bad gas mileage

[onyx pt]

hello everyone. anyone out there that can shed some light on gas mileage. on a half tank of gas i get about 75 to 80 miles before it gets empty. the car only has 2000 miles on it. i know its a turbo but it still seems to be sucking up alot of gas. anyone with the same problem?

[DTs_PTGT]

I average roughly 20MPG doing mixed driving, including those "let's see if I can break 90 on the onramp!" runs (no cops on the onramps, about the only safe place to speed until the state budget gets back on track). If I get into the boost I can practically see the gas gauge running towards empty.

OTOH, I wouldn't trust the gas gauge needle so much, I calculate my MPG when I refill the tank. I've found that the gas gauge takes forever to hit 1/2 tank, where I'm usually around 150 miles. My low gas (1/4 tank) chime goes off right around 225 miles.

So I guess I'm seeing something similar if I watch the gas gauge needle, but if I go by refills, then I'm getting the 20MPG I mentioned before (MPG = miles on trip ODO / gallons added).

[yobiebs]

My car seems to guzzle gas a lot faster than I expected as well. But I just started measuring my MPG maunally, so I hope to have some more definite results over the next week or so.

For you major gear heads, what would be the best mod to increase fuel efficiency? I've heard a lot of talk about throttle body spaces, but I don't think that they have those for our turbos yet. So what do you say?

[PK Cruiser]

I average between 20 & 21 miles in mixed driving...

[Sturdevant]

I average 21 or so and I have gotten as high as 24.

I find that premium gas makes a 1 -2 MPG difference.

[Gear_Head]

Yo, I have talked to a lot of people about these and the general consensus is that for a forced induction engine that it is pretty much a waste of time & money. The best way to increase your gas mileage is to keep that led foot of yours OUT OF THE TURBOCHARGER. Remember, I followed you back from Carslile. I didn't buy the turbo car for gas mileage, and each of the mods that helps me go faster, feeds my need to do so on a more regular basis. I have not even checked my gas mileage (although I have the gas receipt for EVERY DROP of gasoline that has been put in the cruiser) Even the Original Tank that the dealer bought when I bought the car. Thats pretty sick, I think I should seek professional help. Maybe I need to start checking my mileage, but I am not sure that I want to know all that bad.
[8)]
Alan

[Jeff V]

I'm getting 17 - 19. When I checked the tires I thought they were underinflated, tire says 50psi max and they were all at 35. So I pumped them all to 45psi and my mileage went down noticeably. But they seem to squeal easier.

[Dragula]

You may have over inflated your tires. This will help in gas mileage if you're going in a straight line because you're running on the center of the tread and reducing the rolling resistance. You will however have less of a contact patch, thus less traction and increased tire wear in the center of the tread (decreased tire lifespan).

Never go by the number embossed on the tire. Inflate the tires according to the sticker in the drivers door jam. If that says 45PSI then forget what I said.

[DTs_PTGT]

The door jam sticker says 38PSI all the way around.

My tires came inflated to 35 from the dealer, so I jacked them up to 38 a couple of weeks ago. I haven't noticed any change in mileage though.

Gear Head,

Keeping out of the turbo charger sounds good, in theory anyway. Sometimes it's just too much to resist that feeling of being blown back into the seat.

[DC2-1301]

I fully agree with the Door Jam rule. Not only does it work for "factory" tires, it is also a helpful guide for replacement tires. You should always make sure the tire is capable of handling the tire pressure indicated on the door jam, on both the high side as well as the low side (like don't get a tire with a max. psi of 35 when the door jam calls for 38 psi).

BTW: I'm seeing around 21.5 mixed driving and trying to stay out of the floor board.