Disappointing first fill up

[Automate]

Due to vector analysis 70% of all winds are headwinds.

Do you have a Internet reference for this?

[ptjones]

I believe the EPA tests are run at 60-70º F. Assuming that Ford did them at 70 which is most advantageous, if you're driving around in the Great Lakes at 20, you can expect 10 mpg less due to temperature alone not to mention headwinds. Due to vector analysis 70% of all winds are headwinds.

 

Do you have a Internet reference for this?

It seems that is right flying a small airplane, and is probably right driving too, I know it seems like it. LOL :shift: :)

 

Paul

[lolder]

The vector of the car velocity adds to winds that are from the side but partially to the rear to make a crosswind that has a headwind component vector. The cars are designed to have the least drag with a directly ahead wind vector. They can have more drag with a slight crosswind component. There are even schemes to use four wheel steering to cock cars a few degrees into a wind vector that is lightly off center to reduce drag. That would look weird.

[lolder]

I bought my 2010 FFH on 7/09 so this is the sixth winter I along with others have been trying to assure first time hybrid owners there is nothing wrong with their cars. The problem is with the EPA tests, not the cars. Only a minority of drivers will drive in a manner similar to the tests and the tests failure to account for low winter temperatures makes it worse. The EPA tests are being upgraded but that takes time and even then they won't be perfect. The hybrid advantage over other cars evaporates at high speeds and low temperatures because the ICE is running to keep everything warm. The HVB is charged fully in a few minutes and after that the ICE is still running to warm up but it's way off it's efficient operating point then. The Prius has two 150 watt electric heaters to help with this. They also have an exhaust/engine coolant heat exchanger to warm up the engine faster. They used to have a thermos bottle that stored hot coolant for almost a day and then released it on the next start. Prius has the lions share of hybrid sales because everybody else is still playing catch-up in hybrid efficiency. Your FFH's get about 10 mpg less than Prii but you have a much nicer car.

Edited March 7, 2015 by lolder

[acdii]

I had a Gen 2 ppprius, and it was horrible with cross winds. It also had a nasty tendency to fishtail on curves. The OEM tires were the worst when it came to traction. Other than getting great MPG, I dont see any other reason to have one when the Fusion is so much more of a car, and gets good MPG.

 

My first 13 FFH did have an issue, with all the driving and hybrid experience I have, not being able to hit the low predicted benchmark in it, I knew something was wrong with it. At that time it was rated at 47 MPG, so Realistically I was expected 38-43 MPG, and best I could get was 34, in Florida, in 70* temps. The car I replaced it with, gets exactly what I expected out of it, 38-43, and since I know how to squeeze these cars, I can get these numbers, but new drivers will need to relax and take their time and get to know how to best drive these cars. It doesnt happen on the first drive, so you see this a lot, my car isnt getting what it should. There are so many factors involved with them, and once you understand them then you get a better understanding of why the car gets what it gets.

 

Factors involved

Road conditions, pavement plays a factor, new pavement will get better MPG than worn rough pavement

Traffic, flow of traffic, lights, speeds.

Weather, rain and snow will lower MPG quite a bit, even a damp road can lower it a few MPG. Temps play a huge part, ideal conditions are between 50 and 80 degrees. Between these temps the car performs the best as you dont have a cabin to heat or cool, and batteries work best between these temps.

How you drive plays the largest part, Drive like a granny, or a speedster and you will not get the optimum MPG out of it. Moderate acceleration, steady speeds, not driving too fast, all play a part in good MPG.

Idling, any time the ICE runs with the car stationary, wastes gas.

[md13ffhguy]

The car I replaced it with, gets exactly what I expected out of it, 38-43, and since I know how to squeeze these cars, I can get these numbers

Great post, but...

 

Don't kid yourself - that ain't squeezin'!

 

My wife is getting 43.2 since September (dash #) and she just drives it normal. The only thing she squeezes is me. ;)

[Griswald]

Temps in the low 60's today

 

 

And so was my milage!

 

Had to drive to the Home Depot, about a 28 mile round trip. On the way, I showed 58.1 coming home...60.3!

 

Just easy driving, in traffic along shopping center row.

[hybridbear]

Making sure I'm still on the same path though... it's not that the ICE running is burning fuel. The same thing was happening in the Focus without the ICE occasionally turning off. The bigger difference is that the ICE in the FFH is burning MORE fuel while idling than the Focus does. Right?

Yes. It burns more gallons per hour as lolder said.

[CCalvinN]

Temps going up. Disappointment going down. This last tank of gas included several days where I was still remote starting it, but the majority was simply 'get in and drive'.

 

457 Miles. 12.4 Gallons. 36.83 MPG!

 

I had to fill up after my trip from work, so I only had 3 miles between the gas station and my home. According to the trip comptuer I got just over 56 mpg on that small leg of the journey!

[acdii]

With the warmer temps yesterday I was seeing near 50 on some trips, for the most part yesterday I was getting the 43 I expected to get. As your car breaks in more, and everything moves smoothly, the MPG will go up and without remote start in the winter, getting 38 should happen, like it does for mine. Depends a lot on how cold, and if there is snow to drive through, as that will drop it quite a bit, so tank averages can fluctuate from low 30's to high 30's, but on average, 38 is where it lands.

[CCalvinN]

My best fill up yet!

 

507.9 Miles, 11.577 Gallons: 43.87 miles per gallon. This is now exceeding my expectations as I would never be able to get this out of the Focus.

 

You were all correct... cold temps sucked all the fun/mileage out of the car. Sadly, temps seem to be heading back down. According to the dash I'm getting just below 40mpg right now. I can't wait for temps to stay in the 60s for a full tank. And I can't wait for the temps to get high enough to try out the AC and cooled seats!

 

I'm also planning a trip down to Dallas in mid May. Now that I have a large enough car to drive comfortably in for hours upon hours I'm going to forego flying.

[Texasota]

My best fill up yet!

 

507.9 Miles, 11.577 Gallons: 43.87 miles per gallon. This is now exceeding my expectations as I would never be able to get this out of the Focus.

That has been my experience also as compared to my 2012 Focus. After ~9000 miles on our FFH the hand calculated life time average is a little over 45 MPG. The Focus never reached 45 MPG even on the highway.

[lolder]

The mileage will increase up to about 90-95ºF. and then plateau due to AC load. Running the AC in a heat soaked car kills the mpg. Try to park in the shade with windows and ( sun roof ) cracked with sun shades over the top of the dash. Drive a few blocks with everything open and then turn on the AC.

[Waldo]

The mileage will increase up to about 90-95ºF. and then plateau due to AC load. Running the AC in a heat soaked car kills the mpg. Try to park in the shade with windows and ( sun roof ) cracked with sun shades over the top of the dash. Drive a few blocks with everything open and then turn on the AC.

 

This advice isn't unique to a hybrid, in fact it's less important in the FFH since the FFH A/C system efficiency is actually better than conventional systems. So you will save more fuel parking your non-hybrid in the shade than the hybrid, but the MPG number will take a bigger hit in the hybrid.

[CCalvinN]

I expect that once the temps get into the 70s that I'll start having fun with the AC. I've always been more of a polar bear... I like it cold. I'm always willing to walk a little further if I can park in the shade.

 

Three features of this car will take some getting used to; the sunroof, the climate control settings, and the cooled seats.

 

I haven't had a car with a sunroof for about 20 years now and I imagine it will help bleed off the built up hot air when first driving in the heat.

 

When I started driving this car I hated the layout of the HVAC controls. I'm normally finicky about where I want the warm/cool air blowing and would adjust it quite a bit. As those direct controls are only available in the touch screen (which I find a pain to use while driving) I'm now using the auto setting for heat. Thankfully the system has more or less encourage (forced) me to use the auto climate control setting... and I've noticed that it keeps me comfortable AND uses less fan/heat. We'll see how well the system works when shifting from heat over to AC.

 

If the cooled seats are anything like the heated seats, this will make it less likely that I'll overuse the AC. In the past It's always been a battle to keep enough cool air blowing to compensate for the hot summer seats.

 

I can't wait!

[murphy]

As you approach your car, baking in the hot sun, push and hold the unlock button on the fob. All of the windows and the roof will open letting the hot air out very quickly.

[Easy Rider]

As you approach your car, baking in the hot sun, push and hold the unlock button on the fob. All of the windows and the roof will open letting the hot air out very quickly.

That is a good reminder for those of us who have that feature but tend to forget about it.

 

I think that might be equally or more effective than running the AC for a minute or two with the windows up.

[CCalvinN]

As you approach your car, baking in the hot sun, push and hold the unlock button on the fob. All of the windows and the roof will open letting the hot air out very quickly.

 

!!!

 

I wasn't aware it did this! For my situation that will probably be the best option. At home I have outside covered parking so the car stays relatively cool. At my primary work location there is no shade so the only choice I have for parking is direction. Do I let the sun bake the steering wheel directly or indirectly. I work a modified 2nd shift, so I'm always leaving after the sun has set and the temp has dropped by 10 or so degrees. I'd imagine just getting the windows open a few minutes before I get to the car would be just as effective and far more fuel efficient than remote starting it and letting the AC do the heavy lifting.

 

How close does the remote have to be to utilize this feature? At work I'm at the very edge of the remote start range. In fact I have to park in one of three spots AND stand next to a particular window for the remote start to be close enough.

[Waldo]

 

!!!

 

I wasn't aware it did this! For my situation that will probably be the best option. At home I have outside covered parking so the car stays relatively cool. At my primary work location there is no shade so the only choice I have for parking is direction. Do I let the sun bake the steering wheel directly or indirectly. I work a modified 2nd shift, so I'm always leaving after the sun has set and the temp has dropped by 10 or so degrees. I'd imagine just getting the windows open a few minutes before I get to the car would be just as effective and far more fuel efficient than remote starting it and letting the AC do the heavy lifting.

 

How close does the remote have to be to utilize this feature? At work I'm at the very edge of the remote start range. In fact I have to park in one of three spots AND stand next to a particular window for the remote start to be close enough.

 

It's the same remote so it will have the same range. The only difference is that since you have to hold the button, if the signal is weak and is interrupted while holding, it won't work. Have you tried the stick-the-fob-to-your-chin trick?

[Texasota]

 

Have you tried the stick-the-fob-to-your-chin trick?

Okay, Waldo, I'll bite. What the heck is the "stick-the-fob-to-your-chin trick"?

[lolder]

Use windshield- dash shades.

[Waldo]

Okay, Waldo, I'll bite. What the heck is the "stick-the-fob-to-your-chin trick"?

 

Pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Google it and you'll get dozens of references.

[Hybrider]

Pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Google it and you'll get dozens of references.

 

But does it work for you Waldo? ;)

[Waldo]

 

But does it work for you Waldo? ;)

 

Many times on many different cars. Not sure what that says about what's in or not in my head...

[Texasota]

Pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Google it and you'll get dozens of references.

 

I'll be darned. Learn something new on this forum all the time. Lots of google hits and here is a sample:

 

http://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/5167/will-putting-a-car-remote-under-your-chin-increase-its-range

 

Not sure if I am convinced but will give it a try next time I am in a large parking lot.