Poor MPG ... Should I take it in?

[Nmadole]

I have 130 miles on my Fusion Hybrid 2013... Have only been averaging 30-35 mpg with "normal" non aggressive city driving and very conservative braking... No ac/ very low heat use. The highest mpg average per trip I have so far is 38.... Is something wrong with my car??? Opinions?

[terryb]

If I knew where Traverse City is rather than just guessing it is in Michigan, and when temperatures in Houston have been in the high 30s, I would say NO you are getting break in mileage in a cool climate. The mileage on my '10 Fusion with 33500 on it swings from 28 mpg to 70mpg depending on many factors including temperature, traffic, HVbattery state, length of trip, and on and on. Calm down and give it at least 1000 miles before you get worried. The long term average on mine was running 41 mpg (the city max epa figure) when I retired from daily 40 mi. round trip commutes.

 

Good Luck,

TerryB

[Nmadole]

I live in Northern Michigan, temps been aroun 50-60 the last week... I guess ill just hope it gets better

[RedneckRoyalty]

Page 152 in the owner's manual

 

Driving to optimize fuel economy

Note: Having your engine running is not

always an indication of inefficiency. In some

cases, it is actually more efficient than

driving in electric mode.

Your fuel economy should improve

throughout your hybrid's break-in period.

As with any vehicle, fuel economy can be

significantly impacted by your driving

habits and accessory usage. For best

results, keep in mind these tips:

[B25Nut]

Temperatures in the mornings here have been in the mid-30s (yes, in Central California just 17 miles from the coast), which have been bringing by MPG down to 33-35. On the way back in the evening is is 39-45. Most of my 800 miles have been at over 70 mph and after a long Thanksgiving trip I am going to reset the MPG to see what I get during a normal two weeks period. For those who don't know, your MPG for each trip you make displays after you turn the key off (but in a small size that can be challenging to read with mature eyes).

[RedneckRoyalty]

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

 

Check out the article in the link above. It explains where/how the EPA city/hiway numbers come from and why you really can't count on getting 47/47 in the real world...

[Movie_God]

I have 130 miles on my Fusion Hybrid 2013... Have only been averaging 30-35 mpg with "normal" non aggressive city driving and very conservative braking... No ac/ very low heat use. The highest mpg average per trip I have so far is 38.... Is something wrong with my car??? Opinions?

Don't dispair, I am approaching 2,000 and in my first tanks worth(took possession with 50 miles and a full tank) I too was a little worried, but after some experimentation and a few extra minutes in driving home, I am staying around 44-49 MPG....I have commuter legs of 23 miles to and from so half a gallon per?!?!? not too shabby...Use 'da Cruise! The 62MPH EV helps but coasting also does wonders...Unless you live somewhere like our Grandparents, where it was uphill both ways...I've had a few runs of 52-53 which is always fun...A little off subject, but does anyone else find the "Kill the Bush" Show a little depressing on screen #2?...I had to change the channel. Anyway...Keep after it and enjoy the ride :shades: ..Smooth ain't it? ...B

[jeff_h]

Another couple points for anyone considering going to the dealer for MPG (I've seen a few threads)... first, reset the average (as Akirby often points out) to start with a clean baseline... second, gather some hard data over a few tanks with actual miles/gallons and have that with you on a trip to the dealer.

 

Without the above, kinda seems like going to the doctor to complain about a persistent fever without having taken your actual temperature over the time that you've felt feverish. Makes it tougher for the doc (or the service guy, in the above example) to know how deep to dig.

[acdii]

RTFM, it states CLEARLY that mileage for the first 1000 miles will not be anywhere near EPA(well doesn't say it like that, but that's what it means). It will take several thousand miles for both the car and YOU to get good MPG. I have been driving hybrids now since 2007, easily getting EPA on the 10 with the hilly drive I do everyday, and I have a hard time getting in the 30's in the '13. So don't worry about it, drive it like you stole it for the first few K miles, then once everything is moving smoothly in the car, start practicing your EV driving and maximizing your mileage. The '13 does have this nice feature that the 10 doesn't and that's the driving coach. Those 3 bars will help you learn how to drive.

 

I have 300 miles on so far and only seeing 34 MPG since I bought it, and finally got my dash display setup where I get all the info I need, and discovered where to get the best Accel bars, Using Empower, keep the white bar at or below the second dash while accelerating, and for the cruise, that is for EV driving, the more EV you do the higher that one goes, Braking, well that's a given, my problem I don't do enough braking, mostly coasting, so that value is always low, and my recaptured energy is low because of it. From what I gather on this car, the more you brake, the better you are. Still working on just when and how hard to brake to be the most efficient.

 

This morning, temps in the 20's, the 10 got 36.6, and thats without me trying, just driving it like a normal car, screw HM, its cold out, its morning, and I dont want to put up with thinking, just drive. Normally, if I think about it and work it, this mornings commute could have been up around 40, but 4 MPG? Aint worth it.

[DeeCee]

Only have 250 miles so far but average mpg (computer generated) is showing 45. Will know more accurately after eventual fill mup. Mostly highway driving, two lane, with 55mph max. Found that using cruise control a lot, even at 40 mph or higher gives best results. Have seen 60+ mpg on some trip summaries, Note: I did a lifertime reset at about 50 miles. Quite pleased so far.

[Nmadole]

@ 1000 miles ... I'm now at 33.5 average MPG ... Not feeling to good about it... Hope it starts to go up soon... I am ok with an Average of 38-41 MPG during winter months... I expect about 8 MPG under EPA due to heating the cabin... Still never had a trip over 41 MPG

Edited November 29, 2012 by Nmadole

[B25Nut]

My Lifetime Average keeps slowly moving upward. It is now at 36.1 mpg. It was at 32.5 after 300 miles. I have 1600 now. Reset your Trip 2 to zero and see what MPG you get for the next week. After that you may want to reset the Lifetime to zero so you get highter numbers on the main MPG display. I haven't done that yet. You may also want to try the technique, when below 63 mph, of accelerating to about 3 mph above your target speed and then abuptly letting off the gas pedal to coast back to the speed. This usually kicks it into EV Mode more often than you would regularly get. I can't say yet if I'm really getting more MPG by doing this, but I am spending more time in EV.

[DeeCee]

Another data point today. Drove from home to town, 18.5 miles, mostly two lane highway with 55 speed limit. Used cruise control most of the way and trip MPG said 60.5 (ambient temp was 62 deg). Followed same route back home later in the day and the trip MPG was 43 (ambient temp was 48 deg.). My lifetime MPG is reporting 46. (I reset it at about 50 miles, now showing 300 miles.)

[Nmadole]

Another data point today. Drove from home to town, 18.5 miles, mostly two lane highway with 55 speed limit. Used cruise control most of the way and trip MPG said 60.5 (ambient temp was 62 deg). Followed same route back home later in the day and the trip MPG was 43 (ambient temp was 48 deg.). My lifetime MPG is reporting 46. (I reset it at about 50 miles, now showing 300 miles.)

 

What, is it downhill both ways???!! :) I havent seen anything near 60.5.... the highest I have seen to date is 41 MPG...

[acdii]

Learn the car...... It isnt magic, it's perseverance! You take it in and complain, a tech who knows how to drive the Hybrid gets 50 MPG, and you get the car back, they say nothing wrong, you become even more upset. Seen it happen way to often. I dont know how you have your dash setup, but use the My Screen(or whatever they call it) on the left. Set up the coach on one side, the Empower on the other. Now when you accelerate, keep the white bar around the second hash mark, when you reach 5 MPH over the speed limit, lift your foot off the gas, and lightly press it when the gauge switches to EV, Maintain lite pressure to keep it in EV, and try to maintain the speed limit as close as you can on EV, dont worry about keeping it rock solid, let it slowly drop about 5 MPH until you run out of EV, then when it switches back to ICE, do it all over again.

 

If you cant get 40 MPG in 40* temps this way, then there may be something wrong. I drove mine exactly like this yesterday, with 400 miles on it, and got 40 both times to and from work.

 

Most important, ignore other drivers! You may not be going fast enough for them, but if they want to waste their gas, let them. When done right, you accelerate at a decent pace, 0-60 in 15 seconds on average is about right, and dont try to play keep up. Remember this, it is not their gas you are wasting, it is yours, let them waste theirs, it comes out of their wallet. It isn't like you are driving under the speed limit, in fact doing it right you are at least 5 over at most times.

[DeeCee]

What, is it downhill both ways???!! :) I havent seen anything near 60.5.... the highest I have seen to date is 41 MPG...

 

Just downhill going! Made same trip today and showed 59.8 mpg on trip down there and 45.9 mpg on return Outside temp was about 72 deg. both ways today. Used adaptive cruise control most of the way. It does much better than my right foot!

[acdii]

I am hoping that the MPG does improve as miles are put on it. It is not getting as good as I think it should considering how high the rating is. I easily get 40 in the old Fusion, but have to really work to get close to 40 in the new one. I think back to when I first got the 10 with 1100 miles on it, it didnt do so well either for a few thousand miles, so just going to drive it and see.

 

The thing that has me concerned, the temps are in the perfect range to get really good MPG, and they just aren't happening. When I get 44 in the one car, and 38 in the other, the one getting 44 is rated at 41, the one getting 38 rated at 47, well......

 

 

Beginning to think the driving coach is not that good, I have all 3 bars almost peaked out, and still only getting 41. I notice that you have to brake really early and very lightly to get up to 100%, and the bar drops if you coast. Only have 700 miles on it, going to Florida next week in it so should get a really good read on it by then.

[B25Nut]

acdii: I would recommend having the left display set to Engage. I think it gives a clearer picture of driving efficiency.

[DeeCee]

Did my first fill-up today. For 440 miles it took 9.8 gal. for an actual of 44.9mpg. Not too shabby for the first go. My Lifetime Summary reading is 46.6mpg.

[acdii]

What tires do you all have on your 2013? I wonder if somehow the factory put the wrong tires on. Goodyear Eagles have not been noted for being LRR tires. My first tank only netted 35 MPG, the second one appears to be heading that way too. Only once did I get 40 MPG going to and from work.

[Nmadole]

What tires do you all have on your 2013? I wonder if somehow the factory put the wrong tires on. Goodyear Eagles have not been noted for being LRR tires. My first tank only netted 35 MPG, the second one appears to be heading that way too. Only once did I get 40 MPG going to and from work.

 

GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 -- NO WHERE NEAR 47MPG

[acdii]

Yep, that pretty much confirms it. The tires are the problem. I have the same tires and wheels on mine, and have pretty much the same MPG you do. I guess Ford failed to research using performance based tires on a hybrid and what impact it would have. The car does handle great with them, but they are not designed to get good MPG.

 

I dont know what we can do at this point other than complain to the dealer, but at least now we have something to base it on when we do.

 

So to answer your original question, should you take it to the dealer, my answer would be, yes, and present the facts you learned here. of us hit it hard enough, maybe we can get this resolved.

 

It seems you have taken our advice and drive the way you should be driving it. Since you are still getting only 35 or so, and cinfirmed the tires are not the LRR type, you do have something to complain about. Hopefully you may be able to get somewhere. Also post it on Facebook Fusion + hybrid, sometimes they listen, and you may get some help there too. If enough

[acdii]

OK I am confused. Look at my stats in the sig. How the hell did I get 40.5 when my dash readout has been in the 30's? I dont have all the records for the 2010, so the MPG is off a bit. Funny though, ever since my wife returned from MN, when the dash did a mysterious reset, that exactly where the MPG reads. It was 39.8 before it reset, and my Fuel log on my iphone matched it, but lifetime looks about right.

[cbowsher]

3 weeks in and about 1300 miles. Hit 47 mpg on the way home from work. MPG has been getting better and better. Sure much of it is me trying to learn how to drive a Hybrid.

[NDallas40]

My 2010 FFH only averages 35. We've never seen better than 38mpg on any one tank-full. It's supposed to average 39, which would mean a lot of 40+ readings to make that kind of average. Ain't happenin'. (35,000 miles on odo). Hope you have better luck. My dealer checked it out, but I don't trust them, and I don't even think they know their way around a hybrid car yet.