Not making EPA numbers Scare me...

[Charrua]

I agree that dealers should do a better job of warning potential customers of the short commute / cold weather effects.

 

I started out (Dec-March) getting MPGs in the low 30s. If I didn't have the 47 MPG expectation I would have been quite happy (10 MPG better than what I was getting in my Jetta). Instead, I was not a happy camper.

 

The last 2 tanks I averaged 42 MPG. When the temperatures hit the 60's in Michigan the other day I got 50 MPG on my 15 mile commute home (70% highway 30% city). I am a much happier camper now

[acdii]

Actually it isnt the dealers job to do that. They are there to sell cars, but they should be more informed on how the cars function, and know the ins and outs of the systems. The real problem with car dealers is very few sales men/women stay at any one dealer for any length of time. They are on staff only for so long as their sales records. Very few dealers have a full time sales man that is with them for a long time. Those that shuffle from dealer to dealer may not stick with one brand, so it is difficult for them to know every aspect.

 

As with anything, it is the buyer who should do their research, especially when getting into a Hybrid for the first time. The one thing about the new Fusion that is very unusual is the impact cold has on it, no other Hybrid that I know of takes as big a cold weather hit as the Fusion, and this is the 4th one I have owned, two were Toyota's, the current one is a 10 FFH and the 13. I did expect a slight decrease in FE in the cold, like 38-43 was my expected range based on the percentages on the other 3 cars during the winter months, so getting 35 and under was a BIG red flag that, hmm this isnt right. It was also the reason I drove it to Florida instead of the 10, I was unsure if it did have an issue based on the few warm days I drove it and it didnt do better. FL confirmed it.

 

However, next year when the cold hits, and you have more miles on it, and are more accustomed to how to drive it, you most likely will get better MPG than you did when you first got it. As you can see by the fuelly badges, I broke out the winter and summer driving along with lifetime. Most of my driving is Rural highway of 55 MPH, so based on that, and the EPA sticker of 36 highway, the lifetime average is dead on. So in winter, losing only 2 MPG from highway EPA, cant complain, and now that the weather has warmed up, its getting closer to the combined average of 39.

 

This is basically what I based my decision on when I bought the 13 FFH, I never expected to get 47, at least not until summer rolled around, but did expect to get at the very least 38 MPG as I factored in the break in period too.

 

As anything, Buyer Beware. Do the research before buying, and this Forum will be one heck of a buyers tool too, especially those members like JeffH, Hybridbear, Deecee, and a few others, especially that one member who drove all winter with snow tires on and still managed to get high numbers, sorry I blanked on your nick.

[hybridbear]

Sitting at a light in heavy traffic uses ZERO fuel in the Hybrid, unless the HVAC is on.

 

Not entirely true. Since in a hybrid all the electricity comes from gas then anything that uses electricity is in effect burning gas, just less of it since the electric components are so much more efficient than burning gas to turn a belt driven alternator.

[ltjohnj40]

I live in Maine and work in Massachusetts. I commute 50 miles each way. I basically always use the adaptive cruise control on the highway. In the winter I was getting 39 mpg and now in May I am getting 47 mpg. Seems like a big swing for temperature.

[hybridbear]

The temperature penalty seems to be up to 2 MPG for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Now that it's in the 70s we're getting 50 MPG when we were getting 42 when it was 30s, 40 in the 20s and only in the 30s when it was below zero here.

I live in Maine and work in Massachusetts. I commute 50 miles each way. I basically always use the adaptive cruise control on the highway. In the winter I was getting 39 mpg and now in May I am getting 47 mpg. Seems like a big swing for temperature.

[Charrua]

The temperature penalty seems to be up to 2 MPG for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Now that it's in the 70s we're getting 50 MPG when we were getting 42 when it was 30s, 40 in the 20s and only in the 30s when it was below zero here.

 

I saw the something similar. My winter fill-ups were all in the 32-34 MPG range and now my last 3 tanks were 42-44 MPG.

[mokee]

Lots of members here, myself included, experienced dramatically lower MPG during cold weather. The engine seems very inefficient until it reaches operating temps. . Any engineers out there that contribute this to the current Atkinson cycle engine used? Maybe it caused Ford to change from the 2.0L to the 1.5L in the 2014 FFH?

 

Also, in my home area, the MPG on all the vehicles I've owned has suffered big time after we changed over to our "winter blend" of gas. I first noticed a change in MPG after the 1st 300 miles on our new 2013 FFH. We left on a 3400 mile trip to Florida in early Feb. MPG really improved going south and got dramatically worse coming back home. Now that we're using that 50 cent a gal more expensive "summer Blend," I'm seeing MPG in the 50-60 MPG range on short trips.

 

I reason a combination of some locales gas blends and the 2.0L engine inefficiency in cold weather cause poor MPG performance?

 

Edit: changed 1.6L to 2.0L. Thanks Iolder

Edited May 10, 2013 by mokee

[acdii]

OK here is how to fix the winter blend issues. Figure out how many gallons you would be using in the winter, then buy a huge storage tank and hoard summer blend, then use that during the winter! :)

[neod192]

OK here is how to fix the winter blend issues. Figure out how many gallons you would be using in the winter, then buy a huge storage tank and hoard summer blend, then use that during the winter! :)

But you'd have to put stabilizer in it, right? My god-parents have 2 fuel tanks :) I think they were using them for Diesel.

[lolder]

The 2013 FFH has a 2.0 L. Atkinson.

[acdii]

But you'd have to put stabilizer in it, right? My god-parents have 2 fuel tanks :) I think they were using them for Diesel.

Yep, and ethanol killer too! :) I have had gas last 3 years without stabilizer though.

[MXGOLF]

Even now with the weather warming up my car will not come close to 47 unless it's a downhill trip. Not even close. I have gained about 3 miles per gallon is all. from 33 to 36 not the 47 I was lead to believe. Can you say lemon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited May 10, 2013 by MXGOLF

[mokee]

I'd move South Carolina and solve my the winter blend issue. They got more trees there to soak up that CO2. I'd have a big storage tank outside my trailer too. I'd go to work for BMW at the Greenville plant and trade the FFH for a Beamer with run flats. No need for a spare or that nasty TMK. I use that employee plan to save some money on the trade.

[hybridbear]

I agree that winter blend gas may contribute too. I also agree that the ICE is less efficient when cold than when warm. But isn't that true of ALL engines? We are just hyper-sensitive to gas mileage because we own hybrids. And because of the nature of how our cars are designed to run, the effect of the lower ICE efficiency when cold is amplified

[BZSTCHN]

I went from a turbocharged Grand Prix to the 2013 Ford Fusion. It was a real change for me and I had to adjust my driving habits. But, once you figure out how to drive the hybrid (it took me about two months to undo many, many years of bad driving habits) you'll get good mileage. I average between 45 and 50 mpg and as the gas prices keep going up I am thrilled!

[acdii]

They make EPA! At least most of them do. Having had one of those not so good ones, my sympathies for those who got one like that.

 

[clummus]

that would be me.:(