Crappy gas mileage in town / Incredible Highway
 

So I've had my HHR one year. I have clocked a grand total of 6100 miles so far. For the most part, my mileage (on the DIC) is around 19 mpg. Which sucks. I have taken two long distance trips - one to Kenosha in September and this weekend I'm in Clarksville, TN. On the Kenosha trip (once again using the DIC) at real world speeds, I averaged 34.8 miles to the gallon. On the trip down here I averaged 33 mpg. This is a 2.4 model with a manual trans. This was at normal to above normal highway speeds. Not 85 - 90 mind you, my mother (a very nervous passenger) was with me. Does this seem normal? Or is the DIC not very accurate.:(

I have a 2.4 auto and my average on the freeway is 28-29 thats driving 70-80 with some standing traffic about 80 miles one way but if I drive 55-60 easy on the throttle I have gotten just under 34 (33.8) these are all on the DIC but when I hand check my mileage i am usually showing 1-2 miles per gallon better then the DIC showed. The in town driving if you dont do the jack rabbit starts and cost on up to the street lights and stop signs (just take easy and be aware of how you are driving )it will help the city MPG a bunch I have gotten as low as 17 in city but driven like I should be driving any where from 22-25MPG But now that gas is back down I find my self not watching the MPG as much :D
a few weeks ago My wife and I were running really late for the Monterey G2G so I had to make up some time when we got there i was getting 20 or 22 I dont remember but I was flying low LOL:lol: I dont think i ever went below 80 If i did it wasnt for very long

In the SS no matter how I drive I seem to get 22....and thats with 85% city driving....I have checked your mileage manually without the DIC?

I normally get 24-27 in town.. and 30-35 highway. (2.2 motor)

and like andrew said.. manually check it when u fill up (divide gas put in by miles driven on tank) i think thats how u do it

haha close....divide the miles you drove by the amount of galons you put in....hopefully you re set your trip meter at every fill up...

I don't feel too bad now about my 25.1 around town in my SS......I drive like I got a 1.5L toyota snail under the hood.

Chris....

I would guess your city mileage is influenced greatly by YOUR style of driving.

With the 2.4 and the VVT, once your RPM exceeds the operational point, the engine uses more fuel.

Try minimizing your acceleration efforts. Maybe no more than 2800-3000 RPM (I believe the VVT begins operation aroung 2600-2700).

I have a 2.4 auto trans and ROUTINELY experience 24-26 MPG. But I watch my RPM's also.

Thanks I appreciate it. Of course jack rabbit starts are so much fun -

Remember, the reason that city mileage is lower (except on hybrids) is idling at traffic lights and therefore having to start up again from a stop, over and over again. I have the 2.4 automatic which I believe is advertised as 22 city, 28 highway. Remember also that these are estimates. I usually average about 25-26 (right in between the estimates) MPG per tank of gas which includes city and highway and bumper to bumper highway which REALLY hurts the average. I reset all that is resettable on the DIC every time I fill up. My fuel range usually says about 400 miles which on a 16 gallon tank works out to..."drumroll please"...25 MPG.

:steering: What Snoopy says. The lock up for my 2.4 auto is around 40 mph and it will run at 1500 rpm. I rarely take the car past 2500 rpm in city driving and get around 26 mpg. At 70 the car is running around 2500 rpm. I've averaged 30.3 mpg combined mileage since I've owned the car. ~39K miles