How to Drive a FORD Fusion Hybrid to get Great Gas Mileage

[Beachcomber86]

Is it normal for the gas mileage at 35 mph to be ~38 on the display? That's cruise set at 35 mph, no A/C, no heat, flat road!

[Waldo]

Is it normal for the gas mileage at 35 mph to be ~38 on the display? That's cruise set at 35 mph, no A/C, no heat, flat road!

 

If your gas engine is on at 35mph on a flat road, it's because your battery state of charge is low, so it's charging the battery. The whole point of a hybrid is to run the gas engine hard when it is on and save the extra energy for later. So instantaneous mpg numbers are totally meaningless.

[ethermion]

And, hopefully, you do not spend much time at 35mph on cruise. That is kinda-sorta neighborhood territory, and you risk tagging a kid chasing a ball or his dog. Cruise is for interstates with moderate traffic.

[md13ffhguy]

And, hopefully, you do not spend much time at 35mph on cruise. That is kinda-sorta neighborhood territory, and you risk tagging a kid chasing a ball or his dog. Cruise is for interstates with moderate traffic.

I disagree. I use cruise as much as possible on any road I can. Helps me maintain the speed limit, especially in neighborhoods and school zones. Of course, I always pay attention to the road ahead. I've been driving that way for 20+ years. YouTube views are still at 0, since I don't have any.

[Waldo]

And, hopefully, you do not spend much time at 35mph on cruise. That is kinda-sorta neighborhood territory, and you risk tagging a kid chasing a ball or his dog. Cruise is for interstates with moderate traffic.

 

Me too, I use cruise all the time, even on city streets in heavy traffic. I can keep my foot on the floor in front of the brake, which is just as quick a reaction as if I had to move it over from the gas pedal.

[Beachcomber86]

And, hopefully, you do not spend much time at 35mph on cruise. That is kinda-sorta neighborhood territory, and you risk tagging a kid chasing a ball or his dog. Cruise is for interstates with moderate traffic.

 

Really, that's all you've got?!? I use cruise control at all times when conditions warrant it! Been driving for 30+ years and haven't hit anyone yet!

 

Early morning commuting through the towns I drive through is typically all green lights at 35 or 45 mph. So, on cruise at 35, I'm getting a reading of less than 40 mpg. My old ICE Fusion did that, so I'll ask again, what gives?

[Beachcomber86]

 

If your gas engine is on at 35mph on a flat road, it's because your battery state of charge is low, so it's charging the battery. The whole point of a hybrid is to run the gas engine hard when it is on and save the extra energy for later. So instantaneous mpg numbers are totally meaningless.

 

That makes absolutely zero sense.

[mwr]

 

That makes absolutely zero sense.

It's correct that displayed mpg for short trips can vary wildly, and therefore is pretty much meaningless, because of state of charge at the beginning and at the end.

[Texasota]

 

If your gas engine is on at 35mph on a flat road, it's because your battery state of charge is low, so it's charging the battery. The whole point of a hybrid is to run the gas engine hard when it is on and save the extra energy for later. So instantaneous mpg numbers are totally meaningless.

 

 

That makes absolutely zero sense.

No, what Waldo says makes perfect sense and the key to what he said is "when it is on". This behavior is why hybrids can produce exceptional fuel efficiency.

[Waldo]

 

That makes absolutely zero sense.

 

How about this then::

 

The way a hybrid works is that you burn more gas now so that you can burn zero gas later.

 

Do a little research on BSFC. To understand how a hybrid works you first need to understand how a gas engine works. Also read up on the "pulse-and-glide" driving technique. The hybrid works on the same principle; it's basically pulsing and gliding the gas engine, but using the hybrid system so you're not changing speed.

Edited November 14, 2018 by Waldo

[ptjones]

I've never tried it, but when you block off the front grille, how hot does the invertor temperature get? Doesn't get Hot at all and I have 215k miles on my CMAX Hybrid averaging 52 mpg for the last 2 years, everything is working great. What's your average?

Do you keep the grille blocked even if the invertor pump keeps running trying to cool the invertor down? Never gets hot. :)

At what temperature do you unblock the grille to protect the electronics? The electronics don't get hot enough to worry about. HybridBear talked about this years ago.

 

 

Also, does this apply to you: https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2010/title-40/chapter-6/article-11/40-6-246/ Doesn't pertain to me, I Regen on down grades. :)

 

 

Common sense, facts, input from automotive engineers, traffic laws and the safety of other motorists mean nothing to a charlatan. He will continue to peddle snake oil and believe what he wants to believe. Nothing is going to change that.

 

 

The guy is fruit loops. I love our car, but have no desire to die in it - or even worse, hurt someone else.

 

Is there a forum feature to take up a collection - for necessary medications?

 

Hmm. If packing tape is great on your front grille, I wonder how it works on hands and mouths...

 

And You guys still think the Earth is flat and the Sun orbits the Earth Right! This Tread is for giving Members ideas for improving their Gas Mileage so if you don't have anything good say, don't POST!

 

Paul

Edited November 20, 2018 by ptjones

[Texasota]

 

if you don't have anything good say, don't POST!

Much of what you post is either illegal or dangerous. Not good. Should you follow your own advice?

[ptjones]

Much of what you post is either illegal or dangerous. Not good. Should you follow your own advice?

 

And there you go exaggerating again. The only thing you are talking about is "Hypermiling" Which is only a small part of this thread. We heard your opinion the first time, no reason to keep saying it.

 

Paul

[billford]

I disagree. I use cruise as much as possible on any road I can. Helps me maintain the speed limit, especially in neighborhoods and school zones. Of course, I always pay attention to the road ahead. I've been driving that way for 20+ years. YouTube views are still at 0, since I don't have any.

 

 

Best post of the month

[ptjones]

 

 

Best post of the month

The Real Best Post is there are a lot of new people interested in saving gas by watching my YouTube videos and thanking me for making them. :) I realize are a few on here that could care less and aren't interested in making the extra effort to improve mpg's and like for some reason harassing people that are trying to do a good thing. ;(

 

Yesterday I drove to Lexington, KY and back, 800 miles on I-85/I-285/I-75, all FWY with speeds 80-55 mph and averaging 59.2 mph. Temps were 40-50*F/ went 670.8 miles/13.2 gal and got 50.8 mpg, Fuelly.com actual mpg's. I got Premium for $2.57/gal from Sam's Club. This is another good example how well Grill Covers work. With a 20 to 30*F drop in temps from 70*F, you lose 4-6 mpg's in gas mileage.

 

Paul

Edited November 17, 2018 by ptjones

[Texasota]

I realize are a few on here that could care less and aren't interested in making the extra effort to improve mpg's and like for some reason harassing people that are trying to do a good thing. ;(

No, you are being challenged by multiple members on this forum for advocating illegal activity and having no regard for the safety of others.

 

This is speculation on my part, but I think most people on this forum are here to learn more about their FFH and how to drive it as economically as possible. For clear thinking people that means safely maximizing miles/dollar, not maximizing MPG regardless of cost,. Many (maybe most) members on this forum likely outperform you in that regard because they don't fuel up with premium gasoline, add worthless additives to their fuel tank or spend money on dubious modifications to their cars that can void their factory warranty. Very few here are motivated by the OCD hypermiling game that completely consumes you.

[ethermion]

I am in with Texasota 100% on this. Not sure if this is a moderated forum or not, but illegal and/or dangerous behavior should not be encouraged. That is not why we are here.

 

Maybe there is a recipe for meth that you can make under the hood of a FFH that improves MPG. That might explain...

[Mister MMT]

An easy way to learn more about your FFH and how to drive it as economically as possible is using the free Hybrid Assistant and Hybrid Report apps available only for Android systems on Google Play, as reported in the discussion "Understanding better your FFH with Hybrid Assistant & Hybrid Reporter".

 

It is worthwhile purchasing a used Android phone and the fast and safe BT OBDII emitter OBDLink LX (about 50 $) for use as a dedicated system mounted within your field of view.

 

I just made two contributions reporting on two new additions: HyBall and PSD Nomograph.

 

With the help of the HyBall gauge, it is possible to get glides on descends without the need to put the eCVT in N, and thus keep control of the car's behavior at all times.

 

The reports created by Hybrid Report contain now even more graphs and data obtained by a simple press on a button, of the kind hybridbear and larryh have produced and astonished us with years ago, but inaccessible to most of us.

 

Regards from Kehl am Rhein in Germany!

 

Jan

Edited November 19, 2018 by Mister MMT

[ptjones]

No, you are being challenged by multiple members on this forum for advocating illegal activity and having no regard for the safety of others. As usual your opinion has nothing to with facts, what a shame, talking about OCD you won't let it go. ;( I don't advocate illegal activity, the way I do it and I have never gotten a ticket in 40 yrs of doing this either. And I tell members not to do it if you paid attention to the Hypermiling video, obviously you didn't and you just like harassing me, Pretty sad that you don't have something better to do. I have been on this forum since Dec. ,2012 BTW longer than you have , when I invented Grill Covers and many members have made, bought from me or stuck foam in their grills to improve MPG's and not one member has said they don't work, and there is no safety issue here. I have 215k miles on my CMAX and I'm getting the best MPG's I've ever gotten. :yahoo:

 

This is speculation on my part, but I think most people on this forum are here to learn more about their FFH and how to drive it as economically as possible. I wish this is true, but It isn't, most members are happy with what they are getting and low gas prices create less motivation to do better. ;( For clear thinking people that means safely maximizing miles/dollar, not maximizing MPG regardless of cost,. Interesting that you have never said what your gas mile is, lets see a pic your Smart Gauge trip gauge mileage and see how you are doing. Also interesting that I'm getting 5mpg better than the best real MPG's for FFH on Fuelly.com. I'm sure it costs me less per mile than it does you. :) or anyone else. I have been averaging 52 mpg for the last 2 yrs. Many (maybe most) members on this forum likely outperform you in that regard because they don't fuel up with premium gasoline, add worthless additives to their fuel tank or spend money on dubious modifications to their cars that can void their factory warranty. I monitor all four Hybrid/Energi forums for over 6 yrs and there has never been a warranty problem with any of MY MOD's. Very few here are motivated by the OCD hypermiling game that completely consumes you. You have no clue what percentage I Hypermile, less than 50% of the time anyway. Your the one with OCD problem with Hypermiling or if you were a clear thinking person you wouldn't even be on this thread.

 

Paul

[Texasota]

Please stop quoting posts and then editing within it. The edits you add to the quote are what you said not the original poster. Please respond below the quote.

 

I monitor all four Hybrid/Energi forums for over 6 yrs and there has never been a warranty problem with any of MY MOD's.

 

I asked you this question in the past and you did not respond, I'll ask it again. Why did you remove all your grill covers just before taking your CMAX in to be diagnosed for its failing transmission? I'll bet you also removed the angle iron you bolted to the bottom of the transmission. Any possibility it was because the owner's manual clearly states that modifications may void your warranty? Makes it difficult for the mod to cause a warranty problem when it is removed before the service appointment.

 

Billford already showed that you do advocate illegal activity: http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/11745-how-to-drive-a-ford-fusion-hybrid-to-get-great-gas-mileage/?p=108697

 

Drafting is also illegal but nearly impossible to enforce. And in this post you make it clear that since you can violate the law safely it is okay: http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/11745-how-to-drive-a-ford-fusion-hybrid-to-get-great-gas-mileage/?p=108694

[billford]

Since your grille covers block air, making all 4 coolers useless, they are adding unnecessary weight. Why don't you remove all 4 coolers and the cooling fan? It will reduce weight and reduce the electrical load.

It will give you what you want, more mpg's.

Don't forget to make a u tube video of the results.

[Texasota]

Come on, PT, don't go silent again on this question. Tell us why you removed your grill covers just before taking your CMAX in for the failing transmission warranty repair. I'm thinking maybe you have forgotten what you told us. Here is the relevant link: http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/10178-thoughts-on-ecvt-temperatures/?p=97623

 

If you don't want to follow the link here it is:

 

 

I peeled them off when I got to the Dealer so they really didn't notice, They liked my wheel covers which I also took off and put in the car for safe keeping. I put the covers back on because the Trans ran cooler with them on. I did put 3-3" holes in lower cover to allow more air through, but still allow the temps to get over 214*F so the shutters would open. :)

Edited November 20, 2018 by Texasota

[ptjones]

I asked you this question in the past and you did not respond, I'll ask it again. Why did you remove all your grill covers just before taking your CMAX in to be diagnosed for its failing transmission? I'll bet you also removed the angle iron you bolted to the bottom of the transmission. Any possibility it was because the owner's manual clearly states that modifications may void your warranty? Makes it difficult for the mod to cause a warranty problem when it is removed before the service appointment.

 

Trans failures weren't caused by heat, they were caused by a bad bearing. http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/topic/5288-mileage-and-build-date-for-ecvt-that-have-failed/page-1 Trans were failing at 10's-20's k miles and when mine failed at 98k miles I had more miles than anyone else so obviously Grill Covers made my trans last longer. :) BTW the angled "Aluminum Fins" were glued( not bolted ) on with silicon rubber to help the trans cool. At the time we hadn't heard the reason for the failures, but FORD knew, they didn't ask me any questions and just replaced it. Also the Trans doesn't put out an error code until 399*F, WOW

 

 

Billford already showed that you do advocate illegal activity: http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/11745-how-to-drive-a-ford-fusion-hybrid-to-get-great-gas-mileage/?p=108697

 

In Georgia it isn't illegal coast downhill except downhill grades that are posted with a %Grade Sign like( 4% Grade) and I responded " I REGEN downhill grades" So nothing illegal here. :)

 

 

Drafting is also illegal but nearly impossible to enforce. And in this post you make it clear that since you can violate the law safely it is okay: http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/11745-how-to-drive-a-ford-fusion-hybrid-to-get-great-gas-mileage/?p=108694

Drafting isn't illegal! I just checked on google and I couldn't find any Laws on Extended Drafting is what I do or Drafting period! :)

 

 

Please stop quoting posts and then editing within it. The edits you add to the quote are what you said not the original poster. Please respond below the quote.

 

Now that I have shown there is nothing illegal going on in MY Thread and YouTube videos and I have followed your editing request, I would like to request that you Please not post anymore on any of MY Threads in the future. Thank You :)

 

Paul

[ptjones]

Since your grille covers block air, making all 4 coolers useless, they are adding unnecessary weight. Why don't you remove all 4 coolers and the cooling fan? It will reduce weight and reduce the electrical load.

It will give you what you want, more mpg's.

Don't forget to make a u tube video of the results.

Get a ScanGaugeII and check for yourself. :) Radiator, Trans, Inverter and A/C get enough air to work just fine. :)

Start from the beginning of this thread and read all the posts and go through all the YouTube videos to the end and then go to :http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/topic/970-cmax-grill-cover-testing-2-5-mpg-gain/page-1 and go through all the post to get the info you are looking for.

 

It is obvious that you aren't interested using the info to improve your mpg's, so I'll have to asks you to Please don't post on any of My Threads in the future. Thank You :)

 

Paul

[billford]

Get a ScanGaugeII and check for yourself. :) Radiator, Trans, Inverter and A/C get enough air to work just fine. :)

Start from the beginning of this thread and read all the posts and go through all the YouTube videos to the end and then go to :http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/topic/970-cmax-grill-cover-testing-2-5-mpg-gain/page-1 and go through all the post to get the info you are looking for.

 

It is obvious that you aren't interested using the info to improve your mpg's, so I'll have to asks you to Please don't post on any of My Threads in the future. Thank You :)

 

Paul

 

No, they do not get enough air to work fine as you wrote, especially uphills when the shutters are open in slow traffic.

 

You wrote before that its ok for the coolant temperature to reach 230 and you never noticed the fan running. Maybe that's normal on a cmax, but this is a Fusion forum and my 2014 Fusion, the radiator fan turns on at about 218. I verified this with a scanner when climbing the mountains. Once the fan turns on, it quickly cools down to 204. This is how the 2014 Fusion is programmed with the latest available powertrain software.

 

Your normal blocked grille cmax 230 is out of the Fusions normal zone.

Edited November 21, 2018 by billford