So what is it?

[Sal]

Hello aveo forum,
So i see in the threads that MPG is all over the place. (as it would be due to the human aspect and different drive patterns and routes, etc.) but i mean I'm reading that some people were getting as low as 23MPG US. I drive a completely stock 04 aveo hatch automatic with approx 100k miles and i have always gotten 32ish. lately though iv driven city 90% of the time and average about 50mph. I am looking for a way to improve my mpg's (not because my numbers are bad but because who wouldnt want to save a bit of money on fuel.?) and cant really find solid answers. Is it dropping the car, new spark plugs, better fuel, some aftermarket air filter, fuel additives like Lucas, remapping, not cleaning your car [Mythbusters haha], driver being to heavy, all of the above... Can anyone please inform me on how to make my little aveo run more efficiently?

[petrified.rabbit]

weight, resistance, and driving style are the easiest to explain. HP or efficiency is more complex.

The lighter the car the better. The less friction you create, the better. The more you hypermile the better.

lightening the car means eliminate everything you don't need, want, etc. Including the driver.

Resistance can be lighter wheels, smaller width tire with a low resistance tire. Increasing the tire diameter with le width and weight will help you go further. BUT you must realize this in the on board gauges etc. If you increase the tire diameter, your speedo and odometer will be inaccurate to the difference in the circumference of the tire.

hypermiling is different for the car you drive, where you drive, and the traffic your in. Do your best, drive furthest locations for warm up, look at the fuel maps for optimal gearing and rpm ranges etc.

HP and efficiency is an odd balance. if you think of the engine as an air pump, the more air you can pump through it the better the hp.. more air = more fuel. However, if you look at the modifications you have done, and the new fuel trims etc, to determine the new optimal driving style. You should be capable of doing better than stock.

Gearing is key with hp.. if you have enough hp to drive in 5th gear at 1500 rpm versus 4th gear at 2500 rpm, you will save fuel provided you are using the same fueling. Problem is, being able to make it up a hill in vermont at 1500 rpm in 5h gear. (im not even sure how fast 1500 rpm in 5th gear is, but im making an example.)

[Sal]

Thanks petrified.rabbit for your quick response. although i was already familiar with some of those concepts i did learn a little. You see i am wondering if there is a product formula such as, (aftermarket air filter + high performance spark plugs + lowered suspension = more MPG's) and i dont know why, but my car does not have a 5th gear... I know that would help me out big time.. I think it is so stupid and antiquated that it does not, i mean come on its a 2004 not an 87'!!

[Pickles]

I think 1500 in 5th is about 35 mph...just popping in to say that.... lol

[Thymeclock]

Hello aveo forum,
So i see in the threads that MPG is all over the place. (as it would be due to the human aspect and different drive patterns and routes, etc.) but i mean I'm reading that some people were getting as low as 23MPG US. I drive a completely stock 04 aveo hatch automatic with approx 100k miles and i have always gotten 32ish. lately though iv driven city 90% of the time and average about 50mph.

Yes, I get 23 MPG in city driving, and 95% of our driving is city driving.


You said:

"lately though iv driven city 90% of the time and average about 50mph."

"City" driving is NOT 50 MPH. 50 MPH is highway driving. On the automatic transmission the torque converter locks up at about 45 MPH. When it does the MPG rises dramatically to between 30-40 MPG. At speeds below 45 MPH the best you will get is about 22-24 MPG. It's all due to the way the A/T is programmed. There is no practical way to change the response of the transmission, and Chevy is not about to reprogram the TCU.

If I drive at speeds of 60-65 MPH I get 35-40 MPG. At speeds below 45 MPH I get 22-24 MPG. It's really that simple, and my ScanGauge confirms this. If you combine city and highway driving you will get an average that is somewhere in-between, but the blended result will be variable, resulting in confusion about the fuel economy experienced and the cause.

I am looking for a way to improve my mpg's (not because my numbers are bad but because who wouldnt want to save a bit of money on fuel.?) and cant really find solid answers. Is it dropping the car, new spark plugs, better fuel, some aftermarket air filter, fuel additives like Lucas, remapping, not cleaning your car [Mythbusters haha], driver being to heavy, all of the above... Can anyone please inform me on how to make my little aveo run more efficiently?

None of those proposed suggestions will make much of a difference. Throwing money at add-ons and modifications might make you feel good, or optimistic about your expectations, but it won't yield significant results. One strategy you didn't mention is simply over-inflating your tires to about 40 PSI, which might help slightly, and doing it will cost you nothing.

[Sal]

I see what your saying. I guess my city in virginia and your city in new york is different. I call it city driving when the roads have lights and i have to stop, not because im driving downtown somewhere or speeds are 45 or less. so i appologize for the confusion in my wording. I appreciate the input and the knowledge Thymeclock. I do already slightly over inflate my tires. But there is no way i get your MPGs traveling that fast... i dont have a 5th gear, at 65 im at almost 4k rpm. heck even at around 50 im at approximately 2600rpm. I guess these cars just arent AS fuel economic as you would think. Im ok with what i get now i just figured they would be better i guess. Looks like the only way the car would do better is if it wasn't an automatic huh?

[Thymeclock]

I see what your saying. I guess my city in virginia and your city in new york is different. I call it city driving when the roads have lights and i have to stop, not because im driving downtown somewhere or speeds are 45 or less. so i appologize for the confusion in my wording. I appreciate the input and the knowledge Thymeclock. I do already slightly over inflate my tires. But there is no way i get your MPGs traveling that fast... i dont have a 5th gear, at 65 im at almost 4k rpm. heck even at around 50 im at approximately 2600rpm. I guess these cars just arent AS fuel economic as you would think. Im ok with what i get now i just figured they would be better i guess. Looks like the only way the car would do better is if it wasn't an automatic huh?

I don't have a fifth gear, either. All Aveos that have an automatic tranny are the same. It's a four speed, plus torque converter lockup, which is electronically controlled. When the TC lockup engages at about 45 mph it feels like a shift: the RPMs decline and the mpg goes way up. You should be able to notice this if you look at your tach at that speed. You will feel it and see a drop in the RPM.

Ironically my test run of all highway driving was from NY to Virginia last spring. I got 40 mpg at speeds of 65-70 with the A/C on - but the trip was entirely highway driving, with nothing under 45 MPH.

Also, the drive-by-wire electronic accelerator pedal is very sensitive to touch. Mine was found to be defective when the car was only 3 months old. That will produce erratic shifting that is not clearly defined. Also check to see that your TC is locking in at 45 MPH as described. If it isn't, that might account for the poor fuel economy.

[Sal]

Also, the drive-by-wire electronic accelerator pedal is very sensitive to touch. Mine was found to be defective when the car was only 3 months old. That will produce erratic shifting that is not clearly defined. Also check to see that your TC is locking in at 45 MPH as described. If it isn't, that might account for the poor fuel economy.

I will have to check that out. I will be doing a 100% highway drive next week so i will drive at around those speeds to see if my car does indeed get that MPG. Not that im doubting you just havent seen it in my car is all.

[petrified.rabbit]

Thymeclock knows the economy stuff better than me. Especially dealing with the automatic transmission.

Imho though, it mileage is top goal, i think the best mods, are lighter wheels with a taller (narrow) low resistance tire. It helps in many ways. As for a aveo hot spot that everyone can follow. I don't think there is one. But other things I would say you should consider is where you get your gas, "better" gas= better mileage.

If you have all the money to spend, get a 1.4t and a 6 speed automatic out of a cruze and stick it in there.

[Sal]

If you have all the money to spend, get a 1.4t and a 6 speed automatic out of a cruze and stick it in there.

If i was going to go all out and swap the tranny i would just figure out how to get a manual in there.. Personally i think all cars are way more fun manual. I only prefer auto in trucks and most SUVs. but thanks for the advise