Poor MPG ... Should I take it in?

[acdii]

Pump up the tires to 38, that might help, and you have to be light on the throttle, and drive by the gauges. It takes a lot of pateince and practice, and eventually you get to the point where you do it automatically. It's a pain, but it can be done.

 

Starting a road trip in the morning, so will have a better handle on EPA by the end of the week.

[DeeCee]

To date 832 miles and 17.8 gallons for 46.7 mpg average.

[acdii]

Well, I am taking mine in as soon as I return home and telling them I dont want it back until it gets in the 40's like it is supposed to. When I get it back, it had better have improved, or I will take it back again, and if it goes back a third time I WILL Lemon law the car. I have been driving in PERFECT frickin Hybrid weather, and I can barely touch 38 MPG, and I have to really work it to get that, and it was downfrickinhill too! Needless to say I am not at all pleased with this car and have told several people who asked about the car, Dont buy the Hybrid!

[acdii]

I found that the Goodyear tires are the opposite of the LRR tires on the other Hybrids I had/have. They perform better at 34 PSI than 45 PSI. All my other cars got better MPG at higher PSI, these get much lower at higher PSI.

 

 

Still doesnt resolve the issue though, 38 MPG thats all it gets, no matter what speed I drive on the highway, no better than 38 MPG.

[Nmadole]

I found that the Goodyear tires are the opposite of the LRR tires on the other Hybrids I had/have. They perform better at 34 PSI than 45 PSI. All my other cars got better MPG at higher PSI, these get much lower at higher PSI.

 

 

Still doesnt resolve the issue though, 38 MPG thats all it gets, no matter what speed I drive on the highway, no better than 38 MPG.

 

I am averaging 31.7 MPG.. so feel lucky

[jnissen]

My wife is averaging about 39MPG at the moment but she only has about 500 miles on the 2013. I drove it tonight to see what it would get if I drove like I had an egg under the pedal. I'm sure the other drivers didn't care for this but in the 10 mile trip it showed I got 57MPG! The mileage is starting to climb some but I don't think we will see 47 for an average any time soon. The 57MPG was impressive but clearly is not close to reality as I really had to work at keeping the thing in EV mode as much as i could.

 

Perhaps in a few hundred more miles I can report something in the low 40's. I think the EPA numbers are complete BS. I can believe the 39 she is getting presently is probably more likely the real number. Still when we compare this to her CIvic she used to drive that claimed something like 28 in town and she was lucky to get 22MPG on average.

 

BTW - Eagle LS2 tires as well but the 235/45 R18 variety. They show a treadwear rating of 400 so this is a low rolling resistance tire.

Edited December 16, 2012 by jnissen

[fusionTX]

I found that the Goodyear tires are the opposite of the LRR tires on the other Hybrids I had/have. They perform better at 34 PSI than 45 PSI. All my other cars got better MPG at higher PSI, these get much lower at higher PSI.

 

 

Still doesnt resolve the issue though, 38 MPG thats all it gets, no matter what speed I drive on the highway, no better than 38 MPG.

 

I'm 6 1/2 years into my Camry Hybrid. I'm on my third set of tires. I'm not a hypermiler or anything similar, don't have that kind of patience. My experience is that MPG has not varied much from tire to tire. I also do not over infalte the tires, I just go by what's recommended. I'll get 36/37 for my normal daily commute, and I am happy with that because that 's close to what the car was rated at. I think people make too much of tires.

[coach81]

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.)

 

Hope I get results like u D!!!

[DeeCee]

Made the same trip today with nearly identical results. So far very pleased with whgat I am getting.

[acdii]

Treadwear rating has nothing to do with rolling resistance. Tire design does. I highly doubt the Goodyears will return any decent MPG results, when compared to the Energy Savers.

[terryb]

I took another test drive today and verified specifically that the Hybrid does NOT decelerate sharply when the acelerator is released. The car that is showing charging and deceleration without driver action has a problem. Even letting up on a level access road had the car coasting smoothly. I made an eight mile circular trip onto the interstate and back on the access road and got 33 mpg. Dealers car w/17 miles so not suprised. The driver making a 7.1 mile each way trip to work is facing an up hill battle (pun intended) because the car is draining the battery on the way home every night and has to charge it every morning first thing. I'm still hoping to get mine this year but it's looking unlikely.

 

TerryB

 

PS car driven had 18" and Goodyears.

Edited December 17, 2012 by terryb

[fusionTX]

I took another test drive today and verified specifically that the Hybrid does NOT decelerate sharply when the acelerator is released. The car that is showing charging and deceleration without driver action has a problem. Even letting up on a level access road had the car coasting smoothly. I made an eight mile circular trip onto the interstate and back on the access road and got 33 mpg. Dealers car w/17 miles so not suprised. The driver making a 7.1 mile each way trip to work is facing an up hill battle (pun intended) because the car is draining the battery on the way home every night and has to charge it every morning first thing. I'm still hoping to get mine this year but it's looking unlikely.

 

TerryB

 

PS car driven had 18" and Goodyears.

 

Where in Houston did you test drive? I test drove one last week mchaik Ford on I-10. Will do a 2nd test drive soon.

Really enjoyed the drive on the first one.

[B25Nut]

For those who have reported excess slowing when you are coasting, I can't help but think the Grade Assist is engaged. It would be easy to accidentally push the button on the gear shift lever to turn it on. This may have been addressed already. I can't remember.

[coach81]

^ that would explain a lot. I wonder....

[acdii]

Good thought, but no, it shows on the dash when you press it.

 

On the way to the dealer we picked up the 2010 and had my wife driving it behind me. When I took my foot off the gas when coming up to a turn, she said she had to ride the brakes and slow down, and didnt see any brake lights from me until I got closer to the intersection.

 

I then got in the 2010 and drove it home, and had to slam on the brakes to make a turn, I got so used to not having to brake and the old one just coasts forever. I took my foot off at 30 MPH, and it stays at 30 MPH. In the new one I take my foot off at 35 and in a few moments its at 30, then 25, then 20, and I wonder why my brake score is so low at times. I seldom need to use them.

[terryb]

Good thought, but no, it shows on the dash when you press it.

 

On the way to the dealer we picked up the 2010 and had my wife driving it behind me. When I took my foot off the gas when coming up to a turn, she said she had to ride the brakes and slow down, and didnt see any brake lights from me until I got closer to the intersection.

 

I then got in the 2010 and drove it home, and had to slam on the brakes to make a turn, I got so used to not having to brake and the old one just coasts forever. I took my foot off at 30 MPH, and it stays at 30 MPH. In the new one I take my foot off at 35 and in a few moments its at 30, then 25, then 20, and I wonder why my brake score is so low at times. I seldom need to use them.

 

I am not a Ford mechanic nor do I play one on TV, but you have a BIG system of mechanical issue with that car. A good dealer has got to give it a good workover.

 

TerryB

[terryb]

Where in Houston did you test drive? I test drove one last week mchaik Ford on I-10. Will do a 2nd test drive soon.

Really enjoyed the drive on the first one.

Drove it at Lonestar Ford I45 near HWY 249.

[lolder]

Good thought, but no, it shows on the dash when you press it.

 

On the way to the dealer we picked up the 2010 and had my wife driving it behind me. When I took my foot off the gas when coming up to a turn, she said she had to ride the brakes and slow down, and didnt see any brake lights from me until I got closer to the intersection.

 

I then got in the 2010 and drove it home, and had to slam on the brakes to make a turn, I got so used to not having to brake and the old one just coasts forever. I took my foot off at 30 MPH, and it stays at 30 MPH. In the new one I take my foot off at 35 and in a few moments its at 30, then 25, then 20, and I wonder why my brake score is so low at times. I seldom need to use them.

Can you feel the difference when you push the button or go between "D" and "L"? If not, maybe the system is stuck in "L" or the hill assist despite indications to the contrary.

Edited December 18, 2012 by lolder

[coach81]

I am not a Ford mechanic nor do I play one on TV, but you have a BIG system of mechanical issue with that car. A good dealer has got to give it a good workover.

 

TerryB

 

/agree... I don't think there is supposed to be any excessive "drag" on these cars...

 

so sorry you are having all these problems, A...

 

I hope this is just an isolated incident...

Edited December 18, 2012 by coach81

[acdii]

Still not convinced all is working right. According to Ford, the car is fine. BUT, the way they test it is through the onboard computer, so if it is wrong, then the tests will also be wrong. This morning, in 25* weather, my daily drive in saw 38.8 MPG. That's about what my 2010 would also get.

 

However, when I last filled the car, the Actual MPG was way below what was reported on the dash. I am just below a half tank today, and since my last fill the dash shows just a hair over 35 MPG. When I fill it, I will compare how many gallons it reports used vs what I actually put in the tank.

 

While 38.8 is not bad, it is still 8.2 MPG below what the sticker says, and at least 3-4 below what actual should be. Now if the 18" wheels and tires are the factor in this, 3 MPG would be about right. I just dont feel I should be spending another $1200 for rims and tires to find out.

 

I should have an update on actual later today.

[coach81]

Look forward to the update

[pers69]

Of note:

 

http://www.torquenews.com/106/ford-facing-class-action-suit-over-new-fusion-hybrid-and-c-max-fuel-economy-figures

[Allegany]

Welljust topped off the tank for the first time. Getting 36.0 MPG I had only 158 miles on the car but the gas was cheap where I was. The car is equipped with Hancook Studded Snow tires and the roads are still messy and snow covered. The outside temp has been running in the low to mid 20's. So far I'm very pleased with the car. I just can't figure out why it didn't come with a spare tire?

[acdii]

That seems to be the way they are doing it now. A lot of cars no longer have a spare, but a fixaflat pump instead.

 

Thinking back, I can not remember the last time I had to change to a spare on any of my cars.

 

 

Now watch, going to get flats in each car now that I said that.

[B25Nut]

Car designs consist of compromises. Since the battery has already reduced the cargo area, I think Ford decided it shouldn't reduce it any more by having a spare. Less trunk space would be a weekly irritation for most drivers, while the vast majority will never have to deal with a flat tire. Using the pump should be a much easier procedure.