2010-01-02T02:27:47Z http://www.451s.com/forum/topics/fuel-economy?feed=yes&xn_auth=no tag:www.451s.com,2009-06-30:1912846:Comment:63945 2009-06-30T02:29:21.394Z mr bad example

i try to use the same pump/station. and it's pretty accurate, i fill to where i can see fuel in the neck, i don't trust the auto shut-off. i had to use a different pump today, same station, my pump was out of order, i did a slow fill, like normal and it took 2% more fuel than the SG2 thought it should. it was cooler today than the last few weeks. 2 percent is not a huge deal, when the SG tracks to hundreths of a gallon per hour. i racked up a 49MPG tank today. i only fuel up every 2-1/2 to 3 wee…

i try to use the same pump/station. and it's pretty accurate, i fill to where i can see fuel in the neck, i don't trust the auto shut-off. i had to use a different pump today, same station, my pump was out of order, i did a slow fill, like normal and it took 2% more fuel than the SG2 thought it should. it was cooler today than the last few weeks. 2 percent is not a huge deal, when the SG tracks to hundreths of a gallon per hour. i racked up a 49MPG tank today. i only fuel up every 2-1/2 to 3 weeks.<br /> <br /> my best tank is now 54.5MPGs, best trip over 10 miles is 61.6MPGs. my first job was pumping gas in '76, the pumps had those scrolling dials for counters, down to 1/10 of a gallon, not the 1/1000 of a gallon of our modern pumps... times have changed! tag:www.451s.com,2009-06-30:1912846:Comment:63942 2009-06-30T01:46:51.492Z Ian Pellant

Yes... top up levels and pump used will cause large variations in mpg calculations.<br /> Those of us using a ScanGauge that has been calibrated, don't have that particular set of variables.. instead I see when a pump is not delivering accurately. I use one service station a lot. One of their pumps gives me almost exactly what the ScanGauge registers for the total tank used. Another ot their pumps reads higher... so I avoid using that one!<br /> <br /> Using a pump refill and calculating the fuel used is not a ve…

Yes... top up levels and pump used will cause large variations in mpg calculations.<br /> Those of us using a ScanGauge that has been calibrated, don't have that particular set of variables.. instead I see when a pump is not delivering accurately. I use one service station a lot. One of their pumps gives me almost exactly what the ScanGauge registers for the total tank used. Another ot their pumps reads higher... so I avoid using that one!<br /> <br /> Using a pump refill and calculating the fuel used is not a very good guide unless you use the same pump every time and fill to first click off every time.<br /> <br /> The Scangauge is set to show trip fuel used. That way I can monitor the fuel used on each trip and can compare town to highway consumptions quite accurately. tag:www.451s.com,2009-06-30:1912846:Comment:63940 2009-06-30T01:31:18.247Z Greg Ballantyne

Well, now that the weather has been warm long enough to know.... I've moved up a little on the average mpg to 45. During colder weather I averaged 42 mpg. Not a large increase, but appears to be quite consistent. I'm wondering if those whose fuel economy varies, if they are getting topped up to the same level most of the time, or if the roads and miles traveled also vary. I believe the variation I see is due to that sort of thing. I doesn't take that much variation in topping off to make a notic…

Well, now that the weather has been warm long enough to know.... I've moved up a little on the average mpg to 45. During colder weather I averaged 42 mpg. Not a large increase, but appears to be quite consistent. I'm wondering if those whose fuel economy varies, if they are getting topped up to the same level most of the time, or if the roads and miles traveled also vary. I believe the variation I see is due to that sort of thing. I doesn't take that much variation in topping off to make a noticeable mpg difference in an 8 gallon fill up....<br /> But I'm consistent in the miles and roads driven weekly, along with gas stations used. That must be the main reason for the consistent measurement tag:www.451s.com,2009-06-28:1912846:Comment:63888 2009-06-28T02:59:17.717Z Ian Pellant

Hi Raymond,<br /> A couple of questions:<br /> What's the noise and wind like driving the cab at speed on the highway? (My only "cabriolet" was a Jeep Wrangler... it wasn't too bad until it rained and the water whipped around onto the rear of the windshield - a graphic display of airlfow.)<br /> How much nose up causes the fuel gauge problem? It could be overfill that swamped the evaporator (?)<br /> <br /> The variability in fuel consumption still has me baffled in my environment. It seems to vary from day to day doing the…

Hi Raymond,<br /> A couple of questions:<br /> What's the noise and wind like driving the cab at speed on the highway? (My only "cabriolet" was a Jeep Wrangler... it wasn't too bad until it rained and the water whipped around onto the rear of the windshield - a graphic display of airlfow.)<br /> How much nose up causes the fuel gauge problem? It could be overfill that swamped the evaporator (?)<br /> <br /> The variability in fuel consumption still has me baffled in my environment. It seems to vary from day to day doing the same trip, driving the same way, much the same temperatures. I'm wondering if vapour pressure (plus or minus) in the tank is a factor... would depend on fill and temperature and the gas cap venting? tag:www.451s.com,2009-06-27:1912846:Comment:63873 2009-06-27T17:46:12.115Z Raymond E. Martin

I have an '09 cabriolet with 3600 miles. I have about 84 miles every day on US freeways marked between 65 and 75 mph. Around 70 I've seen between 30 and 40 mph depending on top up/down, windows open/closed, A/C on/off. Best milage is windows closed, top up. A/C off. 75 mph can drop it another 3-6 mpg. Slowing down to 55/60 mph gets numbers well above 40 mpg and near 55 mpg with the top down. I've also found that the level of the car matters when putting gas in. With the front end high the gas ga…

I have an '09 cabriolet with 3600 miles. I have about 84 miles every day on US freeways marked between 65 and 75 mph. Around 70 I've seen between 30 and 40 mph depending on top up/down, windows open/closed, A/C on/off. Best milage is windows closed, top up. A/C off. 75 mph can drop it another 3-6 mpg. Slowing down to 55/60 mph gets numbers well above 40 mpg and near 55 mpg with the top down. I've also found that the level of the car matters when putting gas in. With the front end high the gas gage went berserk one day. Drive from South Bend, Indiana to Columbus, Ohio (where dealer is) didn't look too promising for warranty service, until the next 2 tanks proved ok ( with font end lower than rear). I seem to get a fairly steady 36-38 mpg driving around 70 going to work with outside temps in 80-90 F range. tag:www.451s.com,2009-06-13:1912846:Comment:63162 2009-06-13T22:27:54.225Z Ian Pellant

Peak hour (or up here, anyhour) driving with stop lights really kills the economy... certainly makes the mhd a good idea. Traffic lights a few hundred metres apart which all turn red as I approach, really guzzles fuel... watching the ScanGauge show a 5.5 lhk climb to 20 lhk stuck at a stop light shows how inept traffic controls can cause more loss to national fuel economy than the politicians, motoring journos or Greens have taken note of... too complex an issue for their binary thinking.<br /> <br /> 4.4 t…

Peak hour (or up here, anyhour) driving with stop lights really kills the economy... certainly makes the mhd a good idea. Traffic lights a few hundred metres apart which all turn red as I approach, really guzzles fuel... watching the ScanGauge show a 5.5 lhk climb to 20 lhk stuck at a stop light shows how inept traffic controls can cause more loss to national fuel economy than the politicians, motoring journos or Greens have taken note of... too complex an issue for their binary thinking.<br /> <br /> 4.4 to 4.6 lhk is pretty good. I often see an average of the low 4s on the few straight, flat, sections of road at 60kph... then the next intersection or roundabout kills it.<br /> <br /> I don't have any long, straight stretches at 100kph to monitor fuel consumption with air con on and off. Your guestimate of about 1 lhk is probably about it... that's why I'm doubtful I'll ever sustain a sub 5lhk up here... just too hot and humid to go far without the air on. tag:www.451s.com,2009-06-13:1912846:Comment:63149 2009-06-13T11:12:00.020Z DendoRacing

I have been averaging a consistent 5.9l/100km around town for the past 2000km which is better than the official 6.1l/100km. However, I don't do much peak hour driving.<br /> <br /> Highway trips get down around the 4.4-4.6 range depending on which direction the wind is blowing. I reckon the aircon is worth about an extra 0.5-1.0l/100km depending on the outside temp.

I have been averaging a consistent 5.9l/100km around town for the past 2000km which is better than the official 6.1l/100km. However, I don't do much peak hour driving.<br /> <br /> Highway trips get down around the 4.4-4.6 range depending on which direction the wind is blowing. I reckon the aircon is worth about an extra 0.5-1.0l/100km depending on the outside temp. tag:www.451s.com,2009-06-13:1912846:Comment:63139 2009-06-13T08:13:05.231Z Ian Pellant

yep... I'd worry about the clutch fitted to the US 71bhp model getting a bit stressed if turboed over 100 bhp. The Brabus Extreme pushes over the 100bhp mark... but it's modded to take the loads. My 84bhp turbo is rated the same fuel economy as the 71bhp cabrio in "extra-urban" and "combined" figures, which are a little thirstier than the 71bhp coupe. Kinda hard to figure that since the tests are rolling road with fudged air resistance... as can be seen in the 84bhp turbo figures being the same…

yep... I'd worry about the clutch fitted to the US 71bhp model getting a bit stressed if turboed over 100 bhp. The Brabus Extreme pushes over the 100bhp mark... but it's modded to take the loads. My 84bhp turbo is rated the same fuel economy as the 71bhp cabrio in "extra-urban" and "combined" figures, which are a little thirstier than the 71bhp coupe. Kinda hard to figure that since the tests are rolling road with fudged air resistance... as can be seen in the 84bhp turbo figures being the same in coupe and cabrio. The lowest figure we get quoted is 4.0 lhk (US 58.8 mpg) for the 71bhp coupe... you've got another 4.3 mpg to find yet! LOL<br /> <br /> My pulse turbo is listed as 4.1 lhk (57.4 mpg) in "extra-urban cycle". I doubt I'll ever see that. Too much wind, coarse bitumen, hills and trucks on narrow roads to contend with.<br /> <br /> The published figures are a bit artificial. Anyone who believes that they are readily achievable in real road conditions, needs to contact Mythbusters.<br /> <br /> I may do a long trip this week and I'm wondering if I'll see better than 5.0 lhk (47 mpg).<br /> <br /> All my driving is with air con on. It's winter here... in the tropics that has meant 17C in the mornings. With the climate control set on 22, it was actually blowing warmed air for a while this morning.<br /> <br /> Cheers, Ian tag:www.451s.com,2009-06-13:1912846:Comment:63137 2009-06-13T04:56:52.322Z mr bad example

dittos to the scan gauge addiction! LOL

dittos to the scan gauge addiction! LOL tag:www.451s.com,2009-06-13:1912846:Comment:63135 2009-06-13T04:50:35.550Z mr bad example

i just logged a trip up to wisconsin dells, for the summer smart meet, over 100 smarts in attendance (no 450's though) 203 miles and 54.5MPG, not too shabby! take that MR EPA 41HWY MPG!!!! driving 200+ miles and showing 5/8ths of a tank, with a sub 9 gallon tank is pretty satisfying!<br /> <br /> i think the turbo does make the smart a little more thirsty, welcome back ian! there are a few people in the states making aftermarket turbos for USA consumption, the HP nearly doubles, i wonder if the clutch would…

i just logged a trip up to wisconsin dells, for the summer smart meet, over 100 smarts in attendance (no 450's though) 203 miles and 54.5MPG, not too shabby! take that MR EPA 41HWY MPG!!!! driving 200+ miles and showing 5/8ths of a tank, with a sub 9 gallon tank is pretty satisfying!<br /> <br /> i think the turbo does make the smart a little more thirsty, welcome back ian! there are a few people in the states making aftermarket turbos for USA consumption, the HP nearly doubles, i wonder if the clutch would hold up?....