i love my element --it just fits my life perfectly but i have never gotten good gas mileage. my "better get gas" light comes on after 250 miles. i don't know how much miles i have left at that point(anyone know?) that is city driving.
highway the light will go on in the late 280s.

i figure based on the size of the talk 15.9 gallons, that puts me about 15-16 miles to a gallon city and 18 highway.

the dealer just scratches his head. i brought it in to the dealer the first year he said let it break in and the mileage will go up. it never did

anyone else have this. i mean i always reset my odometer so this exact low gas mileage amount is consistant since i purchased the element.

here is my question.... does anyone use their odometer to get the exact number of miles before the gas light goes on? i'd really like to compare and see.

Cake,

Welcome to the EOC. If you spend some time reading threads here, you'll discover that fuel economy is an extensively discussed topic, with hundreds of posts dedicated to it. Also, you should calculate your mpg based on miles driven divided by actual gallons used (from fill-ups), rather than guessing by the size of the tank and when the fuel light comes on (which is very early). You'll get much more reliable data, and probably a higher mpg figure. I routinely average in the low 20s; YMMV.

As MKH says, "Using the gas guage to calculate mileage is about as accurate as caluclating wind speed by holding up a wet finger."

When my lite comes on, I fill it. I'll put in just about 12 gal. If yours is the same, then 250 miles on 12 gal of gas is about 20 Mpg !! That's just about what you should get .


Use your trip, to take the number of miles you drive. Set it to 0 When you fill the car.

Then the next time you fill the car see how many Gal's it takes. Use those numbers, and only those numbers to compute your mileage! Then you will know what you are getting!

I did not have time to read this entire thread so if someone has stated this I'm sorry. I have found out that when I fill my tank, after the pump automatic cut off kicks in my tank is far from full. If I slow down the flow speed of the gas pump I can get 2-3 gallons more gas into the tank. This may effect your mileage calculations if you are basing it on a full tank.

I have found out that when I fill my tank, after the pump automatic cut off kicks in my tank is far from full. If I slow down the flow speed of the gas pump I can get 2-3 gallons more gas into the tank. This may effect your mileage calculations if you are basing it on a full tank.Either way that is still the wrong way to calculate it. Full tank or not, it all depends on how much you pump. So if you can pump more in you simply can travel further on that tank, but your MPGs would be roughly the same.

It still goes back to a number of people who still think you calculate MPGs by the same number of gallons each fill up which is incorrect.

I did not have time to read this entire thread so if someone has stated this I'm sorry. I have found out that when I fill my tank, after the pump automatic cut off kicks in my tank is far from full. If I slow down the flow speed of the gas pump I can get 2-3 gallons more gas into the tank. This may effect your mileage calculations if you are basing it on a full tank.
that's why you need to keep a complete and accurate log

take an average of the last 3 or 4 tanks, then how much you "top off" or not, will not matter.

I got my new Element EX AT last week drove 189 miles and almost full tank of gas is gone. When I did calculation based on tank capacity I came to the conclusion that is my element have about 15 mpg.Air or heat was barely on.
Online specifications from Honda web site
showing:5-Speed Automatic 4WD (City/Highway) 21/26.
I just wonder what could be possibly cause of it or is any one have experience similar problem?

I got my new Element EX AT last week drove 189 miles and almost full tank of gas is gone. When I did calculation based on tank capacity I came to the conclusion that is my element have about 15 mpg.Air or heat was barely on.
Online specifications from Honda web site
showing:5-Speed Automatic 4WD (City/Highway) 21/26.
I just wonder what could be possibly cause of it or is any one have experience similar problem?

If your calculation is based on "almost a full tank" and tank capacity, check the threads on "low fuel indicator." You might not have used as much gas so far as you thought.

Don't estimate. Fill up your tank and use the data for calculation. Here is the result of my first fill up. I got scared and fill up early. Only 11.55 gallon but I can still use the number to calculate my MPG. This is mostly highway driving, but I think my E did very well on the first tank.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p8eVyS-thNnCkr23RcTMCOg

First of all I'd like to thank you all who replied.
Little disappointed but still love the ride.
Last Sunday I filled up full tank of gas, before that I drove till yellow light was up.
Reseted trip down to 0.
After that drove for half of the day that was 125 miles, and exactly half of the tank was gone.
So, 125 mi/ 8gal (half of the tank) = 15.265 mpg .
I don't have a "heavy foot" always taking my time to start moving.
I've seen number of replies from people that driving SC and getting average of 19-20 mpg.
The SC is 2WD-mine is 4WD EX.
Just guessing maybe 4WD eats more gas cause structured differently then 2WD.
That has to be something.....Anyone any clue possibly? Thanks.

First of all I'd like to thank you all who replied.
Little disappointed but still love the ride.
Last Sunday I filled up full tank of gas, before that I drove till yellow light was up.
Reseted trip down to 0.
After that drove for half of the day that was 125 miles, and exactly half of the tank was gone.
So, 125 mi/ 8gal (half of the tank) = 15.265 mpg .
I don't have a "heavy foot" always taking my time to start moving.
I've seen number of replies from people that driving SC and getting average of 19-20 mpg.
The SC is 2WD-mine is 4WD EX.
Just guessing maybe 4WD eats more gas cause structured differently then 2WD.
That has to be something.....Anyone any clue possibly? Thanks.

If you're looking at the gas gauge to figure out that half the tank is gone, that's the problem right there. I routinely fill up when the gauge reaches 1/4 remaining...if the gauge were exactly accurate, I'd have to put in 12 gallons to bring it back up to full, but it end up being about 9-9.5 gallons. The gauge reads pessimistic...all gas gauges in every car I've ever driven read pessimistic...helps prevent people from running out of gas by making them think there is less gas in the tank than there actually is.

Ya gotta figure gas mileage by dividing the number of miles you drive by how much you put in the tank the next time you fill up. That's the only way you'll ever know what your gas mileage is.

hey element owners, i recently purchased a 2008 element sc, and have been getting a little under 300 miles per tank. Is that normal, or should I be getting more. My old ford ranger got the same gas mileage and it was a v-6..

Welcome, Elementpd.

Miles-per-tank is meaningless. Calculate your mileage per gallon over eight or ten tanksful, and you'll be onto something.

Looking for some advice or help here.

I have a 2003 AWD Element, and I have been having issues with my fuel milage. I believe the Element has a 15 gallon tank under it, and most of the research that I have been doing says that the AWD will get 20-22 mpg. I'm getting about half of that. I filled up my car yesterday and drove it 36 miles and im at 3/4 tank already. Are there sensors that can fail without setting off the engine light? I have snow tires on the car.. not sure if that would affect the milage like that.. but in South Dakota you have to have snow tires.

Any help would be wonderful.

Thanks

What kind of range are you getting from a full tank? If what you are describing is true you should be getting about 150 miles out of a tank (I avg 275 or so). Any CELs? Stoplight Mario Andretti? Tires properly infated? Dragging a house behind you? I hope your doing your math wrong.:twisted:

Like said above ignore your gague. Fill up after the light comes on and take your readings from the pump and odometer.

take your readings from the pump and odometer.
Quoted for truth. "Miles per gauge position" is meaningless.

Ok, first let's make sure you're using the right information to calculate fuel mileage. I would not use the fuel gage...

You use the miles driven since the last fill-up and the amount of fuel you needed to fill up. Miles/gals used

Now... I usually squeak out about 180 miles at the half tank line, but I have a different final drive and live in a warmer climate than you... So your mileage may be less.

Driving style comes into play as well.


I was watching the fuel gauge drop like crazy and that is what caught my attention. The way I came up with my figures.. the car has a 15.9 gallon fuel cell under it, and the majority of people on this forum are getting 20-22 mpg with the AWD unit. My tires are not underinflated.. I think I would notice that. I will figure my milage at the next fill up, that is something I haven't done. I have been watching the odometer on the car, and im at 72 miles and my gas gauge shows me under 3/4 tank. Something is definetly wrong I just5 havent found it yet.

I was watching the fuel gauge drop like crazy and that is what caught my attention. The way I came up with my figures.. the car has a 15.9 gallon fuel cell under it, and the majority of people on this forum are getting 20-22 mpg with the AWD unit. My tires are not underinflated.. I think I would notice that. I will figure my milage at the next fill up, that is something I haven't done. I have been watching the odometer on the car, and im at 72 miles and my gas gauge shows me under 3/4 tank. Something is definetly wrong I just5 havent found it yet.


Yes something is definetly wrong - your using a totally inacurate tool to judge your gas mileage with. :rolleyes:

Using the gas guage to calculate mileage is about as accurate as caluclating wind speed by holding up a wet finger. :D

Some gas guages are semi-accurate, others way off.

1. Fill the tank and write down your mileage.
2. Drive.
3. Fill the tank and write down the amount of gas put in, and your mileage.
4. Compare the miles driven to the gas used. :)

the car has a 15.9 gallon fuel cell under it
this is true...however...unless you're running your E until it stalls out from lack of fuel...THEN fill up the tank until gas pours out the spout, you're NEVER going to put 15.9 gallons in.

If you're brave enough, you might be able to run your E until it requires 14 gallons...but at that point, most E's fuel gauges are scarily deep into the far left side. That being said, my average fill up is approximately 13 gallons and this is determined by the gas pump...not by the tick marks on the gas guage.

So take down all the info from the pump and your odometer the next time you fill up.... do some simple math and hopefully everything in the universe will correct itself. :D

Well i did some more homework because I was missing alot of information. At my last fill up I have putting about 10-11 gallons in the tank on a fill up. It figured out to be 16.7 mpg. That's strickly in town driving. But after reading some of the topincs on here for a 2004 Element 4wd thats what I'm supposed to get.. at least it sounds that way. According to my odometer I got 210 miles on my tank.. but I had around 4 gallons of fuel to go.

Is there anything you can do to a vehicle as far as adjusting the float on the fuel pump so you can get a more accurate reading inside the car on the fuel gauge?

:mad:

You know, I'm going to be blunt here. My patience is exhausted. I have had my fill of these threads complaining about fuel mileage based on wild guesstimating from the fuel gauge indication.

What nobody has said yet - you don't know if you seriously under-filled on the most recent fill-up. You are at the mercy of the gas station pump's cutoff sensor.

Please return to discuss possible fuel economy issues with your vehicle once you have measured three consecutive tankfuls using the proper method: miles since last fill-up divided by gasoline pump reading at this fill-up. I don't care if you "know" how many gallons your tank might or might not hold - stop driving yourself and us crazy by trying to SWAG (stupid wild-ass guess) from the gas gauge.

:mad:

You know, I'm going to be blunt here. My patience is exhausted. I have had my fill of these threads complaining about fuel mileage based on wild guesstimating from the fuel gauge indication.

What nobody has said yet - you don't know if you seriously under-filled on the most recent fill-up. You are at the mercy of the gas station pump's cutoff sensor.

Please return to discuss possible fuel economy issues with your vehicle once you have measured three consecutive tankfuls using the proper method: miles since last fill-up divided by gasoline pump reading at this fill-up. I don't care if you "know" how many gallons your tank might or might not hold - stop driving yourself and us crazy by trying to SWAG (stupid wild-ass guess) from the gas gauge.

Okay Mike....Now tell us what you REALLY think.:lol:

:mad:

You know, I'm going to be blunt here. My patience is exhausted. I have had my fill of these threads complaining about fuel mileage based on wild guesstimating from the fuel gauge indication.

What nobody has said yet - you don't know if you seriously under-filled on the most recent fill-up. You are at the mercy of the gas station pump's cutoff sensor.

Please return to discuss possible fuel economy issues with your vehicle once you have measured three consecutive tankfuls using the proper method: miles since last fill-up divided by gasoline pump reading at this fill-up. I don't care if you "know" how many gallons your tank might or might not hold - stop driving yourself and us crazy by trying to SWAG (stupid wild-ass guess) from the gas gauge.

At my last fill up I have putting about 10-11 gallons in the tank on a fill up. It figured out to be 16.7 mpg. According to my odometer I got 210 miles on my tank

I'm with Mike on this. I vote all fuel mpg related threads be deleted if the poster can't do simple math or use a calulator or give a coherent explanation of their numbers. 210/10 = 21, 210/11 = about 19. 19 and 21 > 16.7 :confused:

Seriously, how hard is it to print the dang receipt and write your trip mileage on it. Then, before you post run the numbers through a calculator. Then, before you post you'll know if you're getting bad mileage.

:mad:

You know, I'm going to be blunt here. My patience is exhausted. I have had my fill of these threads complaining about fuel mileage based on wild guesstimating from the fuel gauge indication.

What nobody has said yet - you don't know if you seriously under-filled on the most recent fill-up. You are at the mercy of the gas station pump's cutoff sensor.

Please return to discuss possible fuel economy issues with your vehicle once you have measured three consecutive tankfuls using the proper method: miles since last fill-up divided by gasoline pump reading at this fill-up. I don't care if you "know" how many gallons your tank might or might not hold - stop driving yourself and us crazy by trying to SWAG (stupid wild-ass guess) from the gas gauge.

Seriously what the hell is your problem? If you don't have anything useful to contribute to the thread then don't. Number one, the one gas station didn't give me a reciept so I have nothing to go on except the numbers on the pump and what I can remember. Second I just finished a 13 hour road trip in minus 40 weather so don't start with me-I could barely stand to be outside to pump the damn gas.

I don't care what math I do or what the fuel cut off at the gas station pump was-I am over 100KMS++ short per tank on the effing highway. I don't need some fancy formula to tell me something is way off here.
I figure I am getting 100 kms/13 litres and I should be getting 100 kms/8.7 according to spec for highway travel.

Now if someone has something helpful to add....

I'm with Mike on this. I vote all fuel mpg related threads be deleted if the poster can't do simple math or use a calulator or give a coherent explanation of their numbers. 210/10 = 21, 210/11 = about 19. 19 and 21 > 16.7 :confused:

Seriously, how hard is it to print the dang receipt and write your trip mileage on it. Then, before you post run the numbers through a calculator. Then, before you post you'll know if you're getting bad mileage.

Yes, yes, yes...

I laugh out loud when I read the "I clickied the pump a bunch and watched my ode, and am now pulling numbers out my butt, so going to complain about my mileage - when I don't even have the remotest clue what it really is."

Seriously what the hell is your problem? ...
My problem is the endless whining about poor mpg based on... what?... misperceptions and bad assumptions?... and not actual measurements. Measure and compute, or you have no basis for complaint, literally and figuratively.

My problem is the endless whining about poor mpg based on... what?... misperceptions and bad assumptions?... and not actual measurements. Measure and compute, or you have no basis for complaint, literally and figuratively.

I'll make my own decisions on my basis to complain or not. 400 kms or less per any tank-whether it be 50 or 60 litres sucks. My question was if wind could cost me 100-200 kms per tank. It was windy out, enough to cause a -15 or more windchill however not so windy the E was uncontrollable. I basically maintained this poor mileage my whole trip so for 1300 kms.

This really shouldn't be the subject of debate. "Calculating" by perceived tankful is just comparing one wild-assed guess to another.

Fill tank, note mileage
Subtract mileage at last fillup from current mileage
Divide miles (or kilometers) driven by gallons (or liters) pumped
Repeat

This thread is one of the reasons I rarely post anymore. I feel bad for MikeQBF and ramblerdan, who have devoted untold hours to documenting and researching issues here, only to be dissed as if they were dorks, and told to shut up if they have nothing "nice" to say.

I've been told many times to shut up if I've nothing nice to say, and have often deserved it. My patience is microscopic compared to theirs! Then again, some people have their heads up their (where the sun doesn't shine), and only want to hear what they already believe is true, whether it is or not.

It's really tough to let the morons have the bully pulpit, I know. Over time, I've let it pass, and for those who want to whine because the Element isn't what they want it to be, I say let them sell it. Odds are, they will complain about whatever they have, because they are incapable of learning anything they don't already "know".

FWIW, my Element has averaged 19-23 MPG in five years of real world daily driving, city and highway combined. It's not fabulous, but considering what I get in exchange (a fabulously versatile vehicle), I'm thrilled.

I drive a completely stock Element. 2005 EX 5 spd AWD with roughly 58,000 miles (I say roughly because My Odometer went out and had to replace it.) I barely get to 300 miles if that before the gas light turns on. I change the oil religiously every 3000 miles and air filter every 6000 whether it needs it or not. I have tried lucas fuel injection cleaner and still nothing. When I bought it back in 2005 with about 15,000 miles on it i could get about 340 miles before the light came on. I commute to school about 35 miles every other day. 80% of my driving is highway.

My driving style is conservative. I only "get on it" if I am passing someone on a backroad.

Any ideas or thought on what could be causing the MPG loss or ways to gain it back would be greatly appreciative. Thanks

What MPG are you getting? (miles per gallon)

"Miles per tank" doesn't mean squat.

270 miles to a tank
Essentially a meaningless measurement. Calculate your mileage, as Xequar does, in miles per gallon, and you'll have some worthwhile information.

Essentially a meaningless measurement. Calculate your mileage, as Xequar does, in miles per gallon, and you'll have something to hang your hat on.

Think about what you are saying.. Its not a meaningless measurement. Thats what I get on a tank and i could give 2 ****s about the 22.625125 mpg lol

If you're concerned not about fuel economy, but range only, then fine. We get a lot of posts with people complaining that they usually get nnn miles per tank, but then only nnn from another tank, so there must be something wrong with their car. Unless you run your tank dry each time, you can never really calculate the "miles per tank." The fuel gauge just isn't that accurate.

If you're judging gas mileage by your gas gauge, just remember...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v665/xequar/vangasgauge.jpg
Your gas gauge won't always tell the truth. Fuel mileage calculated by AMOUNT of fuel used divided by DISTANCE driven (as in Liters/100 km) -OR- DISTANCE driven divided by AMOUNT OF FUEL USED (as in Miles/Gallon) WILL tell the truth.

I drive a completely stock Element. 2005 EX 5 spd AWD with roughly 58,000 miles (I say roughly because My Odometer went out and had to replace it.) I barely get to 300 miles if that before the gas light turns on. I change the oil religiously every 3000 miles and air filter every 6000 whether it needs it or not. I have tried lucas fuel injection cleaner and still nothing. When I bought it back in 2005 with about 15,000 miles on it i could get about 340 miles before the light came on. I commute to school about 35 miles every other day. 80% of my driving is highway.

My driving style is conservative. I only "get on it" if I am passing someone on a backroad.

Any ideas or thought on what could be causing the MPG loss or ways to gain it back would be greatly appreciative. Thanks

Sounds to me like you're getting pretty good mileage! I get about 275 miles per "tank", and that's better than the EPA rating.

The EPA publishes a miles-per-tank rating?

The EPA publishes a miles-per-tank rating?

Now THAT is funny!!!:lol::lol::lol:



For all you Miles per tank people..... It's easy. While you are at the gas-n-sip reset the trip od to 0 and let the gas nozzle click off on it's own. Next time you fill up weather it's a "full" tank or even a half tank. Write down the mileage on the trip OD let the Gas nozzle click off just like the time before.

Write down the gallons, Write down the miles.

miles / gallons = MPG

Miles/tanks is about as useful as a color blind low voltage electrician.;-)

My combined MPG is averaging about 24.5 MPG. I chart it for just about every fill-up.

Rambler. I think we need MORE gas mileage threads.:rolleyes:

Miles per tank is not meaningless if used in conjuction with other data. I click my trip meter after every fill-up and use it as a more accurate gauge than my fuel gauge. Example: earlier this year I moved from san francisco to santa barbara. a one way trip is about 330 miles door to door. From filling up and tracking the mileage of two Es over the last 5 years, I know that 300 miles is about as far as I can go before the low fuel light goes on. After driving back and forth every weekend for 6 weeks, the trip meter 'miles per tank' was much easier and useful a gauge than sitting down and calculating my mpgs at a rest stop. :rolleyes: And once I did calculate, I came up with an average of 25 mpg, which isnt bad considering the E was loaded going southbound with a tailwind and northbound empty with a headwind. when using miles per tank to figure the range of you E, it helps.

The low fuel light is bogus information. In my neighborhood I can occasionally have my low fuel light go on as I drive up a hill only to have it go off again as I go down the other side. If that hill (yes, not all of Kansas is flat) were longer the light would probably stay off for quite some time.:)

Long time lurker, first time poster. Just bought an 08 SC and traded in my much beloved Civic. Im hoping to see some metric fuel effeciency numbers as I dont really like converting them back and forth with the diffences between Metric vs Std Litres , Miles vs KM etc.

I have loved the Element since its inception but the fuel economy is making for a short honeymoon as a new E owner. With the sort of numbers I have seen so far and with the ever-rising price of gas, I dont know if I see myself keeping the vehicle for 10 years like the Civic. Sure, I was not expecting to see Civic-like numbers but I am greatly dismayed to see my need move by 1/8after driving 60km. I considered a new Civic but was not sold on the cheap interior.

My numbers so far.

The Honda site says that the tank capacity is 60L but I filled up the other day from light on empty to full and it was only 47 litres. There can be a donzen litres hiding when the needle is on empty, can there ?

I have started keeping track of my km/mileage and will keep this post updated with each tank. My driving is very conservative with the same route being followed 10 times per week with no much travel outside of that. Tire pressure is set to where the warning/light does not come on. Oil life is at 30% and will be changed after the current gas tank is empty.

As per the Honda.ca site, fuel economy should be avg 9.3km/L for both city/highway travel.

Tank # 1
Appx 37 Litres
KM travelled 340
Expected KM @ 37 L = 344.1
Result : Fuel effeciency is close to factory spec.

Tank # 2
Appx 47 Litres
KM travelled 60 and counting


Tank # 3 (after recent oil change)



Tank # 4 (after recent oil change)



Tank # 5 (rear seats removed)



Tank # 6 (rear seats removed)

Your 47L roughly corresponds to the 12 gallons that is the typical fillup in the USA. It has been discussed frequently. The sensors are placed so they register empty when about 4 gallons remains.

I noted in another thread, 45L is the most I've ever added during my vacation trips in BC. Of course if the distance between towns is large I don't wait till I am close to empty to stop for gas.

I run past 500Km on my odometer then I start looking for a gas station. Usually I can put in 50 liters, sometimes a bit more. I'd too would like to know how much more is in there but I'm not about to risk going empty.

Fill in your profile please and then we'll know where in this great country you are. :-)

I only have 3500 km on mine so far and I average about 11 litres per 100 km
all city with light traffic and driving gentley. My last fill up was 48 litres for 430 km. This thing drinks like a V6.

I get a consistent 8.5 litres per 100 km on the highway - typically with cruise control set at about 100 kph.

Here we go again. Calculate your fuel economy based on miles per liter (or gallon, as the case may be), or don't bother.

Here we go again. Calculate your fuel economy based on miles per liter (or gallon, as the case may be), or don't bother.

I assume you mean litres per 100 km if you are talking about Canada?

That is the standard way that fuel consumption is measured for all new vehicles in this country.

[edit] although, I guess you are also right if you want to measure fuel economy based on km per litre but nobody commonly does this.

I think Dan is talking about (mis) using miles (or km) per tank. I doubt if he is bothered by the L/km v km/L or m/g issue. That's why my initial reply focused on the normal fillup amount - 12g or 47-50L, since I didn't want the OP to get hung up over the 47L v the 60L capacity.

The heading of his post "tank schmank" is instructive!

Here we go again. Calculate your fuel economy based on miles per liter (or gallon, as the case may be), or don't bother.

Why ?

You do realize that only the US, Burma, and Liberia dont use the metric system ? The rest of the planet uses metric. There is also a difference between the US gallon and the metric gallon.

If I have driven for 20 years using the metric system and I want to compare my "milage" to my past experience and to that of my fellow metric users, I am going to post as I did inquiring about metric numbers.

The rest of the planet uses metric. There is also a difference between the US gallon and the metric gallon....

You meant the imperial gallon, I assume?

Like paulj, I don't think Dan was arguing for gallons over litres (or miles over kilometres) as measuring standards, he was simply pointing out that you need some way of measuring that can be reproduced consistently. That's where "miles (km) per tank" is problematic.

^ Paulj and PVR got it, despite my "miles" gaffe. I meant kilometers per liter, or litres per 100 km, or whatever the metric equivalent of miles per gallon is. The units of measurement are beside the point. This is my point: The gas gauge doesn't mean squat. "Miles (or km) per tankful" is a waste of time. Divide the distance driven by amount of fuel burned, based on filling the tank each time. You do get a little variation depending on the pump (when it clicks off), temperature, etc., but that smooths out over a few fillups. Many fills are needed for a useful degree of accuracy. It doesn't matter whether the tank holds a liter or a million liters, provided that it doesn't change.

... Many fills are needed for a useful degree of accuracy.

True that. I still regularly set my odometer when I fillup just to see if my fuel consumption is remaining fairly constant.

Now that that winter is approaching, however, all bets are off. What with winter formula gas, cold temps and, most importantly, the cargo box on the roof, my fuel consumption will go to hell as it always does this time of year. :roll:

^ Paulj and PVR got it, despite my "miles" gaffe. I meant kilometers per liter, or litres per 100 km, or whatever the metric equivalent of miles per gallon is. The units of measurement are beside the point. This is my point: The gas gauge doesn't mean squat. "Miles (or km) per tankful" is a waste of time. Divide the distance driven by amount of fuel burned, based on filling the tank each time. You do get a little variation depending on the pump (when it clicks off), temperature, etc., but that smooths out over a few fillups. Many fills are needed for a useful degree of accuracy. It doesn't matter whether the tank holds a liter or a million liters, provided that it doesn't change.
I understand what you are saying Paul, but the point the OP is trying to make is relevant to us in Canada....Li/100km is how mileage is calculated in the metric world...
Right or wrong, it's how it's done...
I have a hard time trying to get my head around metric, since I'm of the generation that was originally taught imperial measurements (imperial, based upon the British system, not the US system, which is different again...), then we changed to metric while I was still in grade school. This is very confusing to many Canadian my age, since we had just mastered one system, and had to now learn a new one. But our educators screwed this one up royally, but insisting on teaching us how to convert, as a means for us to better understand the 'new' metric system. What you have now, is a generation of Canadians who don't fully understand either system, or like myself, fully understand both, and automatically convert, and converse, in both, using a mix of both - expecting everyone else to understand what we are saying...I still order a lb of lunch meat at the deli, and know how much I should be paying, with a price of $2.65 /100gr.

But this illustrates one of the points of the metric system...being a base 10 system, and it being easier to think in terms of 100 units, almost all measurements are based upon units per 100 units.

9.9 li per 100 km is perfectly normal for me, when I know that I usually stop for gas when I get around 400 km, and I know that I will be paying about $40 for fuel, This is what the conveniences of our current society have produced. I only use the trip odometer, now, and gas is 97 cents/li

If I calculate based upon your method, it means nothing to me...37 li of fuel to travel 400 km is 10.81 km/li....which is what my last fill up was. But I have about 220,000 km, and travel 140 km a day, almost all highway.

*edit - sorry Paul...I missed your point, and got hung up on the metric/miles thingy...you are right the means of measurement is irrelevant, and can only really be a used as a benchmark, to roughly keep track of what your mileage roughly is...

Metric is good! I wish the U.S. had converted in the '70s when there was a chance.

Since my odometer reads in miles, I usually don't both to calculate mileage when in Canada. I could, but it's not worth the conversions (L to gal etc). But I can see where the current $1/L, 10L/100km mileage, add up to a handy rule-of-thumb - $40 for 400km.

I reset one odometer at each fillup, and the other at the start of the day. When the tank one approaches 200 miles I start thinking about a fill up, sooner if I'm heading off a main highway for a while.

On this last trip I had a TomTom GPS, my first auto-oriented one. With that set to metric, I paid more attention to it than the car's speedometer. While I grew up with the 60 m/h = 1m/min way of thinking about distance and speed, 100 km/hr is nearly as intuitive; e.g. I can cover 50km in half a hour.

edit reason: cause I am an idiot and completely missed your point

Gotta love the unvarnished honesty of that one Tim! ;-)

Like you, I'm of the generation where I had to convert from the old units to the new ones for a while before I got it. Some measures have stuck others haven't - partly because wood is still sold in feet and deli meat (as you said) in pounds! But for most things I've made the changeover pretty well - after nearly 35 years! :roll:

Hey all,

The one I use is the fact that 10 litres per 100 kilometres is 28 mpg Canadian.
Since my E almost always gets around this number...its a good reference point.

If I buy 44 litres of gas... and the odometer shows 440 km, I got 28 mpg...

If it shows 400 km.. I got 25mpg (10% less)

easy eh?

Clunie...

I did not realize that I cant revise my first post but I may have made in error in calculation.

If the E averages 9.3 L / 100 km (an avg of the spec 10.5//8.1) then on 37 L of fuel, I expect to go 398 km. I went 340 and could have gone further if I ignored the warning light for a bit longer. Thats close to spec still but not spectacular.

close to spec
::sigh::
There is no spec for km (or miles) per tank. That's because it's an idiotic way to "calculate" fuel economy.

So, if the average is 9.3L/100 and I have 37 L, then that means 37/9=4.1. 4.1*100km =440 km.

Are you calling me an idiot Dan ?

I did not realize that I cant revise my first post but I may have made in error in calculation.

If the E averages 9.3 L / 100 km (an avg of the spec 10.5//8.1) then on 37 L of fuel, I expect to go 398 km. I went 340 and could have gone further if I ignored the warning light for a bit longer. Thats close to spec still but not spectacular.

Ignore that warning light. It comes on way too soon. If you're trying to figure out how far a tank will take you good luck. I think it's been said that a tank holds about 60 liters but who really knows? I've put in about 52 liters once. By the way, hello nieghbor.

Edit: Oops. That should be 'nieghbour'.

Again, miles or km per tank is NOT an accurate way to measure fuel economy or consumption. As you said in a previous post, you drove on after the low fuel light came on - this means you didn't reproduce the "test" conditions you set for yourself (even if the low fuel light warning gives you an accurate measure which it does not)

Do what Dan said. Fill up until the pump clicks off. Set your trip odometer. When you next fill up fill the tank until the pump clicks off and record fuel and kilometreage. Repeat (several times). Get an average of the fuel consumption (x/100 km X fuel used/km traveled, x is the fuel consumption).

So, if the average is 9.3L/100 and I have 37 L, then that means 37/9=4.1. 4.1*100km =440 km.

Are you calling me an idiot Dan ?If he's not, then I am. You're using a good measurement (L/100 km) and trying to shoehorn it into a useless garbage measurement ("Dur, my gas gauge says..."). You say that on 37 L of fuel, you should be able to go 398 km, but you only went 340 km.

So obviously, you're not getting 9.3L/100 km. You're getting 10.9 L/100 km. You'll NEVER be able to calculate how far you can go on a tank, unless you're willing to run it dead on E bone dry until you're literally stuck on the side of the road. Your gas gauge will not tell you how much fuel you have. It will make the suggestion that you should maybe think about finding a gas station.

Speaking of which, from where did the 37 L number come? The E has a 60 L tank, so I can't imagine that if you'd filled it that after only burning 37 L that your light would have already come on. And, if it did, then that further illustrates the folly of trying to use your gas gauge and your "km per tank" to gauge the efficiency of your car.

Because remember, relying on your gas gauge equals THIS:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v665/xequar/vangasgauge.jpg

Nope, not calling you an idiot, Rickfactor. But the "km per tank" methodology remains idiotic. Might as well measure liters burned between pee breaks.

Like the hosing-out-the-back myth, the "miles/km per tank" fallacy just won't freakin' die, and it makes me testy sometimes.

I am consistently getting 24 to 25 mpg, and I track it meticulously! This is loaded or not, air on or not. Worst mileage I've had was 23 per gallon. I seem to be getting 300 to 307 miles a tank with 89 octane, 289 to 295 on 87 octane. I am almost always close to sea-level, with lots of highway driving.

On a side note, I am surprised at just how many people don't know how to properly calculate mpg! Use a calculator, folks!:twisted:

That's 75-80 mph on the freeway! My toaster passes a lot of people!

Yet another real world example. Filled up tank to first click on gas pump (could add more). Re-set trip meter to zero. Drive again. Filled up on same pump to first click. It had 144 miles on trip meter from last fillup and it took 7.93 gallons (on pump and receipt) to make the gas pump "click" again. 144/7.93 = 18.15 mpg. All you need is miles driven and gallons needed to replace that amount you drove. I'll empty the tank a bit more before next fillup test. This was tested with all city driving with mostly short trips, cold weather, "winter blend" gas. The E has had all maintenance done, tires properly inflated, no throttle stomping. 46,000 miles, AWD automatic. MPG - could be worse, could be better.

Same pump, same temperature? What's the experiment exactly?

Why do ppl calculate their MPG by using miles per tank method!?

How can you guarantee that you're reading your odometer at the exactly same fuel level each time!? Even better are the ones who use the miles until light come-on method. How do you know the light comes on consistently at the same fuel level each time? How many gallons remaining would that suggest? Would it be the same each time? WOW

:stupid:

A much more accurate way is to fill up gas until it tops off, reset your odometer and on the next fill-up calculate your mpg with how much fuel you've used since the last fill-up

Why do ppl calculate their MPG by using miles per tank method!?

How can you


My fill ups were almost consistant 50 litres per week. Based on that i could get a good baseline as too how far i was going on a tank. Both my E's were the same. When the light came on i had a decent idea of how much fuel was left in the tank. Not a scientific method....But i was never one to log my fuel mileage anyways.

My fill ups were almost consistant 50 litres per week. Based on that i could get a good baseline as too how far i was going on a tank. Both my E's were thae same. When the light came on i had a decent idea of how much fuel was left in the tank. Not a scientific method....But i was never one to log my fuel milage anyways.

What do you mean by "a tank"? Are you driving your E until it dies to determine distance per tank?

No - you are using the low fuel light, which is NOT a consistent reference point.

The other method I and others have described is just as easy to accomplish (elmentary math), and MUCH MUCH more accurate than using the fuel gauage as a reference. Any other methods needs not even be mentioned or justified. Sorry, but that is the absolute truth.

What do you mean by "a tank"? Are you driving your E until it dies to determine distance per tank?

No - you are using the low fuel light, which is NOT a consistent reference point.

The other method I and others have described is just as easy to accomplish (elmentary math), and MUCH MUCH more accurate than using the fuel gauage as a reference. Any other methods needs not even by mentioned or justified.


I am using the amount of fuel i pump in when the light comes on......Normally 50 Litres.....That is my "tank". I have read almost every thread on fuel mileage calculation that exists on the site.

And yes i can do elemetary math tyvm.

But as i stated on my last post i was never one to log my fuel mileage anyways.

I am using the amount of fuel i pump in when the light comes on......Normally 50 Litres.....

But as i stated on my last post i was never one to log my fuel mileage anyways..

This has nothing to do with need to log or not.. if I'm curious at a fill up... I just look at my odometer and do a quick division in my head and get an idea of how much fuel the E has been gulping.. no log no nothing.

.

This has nothing to do with need to log or not.. if I'm curious at a fill up... I just look at my odometer and do a quick division in my head and get an idea of how much fuel the E has been gulping.. no log no nothing.Agreed. I don't keep meticulous records, but I always fill up (no putting $5 in) and I always reset the trip odo and do the quick division to figure mileage.

Admittedly, I'm familiar enough with my car and the gas gauge at this point that I can usually predict pretty accurately what the mileage will be before I do the math (I've been able to do that with all my cars after long enough). But, I still do the math, as I tend to view gas gauges as little more than a suggestion as to when I should get gas.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v665/xequar/Egasgauge.jpg

I drove my kids around with the yellow low fuel light on and I admit it made me a bit uneasy. I think I put on about 9 miles and couldn't take it any more so I filled up (only 203 miles since the last fillup). This is my 3rd tank so the E is new enough where I'm still getting used to the fuel gauge. Thanks xequar for the excellent photo of the "true" fuel gauge levels :roll:

Well, that 203 miles took 12.49 gallons to the click so it wasn't too great (16.25 mpg). In town only, short trips, cold weather driving - all mileage killers. I also discovered that I put in 85 octane the last tank (doh!) so tonight's fillup I went with 87 octane. I'm wondering if the 85 octane slightly reduced the mileage(?) I didn't hear any knocking so that's good. I plan on some highway driving this weekend so I'm hoping to get closer to 250 miles with that same 12.5 - 13 gallon fillup (c'mon 20 mpg!). Pretty ambitious but we'll see in a couple of weeks I guess...

There are threads on how many miles remain in the tank when the light comes on. The highly technical answer is "a bunch."

YOU WILL NOT GET BETTER MILEAGE FROM HIGHER-OCTANE FUEL! Nor will you get more power! But that's a fallacy for another thread.

There are threads on how many miles remain in the tank when the light comes on. The highly technical answer is "a bunch."

YOU WILL NOT GET BETTER MILEAGE FROM HIGHER-OCTANE FUEL! Nor will you get more power! But that's a fallacy for another thread.No, but you will pay more ;-) I'll buy the fact that it probably won't improve mileage but the manual says put 87 in the tank so I'll put it in the tank.

Yes, use the lowest octane recommended by the manufacturer.