Gas mileage

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Permalink Reply by Jim Mottin on November 20, 2008 at 9:01am

I think it is not unusual at all to discover that ethonol-gas mixtures do provide a lower mpg average that gas alone, but I can't honestly recall the precise measured differences from those actual studies that have done comparisons across the same engines and routes. Perhaps someone can find such studies and provide the forum with comparisons. My faulty memory says 10% ethonol matches a 10% reduction in mileage, but is does so with a warning sign that says I have probably stored that figure wrong. However, 10% is not far off the example provided by Jack.

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Permalink Reply by 451 Kahn on September 12, 2008 at 9:20pm

28 is low. I would check the tires to see if they are inflated properly. I was seeing low readings and the tires were running low.

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Permalink Reply by Dave Mass Car Club on September 12, 2008 at 10:43pm

Hi Dorenda
I have 3200 miles on my smart cabriolet, I monitor the gas on every fill up. So far, I have averaged 38 around town, and 58 on the highway. I have the tectronic shifter, for best highway I keep it in Automatic.
David

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Permalink Reply by Hugo on September 20, 2008 at 9:31am

My average has been 42.3 mpg. I drive both city and highway. I do not paddle shift but let the car shift itself. I am using high test gas. My highest mileage has been 46 mpg and the lowest was 38 mpg.

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Permalink Reply by SubSlr88 on September 20, 2008 at 6:09pm

I only have 600+ miles on my smartie. First two tanks were horrible gas mileage, but I'm not sure of how they were filled, i.e. to the top or only partially. This last full tank I netted 34.8mpg and that is 90% town driving (35 - 45mph) in Auto mode. Previously I'd been using the paddle shifters as I thought it was lugging - it goes into 5th around 38mph in Auto. Mileage seems better in Auto, however. And it seems to be adapting to the way I drive - or I'm adapting to the way it shifts. Take your pick. I seldom make longer highway trips so I may never get into the 40's. But 34.8 mpg is nearly twice what get on my other vehicle.

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Permalink Reply by mr bad example on October 6, 2008 at 7:01pm

i think your foot is a little heavier, my smart kicks into 5th at 34-35mph on level ground, i got 44mpg on my last tank of stop and go on 87 octane. you're still breaking it in. after about 1500 miles, i took mine out on a 95% hiway trip at 55-60mph and logged 53mpg, it was about 48F, so windows were closed, no AC running.

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Permalink Reply by Jack Diehl on October 6, 2008 at 8:03pm

Last week I overfilled my tank accidentally. It didn't shut off, so it was really full. Right after that I made a 67 mile run, no AC, at 65+mph behind an 18 wheeler. I stopped to fill up and the pump stopped at .9 gallons! I was able to squeeze another couple of 10ths in, but even factoring the previous overflow, as best as I could guess I got well over 50mpg, and maybe as much as near 60. Best ever. :-) With such a small tank, a couple of 10ths one way or another makes a significant difference. The best is to figure over several tank fulls probably. My worst around town, AC going, very short trips, is about 33 or 34. Great little car.

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Permalink Reply by mr bad example on October 6, 2008 at 8:13pm

drafting helps a bit, make sure you're behind an empty trailer, me and my dad were making a powerball run and had the windows open, when you get real close, the wind noise goes away and you let up a little on the gas.

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