[BrightParrot]

So, my normal commute is 37 miles one way, with about a 2000 ft elevation gain on a 2 lane road. I've had worse commutes... That being said, I've been averaging about 33 MPG per tank. Ok, I understand with the mountain, that's not bad. But over the weekend, I took interstate from home to Black Mountain, NC. I-77 to I-40. Even with cruise control set most of the way at PSL (70, then 65) I only got 37 MPG average. On the way home, the trip started down a big mountain, so I was able to average 42. Not as good as I was expecting.
What items should I be looking at on my 2014 CTD?
I've already:
Changed all filters except the fuel filter. (Dealer changed that right before delivery, there is still 47% life on it.)
Put in amsoil oil and transmission fluid. (Flushed transmission)
Cleaned the MAF.
Tightened the 5 hose clamps from the air filter onwards.

I was thinking maybe have the dealer:
Reset the LTFT
Flash the HVAC (I have the humming noise when the car shuts off, and if I maintain 70 or greater with RPMs 2K or over, the A/C shuts down - but that's another story.)

Any other things I should consider?

 

[Tomko]

How do you maintain an engine speed of 2,000 rpm or more?

My engine never goes there when transmission left in drive.

Also no mention of your cold tire pressures.

 

[pandrad61]

Cleaned the MAF.

any reason why? i was under the impression its not good to do so anymore

 

[MP81]

You usually don't have to unless you over-oiled a K&N (or similar) air filter. I can't say I've ever cleaned an MAF in anything I've owned, ever.

 

[BrightParrot]

Cold tire pressure was 42, checked while driving, 44-45. (Aired up that morning)
I was under the impression that you clean the MAF when you change the air filter. I suspect it couldn't hurt, and who knows if it had ever been done. Either way, now it's clean.
2K is running about 70-75 on the highway. (probably closer to 75.)

 

[MP81]

70.9 mph should be right at 2000k rpm, yes.

 

[Tomko]

Cold tire pressure was 42, checked while driving, 44-45. (Aired up that morning)
I was under the impression that you clean the MAF when you change the air filter. I suspect it couldn't hurt, and who knows if it had ever been done. Either way, now it's clean.
2K is running about 70-75 on the highway. (probably closer to 75.)

Traveling at those speeds is one of your problems.

Best mpg on this powertrain has consistently been achieved by cruise control anywhere between 60-65 mph.

 

[BrightParrot]

Traveling at those speeds is one of your problems.

Best mpg on this powertrain has consistently been achieved by cruise control anywhere between 60-65 mph.

Ok, I understand that 70 (which is PSL on I-77 and parts of I-40) isn't the best. But when I was coming home, I kept cruise set at 65 on the majority of I-40, and I was barely getting 42. And that's with starting out down a big mountain. I'm not convinced that it shouldn't be better. Yes / No? (I'd really like to see 45 or possibly above.)

 

[MP81]

Honestly, I think I've found this car likes doing 70 more than doing 60. Driving to NC the last time (going for the Hypercruzer badge), it really seemed to be happier (fuel-wise) at 70-75 mph than at 55 or 60 mph.

 

[BrightParrot]

it really seemed to be happier (fuel-wise) at 70-75 mph than at 55 or 60 mph.

...and that's what I'm looking for. I'd like to see some improvement in my MPG - I know the car can do it, I suspect there is something that isn't quite right and I don't know where to start checking.

 

[Tomko]

Whatever you do, don't do this: http://www.cruzetalk.com/forum/64-g...sion/176233-engine-reduced-power-smoking.html

 

[obermd]

Get your brakes checked - something's dragging. At 70 MPH you should be running in the high 40s for MPG. Also, when descending put your car into metric and make sure the instant fuel consumption readout drops to 0.0 L/100 KM. This will verify your car is going into DFCO properly.

 

[BrightParrot]

Don't worry, I don't care for seafoam. And I do know better to use it in a diesel.

Get your brakes checked - something's dragging. At 70 MPH you should be running in the high 40s for MPG. Also, when descending put your car into metric and make sure the instant fuel consumption readout drops to 0.0 L/100 KM. This will verify your car is going into DFCO properly.

I'll do those, thanks. Since I go down the mountain on the way home, checking the DFCO will be easy.

 

[diesel]

Yes your MPG is definitely low. I second the notion of checking the brakes for dragging. Also, do you still have LRR tires?

 

[BrightParrot]

Yes your MPG is definitely low. I second the notion of checking the brakes for dragging. Also, do you still have LRR tires?

I think the tires are original, I'll have to look. They have 5/32 left on them last I checked. Almost due for new ones, I am contemplating Continental Pure Contacts.

 

[MP81]

I think the tires are original, I'll have to look. They have 5/32 left on them last I checked. Almost due for new ones, I am contemplating Continental Pure Contacts.

That probably won't help you on your quest for fuel economy. Certainly a better tire, but the OEM Fuel-Maxes are quite a bit lighter.

 

[jblackburn]

Almost due for new ones, I am contemplating Continental Pure Contacts.

While I love this tire, they're NOT a MPG tire. They excel at being fantastically grippy with good road manners in all conditions, but I think I lost mileage even over my FR710.

 

[BrightParrot]

While I love this tire, they're NOT a MPG tire. They excel at being fantastically grippy with good road manners in all conditions, but I think I lost mileage even over my FR710.

Hmmm. Interesting. Their website states it is an Eco tire. I'm not sure if that translates to LRR or not. But, if the MPG loss isn't too bad (1-2) then that might be ok if I get everything else to cooperate and get the MPG where I want it. I do have this mountain to traverse each day, so the grippy part may outweigh the need for the extra 1-2 mpg. If the weather gets too bad, then I'd want to take the Suburban. Talk about a loss of MPG! I'd rather take the Cruze as often as possible.

 

[jblackburn]

Hmmm. Interesting. Their website states it is an Eco tire. I'm not sure if that translates to LRR or not. But, if the MPG loss isn't too bad (1-2) then that might be ok if I get everything else to cooperate and get the MPG where I want it. I do have this mountain to traverse each day, so the grippy part may outweigh the need for the extra 1-2 mpg. If the weather gets too bad, then I'd want to take the Suburban. Talk about a loss of MPG! I'd rather take the Cruze as often as possible.

Most manufacturers have a LRR tire in their lineup, but few are engineered to be quite as fuel-efficient as the FuelMax, because a lot of trade-offs come with that (hard ride, low traction in rain).

If you want a great all-around tire, I highly recommend it. If MPG is your ultimate deciding factor, this is the wrong tire for that.

 

[Snipesy]

All the diesels I work with average 33 mpg to 38 mpg. Before I messed with them that is.

Sooooo don't feel too bad. I'm not really sure how people on here get ludicrous numbers like 55 mpg without really changing anything. Maybe, just maybe, if you had a long stretch of road going 55 mph you can do it, but otherwise you are SOL.