New (Bad) MPG record

[NYC-SE]

I've been tracking my MPG's since I bought the car. Last fill up yielded a calculated 28.05 MPG. My worst yet! Still I figure that's no too bad considering it was well below freezing the entire time and I was only doing short trips of 5 miles or less, sometimes in snowstorms with the traction control kicking in the entire way.

My previous worst was 28.80, 3 years ago, also in the dead of winter.

For the record my lifetime average so far is 33.56. Best tank ever was 41.20.

Auto transmission, mostly city driving. Can't complain.

[dogsridewith]

Check tire pressure...it is lowered by the ratio of temperature change (measured from absolute zero..."gas law"). Lower pressure creates more tire flex when the tire materials are stiffer because they are colder.

[Kalispel]

Interesting how much climate & other factors can affect MPG within the same basic model specifications. As a contrast, my lifetime MPG average over the last 2.5 years has been 40.9 here in Phoenix, AZ - All city/suburb work commute & weekend errand driving, with the A/C running approximately 3/4 of that time (& I never need to use the heater/defroster at all). My lowest was 32-33 MPG back when I first got my car new (break-in MPG?).

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Even if the tire psi is the same, the car will use up more fuel. Most likely the defroster is being used, so that kicks on the AC, which consumes fuel. Cooler air is more dense, so more fuel will be used. Most likely the heater is also on, so that consumes more fuel. There's probably more wind for the car to push through, and he already mentioned (having to plow through) snow.

[WeeYari]

OP is not complaining about or questioning his bad mpg. Simply stating the fact that he has just set a new record low for himself. As I have recorded all fill ups since I got the car, I too will periodically check what I was getting during the same period in prior years. So far what I see is no significant change meaning my Yaris is performing just as well, or badly, as it was when new.

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[NYC-SE]

OP is not complaining about or questioning his bad mpg. Simply stating the fact that he has just set a new record low for himself. As I have recorded all fill ups since I got the car, I too will periodically check what I was getting during the same period in prior years. So far what I see is no significant change meaning my Yaris is performing just as well, or badly, as it was when new.

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Yep, exactly right. Just stating the facts. More than satisfied as to the MPGs with this car (and all other aspects as well).

[91mustang]

my 12 se averages 34.5 mpg. i'm not easy on the rpms at all, so that is a contributing factor im sure.

[jayeh]

That is about my average!

Only super long road trips bump up my average.

It's amazing how my car is 35-40 in suburban driving or 25-30 in the city.

[Caramine]

my 14 se averages 20.3 mpg. i'm not easy on the rpms at all, so that is a contributing factor im sure. l live in Chicago
I think my car is a problem.

[jayeh]

my 14 se averages 20.3 mpg. i'm not easy on the rpms at all, so that is a contributing factor im sure. l live in Chicago
I think my car is a problem.

Sounds about right, especially if you have the windshield defrost on a lot.

Out in the suburbs driving around I can easily get 40+mpg but in real city driving (30 seconds between lights and 20-30 seconds of waiting for the next green) it's barely over 20 if I'm lucky.

[NYC-SE]

my 14 se averages 20.3 mpg. i'm not easy on the rpms at all, so that is a contributing factor im sure. l live in Chicago
I think my car is a problem.

in real city driving...it's barely over 20 if I'm lucky.

Are you guys the full block burnout to the next red light types? Because those numbers sound awfully low. I've never been anywhere near that low and I think NYC qualifies as real city driving. Perhaps throttle body / MAF / PCV needs cleaning, or there is some other issue going on with your cars.

[enviri]

are we talkin about driving down midtown competing against all the white vans and cabs and german cars?

aka red light, rev your balls off to 30mph until the next block. I do like 19 until i hit the west side hwy lol

[Secretblend]

Even if the tire psi is the same, the car will use up more fuel. Most likely the defroster is being used, so that kicks on the AC, which consumes fuel. Cooler air is more dense, so more fuel will be used. Most likely the heater is also on, so that consumes more fuel. There's probably more wind for the car to push through, and he already mentioned (having to plow through) snow.

How does heater use more fuel?

Unless I am wrong, more fuel shouldn't be used.

[WeeYari]

When HVAC is in defrost setting you are utilizing the a/c compressor. It kicks in in order to extract moist air inside the cabin to combat fogging up.

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[Secretblend]

When HVAC is in defrost setting you are utilizing the a/c compressor. It kicks in in order to extract moist air inside the cabin to combat fogging up.

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I understand that. To me, defrost is different than heater. :)

However defrost does use more fuel since A/C kicks in.

Thanks for clarify it.

[dogsridewith]

Does A/C activate only on the most clockwise position/setting of that rotary HVAC distribution knob?

[jayeh]

Are you guys the full block burnout to the next red light types? Because those numbers sound awfully low. I've never been anywhere near that low and I think NYC qualifies as real city driving. Perhaps throttle body / MAF / PCV needs cleaning, or there is some other issue going on with your cars.

Any time I go on a road trip or stay in the suburbs for a while it jumps right back up.

I also totally spend way too much time in drive through line ups - that has to hurt it too.

[hichamaziz]

Check tire pressure.

[MadMax]

Winter gas. And because it sucks so much, you're probably driving the car harder to maintain the same pace...