HHR - An Aerodynamic Brick?
10-23-2009, 05:48 PM
#21
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Join Date: 07-26-2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 31
I haven't really paid that much attention to my mileage. However, I am going to drive from Borger (about 50 miles North of Amarillo) to Rockport (50 miles East of Corpus Christi) in January. I will post some mileage notes then.
10-25-2009, 06:52 AM
#22
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Thread Starter
Join Date: 07-13-2009
Location: NC
Posts: 414
2.4 versus 2.2 ?
Hi Folks, The idea of getting on the backside of the torque curve makes sense to me. Since the engine isn't running at its optimum, and the aerodynamic drag increases, it makes sense that the mileage would plummet. Given that, I wonder where the 2.2 mileage falls off versus the 2.4? I wonder if the more powerful 2.4 torque is offset by the smaller displacement burning fuel in the 2.2 at higher speeds? Yes, engineering school does this to your brain. I'd love for one of the HHR development engineers to join this forum. :-) God Bless, Marc
10-25-2009, 07:17 AM
#23
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Join Date: 07-21-2007
Location: Marietta, GA
Posts: 172
Your observations are correct...
I have done similar tests over the years, and I can get almost 40MPG if you stay at 55 MPH with Interstate Driving. I have done the Exhaust and Air Intake mods which made the additional difference. Where I live, we burn a different fuel commonly knows as "Atlanta Blend", and we get less MPG. Once I purchase fuel outside of my state, I get better MPG. I bet without the 10% Alcohol mixture, we would do even better.
I have done similar tests over the years, and I can get almost 40MPG if you stay at 55 MPH with Interstate Driving. I have done the Exhaust and Air Intake mods which made the additional difference. Where I live, we burn a different fuel commonly knows as "Atlanta Blend", and we get less MPG. Once I purchase fuel outside of my state, I get better MPG. I bet without the 10% Alcohol mixture, we would do even better.
10-25-2009, 07:30 AM
#24
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Join Date: 07-13-2009
Location: NC
Posts: 414
Roger that Keith. My problem is that if I drive anywhere at 55 around here I would probably get rear-ended, and most assuredly would get rude gestures and screaming. 
Easing into Wilmington last weekend I did get to run steady at about 59 mph for a short, flat stretch and the instant mileage went way up to 34mpg (pretty good I thought!).
For a couple of years they made us run gas-a-hol here in the winter, citing 10% better winter emissions. Finally someone realized that if it gets 10% better emissions, but 30% worse gas mileage, you are on the losing team. I had a 5.0 Mustang at the time and I literally took it to the repair shop the first month to find the gas leak.
God Bless, Marc
Easing into Wilmington last weekend I did get to run steady at about 59 mph for a short, flat stretch and the instant mileage went way up to 34mpg (pretty good I thought!).For a couple of years they made us run gas-a-hol here in the winter, citing 10% better winter emissions. Finally someone realized that if it gets 10% better emissions, but 30% worse gas mileage, you are on the losing team. I had a 5.0 Mustang at the time and I literally took it to the repair shop the first month to find the gas leak.
God Bless, Marc
10-25-2009, 08:21 AM
#25
Member
Join Date: 09-04-2009
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 57
Took a trip in Eastern Oklahoma yesterday to look at the foliage in the Ouchita Mountains. Drove about 300 miles total. Some fairly flat roads, some curvy and twisty, and some mild mountains. Averaged 27.9 for the trip. Didn't think this was too bad since ther was so much up and down, and never at one speed for too long.
10-26-2009, 09:09 AM
#26
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Join Date: 09-21-2009
Location: Springfield, IL
Posts: 51
Hey Marc,
Though I can appreciate good gas mileage, and one reason why I bought the HHR, I realized I can burn through enough gas in a day on one of the planes I fly to last an HHR for awhile. A B-25 we used to fly would burn around 120-130 gallons per hour, (though you had 1,700 hp each side). Ouch! Glad I wasn't paying the fuel bill on that one. Kinda' puts things into perspective with cars that get good gas mileage.
Though I can appreciate good gas mileage, and one reason why I bought the HHR, I realized I can burn through enough gas in a day on one of the planes I fly to last an HHR for awhile. A B-25 we used to fly would burn around 120-130 gallons per hour, (though you had 1,700 hp each side). Ouch! Glad I wasn't paying the fuel bill on that one. Kinda' puts things into perspective with cars that get good gas mileage.
10-26-2009, 03:42 PM
#27
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Thread Starter
Join Date: 07-13-2009
Location: NC
Posts: 414
Roger that Marty. A friend who owns a P-51 once told me his actual cost per hour on his bird in maintenance, fuel, oil, rebuild kitty, etc. Needless to say I didn't ask him for a free ride. Whew. As my friend P-51 wartime pilot Mac once told me, the Mustang was intended to haul four or six .50 caliber machine guns over Germany, fight, and come home. I guess overall economy wasn't a top priority, even though it did have better range than some others. God Bless, Marc
10-26-2009, 04:03 PM
#28
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Join Date: 01-29-2009
Location: Central, Ohio
Posts: 205
Now I'm not sure what anyone else thinks but I tend to think a six-speed would help quite a bit, I commonly run turn-pike for work and at 80 an extra gear would be really handy, not a fan of buzzing 4 to 5 so I have to back her down and run about 60-65
