:laughabov :laughabov :laughabov :laughabov :laughabov :laughabov :laughabov

2.4 auto I have a thirty mile ride to work, if I take the highway at about 70 mph, I avg. 24 If I take the back roads at 45 mph I avg. 31

gas mileage
 

Is there a breaking period for getting the advertised mileage? I have had mine with the 2.4L about 2 weeks and around town I am getting only about 18mpg and on the road about 28 or 29 which is a bit of a disappointment because my Ford Expedition with a 3.6L v8 gets about 16 to 17 around town and, when not pulling our travel trailer, gets about 24 on the highway. Any hints on improving. I am a pretty conservative driver

First let me welcome you to the site, Wes!

I assume you meant break-in? It is in your manual (which for some unknown reason no one seems to bother to read). It is not clear in your first post if you bought new or used and whether it was 2006, 2007 or 2008.

We have online manuals for 06 and 07 at:

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/general-hhr-4/online-owners-manual-3074/

From 2006 manual:

New Vehicle Break-In
Notice: Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:
• Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast or
slow, for the first 500 miles (805 km). Do not
make full-throttle starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake, or slow, the vehicle.
• Avoid making hard stops for the first 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time your new brake
linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops with new
linings can mean premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline
every time you get new brake linings.
• Do not tow a trailer during break-in. See Towing
a Trailer (Manual Transaxle) on page 4-39 or
Towing a Trailer (Automatic Transaxle) on
page 4-39 for the trailer towing capabilities of
your vehicle and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed and load can be
gradually increased.

From 2007 manual:

New Vehicle Break-In
Notice: Your vehicle does not need an
elaborate break-in. But it will perform better in
the long run if you follow these guidelines:
• Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast
or slow, for the first 500 miles (805 km). Do
not make full-throttle starts. Avoid
downshifting to brake, or slow, the vehicle.
• Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings are not yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every time
you get new brake linings.
• Do not tow a trailer during break-in. See
Towing a Trailer (Manual Transaxle) on
page 276 or Towing a Trailer (Automatic
Transaxle) on page 277 for the trailer towing
capabilities of your vehicle and more
information.
Following break-in, engine speed and load can
be gradually increased.

A lot of things affect mileage as I am sure you are aware. If yours does not improve and you drive as you say you do, discuss it with your dealer. It may need a simple tune.

I have been delighted with the mileage of my HHR-- my work commute is 5 miles each way through the city of Springfield, MA ( stop and go, never breaking 40 mph) Ihave clocked between 25.3 and 26.8 mpg (DIC, but math verified). On a 260 mile round trip to Vermont, i clocked 33.4 All with a stock 2.2 auto. using Shell 87 octane My previous car, a lincoln conti 4.6 DOHC V8 got 16.5-17.7 city and 23.6 on these same routes on Shell 93 oct.

I too have been disappointed by the milage on myine but I never really tried to get good numbers I have the 2.4 with the manual and no mods. I really have averaged aroud 26 MPG. It is better then the 20 I got with my SHO and ranger but not impressive. I am currently trying to see what I can get if I really try and 200 mi into it I have managed better then 30 MPG in mixed city hiway driving. Probably 60 city and 40 long 4-5 mi trips going 45mph. I have been turning the car off at stop lights and shifting at 2000 RPM. I have also found that speed faster then 60mph really hurt the milage I can keep the +30 MPG but 70 drops to less then 29 MPG. I don't know if others have found this to be true but it is what has worked for me.

First welcome to the site.

26 average is not bad at all. And you shut the car off at stop lights? :eek: I'm sorry but how much do you really think that is saving you? It probably takes more fuel to restart the engine than it would burn just sitting there idling. And that is not to mention the additional wear and tear on the starter and other components.

I really think people (in general) are getting a little over the top when it comes to fuel economy concerns. :roll: There are so many variables. If it were truly rotten, sometimes a tune or some other adjustment might solve the problem.

Drive your HHR and enjoy it. Don't get too hung up on mileage. You are in the right ballpark!

Agreed....^^^^^^^^:thumb:

I get 24 to 27 in town. Forgot to reset the DIC and didn't get to check my milage on my roadtrip, but I went 200 some miles on 1/8th tank of gas at 80 in the rain. :D Not to bad in my opinion. It is also is better then my old truck at 18 on the highway.

Really I have saved quite a bit of gas turning the car off at the stop lights. It is a solid 4 mpg better. This was only an experiment to see how much I could improve the MPG. I doubt I will continue this past this tank of gas, I love to much driving briskly now and then. You really do burn more gas stopped at a light then stopping and restarting the car, especially after it is warmed up. I am also concerend about the possible wear and tear on the starter but for this test it is minimal at best.