Terrible Fuel Economy

9247 Views 47 Replies 17 Participants Last post by Merc6, Jul 30, 2013

npaggett

Discussion Starter · Jul 6, 2013

Wow.

I knew I was going through this tank faster than I thought I should. I tracked my mpg for the last three tanks...I'm currently averaging 24.8mpg. I drive 10 miles each way - all highway. I am between 60-65mph the whole way. I probably add another 10 or so miles at 40-45mph once a week.

Before the last few tanks, I was at around 30mpg. I'm not using the A/C anymore than I used to, I'm not idling the car. Nothing has changed in my driving habits. It got real hot for a few days but has stabilized.

I guess I'm just floored. I expected much better than this. Heck, with my old HHR I got 22mpg even with A/C on and city only driving.

My car is a 2013 Cruze LS. I use 87 octane - no ethanol.

21 - 40 of 48 Posts

sciphi

· #21 · Jul 7, 2013

How are you calculating the MPG? Are you going by the DIC, or by miles traveled divided by gallons in?

spacedout

· #22 · Jul 7, 2013 (Edited)

npaggett said:
That was actually with a different gas station. I had to fill up before the trip.

I love this car, I do, but I am really irritated as to why the mpg dropped so far so quickly. Ugh.

You never did mention where you happened to find no ethanol 87 octane. See one thing about filling at no name stations they buy their gas from the cheapest place they can so you will never get consistent quality. What you might be experiencing is gas from one of their crappier suppliers. At least with top tier or a name brand that should not be an issue.

I would also not be using no ethanol 87 octane in anything other than a lawn mower and this is coming from a guy who runs 91 octane no ethanol 99% of the time. See once the temperature is above 85-90 I switch to 89,90 or 93 octane with 10% ethanol for the better high temp knock prevention.

What engine temps does the 1.8L run? Is it as hot as a 1.4T? Suspect that low octane with no ethanol runs like crap when its hot.

Patman

· #23 · Jul 7, 2013

Cruze2.0Diesel said:
I had a customer who was dealing with poor fuel economy, needed a locking gas cap. You could have the dealer check the fuel trims but really I agree the short trips are murder on MPG's, highway or not. Take it out on a long trip and see what she gets.

I bought my Eco and my avg trip is @ 2 miles to my bus stop for my park and ride. When I do that, my Eco gets @ 30. I have been complaining about my car with less than par MPG. This past week I inflated my tires to 40 and took some "road trips" and I have been averaging @40 far better than I have ever done before. One bad tank is not going to decide whether the car is good or bad. I was thinking I had a MPG lemon until I was able to get out on the hwy and set the cruise at 65 - 70. After I did that the MPG went up and I don't think I have a problem car any more. I am now waiting to see if the tune will improve that even! After seeing the MPG results with my car I decided to inflate my wife's Malibu to 35 instead of the recommended 30 to see if we see any MPG improvements there even.

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spacedout

· #24 · Jul 7, 2013

Patman said:
I am now waiting to see if the tune will improve that even!

A tune will not improve your MPG, with your short trip with an always cold engine moving farther away from the park & ride would be the only improvement you could make.

npaggett

Discussion Starter · #25 · Jul 7, 2013

sciphi said:
How are you calculating the MPG? Are you going by the DIC, or by miles traveled divided by gallons in?

I use both. My DIC is always within 1/2mpg from my actual calculations.

spacedout said:
You never did mention where you happened to find no ethanol 87 octane. See one thing about filling at no name stations they buy their gas from the cheapest place they can so you will never get consistent quality. What you might be experiencing is gas from one of their crappier suppliers. At least with top tier or a name brand that should not be an issue.

I would also not be using no ethanol 87 octane in anything other than a lawn mower and this is coming from a guy who runs 91 octane no ethanol 99% of the time. See once the temperature is above 85-90 I switch to 89,90 or 93 octane with 10% ethanol for the better high temp knock prevention.

What engine temps does the 1.8L run? Is it as hot as a 1.4T? Suspect that low octane with no ethanol runs like crap when its hot.

Sorry, never saw the question

Most of our stations down here have at least one line of pumps with no ethanol gas. I get mine at a Shell station a block from my house.

I disagree about not using 87/0% ethanol. I have always used this and never had a problem before. There has been no benefit shown with higher octane in this engine and considering the cost per gallon difference here I would have to get a significant increase in mpg to justify the higher cost per gallon. That just has not been shown to happen. Keep in mind right now my 87 is $3.14/gallon; 89 is $3.35/gallon and 91 is $3.55/gallon.

Cruze2.0Diesel

· #26 · Jul 7, 2013

Ethanol is now are method of improving the anti-knock quality although it has less energy density. The knock sensor will retard timing which has a negative effect on engine performance if the fuel detonates. I agree with the previous two posters, you need to get out and warm that baby up and get her broke in, let it burn off some of those deposits and any condensation in the crankcase.

CyclonicWrath

· #27 · Jul 7, 2013 (Edited)

npaggett said:
I use both. My DIC is always within 1/2mpg from my actual calculations.

Sorry, never saw the question

Most of our stations down here have at least one line of pumps with no ethanol gas. I get mine at a Shell station a block from my house.

I disagree about not using 87/0% ethanol. I have always used this and never had a problem before. There has been no benefit shown with higher octane in this engine and considering the cost per gallon difference here I would have to get a significant increase in mpg to justify the higher cost per gallon. That just has not been shown to happen. Keep in mind right now my 87 is $3.14/gallon; 89 is $3.35/gallon and 91 is $3.55/gallon.

At those prices you will break even or slightly better fuel mileage to cost with 91, and I can't believe you said there is no proven facts when it's all over the site that 91+ improves throttle response rough idle and gas mileage especial in hot conditions, not to mention its just overall better for your car... I run 94 and I spend no more money weekly then I did on 83 and I don't drive like a hyper miller that's for sure

obermd

· #28 · Jul 8, 2013

Even the LS will perform better on premium gas. I did a blind test on Penguin LS and my son complained about the loss of power. He didn't know I had switched the car to 87 from 91. Switching back to 91 and the car was much happier.

Labrat0116

· #29 · Jul 12, 2013

npaggett said:
If that is really happening at 3,300 miles I am going to be ticked.

There's the problem right there. Your engine only has 3,300 miles on it. It'a not broken in yet. The rings are still seating in at this point. Most engines are not broken in (rings seated) until around 5000 miles or so.

Whatever you do, do NOT baby the engine. Drive it hard (not to hard). That helps push the rings out (to create a better seal) to the cylinder wall.

npaggett

Discussion Starter · #30 · Jul 14, 2013

So, I had to make a big trip this weekend. Heading out I used up the last of this tank (got 24.3mpg overall). Coming back, I filled up with 93 and drove 269 before I had to fill up. Took 12.1 gallons to refill. Average speed was 66mph - all highway driving. That is about 22mpg. This is getting worse. I'll be calling the dealership tomorrow. It seems it gets worse with each fill up.

obermd

· #31 · Jul 14, 2013

npaggett, have them check for leaks in your fuel system. We had a member last year who actually had a leak in his fuel system.

npaggett

Discussion Starter · #32 · Jul 14, 2013

Thank you, I've been asking this whole time if there might be a possible mechanical issue and all I got was a bunch of lectures about the gas I use. Clearly, the gas I use is NOT the problem.

David1

· #33 · Jul 14, 2013

I have had 2 cruzes automatics now and never averaged more than 25mpg with 75% city driving and air on 100% of the time.

blk88verde

· #34 · Jul 14, 2013

I have been running @ 32 PSI and I have barely topped 35 MPG with my Eco.

Factory ECO recommended tire pressure is 35 psi cold. I run mine at 41 psi cold.

blk88verde

· #35 · Jul 14, 2013

So, I had to make a big trip this weekend. Heading out I used up the last of this tank (got 24.3mpg overall). Coming back, I filled up with 93 and drove 269 before I had to fill up. Took 12.1 gallons to refill. Average speed was 66mph - all highway driving. That is about 22mpg. This is getting worse. I'll be calling the dealership tomorrow. It seems it gets worse with each fill up.

Wow my 5.7 litre GTO gets like 28.5 mpg on the highway - something is not right with your Cruze.

CyclonicWrath

· #36 · Jul 15, 2013

David1 said:
I have had 2 cruzes automatics now and never averaged more than 25mpg with 75% city driving and air on 100% of the time.

That is not good i average about 32-43mpg depending how I drive or what traffic I get stuck in, I'm tuned with a bunch of nick nacs aNd I drive in sport mode giving her 30% of the tank, I'm a 6MT RS but you shouldn't be that far off on mpg

David1

· #37 · Jul 16, 2013

Totally normal. The cars average speed is 28 miles per hour and only 15 to 40 miles a day all short trips. On the highway at 65mph it will do mid 30's and at 80mph about 25mpg.

Merc6

· #38 · Jul 17, 2013

blk88verde said:
Wow my 5.7 litre GTO gets like 28.5 mpg on the highway - something is not right with your Cruze.

My Subaru is AWD and Auto and it gets 18 city but it still sees 26 on the freeway and 29 on the turnpike.

Beaker

· #39 · Jul 17, 2013

I've been driving a rental Cruze LT auto and have been averaging 33-34 on 87 octane.

obermd

· #40 · Jul 17, 2013

npaggett, any updates?

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