Are you happy with your MPG poll

[hybridbear]

This morning's commute:

 

City driving mostly 40 MPH

25 deg

5 miles

0 EV miles

100% brake score

29 MPG

 

I started out with a 90% charged battery, always accelerated gradually, left the heat on (getting to work cold makes me grouchy). I guess I'll have to decide what makes me less grouchy, being cold or crappy mileage.

5 miles in the city isn't long enough to get the engine warmed up, on short trips like that there is basically no benefit to having a hybrid

[MXGOLF]

• 
• 566 posts
• Gender:Male
• Location:Virginia
• Interests:Watching paint dry
• Current Vehicle:2013 FFH

Posted Today, 09:18 AM

MXGOLF, on 13 Mar 2013 - 09:06, said:

I am very dissapointed in my mileage. It might start going up a bit due to winter being gone here in Oregon. I definitly got a lemon as far as the MPG goes! :( Besides that I love the car.

 

How far is your normal commute? Does the car get parked outside overnight or in a garage?

 

 

My Commute is 4 or 5 miles not much. The car is parked outside since I still have my tacoma truck and motorcycle in the garage. I'm not sure if it will fit in the garage. I need to have someone help me back in to test it out. The garage is sutuated so I have to back in to be able to open my car door. This car is a bit wider than my truck. I just want to drive my car and not worry about the stupid mileage but that's one of the reasons I bought it in the first place. My one long trip I averaged 38 MPG for 550 miles. Well see what better weather will do.

[jeff_h]

My Commute is 4 or 5 miles not much. The car is parked outside since I still have my tacoma truck and motorcycle in the garage. I'm not sure if it will fit in the garage. I need to have someone help me back in to test it out. The garage is sutuated so I have to back in to be able to open my car door. This car is a bit wider than my truck. I just want to drive my car and not worry about the stupid mileage but that's one of the reasons I bought it in the first place. My one long trip I averaged 38 MPG for 550 miles. Well see what better weather will do.

 

Others have already posted about how short commutes are not good with cold weather as it takes time/distance for it to warm up, and by the time it's warmed up and you're ready to get better MPG, it's time to stop. And I was curious as to the parking at night, as if it were parked inside a garage that's attached to a house it may have a small head start to warming up, at least being maybe 5-10 degrees (guessing) warmer than the outside.

[acdii]

• 
• 566 posts
• Gender:Male
• Location:Virginia
• Interests:Watching paint dry
• Current Vehicle:2013 FFH

Posted Today, 09:18 AM

MXGOLF, on 13 Mar 2013 - 09:06, said:

 

How far is your normal commute? Does the car get parked outside overnight or in a garage?

 

 

My Commute is 4 or 5 miles not much. The car is parked outside since I still have my tacoma truck and motorcycle in the garage. I'm not sure if it will fit in the garage. I need to have someone help me back in to test it out. The garage is sutuated so I have to back in to be able to open my car door. This car is a bit wider than my truck. I just want to drive my car and not worry about the stupid mileage but that's one of the reasons I bought it in the first place. My one long trip I averaged 38 MPG for 550 miles. Well see what better weather will do.

Look on the bright side, if you bought the non Hybrid SE with either the 1.6 or 2.0 EB, you are still getting better MPG with this one, than any of those. It's the main reason I decided not to get the regular Ti I had ordered after all. 35 or whatever this thing gets is much better than 21 that owners are seeing in theirs.

[Charrua]

Same exact commute as last week only this time it was 22 deg and I left the heater off:

 

City driving mostly 40 MPH

22 deg

5 miles

40 MPG

 

I would have never imagined that leaving the heater off could make a 10 MPG difference on a 5 mile trip.

[neod192]

Same exact commute as last week only this time it was 22 deg and I left the heater off:

 

City driving mostly 40 MPH

22 deg

5 miles

40 MPG

 

I would have never imagined that leaving the heater off could make a 10 MPG difference on a 5 mile trip.

Do you have heated seats? If you do, turn those on :)

[Fastronaut]

I'm curious about the warm-up for short trips. Exactly WHAT needs to be warmed up to start getting better MPG? Is this something that can be overcome by something as simple as keeping the engine compartment warm (e.g. the old extension cord light bulb on all under the hood trick)?

[hybridbear]

I'm curious about the warm-up for short trips. Exactly WHAT needs to be warmed up to start getting better MPG? Is this something that can be overcome by something as simple as keeping the engine compartment warm (e.g. the old extension cord light bulb on all under the hood trick)?

 

According to the Engineering Test Mode the coolant must reach somewhere between 40 & 50 C before the ICE will shut off during its initial warm-up period. In my car this takes about .6 miles on city streets at speeds less than 30 MPH, on higher speed roads it would be even less time. Plugging in the block heater brings the coolant temp up to about 40-50 C before starting the vehicle. Having the block heater plugged in will allow you to go into normal hybrid operation almost immediately. It appears that the coolant temp must be above 60 C before the HVAC system can be turned on without making the ICE run to make heat.

 

The issue with short commutes, and winter driving, is that if you want the HVAC on during your drive you are going to make the ICE run and thus lower your MPGs. By using only the heated seats until the ICE warms up from our natural driving we're able to get better MPGs. It also makes sense to keep the HVAC temp set lower rather than higher. In the winter we generally have the HVAC temp set at 64 or 65 F because that is warm enough when dressed for winter weather. If you have the HVAC at 75 then you're going to make the engine run a lot more because the computer will then demand a higher coolant temp before shutting down the ICE to provide you with cabin heat.

Edited March 19, 2013 by hybridbear

[tombarker13ffh]

The first little bit of your trip, the engine will be running to warm up, drive your wheels, and charge your hv battery all at once. If you have the heat on, it will run longer. At normal operating temps, the engine will shutdown to let the car drive with the electric drive. If your commute is only 3-5 miles and it always started cold in cold weather, chances are youre not getting to that state of efficiency before you reach your destination. 7-10 mile commutes will be much better for average fuel use.

[Fastronaut]

According to the Engineering Test Mode the coolant must reach somewhere between 40 & 50 C before the ICE will shut off during its initial warm-up period. In my car this takes about .6 miles on city streets at speeds less than 30 MPH, on higher speed roads it would be even less time. Plugging in the block heater brings the coolant temp up to about 40-50 C before starting the vehicle. Having the block heater plugged in will allow you to go into normal hybrid operation almost immediately. It appears that the coolant temp must be above 60 C before the HVAC system can be turned on without making the ICE run to make heat.

 

The issue with short commutes, and winter driving, is that if you want the HVAC on during your drive you are going to make the ICE run and thus lower your MPGs. By using only the heated seats until the ICE warms up from our natural driving we're able to get better MPGs. It also makes sense to keep the HVAC temp set lower rather than higher. In the winter we generally have the HVAC temp set at 64 or 65 F because that is warm enough when dressed for winter weather. If you have the HVAC at 75 then you're going to make the engine run a lot more because the computer will then demand a higher coolant temp before shutting down the ICE to provide you with cabin heat.

Thanks for the explanation. Have you tried simply idling for a few minutes without HVAC before leaving he garage to see how that changes things?

[Fastronaut]

The first little bit of your trip, the engine will be running to warm up, drive your wheels, and charge your hv battery all at once. If you have the heat on, it will run longer. At normal operating temps, the engine will shutdown to let the car drive with the electric drive. If your commute is only 3-5 miles and it always started cold in cold weather, chances are youre not getting to that state of efficiency before you reach your destination. 7-10 mile commutes will be much better for average fuel use.

Makes sense.

[Kaleido]

I just did my 9th fill up today and on this last tank full I averaged 33.65 mpg, my other 8 tank fulls were

35.42

41.67

30.8

40.89

39.12

37.9

40.3

It's not what I expected from the advertising before I bought the car, but for me it is exceptionable.

I had a 2009 Jetta TDI and over 4 years my average was 38 mpg.

[lolder]

Thanks for the explanation. Have you tried simply idling for a few minutes without HVAC before leaving he garage to see how that changes things?

It won't idle without the HVAC on unless you hold your foot on the accelerator. Any idling is a waste of fuel.

[acdii]

Its warming the cat converters when the HVAC is off. Once those reach operating temps the ICE will shut off. When HVAC is on, it has to reach about 150*F before it will cycle to EV. The 13 is less likely to run in cold weather than the previous gen does. The 10 almost always starts the ICE when its below 30* HVAC on or off, and continues to run for at least 5 minutes driving or not(25 MPH zones, but shut down sooner at higher speeds).

[Fastronaut]

It won't idle without the HVAC on unless you hold your foot on the accelerator. Any idling is a waste of fuel.

Good to know. This will be my first Hybrid.

[Fastronaut]

Its warming the cat converters when the HVAC is off. Once those reach operating temps the ICE will shut off. When HVAC is on, it has to reach about 150*F before it will cycle to EV. The 13 is less likely to run in cold weather than the previous gen does. The 10 almost always starts the ICE when its below 30* HVAC on or off, and continues to run for at least 5 minutes driving or not(25 MPH zones, but shut down sooner at higher speeds).

Thanks.

[storksb]

I voted yes to being happy with my mpg, but it is a guarded yes. The first 4 fillup were in the low 30's but now it is getting warmer and my driving style is maybe a little less conservative I am averaging 41 on this tank so far. But even if I ends up in the upper 30's I'll be happy as the car is great to drive, handles well and looks awesome.

[Fynack]

BUMP

[mokee]

Better bump it 'cause the weather's gettin' warmer.

[acdii]

Since this does not say, any specific year.

 

Ecstatic over the MPG my 2010 is getting. Got 45 MPG on the way home tonight. Long term has finally reach 37 MPG and is going to go higher as the temps go up and summer blend hits. Going to be at least 39 MPG on this tank, spot on EPA.

[Terps]

Voted yes, managed around 39mpg on a 6.7mi daily commute during the cold weather, now that it is warming up the average is about 46mpg on that commute. Lifetime is 40.5 and rising daily with about 1500 miles on it. Best longer trip so far was 32mi at just over 56mpg with a healthy mix of hills and just driving it like a car, not really pushing things to try to keep it in ev mode on that one.

[MXGOLF]

Must be nice as I drive like a grandma and still average 33.1 mpg. I have 2500 miles on my FFH now. I get a few trips at around 40 but not enough to change my mind about Ford and 47 mpg. BS. I just think I got a lemon. It would be nice if I could talk Ford into a new battery. I've got a feeling that's part of the problem.

[acdii]

Hmm Drive it like you stole it, who knows, maybe you and I are just driving them wrong. All I know is that after having the 13 for the few months and 8400 miles, I learned to drive my 2010 better and get better mileage in it now, and same practice in the Flex is getting me 2 MPG better than I did when I had the 2010 Flex.

[tombarker13ffh]

What are you getting in the Flex?

[acdii]

What are you getting in the Flex?

20.8 so far on the dash, still on the first tank, and will need a few tanks to get an accurate average. Irony, I can go the same distance on a tank in the Flex that I did in the 2013 FFH.