-Star Author North Carolina Posts:838 Points:157,310 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 12:48:40 PM Ignore PurplepassionNC Report Abuse I would not be very happy if I depend on the information on the sticker and find out after my purchase that the sticker information was way out of line. That is not nice to deceive people.
clpassenubye Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,359 Points:750,755 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 12:17:33 PM Ignore clpassenubye Report Abuse check your car
Night Owl Champion Author Toronto Posts:7,540 Points:1,784,650 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 12:16:08 PM Ignore Night Owl Report Abuse Don't drive aggressively: 'Driving style alone could cause a 35 percent drop in fuel efficiency, says Lachnit. Someone who weaves in and out of traffic and is heavy-footed on the accelerator will get much lower gas mileage that someone who is slow and steady, she says.'
bvrbill Champion Author Eugene Posts:3,193 Points:514,850 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 11:54:55 AM Ignore bvrbill Report Abuse Don't expect to get what they claim. They are giving the best possible case.
fuel2use Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,473 Points:730,400 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 11:33:42 AM Ignore fuel2use Report Abuse You mileage may vary. Many factors. I say try to rent one first, Or talk to other owners. But how and where you drive make a difference.
aquarinut Champion Author British Columbia Posts:1,628 Points:436,005 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 11:08:02 AM Ignore aquarinut Report Abuse Too many variables to say who gets what kind of mileage out of their vehicles.
Norm10 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,332 Points:162,475 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 11:00:37 AM Ignore Norm10 Report Abuse If you are getting the posted mileage you must be living in dreamland.
TerrySawchuk All-Star Author British Columbia Posts:850 Points:305,395 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:55:22 AM Ignore TerrySawchuk Report Abuse Right on.
oldosc8 Champion Author Baltimore Posts:1,784 Points:450,045 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:30:08 AM Ignore oldosc8 Report Abuse People can get better or worse then the sticker says on the car. I usually get better.
leraar2 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,749 Points:784,755 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:13:56 AM Ignore leraar2 Report Abuse i get consistantly BETTER mileage. my driving style is to take "forever" to get to a very high highway speed (usually 10mph above the highway limit). find out what rpm your car likes to run at (mine 2000-2100); when accelerating, never exceed that point---LET THE TRANNY SHIFT. then coax the rpm back up to the favored rpm. when finally in overdrive, coax the speed up to where the car is comfortable on the road. (some highways it's 55, some 90+). you will lose gas mileage due to DRAG at higher speeds, but you will more than make up for it on acceleration.
yardslave Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:2,539 Points:593,005 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:10:48 AM Ignore yardslave Report Abuse Think smarter... Drive less where possible.
Skunk63 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:2,546 Points:555,550 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 9:50:58 AM Ignore Skunk63 Report Abuse Try driving slower.
mike1881 Champion Author Fayetteville Posts:1,280 Points:561,500 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 9:31:52 AM Ignore mike1881 Report Abuse Follow all the rules of the experts. Keep tires inflated, maintain your car, slow stops and accelerations, did i forget any.
1momsunshine Champion Author Ottawa Posts:5,475 Points:997,555 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 9:13:33 AM Ignore 1momsunshine Report Abuse Lay off the gas and you will save!
df99 All-Star Author Rhode Island Posts:578 Points:990,500 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 9:09:31 AM Ignore df99 Report Abuse Last two daily drivers, I've consistently gotten about 15% better than the EPA highway in my combined driving. When I drive my wife's car, I just watch the car's fuel economy display go up as I drive it. Its all in how you drive!
df99 All-Star Author Rhode Island Posts:578 Points:990,500 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 9:05:41 AM Ignore df99 Report Abuse Its really quite simple - loose the leadfoot!
uglytom Champion Author Florida Posts:7,464 Points:1,542,015 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 9:04:07 AM Ignore uglytom Report Abuse Mine gets better.....it's the way I drive.
YaBassa Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,415 Points:514,175 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 8:59:51 AM Ignore YaBassa Report Abuse The manufacturer's EPA MPG rating should only be used for comparison only
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:3,534 Points:745,120 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 8:47:09 AM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse yeah, some people just see the higgway number and think that is what they will get regardless of their driving style and conditions. People also need to know the EPA tests are done on 100% gas, no ethanol at all. When you add the e-10 factor, you can automatically take at least 10-15% off those numbers even in ideal conditions.
gs7101 Champion Author San Antonio Posts:5,508 Points:387,245 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 8:37:32 AM Ignore gs7101 Report Abuse Don't believe everything you see on the car's information sticker -- individual driving habits could be the car manufactory's defense in a potential lawsuit.
grandpadon28110 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:4,701 Points:1,139,385 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 8:29:17 AM Ignore grandpadon28110 Report Abuse What do you expect from the government or Auto Makers?
pscamp Champion Author Ottawa Posts:3,256 Points:472,110 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 8:21:46 AM Ignore pscamp Report Abuse it is a relative measure, not a real measure
carpenter4u Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,436 Points:614,145 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 8:20:35 AM Ignore carpenter4u Report Abuse Can't believe everything you read on the estimates. I actually get better than advertised. But I learned to take off easier and watch the stop lights down the road so that I did not run up on a red light and have to use more brake
DerHahn Champion Author Illinois Posts:13,693 Points:2,111,210 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 8:16:51 AM Ignore DerHahn Report Abuse before believing the mpg stickers on the cars, do some research and see what real drivers are getting. Fuel Economy Fuelly web site. Online fuel log book for real people.
Evilmaddog Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,307 Points:954,625 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 8:15:21 AM Ignore Evilmaddog Report Abuse I find that I can get within 1 to 2 mpg or match Toyota's estimates ...mind u I drive 99% on the highway
reb4 Champion Author Chicago Posts:19,080 Points:1,819,180 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 8:13:52 AM Ignore reb4 Report Abuse Some people don't understand that just because there is a gas and brake pedal in the car, it's ok to not depress one of them in between use...
herndonks Champion Author Baltimore Posts:1,116 Points:211,685 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 7:58:30 AM Ignore herndonks Report Abuse Rarely do cars get the EPA estimated mileage. Do they do their testing on a downhill track?
MetroSexual Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:3,004 Points:316,380 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 7:58:04 AM Ignore MetroSexual Report Abuse One factor could be the wind. I have driven through Wyoming and watched my mileage go to the dogs when faced with steady 50 MPH winds on the prairies. It feels as if you are nearly standing still. Of course, when the wind is behind you and pushing you along, the MPG is golden.
OHMS Champion Author Orange County Posts:13,701 Points:1,688,855 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 7:53:15 AM Ignore OHMS Report Abuse "There are huge variances," confirms Eric Mallia, business manager for FleetCarma in Waterloo, Ontario. "We've done some analysis and seen up to 60 percent variance from window sticker (estimates). We find that's something most people don't understand."
dsaine Champion Author North Carolina Posts:2,982 Points:629,570 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 7:47:49 AM Ignore dsaine Report Abuse Lay off the gas and you will save!!!
Luckylindy Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:4,499 Points:1,124,145 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 7:46:54 AM Ignore Luckylindy Report Abuse Maybe hyper-mileing should be included with drivers ED.
fjkcpa Champion Author Houston Posts:4,484 Points:599,285 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 7:46:07 AM Ignore fjkcpa Report Abuse Lots of good driving tips right here on this website.
farmboyTN Champion Author Tennessee Posts:2,251 Points:446,790 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 7:46:01 AM Ignore farmboyTN Report Abuse ok